At the Airport (Mumbai and Nairobi)
- Camera tripod needs to be wrapped before checking in, Cost $8 USD at each airport (I suggest to take plastic container which will protect it during transit as well as save money)
- Road to Nairobi airport is nightmare for tourists !! Each signal takes 45 minutes minimum to clear !! in fact we all were about to miss our international flight !! Thanks to the Kenyan Police officer, who cleared the road for us after humble request from Mahesh sir !! So from Nairobi city to airport 18 kilometers can take easily 4 hours in evening time !! so be careful. Our flight was at 9 pm, we started 4.45 pm and after intervention by the police officer we could hardly make to the airport by 7.30 pm !!!
- At Nairobi airport chocolates and liquor are pretty cheap price compared to Mumbai airport
- Buy FOREX at Nairobi airport with small notes like 10 Kenyan Shillings , while you tip the people use multiple 10 shillings notes (this way 100 shillings means 10 notes)
At Hotels in Kenya
- Nights are pretty cold, most of the hotel rooms are not equipped with coffee maker, hence to make water warm for drinking or to have morning tea, water heater coil is a must
- In addition carrying light weight thrmos flask will help to drink warm water throughout chilling nights
- Ready tea sachets is a must, you can make your own tea at room (also tea served at bk fast is not as good as ready tea sachets you get)
- Carry ready mix masala sachets, so that you can get your egg omelet made at hotel and a tasty chicken tandoori too ( The one we had at Masai Mara Lodge was so simple w/o salt and masala that we could not eat it !)
- Torch is must, since most of the hotels have rooms at distance and lighting is not so bright
- Water at Lake Nakaru & Nairobi is soapy !! You feel like washing your hand with soapy water!! This is just an info, you can’t do anything about this
- If possible do manage your visit to the famous Carnivore Restaurant …. To taste the legs of lamb and pork, ostrich, rumps of beef, sirloins, racks of lamb, spare ribs, sausages, chicken wings, skewered kidneys, even crocodile, and other tasty morsels which are roasted on traditional Maasai swords over a huge, spectacular charcoal pit.
Shopping
- Barter exchange is possible in these shops (and all over Kenya in Curio shops) … Specially they like Pen, Goggles, Indian Jewelry, but be careful and bargain hard (do not handover things to them before you bargain, in a minute the person can vanish getting your goods !! this is my personal lesson’s learnt !!)
- Heavy bargaining to be done and you must reserve special time for this, else for sure you will loose money
- I did our best shopping at Westlands Triangle Market
Jungle safari
- While you are in Masai mara and go for full day trip (morning to evening) you may face some emergency problem (you understood ? ha ! ha !!) in that case instead wasting valuable $3 USD per liter water, get empty water bottles filled in with tap water to wash your hands !!
- Shoes ares not a must, better to go with floaters or chapples with socks, this will facilitate easy climbing over seats in van while watching the wild life or photography
General
- Be careful during photography of people, Kenyan people specially Masai tribe does not like photography, if at all you wish to take photograph, offer them money, bargain and then only photograph
- Avoid drinking outside water, use bottled water bought at standard known places
WIP document 02 June 2015
Kenya safari what to wear
Please remember to wear neutral colours – browns, beiges and khakis are ideal.
Always put comfort and practicality ahead of style. Never wear white, and avoid bright colours. Instead, be a chameleon and blend into the landscape with animal-friendly greens and khakis. Never dress in camouflage clothing (associated with the military) or anything black or blue (both colours are known to attract tsetse flies)
Go for lightweight cottons, long trousers and shirts with long sleeves to protect against thorns and insect bites.
On safari you will spend most of your time riding on wild roads and bumping your rear part against a vehicle’s seat, so you’d rather avoid tight-fitting clothes and choose loose cotton or linen
From your early morning game drive to midday the sun can make quite a difference, so it is advisable to dress by layers you can take off when the sun sets in.
You will need a warm sweater or polar fleece for those chilly hours. Another reason to cover your arms and legs after sunset is to prevent mosquito bites.
