Useful Information

CITIES
The capital city of Kenya is Nairobi. The other cities are Mombasa and Kisumu. Other major towns are Nakuru, Eldoret, Nyeri, Embu, Meru, Thika and Kakamega.

CURRENCY
The unit of currency is the Kenya shilling abbreviated as Ksh. That is written before the value or use of /= that comes after the value.

Bank notes are available in denominations of Ksh 50, 100, 200 and 1000, while coins are available in 50 cents, 1, 5, 10, 20, and 40 shillings.

Visitors to Kenya should change foreign currency at the bank, bureau de exchange or authorized hotels. Banks in Kenya operate between 9am and 4pm weekdays and 9am to 12am on Saturday. The easiest currencies to change are US Dollars, Pounds Sterling and Euros. Travelers' Cheques are widely accepted, and many hotels, travel agencies, safari companies and restaurants. Traveler's Cheques are probably the best and safest way to bring money with you to Kenya

There are no restrictions on the amount of foreign currency that can be brought to Kenya although before departure, visitors are advised to convert any excess shillings into foreign currency at the bank or bureau de change.

Anyone wishing to take more than 500,000 Kenyan shillings out of the country will require written authorization from the central bank.

CREDIT CARDS
Major international credit cards are accepted in Kenya and most Automated Teller Machines (ATM's) can accept international VIsA and MASTERCARD credit cards. ATMs can be found at airports, bank branches, shopping malls, gas stations among other locations nationwide.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS IN KENYA
In addition to the four international holidays, Kenya has four national holidays.
*For public holidays falling on a Sunday, the following Monday is observed as the official holiday.

January 1 - New year's day
Moveable dates Good Friday, Easter Monday and End of Ramadhan, Idd-ul-fitr
May 1 Labour day
June 1 Madaraka (self rule) day
October 10 - Moi day
October 20 - Kenyatta day
December 12 - Uhuru/Jamhuri day (Independence/Republic day)
December 25 - Christmas day
December 26 - Boxing day
End of Ramadhan, Eid al Fitr - (sight of moon)

Holidays falling on Sunday are observed the following Monday.

Tipping
Tipping is not mandatory in Kenya. Tour guides, drivers, waiters, hotel staff among others can be tipped at your own discretion.

Health
Anti-malarial prophylactics should be taken before, during and after your visit to Kenya, especially if you visit the Coast. Good medical facilities are available in the major cities. Membership with groups such as the Flying Doctors is also recommended; Best of Kenya includes Flying Doctor emergency evacuation coverage in all of our safaris, unless otherwise stated. Hotels, camps and lodges should provide either bottled water, or filtered water for drinking. Please do not drink the tap water.

Driving
Most Kenyans drive on the left hand side of the road. It is recommended that you travel with an international driving license if you plan to drive in Kenya.

Clothing
Informal, lightweight clothing is recommended. Mornings and evenings can be cool at altitude, so bring a sweater or cardigan. A hat is highly recommended due to the sun. On the Kenya coast, ladies are expected to dress modestly in public. Nude or topless sunbathing is not only illegal, but also affects the sensibilities of the Muslim community