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Travel AdviceBe sure to peruse the travel advice below before you travel to the incredibly beautiful land. Each link is loaded with useful tips on how to make your Kenya safari the holiday of a lifetime (that is, if you can resist the urge to journey back here!). And the travel advice ranges from passport, visa, money, health to insurance matters. PassportsAll visitors to Kenya, save those from Uganda and Tanzania require passports to enter Kenya. Passports MUST have at least 1 blank page and must be valid for at least 3 months from date of entry.
VisasThe ease with which a visa to Kenya is obtained depends on your nationality so read on to find out your fate and I call this objective travel advice... A national of any of the following countries does not require a visa to enter Kenya:
*Trinidad and Tobago. Nationals of the following countries may be issued with visas upon arrival at a Kenyan port of entry:
*Bosnia-Herzegovina A single entry visa (valid for three months from date of issue) will cost US$ 50. A transit visa will cost US$ 20. Nationals of the following countries need to have a referral visa (namely; they must possess an entry visa prior to arrival in Kenya):
* Residing outside Nigeria. It is advisable to obtain the visa from the Kenyan Embassy/High Commission in your country prior to departure. Allow at least 6 weeks for processing of this visa class as applications have to be referred to Nairobi before a decision is made. Kenya CurrencyThe Kenya currency is the Kenyan Shilling and the bank notes come in denominations of 1000, 500, 200, 100 and 50 ... 
Exchange RatesThese are the indicative rates for the Kenyan shilling against the major currencies:
For updated rates on these and other major currencies, please visit the Central Bank of Kenya website www.centralbank.go.ke/rates/exchangeindex.asp.
Health"Prevention," they say, "is better than cure." As far as health travel advice goes, this should be you guiding philosophy as you plan to visit Kenya but also during your holiday here.
ImmunizationYour doctor is obviously your first and best source of advice on the this all-important matter so be sure to seek medical advice before commencing any immunization courses. Please note that besides yellow fever, international vaccination certificate for which may be required for entry into Kenya, other vaccines commonly recommended for travelers to Kenya (and indeed Africa) include:
Note also that some of these vaccines may require several doses or take time to become effective so remember to plan well in advance, preferably 2 months before your safari. Malaria ProphylaxisBecause malaria (spread by that dreaded female Anopheles mosquito) is common in many parts of Kenya, preventative medication is highly recommended. Be sure to ask you doctor which prophylactic medication is best for you and remember to finish your treatment course even after you return home as the disease's incubation period can stretch to a couple of weeks implying that you get sick long after your safari has ended.Even while on prophylaxis, it is advisable to avoid being bitten by:
AIDS and other STDsAIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases are probably more rampant here than they are at home so commonsense abstinence or taking precautionary measures such as using condoms are highly recommended. Some travel advice eh?Food HygieneEating food that has been prepared in unsanitary conditions is well worth avoiding because it can cause diarrhea, dysentery and typhoid. Therefore, be extremely selective about what you eat and avoid vegetable and fruit salads (as you would plague!) unless you are absolutely sure they have been properly sterilized.Remember to buy packed snacks such as biscuits and crisps and tetrapaked juices for long safari excursions so that you are not tempted to order unhygienically prepared food. WaterA key component of any travel advice to Africa must necessarily touch on water. While in Kenya, remember to be strict with your water consumption. It is only safe to drink and brush your teeth with only renowned mineral water brands such as Keringet (my favorite for over a decade, by the way) – and to avoid ice. If you have a kettle in you hotel room, water can be purified by boiling it.Medical KitsIt is advisable to pack a small medical kit that includes basic remedies such as plasters, antiseptic, painkillers, antacids, antihistamines, cold remedies, anti-diarrheal medication and oral rehydration sachets.Sun ProtectionOne of the Kenya's key attractions is that it offers lots of sun (besides sea and sand) as expounded on elsewhere in this website. However, our travel advice would be "don't overindulge" as you may need up to 3 weeks to acclimatise to the tropical heat. Therefore, avoid exposure to direct sunshine especially during the hottest part of the day.Remember also to wear a hat, sunglasses and protective clothing, to drink lots of fluids particularly water and to apply eons of an appropriate sunscreen regularly. HospitalsKenya's medical facilities are the most sophisticated in the region. Hospitals with state of the art facilities and equipment are Nairobi Hospital, Aga Khan and Karen Hospital in Nairobi and Aga Khan hospital in Mombasa and Kisumu.Health InsuranceThe need for health insurance cannot be stressed hard enough.Medical EvacuationThe need for urgent medical attention during an emergency cannot be overemphasized especially if you are on safari in an unspoilt part of the country. The African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF) have a well-thought out tourist package, which ensures that any member injured or taken ill while on safari can be evacuated quickly and free of charge. For more information, take a look at their website www.amref.org.Return from Travel Advice to Home Page
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