Climate

Kenya is on the equator which means that it has a warm climate on average. The temperature depends on the height of a city or park. Some areas are low and on average warm throughout the year, eg in Samburu. Nairobi lies at about 1600m so it can cool off considerably in the colder months (June and July). Kenya has 2 rainy periods: from March to May (with longer rain showers) and October to mid-December (shorter showers). The coastal areas are on average much warmer and wetter than inland.

The same applies to Tanzania even though this country is just below the equator. On average, it is warm and dry here. The rainy months are the same as in Kenya, although in recent years the climate has changed, like everywhere in the world.

Zanzibar has a tropical climate and is warm all year round. Sometimes there can be a shower but it does not last long on average. On average it is sunny and dry.

Finance

The local currency in Kenya is Kenya Shilling. In Tanzania this is Tanzania Shilling. The rate of both shillings is totally different. To give you an idea, in Kenya you get for € 1,- approximately Ksh100. In Tanzania you will receive Tsh 2300 for € 1,-.

In both countries you can exchange money at the airport and in cities. In addition, you can also pay with Visa Credit Card or MasterCard in several places. Maestro is hardly accepted anywhere. When debiting your bank card must be on world coverage.

At lodges you can often pay with your Visa Credit card.

It is always good to bring some cash money in case an ATM does not work. You can bring Euro or US dollars for this.

For both countries, if you want to take US dollars the notes must not be older than 2006!

Tipping

Although you can choose whether you want to give someone a tip, this gesture is very appreciated. Especially in hotels the salaries of the staff are sometimes very low and based on getting a tip.

Guidelines for giving a tip

Drinks and meals: 5-10%

Porter: $ 1 for bringing and / or collecting your luggage

Hotel staff (often there is a tip box at the reception): $ 3-5 per day

Driver / guide: $ 15-25 per day per car

Bargaining

At local markets and in souvenir shops it is quite normal to barter. The sales people also like to do it. Prices have been set in larger stores and supermarkets. Talk to the taxi driver in advance to agree the price.

Photographing

Both Kenya and Tanzania (and Zanzibar) are photogenic countries. You can take many beautiful photos here. Take enough batteries and memory cards from home because they are difficult or impossible to obtain during the trip.

During the visit to parks you can photograph as much as you want. You should only consider the cultural differences outside the parks. The local population is not always enthusiastic about being photographed. Certain population groups such as the Masai do not want to be photographed without being asked. Please do not do this either, to avoid problems. Always ask someone if you can take a picture of him / her. If money has to be paid for this, do so neatly. If someone does not want to be photographed, respect this too. If someone wants to take a picture, it is always nice to show the picture on the screen.

In addition, government buildings and people working there may not be photographed. Think of: airport, border crossings, police stations, government buildings, police and military personnel. If you are in doubt, ask for permission first!

Health and medication

For travel in both Kenya and Tanzania, it is recommended to take a number of precautionary measures. Please contact your tropical department of your hospital to make an appointment to come by. With them you can discuss what you need and not. Make an appointment at least 8 weeks before your departure.

For both Kenya and Tanzania you need a yellow fever stamp. This will be put in your medical passport and you must be able to show this at the arrival of the country.

In addition, bring your own medication when you go on holiday.

Your medicine bag must be at least:

• your own medication
• painkillers
• Band aids
• ORS
• plaster
• Malaria prophylaxis
• Insect bite treatment like antihistamine cream
• loperamide or another remedy for diarrhoea
• DEET 50%
• Sunscreen cream with high factor (minimum 30)

• After sun cream

Unfortunately, malaria prophylaxis never covers 100%, so it is advisable to wear long sleeves, long trousers and socks the next day between sundown and sunrise. Uncovered body parts can be injected with DEET 50%. If there are mosquito nets in your room, use it.

Because you go on holiday to a country that is close to (or on) the equator, you get sunburned much faster. Therefore, always lubricate during the day with a high-value sun cream. It is also good to wear a hat and sunglasses.

Never drink tap water in these countries. Brush your teeth with the bottle of water in your hotel room. During the day you have bottles of water in the car, you can also buy bottles of water everywhere. Remember that you have to drink more water in these countries than you do at home. This is to prevent dehydration.

The meals you eat in the hotels that we book for you are safe to eat. If you eat on your own, pay attention to hygiene. Be careful with salads and cleaned fruit.

Bilharzia can occur in standing water of lakes and rivers. Avoid coming into contact with this water.

Mobile calling and WIFi

You have connection with your own mobile in most towns in Kenya and Tanzania. It is possible that there is sometimes no range in parks.

