Social ConventionsWestern European habits prevail throughout Kenya as a result of British influences in the country. Kenyans are generally very friendly. Dress is informal, and casual lightweight clothes are accepted for all but the smartest social occasions.
International Travel:Getting There by AirThe national airline is
Kenya Airways (KQ) (website:
www.kenya-airways.com).
Departure TaxNone.
NoteImmigration procedures in Kenyan airports
are likely to be extremely slow, so it is advisable to arrive early.
Main AirportsNairobi (NBO) (Jomo Kenyatta International) is 16km (10 miles) southeast of the city.
To/from the airport: A
Kenyan Bus Services bus and a
Kenyan Airways bus leave every 20 minutes (journey time – 40 minutes). Scheduled bus service to and from the town center is available at unit 1 and 2 bus stops. Taxis are readily available, but the fare should be established before getting into the vehicle (journey time - 15 minutes). The state-controlled
Kenacto taxis work on a fixed rate as do the British-style black cabs, and
Dial a Cab, which are legally required to charge per kilometer.
Facilities: Duty-free shop, hotel reservation, bank/bureau de change, post office, restaurant/bar, car hire, Internet cafe and Wi-Fi hotspots.
Mombasa (MBA) (Moi International) is 13km (8 miles) west of the city.
To/from the airport: There is a regular bus service by
Kenya Airways to their city center office in Mombasa (journey time – 20 minutes). Taxis are also available. Fares should be negotiated in advance. State-controlled
Kenacto taxis and British-style black cabs work on a fixed rate.
Facilities: Duty-free shop, bank, restaurant/bar, tourist information and car hire.
Getting There by WaterMain ports: Mombasa. Short-distance ships sail between Mombasa, Mauritius, the Seychelles and Zanzibar. The ports in the Lake Victoria passenger service include
Homa Bay,
Mfangano and
Port Victoria/Kisumu. The ferries in Lake Victoria connect Kisumu in Kenya to Mwanza, Musoma and Bukoba in Tanzania. Fares are paid for in the currency of the port of embarkation. It is also possible to get ferries from Mombasa to Pemba and Zanzibar in Tanzania, and also to Chiamboni in Somalia.
Getting There by RailKenya is serviced by a single railway system running from Mombasa through Nairobi to Uganda, with branches to Nanyuki, Kitale and Kisumu. Another branch connects Kenya to Tanzania through to Taveta. Train services operate between Voi and Moshi (Tanzania) and between Nairobi and Kampala (Uganda). The sea port of Mombasa is linked to surrounding areas of Kenya and Uganda by rail. Travelers should check beforehand as these rail services may be subject to disruption. For more information contact
Kenya Railways, Nairobi (tel: (020) 221 211).
Getting There by RoadThe main crossing points from Tanzania are at Lunga Lunga and Namanga, with smaller posts at Isebania and Taveta. Some direct coach services operate. From Uganda there are crossing points at Buisa and Malaba. Note that at Malaba, the Kenyan and Ugandan customs posts are about 1km (0.6 miles) apart and no transport between them is available.
For all road frontier crossings, it is advisable to contact the
Kenya AA (tel: (020) 825 0606) prior to departure from the country of origin for up-to-date information concerning insurance requirements and conditions.
OverviewThe following goods may be imported into Kenya by passengers over 16 years of age without incurring customs duty:
200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco;
1l of spirits or 2l of wine;
perfume and toilet water not exceeding in all 0.5l of which not more than a quarter may be perfume.
Firearms and ammunition require a police permit. Pets require a good health certificate, a rabies certificate and an import permit.
The import of fruit, plants, seeds, children's toys and imitation firearms. The export of gold, diamonds and wildlife skins or game trophies not obtained from the authorized Kenyan government department is also prohibited.
Internal Travel:Getting Around By AirKenya Airways (website:
www.kenya-airways.com) operates an extensive network of flights, which includes scheduled services to Eldoret, Kisumu (on the shore of Lake Victoria), Lamu Island, Lockichogio, Malindi and Mombasa.
Air Kenya (website:
www.airkenya.com) offers scheduled flights from Nairobi to Amboseli, Kilimanjaro, Kiwayu, Lamu, Malindi, Masai Mara, Mombasa, Nanyuki and Samburu. Air Kenya also operates into all of Kenya’s game parks.
Regional Air also operates from Nairobi. There are also private airlines operating light aircraft to small airstrips. Planes can be chartered and are useful for transport into game parks.
Getting Around by WaterLocal ferries run between Mombasa, Malindi and Lamu. For details, contact local authorities and tour operators. It is also possible to hire a traditional Kenyan sailing boat (
dhow) in Lamu, Malindi and Mombasa. This is a very basic form of sea travel which requires travelers to take their own food and drinking water. Trips can be arranged directly with the captain or through local travel agencies. There are several popular anchorage points for yachts at Mtwapa, Kiliti, Mnaroni and Lamu.
