Leftfoot African Safaris Blog

Tips to help you pack for a trip

2011-07-07T05:07:00.000-07:00

1. Security and keeping details safe

Scan your passport, passport photos and paper tickets (if not the e type) in. Store this (in an email for e.g.) in your web based email account.

You can also store the details of your emergency 'lost card' telephone numbers in your web based email account so you know who to contact if your credit card or ATM card is lost or stolen.

This way, even if you lose everything, you have immediate access your all important information. You can even email the details page of your passport to the embassy or consulate when applying for a new one.

2. Split up your valuables

Split up your bank cards, cash, travellers' cheques and credit cards as much as possible in different pockets, your bags and wallet when packing. In case you do get robbed, at least you won't be strapped for cash (unless you have all your bags AND your wallet stolen of course!).

3. Nalgene/small bottles

Use nalgene/small bottles to pack toiletries and other small items. There are several sturdy and (very nearly) waterproof ones, with clear/see through ones being preferable (easier for security purposes post August 2006). You can also use small bottles to repack shampoo or lotions so that you don't have to always carry a big bottle with you. This is especially useful if you normally take these items in your carry-on luggage, which as of early 2007 is much more restricted than before.

4. Backpack tips

When you are packing things into a backpack, place the lighter items at the bottom and the heavier ones on top. Your bag will feel lighter this way as the pack rests on your lower back. It is also smart to place the things you use the most on top. Dirty clothes are perfect to pack at the bottom of a backpack. If you are still trying to decide on the right backpack, have a look at

5. Plastic bags

It is always handy to have a few plastic bags around certain items, especially toiletries. Not only does it counter any leaking, the bags can also come in useful to keep dirty clothes in, as garbage bags or even as a makeshift umbrella. Ziplock or other airtight plastic bags are the best.

6. Pack in plastic

Pack everything in clear plastic bags (preferably zip lock), divided into items e.g. underwear, t-shirts, shorts etc. before packing in your suitcase or backpack. One plastic bag for each type of clothing. This is extremely useful in various ways. When you unpack your bag you just take out a series of bags and you can see immediately what you want. So an overnight stay somewhere just means taking 1 item out of a bag - no rummaging!! In addition, if you have to unpack at customs etc, instead of having to disgorge all your clothing etc out in front of everybody, you can calmly take maybe 5/6 bags out, the contents of which can be clearly seen by the officials. To repack then is also dead easy. Just be sure not to leave your plastic bags lying around if you are travelling in nature!

7. Clothes

Pack only what you know you will use and if you are travelling for more than three weeks, plan to wash on the road.

8. Split up clothes when travelling with others

When you are flying somewhere and especially if you have a few stopovers, divide the clothes between different suitcases/backpacks/bags etc. If one persons luggage doesn't arrive at the destination, they'll still have clean clothes available. Airlines generally don't compensate lost luggage for the first 24-48 hours so this will save you money if it happens to you.

9. Separate beach bag

When packing to head to the beach consider pre-packing whatever you might need at the beach into a beachbag inside your backpack or suitcase. Especially if travelling with kids, this will prove a timesaver!

10. Suitcase lovers

For those using suitcases without a divider. A piece of cardboard makes an excellent divider and helps keep your clothes organized and neat as you are able to lay them out flat on the cardboard. It also makes airport inspections a lot less of a hassle as you can lift out your divider with clothes on top easily.

11. Gifts

While it is a good idea to take some small gifts with you while travelling, pre-wrapping them can be a waste of time if you are flying and your bags are opened.

12. Flashlights or torches

When packing a flashlight or torch (or any other item with batteries for that matter), turn the batteries around so that if the item is accidentally turned on, you won't empty the batteries. Don't forget to turn the batteries back around when using the flashlight.

13. Diaper bag

If you are travelling with babies, then the diaper bag is an excellent place to hide your valuables. This most likely will not be the first thing to be stolen. It's also a great to use as a waste bag (even when not travelling with a child!), especially at places that do not allow you to flush toilet paper.

14. Shoes

If you want to make sure everything else in your bags stays clean and odor free, place the shoes inside old socks and then inside airtight plastic bags (ziplock).

15. Carry-On

Keep any medication and important papers in your carry-on bag. On long flights with multiple stopovers (especially if flying via London, LA or other major airports), packing a fresh change of clothes is a good idea as bags tend to get delayed or lost on long haul, multiple stop flights. You don't want to end up stuck without medication, clothes or your important papers even if it is just for a few days.

16. Roll technique

Somehow it seems that bags will hold more if the clothes are rolled rather than folded. If you roll in tissue paper, the clothes will also get less wrinkled.

