|
|
|
Africa Tour And Safari In Kenya What Are Your Questions And Fears
here is usually a lot of
uncertainty while you are A tourist visa is required for
going for your wildlife, entry into both Kenya and
beach, sport, adventure or nature Tanzania. There are two options
safari in Africa. Many people for purchase: 1) In advance by
will enquire about hotel, taking applying through your local Kenya
photos, visa requirements, maps, and/or Tanzania embassy (allow
tours, travel, airlines, 4-6 weeks). 2) Upon arrival in
warriors, the weather, insurance, Kenya at the airport (Nairobi)
flights to and from Kenya and and Tanzania at the border. Each
almost anything else. I make an visa is $50 USD and is payable in
attempt here to try and answer cash only (bill denominations
some of the pertinent questions must be $20 USD or less). Allow
to your African- Kenya tour. More 30-45 minutes in Nairobi, and
on Kenyan travel. about 10-20 minutes at the
Tanzania border.
Travel insurance
Best time to view game
It is strongly recommended that
all travelers are individually In general, the best times to see
insured. The travel insurance game are early morning and late
should cover personal accident, afternoon. In the midday heat,
medical expenses and animals frequently retreat to the
repatriation, trip cancellation cool of thick undergrowth, where
and loss of personal effects. they cannot be seen. Another
Make sure your insurer is aware benefit to morning and afternoon
of the type of travel to be game drives is witnessing
undertaken. unforgettable sunrises and
sunsets.
Travel visa
Rainy season few, that are alive and well and
walking around in the game parks.
There are two rainy seasons - the Although you can no longer kill
"Long Rains" from mid-March to them, you can get mighty close to
June, and the "Short Rains" from them to either photograph or just
mid-November to mid-December. The enjoy watching them go about
Short rainy season and is only doing whatever it is they do.
called "short" because of the There is also a huge variety of
duration not the amount of rain. bird life. To add to all that,
Even though they are called the the land itself is some of the
rainy season, there are still most gorgeous on the planet and
wonderful sunny days during that extremely varied. There are
time. It might open up a huge mountains, deserts, savanna's,
downpour for an hour or so, but rivers, oceans and forests. The
other than that you will be fine. air is clean, the scenery
Morning and afternoon game drives fantastic and the joys of getting
are usually not affected. You can that close to nature is hard to
usually save up to 20% on your describe. Just being there seems
tour by booking during these to do something to many a
times. visitors soul.
Why Kenya and/or Tanzania What about bugs?
Hundreds of thousands of people There are insects of all
travel to Kenya and Tanzania varieties in Kenya/Tanzania and
every year just to see the of course there are mosquitoes,
animals. There are lions, mostly on the Coast however, but
leopards, elephants, cape nothing worse then you have seen
buffalo, rhino, giraffe, gazelle anywhere else. If the sight of a
and wart hogs, just to name a gecko sends you flying though,
maybe a trip to Kenya/Tanzania is The quality of tap water can vary
best avoided. You will not by destination. It is best to
however, walk into huge swarms of drink bottled water.
killer bees or step across acres
of crunching bugs under your Safety issues
feet. Snakes do exist of course,
but are rarely seen. By anyone. Basic precautions should be taken
in all countries. Tour guides are
Internet access while on safari highly experienced in navigating
each destination, but visitors
While communications in remote should always be aware of their
camps will be limited, most major surroundings, especially in any
hotels and lodges offer Internet rural villages that may be wary
services as well as international of foreigners. In less-developed
telephone and fax services. areas where many people live in
Additionally, private poverty, crimes of opportunity
communication centers and cyber can occur, such as petty theft.
cafes in larger towns enable Visitors are advised to stay
tourists to stay connected. Some alert and use common sense.
centers may close on Sundays and Safari guests should limit the
public holidays. The cellular amount of cash they carry and
networks in Kenya & Tanzania lock valuables in a hotel safe or
cover most large towns and other secure place. Lock hotel
tourist areas. There are post rooms when you leave. Do not walk
offices in many towns, and stamps alone in deserted areas at night.
are also sold in many shops in Take extra care of purses, bags
tourist lodges and hotels. and wallets in crowded places.
Safe water to drink. Malaria
Malaria is spread by mosquitoes, widely available, recovery times
which bite mainly at dusk and at are fast, and with basic
night. You can only contract precautions, the risk of
malaria if you are bitten by an infection is minimal.
infected anopheles mosquito. It
is best to use insect repellent Entry into Kenya
containing DEET (sprayed on
clothing and any exposed skin), U.S. and Canadian citizens need a
to keep arms and legs covered as valid passport, visa, and proof
much as possible, and to avoid of onward passage.
the use of perfume, hairspray and Are there any health precautions
other scented products that might I should take?
attract mosquitoes. The U.S. According to the World Health
Centers for Disease Control and Organization, Malaria risk exists
Prevention (CDC) strongly throughout the year in the whole
recommends that visitors to Kenya country. There is normally little
& Tanzania take anti-malarial risk in the city of Nairobi and
medication. Consult a physician in the highlands (above 2500 m)
or travel clinic before your trip of Central, Eastern, Nyanza, Rift
so that he or she can prescribe Valley and Western provinces.
the appropriate drugs. Recommended prophylaxis:
Anti-malarial medications are mefloquine. Consult your doctor
generally taken prior to your about taking additional
departure, during your trip, and vaccinations for polio, typhoid,
after you return home for periods and hepatitis.
determined by your doctor. CDC Website link:
Symptoms of malaria include http://www.cdc.gov/travel/eafrica
aches, chills, headaches and .htm
fever, and may not appear until WHO website link:
after your trip. Treatment is http://www.who.int/ith/countrylis
t07.html#107 hangings, tanzanite gemstones,
and malachite. Some of the best
Currency handcrafts of Kenya and other
countries in Africa are sent to
The currency in Kenya is the Nairobi. Visit artist
shilling. One American dollar cooperatives to buy directly from
equals approximately 80 artists. Note: There have been
shillings. Click here for updated problems with not receiving
currency information. souvenirs shipped home, so I
ATMs: ATMs are everywhere in most advise you carry them home in
cities. your luggage.
Tipping: Add 10% to the bill in
restaurants, except where a Voltage requirements in Kenya
service charge has been included.
Tip bellhops 20 KSh per bag. Voltage: 240 V; Plug G. You will
need a voltage converter, and
Best items to shop for in Kenya plug adapter in order to use U.S.
appliances. We recommend getting
Shop for wood carvings of animals a universal adapter and converter
and people, sisal baskets, Maasai kit. Click here for more
and Kikuyu beadwork, hand-woven information about electrical
sarong fabric, soapstone, gourds, standards around the world.
ebony carvings, batik wall
About the Author:
Robert is a tour consultant in Kenya and has planned business and vacation safaris for over 10,000 tourists in the East African region. He is a tour operation- major and involved in National tourism policy development in Kenya.For more info visit: http://www.landmarksafaris.com/planner
Published At: www.Isnare.com
|
|