Getting Around by RailKenya Railways Corporation runs passenger trains between Mombasa and Nairobi; trains generally leave in the evening and arrive the following morning after a journey of around 13 to 14 hours. There are also branches connecting Taveta and Kisumu to the passenger network. There is a daily train in each direction on the Nairobi–Kisumu route, and also an overnight service (travel time – approximately 14 hours). There is also a service through to Kampala. Trains are sometimes delayed, but most of the rolling stock is modern and comfortable, and most trains have restaurant cars. There are three classes: first class is excellent, with two-berth compartments, wardrobe, etc; second class is more basic but comfortable; third is basic. In first and second class, doors can be locked from the inside but when leaving the compartment valuables should not be left unattended. The dining-car service on the Nairobi–Mombasa route is very highly regarded. Sleeping compartments should be booked in advance. Sexes are separated in first and second class. Children under three years of age travel free. Children between three and 15 years of age pay half fare. Tickets can be booked at Nairobi railway station or through local travel agencies. For further information contact Kenya Railways (see address in
Getting There).
Getting Around by RoadTraffic drives on the left. All major roads are paved and many of the others have been improved, particularly in the southwest, although vast areas of the north still suffer from very poor communications. Care should be taken when leaving trunk roads as the surfaces of the lesser roads vary greatly in quality, particularly during the rainy season. There are petrol stations on most highways. The Kilifi Bridge linking Mombasa to Malindi serves as an alternative to the Kilifi ferry, and eases traffic flows to the northern circuit.
Bus: Buses run regularly between most cities and towns. City buses operate in Nairobi and Mombasa at reasonable prices. Peak hours should be avoided as buses get very crowded. Buses also run across the borders to Uganda, Tanzania and Ethiopia. Fares are paid to the conductor. There is a network of regular buses and shared minibuses (
Matatu); the fares do not vary greatly, but buses tend to be the safer method of transport. All bus companies are privately run. Local advice should be taken for bus companies with a better safety record and reputation. In some towns the different bus services and the
matatu share the same terminus.
Taxi: Kenya is very well served by long-distance taxis, carrying up to seven passengers. The best services are between the capital and Mombasa and Nakuru. Taxis are not metered and a price must be agreed before departure. Taxis and minibuses are a convenient method of travel on the coast.
Car hire: Self-drive and chauffeur-driven cars may be hired from a number of travel agents in Malindi, Mombasa and Nairobi. This can be expensive, and rates – particularly the mileage charges – can vary a good deal. Most companies insist that only 4-wheel-drive vehicles should be rented.
Tours and safaris: Many tour companies in Nairobi offer package arrangements for visits to the game parks and other attractions. Before booking it is very important to know exactly what the all-in price provides. For further information contact Kenya Association of Tour Operators (KATO), PO Box 48461, 00100 Nairobi (tel: (020) 713 348
or 386; website:
www.katokenya.org).
Documentation: Visitors bringing in vehicles with registration other than Ugandan or Tanzanian must obtain an ‘International Circulation Permit’ from the Licensing Officer in Nairobi. This will be issued free of charge on production of a permit of customs duty receipt and a certificate of insurance. A full British driving license is valid, otherwise an International Driving Permit is required. For further details, apply to the Registrar of Motor Vehicles in Nairobi.
Getting Around Towns and CitiesBus: Nairobi and Mombasa have efficient bus systems. Single tickets are sold (by conductors), but monthly bus passes are also available from the Kenya Bus Offices in the city center. There are also unregulated
Matatu, 12- to 25-seat light pick-ups and minibuses. These are often severely overloaded and badly driven and therefore should be used with caution. The three-wheel Bajaj Auto Rickshaw or
Tuk tuk of South East Asia is becoming increasingly popular. In Kisumu, cycle rickshaws and bicycle taxis are popular. They are locally known as
Boarder-boarders.
Taxi: Dial a Cab,
Jatco and
Kenatco run fleets of taxis and these are usually very reliable. The older yellow-band taxis do not have meters, so fares should be agreed in advance. A 10 per cent tip is expected. Taxis cannot be hailed in the street. Hotels and restaurants can order taxis.
Journey TimesThe following chart gives approximate travel times (in hours and minutes) from
Nairobi to other major cities/towns in Kenya.
| Air | Road | Rail |
| Kisumu | 1.05 | 7.00 | 14.00 |
| Mombasa | 1.00 | 6.00 | 14.00 |
| Nakuru | 0.30 | 3.00 | 5.00 |
| Eldoret | 1.15 | 7.00 | 9.00 |
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