Kenya Travel Tips & Useful Info

It has been claimed that tap water in Nairobi and Mombasa is drinkable but it is usually a good idea for tourists to stick to bottled water in order to avoid contact with any foreign bacteria that could make them ill. Outside these two cities tap water should be avoided entirely in favour of bottled mineral water.

There are no hard and fast rules for tipping in Kenya but be aware that most people in the service industry earn very little and depend on gratuities to make up their income. Safari guides should be tipped the equivalent of about USD $10-15 per person per day and a few dollars should go to the driver, cook and porters. If you eat in a restaurant then 10% on top of the bill is a suitable amount to leave. When it comes to taxis, rounding up the fare is a nice way to show your appreciation, especially if they have successfully navigated the chaotic streets of Nairobi or Mombasa for you.

Most people visit Kenya as part of a safari tour and in this context, visiting Kenya is very safe for solo women as they will be under the protection of their guide and lodge at all times. However, those who visit Kenya independently might not have such an easy time. Harassment from local men is common but is usually just an annoyance rather than a threat. Nevertheless, you will want to avoid this by dressing conservatively, wearing sunglasses to avoid eye contact and carrying a photo of a man in your purse who you can say is your husband. You should also try to limit your night time travel as much as possible.

Travellers over the age of 18 are permitted to bring the following into the country:

• 250g of tobacco products
• 1L of spirits or 2L of wine
• 500ml of perfume and eau de toilette, of which not more than a quarter may be perfume

Prohibited items include counterfeit money and goods, pornography, matches made using white phosphorus, narcotics, soaps and cosmetics containing mercury, and used tyres. Restricted items include animal traps, unwrought precious metals and stones, arms and ammunition, ivory, hippopotamus teeth, rhinoceros horn, tortoise shell, whalebone, antlers, coral, endangered species, and historic artefacts.

The official currency in Kenya is the Kenya Shilling. Check OANDA for the latest exchange rates.

Euro, British Pounds, US Dollars, South African Rand and other major currencies can be exchanged locally or in advance of departure. Additionally, exchange facilities are available at various bureau de changes and banks in major towns have ATMs. It's advisable to request bank notes in smaller denominations, as it can sometimes be hard to get change from large notes and smaller notes are handy for smaller purchases and gratuities.

Traveller's Cheques are not recommended as they're often difficult to exchange and incur high fees.

Most people who visit Kenya will do so with a tour, in which case the majority of your expenses will be included in the total price. However, for those travelling independently the following should be taken into account: a mid-range hotel room will usually cost between USD $50-70 per night while dorms are around USD $20-30. Street food is incredibly cheap, costing less than a dollar in some cases, and sit-down meals can be found for between USD $10- 20 for a feast of African or Indian food.

When it comes to going out, a pint of beer won’t cost more than USD $3 in a bar and will be even cheaper in a supermarket. Transport isn’t usually too expensive with matatu (mini bus) rides often costing around 50 cents or less. Private taxis are more expensive and can set you back up to USD $10-20.

Standard voltage is 230 - 240 volts. Primary sockets generally require the 3 square-pin variety, similar to the United Kingdom sockets. We recommend that you pack a universal travel adaptor. You will need a voltage converter and plug adaptor in order to use U.S. appliances.

WiFi is available in Kenya but many of the safari camps choose not to provide a connection in order to allow guests to fully immerse themselves in their natural surroundings. It is easier to find WiFi in the big cities but be aware that the connection might be less reliable and slower than you are used to.

Kenya is 3 hours ahead of GMT and does not observe daylight savings.