Visa and General Information

Nairobi is an international city, which is well served with a network of good quality hotels. The hotel bookings for the conference participants as well as pre and post conference excursions and tours will be arranged through XXX

Accommodation on pre and post conference tours and safaris is in lodges or luxury tented camps.

• Lodges are small by normal hotel standards (50-120 beds), with most of the facilities you would find in a good quality hotel such as lounge, bar, dining room, swimming pool and shop. Bedrooms are usually twin-bedded (doubles are limited and must be specifically requested) with en-suite bathroom facilities (except Shimba).
• Luxury Tented Camps are smaller (20-50 beds), tend to be privately owned and offer a more intimate atmosphere with personalized service. Public rooms are also under canvas, while meals are often taken outside around the campfire. They may not have a swimming pool or shop and are often situated in more remote locations.

Accommodation in Nairobi

Please contact your airline or the hospitality staff to assist you with reconfirmation of your return flight.

Airport departure taxes are now included in price of the international flight ticket for all three East African countries. It is also the policy of most travel agencies to quote domestic fares inclusive of airport taxes.

If you go on safari during your stay in Kenya, you are generally asked to restrict baggage to one medium size suitcase (or better still, two smaller, flexible hold-ails), plus hand baggage, per person. An overnight bag only may be taken to Tree hotels (Treetops and the Ark). There is a baggage weight restriction of 15kg per person on all scheduled domestic flights in Kenya and Tanzania. Excess baggage charges are usually nominal, but if the aircraft is full the excess baggage may be refused. When you are on safari your Nairobi hotel will be happy to store excess baggage until your return.

Banks are open from 09:00 to 15.00 from Monday to Friday except at the airport where the services are available 24 hrs.

Cell Phones

Please note that you may be able to use your GSM phone in Kenya under roaming arrangements. We advise you check applicable tariffs first.

Post

• Kenya has a good postal service for both local and international post. There are post offices and post boxes in most towns. Many shops in tourist lodges and hotels sell stamps.
• There are different rates for letters by weight, airletters, and postcards by size.
• Parcel services are available from larger post offices.
• There are post restante services in Nairobi and Mombasa.

Telecommunications

• Kenya has a good network of telephone, cellular and satellite connections. Work is under way to expand this network and introduce fibre optic cables.
• Most hotels and lodges offer international telephone and fax services. In larger towns, private telecommunication centres also offer international services.
• If you have a mobile phone with a roaming connection, then you can make use of Kenya’s excellent cellular networks, which covers most larger towns and tourist areas.
• When calling Kenya, the International code is 254+ local area code.

Internet

• Kenya has good Internet Service Providers.
• Email and Internet services are offered by many hotels and lodges. In most towns, there are plenty of private business centres and cyber cafes offering email and internet access.

Media

• Kenya has several English language newspapers. The most popular are the Daily Nation (www.nationaudio.com) and the East African Standard (www.eastandard.net).
• The East African is a weekly newspaper sold throughout Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
• There are two seperate Swahili newspapers, Taifa Leo and Kenya Leo.
• There is also locally produced television and radio media.
• International newspapers and magazines are widely available in Kenya.
• Digital Satellite Television has become widespread throughout Kenya. Many hotels provide this South African based service, offering a range of channels

Clothing should be practical, comfortable and informal. Lightweight cotton shirts, shorts, trousers or skirts are ideal on safari, while a warm sweater, jacket (and socks!) may be needed for early morning game drives and cool highland evenings. It is unlikely that Jacket and Tie will be needed except at one or two of the Nairobi restaurants or for visitors on business. Bring your swimwear; sunhat, sun cream, sunglasses, a small flashlight (torch), alarm clock and comfortable dustproof shoes. Lip balm, insect repellent, and reading material are also useful. Leave valuable jewellery at home.

Usually, the climate in Nairobi is pleasant throughout the year. Temperatures range between 15-25 degrees Celsius.

• The official currency is the Kenya Shilling.
• The written abbreviation is either KSh or using /= after the amount (ie 500/=)
• Available Notes are 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000 shillings.
• Available coins are 1, 5, 10, 20 and 40 shillings.
• Visitors to Kenya should change foreign currency at banks, bureaux de change or authorized hotels. The easiest currencies to exchange are US Dollars, Pounds sterling and EURO.
• Travellers Cheques are widely accepted, and many hotels, travel agencies, safari companies and restaurants accept Credit Cards. Most Banks in Kenya are equipped to advance cash on credit cards.
• There are no restrictions on the amount of foreign currency that can be brought into Kenya.
• Before departure, travellers are advised to convert any excess Kenya shillings into foreign currency at a bank or bureau de change before departure. Departure taxes can be paid in local or foreign currency.
• Anyone wishing to take more than 500,000 Kenya Shillings out of the country will require written authorization from the Central Bank

Never drink tap water in Kenya. Bottled (mineral) water is available readily at shops and supermarkets. Hotels will provide a flask with purified water in your room to brush your teeth.

• The electricity supply in Kenya is 220/240 v 50hz.
• Plugs are 3 point square.
• If you are planning to bring a video camera charger or any other electrical advice, please bring voltage and plug adaptors where appropriate.
• Those coming from North America with IIOv/60hz appliances should be sure to use an appropriate transformer.
• In tented camps and lodges it is usually possible to re-charge video camera batteries at reception on request.