Pack your light clothing as well. Midday sun can be scorching in places like Samburu or Tsavo, so you’ll want to have your shorts and T-shirts or tank tops at hand.
don’t forget your bathing suit, since many lodges have a swimming pool.
Bring your sunglasses, sunscreen with a high protection factor and an aftersun lotion.
And remember, Africa can be cold. The Maasai Mara may be within 100 miles of the Equator but is more than 5,000ft above sea level. On dawn game drives you’ll be glad of a jacket and sweater, even gloves. Most camps and lodges have a shop where you can buy a cotton kikoi, an African sarong that can double as a scarf, sling or turban.
Roads in Kenya are dusty, and dust gets everywhere
Most people bring a hat or cap, but actually they are of little use, since you will spend your longest hours sitting inside a vehicle. Conversely, if you are a female, you will find it much more handy to bring a piece of cloth such as a scarf, bandana or shesh to cover your hair, since otherwise it will end up every day seriously knotted and tangled due to the dust. These accessories are also essential to protect your nose and mouth when driving through dusty roads.
Rain
Last but not least, even in the dry season rain can show up anywhere, particularly in Masai Mara, on the mountains and at the coast. Bring a light waterproof jacket or poncho.
SHOES
Just bring comfortable shoes
Temperatures
Temperatures are lower (always slightly) in winter, from June to September
Kenya safari Baggage
If you are staying at one of the mountain lodges, like Treetops or The Ark in Aberdare National Park, you should know that these lodges have a special regime. Your baggage will stay at the base hotel (Outspan for Treetops and Aberdare Country Club for The Ark) and you will only be allowed to carry one handbag or backpack per person, so remember to bring a spare small bag.
At the lodges you will find shops that sell all the basic toiletry items, but prices are high, so you’d better bring everything you need from home. If you plan to camp, don’t forget your toilet rolls. For all purposes, wet wipes are the most essential item for safari, only second to your passport.
MALARIA & MOSQUITOES
Do your best to prevent bites and take your malaria pills
Packing some mosquito repellent is advisable, but this is up to each one’s tastes and sense of danger
If you are concerned with mosquitoes you can bring a plug-in electric insecticide
Accessories
Binoculars are essential, but don’t choose them too powerful
MED INSURANCE
Be sure to be covered // The Flying Doctors Service is a good choice
WATER
Drink only bottled water
Water provided for consumption at the lodges, including ice, is perfectly safe.
If you wish to cut your travel expenses (mineral water can be priced like a luxury good in Kenya), the safest method for purification is vigorous boiling for 1 minute (3 minutes at altitudes greater than 2,000 m or 6,562 feet) and cooling at room temperature.
FOREX
Remember to keep the receipts of all exchange operations, since you may be requested to show them upon changing your shillings to a different currency, especially if you are extending your vacations to another country
US dollar notes with series older than the year 2000 are NOT accepted at forex bureaus or park gates. Apparently the reason is that the Bank of Kenya does not accept them because of counterfeiting.
It is advisable not to rely solely on your credit card. Cards are widely accepted, especially Visa, but in many places there are no ‘point of sale’ telephone terminals. In such cases you will be charged using an old carbon paper swiper after telephone authorization of your card. If your card cannot be authorized on the spot, you will not be allowed to pay with it, so be sure to bring enough cash or traveller cheques for your expenses. Remember to check your credit card charges once back home.
Souvenirs
In general, prices of souvenirs are high. The best prices can be found at the airport shops and from local vendors at the park gates, especially the Maasai women at Sekenani Gate in Masai Mara. Shops at some lodges and flea markets usually have reasonable prices as well. Prices are higher at hotels and stores in Nairobi, and above all, at the road dukas or curio shops. If you travel on a package tour you will be taken by your driver to these road shops, but bear in mind that prices are much higher here than elsewhere.
Reference website:
http://www.buckettripper.com/what-to-buy-in-east-africa-souvenir-shopping-in-kenya-and-tanzania/
http://www.kenyalogy.com/eng/info/datos3.html
http://www.kenyalogy.com/eng/info/datos2.html
http://www.kenyalogy.com/eng/info/datos65.html
http://www.kenyalogy.com/eng/info/datos5.html
Leave a Reply