If you always want to be contactable for the home front, please leave our telephone number at home. In case of emergency we can always reach you at the lodge in the evening.

Most lodges have WIFI. Sometimes only in the reception, sometimes in your own room. Keep in mind that the connection is slower than you are used to at home. In some lodges you have to pay for your WIFI.

Never wait until the last moment to charge your mobile, camera or computer. This is because there are sometimes power failures, so there is no electricity. In addition, many lodges use generators that will be switched of at night. Ask the receptionist about this during check-in.

The mains voltage in Kenya and Tanzania is 220-240 Volts. You need a world adapter to charge your belongings.

Safety

It is safe to travel both in Kenya and Tanzania. Of course it is wise to think soberly and to observe some safety rules. Never leave valuables in your room. If you are walking on the street, keep your camera and bag well, especially in larger cities. Do not wear expensive jewelry and do not walk around with expensive belongings. Often the hotel rooms have a safe, stop your valuables in it. If there is no safe in the room, there is often a safe at the reception. Please ask for this.

During the day it is on average safe to walk across the street. We do recommend to take a taxi somewhere in the evening. This is not only for robbers but there are often large holes in the pavement that are difficult or impossible to see in the dark.

To be drunk is not appreciated here and we do not recommend talking with people about politics. Just think soberly and carefully and act accordingly, just as you would do at home.

Insurance

We assume that everyone has travel insurance when booking a trip. It is mandatory to have travel insurance before you start the journey and you must provide us your details. If you do not have travel insurance before you leave, the trip can unfortunately not take place and all costs incurred are for the account of the client. Please check whether your travel insurance has a world coverage. In addition, it is good to check whether the level of payment of your travel insurance is high enough for cameras, laptops and videos.

Please note that if you are planning to do a hot air ballooning or diving, you must be insured separately for this. Please check with your insurance company.

Accidents

Of course everyone will do their utmost to make the trip go smoothly. But ultimately the customer is ultimately responsible for his / her behaviour.

Please note that you are traveling to a country where game drives are done in a park with wild animals. Always listen to the instructions from your driver and / or guide. If park rangers and staff of a lodge give you advice, you should follow up these. You must never leave the car in a park without permission.

Visa and passport

For both Kenya and Tanzania it is mandatory to have a visa. This is also compulsory for Zanzibar, but this is covered by Tanzania.

You can apply for these visas for both countries at their embassy.

Since 2015 it is no longer possible to buy a visa in Kenya on arrival at the airport. You can also apply for your Kenyan visa via www.ecitizen.go.ke . Remember to take this visa print out with you.

For Tanzania and Zanzibar you can still apply for your visa when you arrive at the airport, but keep in mind that this can sometimes take a long time.

For all destinations, your passport needs to be valid for at least 6 months after you leave your destination. In addition, you need at least 2 blank pages for your visa in your passport.

What do I have to bring along?

On average in Kenya and Tanzania it is warm and you need some light clothes. In the evenings you sometimes need a fleece jacket and / or a raincoat. Because most trips are done by 4×4 cars, we ask you to bring a soft bag instead of a hard suitcase. In most hotels where you sleep two nights, you can hand in your laundry. This means that you do not have to carry too much baggage. If you have a domestic flight please note that you can bring 15 kg max (without extra charge). If you also visit Zanzibar, please remind that your shoulders and knees should be covered in Stone Town.

What to bring:

• Daypack
• Fleece jacket/raincoat
• Scarf
• Swimwear
• Walking shoes/sneakers and slippers. You can wear comfortable shoes in the car..
• Cap
• Sunglasses
• Binoculars
• Book about wildlife/birds/plants
• Photo material (please bring enough memory cards and batteries, these are almost not for sale in East Africa)
• Water bottle
• Suncream (with high factor)
• Lip balm
• After sun
• Torch
• Adaptor for East Africa
• Cash money (This can be in euros. If you want to take US dollars, they must not be older than 2006)
• Anti mosquito lotion
• Medicines
• Passport
• Yellow fever stamp in medical passport (mandatory!)
• Copy of passport, visa and insurance

Plastic bags may no longer be used in both Kenya and Tanzania. You may also no longer enter this. If you break this rule, it will be punishable by high penalties. Please make sure when packing your luggage that you do not use plastic bags!

Via our blog you also will be updated of the latest news. Click here to go to our blogs.

For our news via Facebook, click here.

Plastic Bag Rules in Kenya & Tanzania?

Plastic bags may no longer be used in both Kenya and Tanzania. It is not allowed to enter this. If you break this rule, it will be punishable by high penalties. Please make sure when packing your luggage that you do not use plastic bags!