When on safari, membership with the Flying Doctor Society (FDS) is recommended and available from your travel agency. In the event of serious accident or illness patients will receive emergency treatment and an air ambulance to hospital. The current cost for a 14-day cover is US$15 (max 500km from Nairobi) or US$30 (max 1000km). Cover for 2 months is US$25 and US$50 respectively.

Yellow fever and Cholera vaccination certificates are required for visitors arriving from infected areas. There are a number of other inoculations recommended to visitors. Clients are advised to contact their own doctor or local medical advisory centre for up to date information. Malaria is endemic in East Africa and visitors should follow a course of Malaria prophylactics according to doctor's advice.

In Kenya, excellent medical facilities are available in Nairobi (please note is at a fee and NO free health care is provided). Hotels will contact doctors and dentists, or they can be found listed in the telephone directory.

Normal checkout time is 10am. Rooms may not therefore be available for early check-in unless booked from the night before. Day rooms can usually be reserved up to 6pm for departures in the evening.

English and Kiswahili are the official languages spoken in Kenya. English is the official language of the conference.

The Conference organizers cannot accept liability for personal injuries, or damage to property belonging to Conference participants (or accompanying persons), either during or as a result of the conference. Please check the validity of your own insurance.

Dining is an integral part of the safari experience. High standards of cuisine and a welcoming choice of mouth-watering dishes will usually greet the hungry guest just in from safari. Full board is normally provided and inclusive of early morning tea, full breakfast, buffet lunch, afternoon tea and a four-course dinner. Tea and coffee is served with all meals. Standards of cuisine in Tanzania and Uganda hotels do not reach those of Kenya but meals are entirely adequate and nutritious.

Please note that while in Nairobi hotels are booked on bed and breakfast basis.

Kenya uses the metric system. Visitors will find weather temperature reports given in degrees Celsius, petrol is sold by the litre, as is milk and water, and grocery items are sold in grams and kilograms. Distances and road speeds, posted in kilometres and kilometres per hour.

The Conference Organizers wish all delegates an enjoyable stay in Kenya. However, we advise delegates to be especially attentive to personal belongings. Nairobi, like most large cities around the world, has seen an increase in street crime, predominately pick pocketing and handbag snatching. You are advised to remain alert and take necessary precautions at all public areas.

To ensure that you have a trouble-free stay at the Nairobi Conference, the conference organisers recommend the following personal safety measures:

• Kenyan Law requires that you carry official identification documents at all times. Photocopy your passport, travel documents, prescriptions e before leaving home.
• Keep your passport, important documents and the majority of your money in your hotel safety deposit box, not in your room. Carry a photocopy of your passport or Identity documentation and only a limited amount of cash while you are out.
• Only use certified metered taxis from the airport and in Nairobi.
• Kenya Shilling notes bearing the portrait of the two former presidents of Kenya, Jomo Kenyatta and Daniel Arap Moi are valid currencies. Be cautious of scams to exchange one for the other.

If you have any questions or concerns while at the conference, please contact the organising committee or Sergeant-at-Arms.

See also: About Kenya

Bring plenty of film with you. It is available locally but rather expensive and outlying lodges may be out of date. Telephoto lenses (minimum 200 mm recommended) are a must for wildlife photography. Other useful items include filters, dust-proof bags and, of course, spare batteries. Home video cameras may be brought in but professional filming is subject to government permits and levies. Binoculars are an invaluable aid to spotting distant animals or birds.

There are many shopping malls in Nairobi (such as the Sarit Centre, The Yaya Centre, The Junction, WestGate, Village Market, The Mall, etc.). Normal trading hours are Monday to Saturday from 9.00 to 17.00. Supermarkets generally stay open until 20.30, including Sundays). Local tour operators may arrange special shopping tours to ease your shopping due to the distance of the shopping areas as well as providing guide to advise based on your shopping requirements.

Kenya has a single time zone- which is GMT+3.

Kenyan Public holidays include:

• 1st January New Years Day
• February/March Idd il Fitr *
• March/April Good Friday**
• March/April Easter Monday**
• 1st May Labour Day
• 1st June Madaraka Day
• 10th October Moi Day
• 20th October Kenyatta Day
• 12th December Jamhuri Day
• 25th December Christmas Day
• 26th December Boxing Day

*The Muslim Festival of Idd il Fitr celebrates the end of Ramadhan. The date varies each year depending on the sighting of a new moon in Mecca.

** Dates for the Christian festival of Easter vary from year to year.

• Most businesses in Kenya are open from Monday to Friday, though some also trade on Saturday.
• Business hours are generally 9:00am to 5:00pm, closing for an hour over lunch (1:00pm – 2:00pm).
• Banks are open from 9:00am to 3:00pm Monday to Friday. Some branches open on Saturdays from 9:00am to 11:00am.
• Many banks are now equipped with 24 hour ATM machines.
• The Bank branches at Jomo Kenyatta International airport (Nairobi) and Moi International Airport both run 24 hour forex services.

Tipping is not mandatory in Kenya. Guides, drivers, waiters and hotel staff can be tipped at your discretion.

Where applicable, visa fees are as follows:

• Transit Visa = US$20 per person;
• Reference Fee = US$10;
• Single Entry Visa = US$50 for three months (extendable for a similar period) and MUST be paid in US currency!;
• Multiple Journey Visa= US$100 - valid for one year

Please contact your nearest travel agent or Kenyan embassy/consulate for more information.

Click here to link to Kenya Airways Visa Information (new window)

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