Kenya Travel Guide
KENYA TRAVEL INFORMATION GUIDE
Kenya is endowed with nature and beauty making it a country of grand adventure. Its eastern border is shared with the 536km coastline of the famous Indian Ocean blessing it with beautiful beaches. Its wide range of attraction such as wildlife, snow capped mountains and its startling ever changing landscapes have made Kenya a famous tourism destination.
Location
Kenya is located on equatorial East Africa; it is crossed by the equator and is about 582,650 sq kms. It shares its border with Ethiopia in the north, Sudan in the northwest, Uganda in the west and Tanzania in the south.
Climate
The climate is characterized by two rainy seasons per year. The short rainy season runs from October to November while March to May presents the long rains.
The coast has tropical climate that is humid and hot with the average rainfall of 1200mm at temperature ranges of 27°C -31°C.
Unlike the coast, the plateau area has temperatures ranging from 25°C to 30°C during the day throughout the year. At night, the temperatures go as low as 5°C during the months preceding the short rainy season.
The north and the northwest parts of Kenya are very dry while the inland receives approximately 1200mm with temperatures varying between 27°C and 31°C.
Transport
There are various means of transport to, within and from Kenya and these include Air, Railway, Water and road transport.
Road transport
Roads are the most used mode of transportation because of the advance road network in the country. The Matatus (Vans or Minibuses) are the most used public form with their services spread out in the major cities of Kenya. The taxis are available in the cities for preferred personalized services.
A number of bus services are available in Kenya including; Buscar, Scandinavia, Akamba and Masha. These help to serve upcountry routes and destinations to the neighboring countries. They are scheduled for early morning, late afternoon and in the evening.
The fares are low obviously depending on your destination. In case of long distance journeys, you must book in advance. In case you come with your car, you will receive free passage at the border for three months.
Air
The three international airports in Kenya are; Moi International Airport (MIA), Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi and Eldoret International Airport (EIA) in Eldoret.
There are about 250 airstrips connecting all parts of Kenya to Nairobi.
The Airport in Nairobi is a hub to the major airlines such as Emirates, Kenya Airways, Ethiopian Airways and many more.
Water
Water transportation is restricted to the lakes and the Indian Ocean. The Linkoni Ferry provides transport to and from the north and the south coast and free for commuters except for vehicle which are charged.
Rail
Kenya Railways runs the state owned trains. The clients are grouped into 1st class, 2nd and 3rd class. The latter has a shared wash room per couch where as the other classes have self contained apartments with meals and drinks.
The train travels from Mombasa to Nairobi every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday at 7pm and back to Mombasa every Monday, Wednesday and Friday 7pm. No prior booking is required.
Visa Requirements
For travelers outside East Africa, a Visa is a requirement for one to come into Kenya. You can obtain a visa form any Kenyan Mission near you or on arrival at a cost of USD 50.
Religion
The constitution of Kenya guarantees freedom of worship. Majority of Kenyans are Christians. The religions include Protestants, Catholics and Muslims.
Health
Before coming to Kenya, you are advised to be vaccinated against tetanus and yellow fever . Malaria prevention should be put into consideration. It is also advisable to take packed water.
Doctors are available on 24hr call throughout the week.
