Oftentimes, planning a simple family trip can be a challenging task if you have small children. If you have teenagers, this task becomes so much complicated because they have a clear vision of their perfect holiday and it usually doesn’t match yours at all.
Still, surely you want to go somewhere where none you have ever been before and experience things that you have never had a chance to in the past. This beautiful world of ours provides you with so many different traveling options, so sometimes it can be hard to choose where to spend your next vacation.
In the following article, we are going to introduce you to Kenya and give you some basic information about this breathtaking land. It is a country of diversity and it has got everything, from marvelous landscapes, different safari tours, to historic sites and wonderful beaches. This means that regardless of your interest, it is guaranteed that you are going to have a blast here.
Visa
Before you start organizing anything and book your flight and accommodation, you have to learn about all the visa requirements. Firstly, you have to decide whether you are going to stay only in Kenya or if you want to travel across multiple countries. Once you have settled on this, it is time to learn how to apply for this document.
Clearly, your first option is to do it the old-fashioned way. You go to the embassy, get all the forms, fill them out, wait in a queue to submit them and then wait to hear back from them to learn whether your visa got approved.
However, today, there is another way you can go through this process which is in reality really convenient. In 2015 the e-visa system was introduced in Kenya which means that you can apply for it online. All you have to do is to visit evisa-kenya.com, fill out the personal information such as name, age, nationality, information about your trip, and some data from your passport. Once you have submitted your application and paid the fee, if approved, you will receive your visa in PDF format via email. That’s it.
How much money do you need?
Clearly, this is a second thing that is of interest to all tourists, and it is something that depends on your plans. According to some calculations, you are probably going to need at least a little under $50 per day. This includes a night stay in some of the cheapest hotels, three budget meals, two bus or train rides per day, a visit to one tourist attraction, and a couple of local, cheap beers.
As you are probably aware, Kenya is not considered to be one of Africa’s cheapest countries, so coming up with a budget can take some time and calculation. Take into account that safari tours can be quite costly and also you may have to pay some additional entrance fees. Due to this, it is probably a good idea to make a list of things you want to do and visit, investigate the cost of each one and add them to your overall budget.
The official currency of Kenya is Kenya shilling (Ksh). You can exchange money in all the banks, but when it comes to the ATM machines, you are not going to be able to withdraw US dollars. Another thing, you should always have some dollars on you, simply because numerous hotels and restaurants quote the price in them.
How to get around?
If you are staying in Nairobi, you will probably want to explore the city and one of the best ways to do it is by train. Modern commuter service was introduced recently which allows you to quickly travel from one part of the city to the other. However, if you want to go to some other city, the train is not the best solution, simply because there aren’t multiple available tours.
On the other hand, if you are looking for the cheapest option, then you should go with the bus service. Generally speaking, these are usually reliable meaning that there is a schedule that they meet. Also, there are numerous routes so you can use them to visit other cities on your list.
Finally, if you do not want to be restricted with train and bus schedules and you want to be the one who determines when and where you go and at what time you are going to return to your hotel, then the solution is obvious – rent a vehicle.
Is it safe?
Due to the fact that Kenya has been affected by some terrorist activity in the last few decades, a large number of tourists avoid visiting this country because they are concerned about their safety. We are not going to deny that things have been rough for the people of Kenya, but we should also tell you that nowadays, it is pretty much safe to travel there.
One piece of advice, make sure to always bring your passport with you because at any moment you can be stopped by the police and they are going to ask you for it.
What to eat?
It is a common practice by many tourists to try some local dishes every time they visit a new country. One of the most popular dishes in Kenya is called Nyama Choma which is actually roasted meat (usually goat or beef, but fish and chicken can also be sometimes used). Secondly, you have to try Matoke. Even though this dish originates from Uganda, it has become very popular in west Kenya. It is made of bananas that are cooked with oil, chilies, garlic, onions, and lemon juice and that can be eaten with rice or ugali (a paste made of cornmeal).
Internet service
This is another important thing that you have to inquire about since you will have to communicate with others. Yes, Wi-Fi service is available, and you are more likely to find it in big cities in hotels and restaurants. Still, keep in mind that the connection might not be as reliable as you are used to. Also, most of the safari camps chose not to have Wi-Fi service in order to ensure that the visitors enjoy their stay in nature instead of spending all the time on their phones.
In addition, you can get internet service by buying a SIM card. You can purchase it easily in multiple stores and choose one of the many packages that providers offer.
Conclusion
All in all, these are some basic things that many tourists inquire about before planning their trip. Now that you have read this text, it is time to explore different sites and make a list of things you want to visit in this African country.
