- Important points
- Choosing wings
- Hotel overlooking the savannah
- Transport subtleties
- Nightingales are not fed with fables
- Useful details
- The perfect trip to Kenya
Modern anthropologists consider this country the cradle of human civilization, while naturalists prefer traveling to Kenya to observe the members of the "great African five" - animals familiar to everyone from the children's tale about Dr. Aibolit.
But Kenya is famous not only for lions, elephants and hippos. On its territory there are national parks with magnificent landscapes and modern cities with glass and concrete skyscrapers. Kenya is home to amazing Maasai tribes who have preserved their customs and national traditions through the depths of the centuries, and lovers of the picturesque underwater world flock to local diving sites like butterflies. In a word, tours to Kenya will not disappoint the traveler, and a true fan of exotic tourism is unlikely to refuse to visit real Africa at least once in his life.
Important points
- A Kenyan visa, which is necessary for a Russian tourist to travel to the country, is willingly issued both online on the website www.ecitizen.go.ke, and during a personal visit to the embassy. The issue price is $ 50. Received visa letter by e-mail should be printed for Kenyan border guards. When applying for a single African visa to travel to Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda, you can avoid material waste and get the cherished permit for free.
- Preparing for a trip to Kenya should be accompanied by vaccination of the future tourist. Vaccinations against tetanus, hepatitis A and polio are recommended. The most effective way to protect yourself from malaria is to take special drugs according to a special scheme.
Choosing wings
Not a single airline flies directly from Nairobi to Moscow, but air carriers of various countries are ready to help tourists get from Russia to Kenya with transfers:
- Regular flights of Qatar Airways with a transit in Doha take about 11 hours excluding transfers. Tickets cost just over $ 500.
- Air France via Paris and KLM via Amsterdam fly to Nairobi for $ 530 and 12 hours without connecting.
- Tickets from Moscow to Mombasa are more expensive, and a flight on the wings of Etihad Airways and Kenia Airways will cost $ 650. You will have to spend at least 12 hours in the sky, and make transfers in Abu Dhabi and Nairobi.
Hotel overlooking the savannah
Hotels in Kenya, familiar to a person from Europe, are built in Nairobi and other large cities. They have a classic star rating and those that belong to global chains can guarantee standard comfort, high-class service and level of equipment. The minimum prices for a night in the capital's "five" are from $ 140.
Hotels with three stars on the facade in Nairobi are not expensive and you can spend the night in such a hotel in a double room for $ 30. The price often includes breakfast and always free parking and Wi-Fi.
Hostels in the capital are easily booked from $ 15 per day, breakfasts are included in the price, and free wireless Internet will help guests stay in touch with loved ones.
Beach hotels in Mombasa and other resorts offer rooms from $ 20 for a sand bungalow covered with palm leaves, to quite solid "fours" for $ 120 -140.
Hotels in Kenya's national parks look completely different and are camps and lodges built in the national traditions of local residents. The guests feel completely merged with the wild nature, and such a pleasure costs from $ 150 to several hundred and even thousands of dollars a day.
Transport subtleties
National characteristics and local African realities require a careful approach to the choice of transport. You can rent a car in the country and several rental agencies are open right at Nairobi International Airport. But in order to maintain their own safety, foreigners are not recommended to travel in Kenya alone without local guides, and therefore the best option for movement is to rent a car with a driver.
The largest and most popular tourist cities in Kenya are connected by air links. For example, you can get from the capital of the country Nairobi to Mombasa on the wings of the local carrier Fly 540. Travel time will be a little less than an hour, and you can buy a ticket for $ 130.
The country's railway network is very extensive and extensive, but Kenyan trains do not always strictly adhere to the schedule. The lack of punctuality of Kenyan railroad workers is more than compensated by the African landscapes sweeping outside the windows.
In the capital and large cities, public transport is represented by buses and analogues of our "minibuses". Tickets are sold directly in the salon and the fare is approximately $ 0.6.
Taxis in the country are not very cheap and the average trip around the city will cost $ 12 -14 $. It is important to agree on the cost of the service before boarding the taxi, and it is advisable to call the car to the hotel receptionist or restaurant administrator.
Nightingales are not fed with fables
Catering establishments in Kenya can offer lunches and dinners to a wide variety of categories of visitors - from the budget conscious to those who are used to indulging themselves in nothing. In an inexpensive cafe, you can dine at $ 5, and the menu on your table will include hot dishes, salad, and soft drinks. You can have dinner together for $ 35-40. In order for this money, you can include a bottle of wine, meat or fish dishes.
The cheapest food is from street vendors, where a portion of grilled meat will cost $ 2 -3 $. In order not to risk health, the choice of such food points should be approached very carefully.
Useful details
- Avoid ice in drinks when ordering in a restaurant or cafe. Drinking water should be consumed only in bottled water.
- When traveling in Kenya, carry an adequate supply of cash with you. In the provinces, credit cards are not accepted, and ATMs for withdrawing cash are also more exotic than commonplace.
- At night, in lodges and campsites, electricity is usually turned off and finding amenities causes some difficulties for guests. Bring an electric torch and a supply of batteries on your trip.
- When checking into a hotel in Savannah, check the condition of the mosquito net. It must not be damaged.
The perfect trip to Kenya
The territory of the country is divided by the equator into almost two equal parts. The proximity of the Indian Ocean also has a great influence on the climate.
The rainy season in Kenya is quite pronounced, but not too long. Most precipitation falls in the period from March to May inclusive. At this time, easterly winds blow, bringing ocean moist air. The rains can last an hour or more and are called "long". The period of "short" rains in Kenya occurs in October-November. Precipitation during this period can fall every day for 15-30 minutes. Rainy times are especially favorable for budget travelers. In the "low season" prices for hotel accommodation, safaris, guide services and domestic flights are significantly reduced.
On the ocean coast, where beach resorts are located, the average air temperature is + 27 ° С, in the Great Rift Valley, the temperature range is very significant - from 29 ° С in the north to + 16 ° С in the south, where Lakes Nakuru and Naivasha are located.
