Kenya is a country in the East africa . It shares it’s border with somalia in north east , Etheopia and south sudan in the North , Uganda in the west and Tanzania in the South . From the Somalia beach to the Tanzania , kenya has a long coastline beside Indian ocean . The Great African rift valley passes from north to south inside this country , creating some of the greatest lakes in africa …. Lake Naibasha , Lake Nakuru , Lake Bogoria. It has mostly the tropical weather but in heighland people experience temperate weather . Here summer is very hot as the Euatorial line bisect kenya into two . One part of kenya is in North hemisphere another in the south Hemmisphere . Here beaches are usally hot and Humid . Capital Nairobi has a very pleasent weather all around the year as it is situated in the highlands of Kenya making it cool .
The size of kenya is 5 , 80 , 367 sq km with population of 47.6 million . he main spoken languages are Swaheli and English .In kenya major religions are Christinity and Islam . Kikyu , Luhya , Kalenjin , Luo , Kamba , somalis , Meru , Turkana are the major tribes in Kenya .But among them most famous is Masai .
Masai People live in Forest .Cattle and Livestock are their major property . They are thin and tall . This people one of the hardest people in earth .It is said sometimes for the search of food they walk more than 150 km in a day . There was customs in the older days that … When a boy kills a lion then only he become Men .(eligible for marriage) They wear red dresses and local jewelery .
This gallery showing the different denomination of kenyan shelling(KSH) both in notes and coin .
The Currency of the country is Kenyan shelling . It has coin in the denomination 1 , 2 , 5 , 10 , 20 , 25 and 50 and Notes in the denomination 50 , 100 , 200 , 500 , 1000 . The heighest currency is 1000 notes. If you are a foreighner max atm limit it .
Kenya’s international telephone code is +254 . Here most preferable mobile company are Airtel , Safaricom , Telcom , finserve .
How to Reach to Kenya :
Air :
In kenya there is three major international airports and couple of domestic airport you can find smaller planes with very less seat . In africa flight tickets are very expensive . This are the international airports in Kenya .
- Jomo Kenyatta International airport , Nairobi – It is 17 -18 km from the city centre and cab will charge in between 1000 – 1500 KSH.
- Moi International Airport at mombasa
- Kisumu International Airport
Rail:
There is not much Rail Link in the Kenya . There is one older rail way which connects the inland port Kisumu(Situated in the banks of Victoria Lake ) to the port city Mombasa .There is also another faster train service “Madaraka express ” which connects the port city Mombasa with the capital Nairobi . This traine is build by Chines . It’s top speed is 120 km/h.
Road :
I must say roads are fantastic . There is no pot holes and most of the roads are straight . In those roads you can clearly see 4-5 km of road ahead . Cars run very fast on the road . It frequently crosses 100 km/hr mark . Tanzania , Uganda , Ethiopia are connected by Major Highways like A104 , A109 , A1 ,A2 ect . For reaching to all National Parks there is Normal buses and Mattatus . Buses are available from Nairobi to Arusha , Dar es salam , Kampala , Kisumu and Moyale .
Boat:
Boat connectivity is available in the following routes
- Mawanza in Tanzania to the Kisumu in Kenya in the Lake Victoria .
- Mombasa to Zanzibar city .
- Mombasa to the Dar es Salam city in Tanzania .
How to get the visa ?
kenya have two types of visa
1 ) Embessy visa : Some countries have to directly apply to the Embassy.
2) Online visa : For most of the countries , they have to apply visa online with required documents in http://evisa.go.ke/evisa.html. You have to pay $ 50 or Eur 40 for the visa fees .
keep in mind that you may get the visa in online but they may ask you to show Yellow fever certificate in the time of immigration checking . You have to take the vaccine minimum 10 days before your travel . It takes min 10 days to activate the vaccine . It is a very dangerous desease in Africa. Mortality rate is very high in yellow fever . Also they may ask you to show polio vaccination certificate in the Imigration counter .After applying visa in online you will get the evisa within 2-3 days .
Now in 2021 negative Corona certificate is must to enter in Kenya . You have to put all the details of yourself and upload the corona certificate in their portal and then QR code is generated . Now you have to show it to the airport staff . Without that entry is not possible .
Key Points :
- If you plan to catch your return flight from Jomo Kenyatta airport . Be prepare early because there is heavy traffic on that road .Making 18 km distance a two hour journey or more .
- Nairobi National park is very near to the airport . You must visit it on arrival in Nairobi .
- Here is lots of Night Club and other entertainment club ….. My advice will be “be careful always as night time is not safe “. You may be robbed here . Also be aware of the girls on those place .
- Normal people are very friendly but you have to cautious with police as they will charge you with nonsense and ask bribe to let you go .
- You can buy things from the Supermarket which is cheap here and prices are fixed .
- Here most of the people wear the western Dress and the english is widely spoken .
- In Kenya there is 23 National Parks , 28 National Reserves , 4 National Marine Parks , 6 National Marine Reserves and 4 National Sanctuaries . Masai – Mara National Reserve , Ambseli National Park , Nakuru National Park , Biringo National Park , Nairobi National Park , East tvaso National Park , Hells Gate National Park and Meru National Park are the most famous among them . In every year lots of foreign travelers come in Masai mara reserve to watch the mass migration of the wildbeast and zebras.
- In the Jungle you will find acacia tree which is like landmark for african jungle
- In Masai Mara you can also opt for Baloon safari . From the height you can see the animals .
- certainly you will find that people come for help to direct you in the city . After they taken you to the destination they may charge money for that . Be alert .
- Before buying a ticket on the private bus enquire others . You should burgain heavely to get good price otherwise you loose a lots of money .
- Also it is very suprising for me that after bus had started the engine waits till all seats are filled . It waited in the same bus station for 2.5 hour . On this 2.5 hour I will reach to the destination .
- There will be too many hawkers , try to sell goods in Bus . Most of them are just forcing you to buy goods . They disturbe you a lot .
- Best way for solo traveler to go for safari is that you check group travel option in trip advisor . Otherwise it is very expensive for safari . It is min 150 to 200 $ per day for single day with park feed included .
- You need a Universal adapter as voltages and plugs are different countrywise.
- Another thing is that you need to take yellow fever vaccine before coming to kenya .
Food:
Ugali is made of some flour produced in africa . It is rice like thing . Here in the Boiled egg they put tomato and onion salad . I find this very tasty only take 10 ksh . In the market a special types of leave is sold which if you eat you can not swallow anything inside for certain time . It is a adictive meterial for local. Here people drink a mug of tea or coffee . This mugs are much bigger than normal cups for tea .
Where to Stay ?
There is Lots of Hotels and Hostels . You can book it in the Booking.com , Hostelworld.com and other website . Before bookong please please read the reviews. This will give you an idea …. If the place is safe or not . I would say better to book a personal room rather than a dormetory room in hostel . Homestays are nice also .
My hotel name is Ngara Riverside Lodge . It is very near to the city centre from where you can get buses in all route .
Summary :
Kenya is situated in the East Africa which is paradise for the African savanna safari . Here the most famous national park for safari is Masai Mara National Park . Kenyan people are very tall and slim in figure . Masai tribe in Kenya are famous for their’s long jump dance . The great Africa rift valley is passing through the Kenya . Nakuru national park and lots of lakes are build in this rift valley . All together Kenya is a life time experience .
