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| Saturday 13 March 2010 |
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| ::: AfriNIC-4 - Travel Information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
GENERAL INFORMATION | MAP | PASSPORT INFORMATION | CLIMATE | HEALTH | CURRENCY CONVERTER | BANKING | TRANSPORTATION | EATING OUT | SHOPPING | CRIME | TOURIST ATTRACTIONS | LINKS
TIME ZONE GMT + 3 TELEPHONE SERVICES Country Code: 254 IDD: International direct dialling is available to main cities. Outgoing Code: 000 EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBERS All services - 336886 / 501280 LOCAL TOURIST INFORMATION Kenya Tourist Development Corporation Valid passport required by all. Must be valid from 6 months from the date of entry. PROHIBITED ITEMS Gold; diamonds; wildlife skins and game trophies not authorised by the Kenyan government. EMBASSY CONTACTS http://www.mfa.go.ke/dipabroad.php The climate of Kenya is as varied as its physical structure. Climatic conditions vary from the tropical humidity of the coast, through the dry heat of the hinterland and northern plains, to the cool air of the plateau and mountains. Despite Kenya 's equatorial position, Mt. Kenya is perpetually snow-capped. The coastal temperature averages 27°C (80°F), and the temperature decreases by slightly less than 2°C (3°F) with each 1,000 ft (305 m) increase in altitude. The capital, Nairobi , at 1,675 m, has a mean annual temperature of 19°C. The arid plains vary from 21°C to 27°C (70°F to 80°F). Seasonal variations are distinguished by duration of rainfall rather than changes of temperature; most regions of the country have two rainy seasons, the long rains falling between April and June, and the short rains between October and December. Average annual rainfall varies from 5 inches a year in the most arid regions of the northern plains to 70 inches a year near Lake Victoria . The coast and highland areas have an average of 40 inches per year. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over one year of age arriving from infected areas. Following WHO guidelines issued in 1973, a cholera vaccination certificate is no longer a condition of entry to Kenya . However, cholera is a serious risk in this country and precautions are essential. There was an outbreak of Cholera in the Eastleigh area of Nairobi in June 2005. Polio; Typhoid: Vaccination recommended Malaria : Prevails throughout the year. Falciparum variety is present and high resistance to Chloroquine has been reported. Other Health Risks: Bilharzia; Rabies and their is the risk of aids; therefore take sterilised needles if injections are required Currency: Kenyan shilling Credit & debit cards: American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are all widely accepted. Major hotels now also accept payment by credit card, as do major safari companies, travel agencies and restaurants. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available. Traveller's cheques: These can be changed at banks, and are widely accepted. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller's cheques in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling. Banks: Monday to Friday: 09:00-14:00 (16:30 in the major cities). The airport banks are open until midnight every day. Nairobi 's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is the largest and most modern airport in East Africa with over 4 million passengers passing through it annually. It is situated 10 miles (16km) south of the city's center. Car rentals are available at the Jomo Kenyatta international Airport from international companies such as Avis, Budget, Europcar and Hertz. Many of the popular hotels also offer bus shuttles services to and from the International airport. Taxis Taxis are widely available, and convenient to use. Nairobi Taxis are usually marked with a yellow line along each side or resemble the black London-style large taxis. Taxis are often parked in the street around hotels and tourist areas of the city. There are several companies operating Dial taxi services with phone bookings, modern vehicles, competent drivers and reasonable rates. Several Taxi companies also have booking offices at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport . Hotels and restaurants can order taxis if necessary and this is recommended. Taxis are not metered, and a price should be agreed with the driver before departure. Ask for local advice or at your hotel for correct rates. Buses Buses operate on set routes throughout the city. The large Kenya Buses run on routes throughout the city on regular schedules. Buses can be boarded at any stop and tickets purchased on board. Matatus (Public Minibuses) also operate on city routes throughout the day, and are a colorful form of public transport.Nairobi is a cosmopolitan city that has over 250 African, American, Asian and European restaurants offering a choice of more than 20 diverse cuisines. Several fast food chains are also present in the city. Shopping in Nairobi offers the tourist a rich mix of expriences from open-air markets to modern shopping centers and malls. Some of the best shopping spots in the city are located in the suburbs of Westland , Parklands and Gigiri. The popular shopping malls include The Village Market Gigiri, Sarit Centre Westlands and The Yaya Centre . Malls contain a wide selection of shops, western style food courts and cinemas. In addition Village Market offers two mini golf courses, Friday Maasai market where local crafts and curios can be obtained and bowling allies. Groceries and general shopping can be obtained from either Nakumatt or Uchumi chain of supermarkets which offer a wide selection of items at reasonable prices. Like any other metropolitan city in a developing country, crime is common and visitors are advised to be vigilant at all times especially at night. Please keep all valuables in a secure place especially cash, credit / debit cards, travelers cheques, jewelry, passports and electronic equipment. Generally exploring the city centre should be done in groups or with a trusted local quide. Kenya is a popular international destination with Nairobi the entry hub for most tourists. There are many attractions within the city itself that provide an unforgettable experience for first-time visitors to the country. • Bomas of Kenya Bomas of Kenya is located just outside of Nairobi where bomas (homesteads) display the different traditions of several Kenyan ethnic groups. The complex contains a large theatre with 3,500 seats where traditional dances are performed as well as a giraffe center where you can feed the tallest animal in the world.• Carnivore Restaurant The Carnivore is considered ' Africa 's Greatest Eating Experience'. Boasting a spectacular "all the meat you can eat" menu, the entire restaurant is centred around a large open fire pit, on which rest massive skewers of roasted meat (locally known as Nyama Choma). The Carnivore provides the opportunity to sample zebra, giraffe, impala, wildebeest, crocodile and many other game meats. • Karen Blixen Museum The Karen Blixen Museum is located on the outskirts of Nairobi on Karen road. The Museum, originally built in 1912, was the home of the Danish author Baroness Karen Blixen (also known by the pen name Isak Dinesen) from 1917 to 1931. After several changes of ownership and sparked by the success of the film of "Out of Africa," the house was converted into one of the constituent museums of the National Museums of Kenya in 1986. • Nairobi National Park The Nairobi National Park is a 117 km square natural game reserve located within 20 minutes of Nairobi - the only major game park in the world within city limits. It is Kenya's oldest national park first established in 1945. It is home to lions, leopard, hyena,cheetah buffalo, giraffe, eland and zebra and to more than 400 species of birds, including ostrich, secretary birds, doves, African hawk, artial eagles, hornbills, crowned cranes, and marabou storks. It also contains a sanctuary for the endangered black rhino species. Nairobi National Park offers a range of spectacular habitats including savannah, plains, forest, riverine vegetation and steep and rocky gorges. • Nairobi Snake Park The Snake Park located next to the National museum is home to many different kind of reptiles including Africa 's two deadliest snakes - the black mamba and the puff adder. The park also houses the famous nile crocodile and some stunning fishes from East Africa's great lakes - Tanganyika, Victoria and Nyasa. • National Museum of Kenya The National Museum of Kenya, is just a stone's throw away from another famous attraction, the Snake Park . The museum showcases a wide variety of bird and animal species as well as the rich cultures of the people of Kenya . Fossils from the East Africa river valleys are also displayed in the museum.
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