17. Travelling to warm destinations?

If you appreciate cold drinks think of using a six-pack cooler as a toiletry bag. Once you arrive at your destination and unload your toiletries your 'toiletry bag' guarantees cheap cold drinks on the beach, no matter how remote.

18. Local tourism offices

The best source of information is usually local. Check out Tourism Offices to find unbiased feedback on the best accommodation to suit your needs. Excercise caution in countries where you feel the information might not be so unbiased!

19. Minimize on toiletries

Take only half a tube of toothpaste rolled up tight, store shampoo in small containers, only take half a roll of toilet paper (for emergencies only) and crush it so the middle is folded.

20. Take solid shampoo bars and tooth powder

Solid shampoo bars and tooth powder (instead of tooth paste) can be easily located on the internet and make carry-on travel in this age of liquid restriction possible. Places like Beijing now bar all liquids in carry-on bags, and you'll still be able to breeze through without checking.

Long haul family beach holidays

2011-07-07T03:15:00.000-07:00

1. Barbados is a great island for families with tot-friendly beaches and a lively scene for teens. The sprawling all-inclusive Almond Beach Village is great value with kayaking, windsurfing, snorkelling, sailing and water-skiing all included in the price.

2. The Cayman Islands are safe, sophisticated and great for kids with lots of things to do including swimming with dolphins, visiting pirate caves, kayaking through mangroves and hiking through an iguana reserve. The Cotton Tree cottages are great value.

3. The Maldives are not just for honeymooners. Kids are well catered for at One&Only Reethi Rah which has its own KidsOnly club.

4. Mauritius is a great beach destination with superb luxury hotels and no jet lag, which makes it ideal for young children. The Residence Mauritius has an amazing kids club and special offers including free children’s rooms and VIP upgrades. For all-inclusive Mauritius, we recommend Beachcomber Hotels which have free kids clubs. Check out le Victoria which has two-bedroom family apartments.

5. The Seychelles are not just for honeymooners. There is a great range of family holidays from luxury hotels to small hotels and island resorts. On the small island of La Digue the main mode of transport is bicycle. You’ll see turtles and giant tortoises, and relax on the beautiful Anse Source D’Argent beach. Stay at La Domaine de L’Orangeraie.

6. The Caribbean has several great family hotels. Carkusle Bay in Antigua is particularly good for toddlers and babies, as is Round Hill Hotel & Villas in Jamaica. Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort on St Lucia is good for active kids and teenagers, while Beaches Resorts are action-packed all-inclusives with endless things to do.

PUBLIC NOTICE - CHANGE OVER FROM SMARTCARD TO SAFARICARD

2011-07-07T03:10:00.000-07:00

This is to notify the general public that effective July 1st 2011, KWS Smart Cards will no longer be used at any KWS Park gate. The holders should move to the new Safaricard system. We therefore request all those who hold any value on smartcard to exhaust the same since it is not transferable to the Safaricard system. Paper tickets will however continue to be used in parks that are not connected to the Safaricard system.

For More information, Contact the Kenya Wildlife Services - smartcardsection@kws.go.ke

ISDN: 399 2000 Tel. extension 2181

Telkom Wireless: 020 2379407

GSM: Airtel 0735 663 421/0736 663 400

Safaricom 0726 610 508/9

www.kws.go.ke

The Land of the Giants, Amboseli

2011-05-11T07:06:00.000-07:00

Amboseli lies immediatley north-west of Mt. Kilimanjaro, on the boarder with Tanzania.

A brief history:

Amboseli was established in as a reserve in 1968 and gazetted as a National Park in 1974.

Amboseli is renowned for its elephant populations and large herds, including some impressively tusked bulls are drawn to a series of large, lush swamplands. But the most impressive giant of all is Mt Kilimanjaro.

Africa’s largest mountain lies just over the border in Tanzania, but the most impressive views of its snow-capped peak are to be found in Amboseli. The early light of dawn turns the mountain a dark hue of purple, and its snows into an ethereal pink.

The sight of Kilimanjaro high above herds of elephant crossing the plains of Amboseli is a timeless African image.

This area is home to many Maasai communities, centred around the Amboseli National Park. The park is 400 sq kms, with its southern boundary along the Tanzanian border.

The park is home to more than just Elephants, and herds of wildebeest, zebra and impala graze on the open plains.. There are areas of acacia forest that make for good birding, and are home to many small mammals. Cheetah are also often sighted here.

The park is centred around a large hill, with fantastic views of the surrounding plains, often crossed by whirlwinds that send winding columns of dust into the sky. This open country is good walking territory, and many camps and lodges organise game walks, or trips to spend time in local Maasai villages.

Distance from Nairobi:

Namananga: 240kms

Emali: 228 Kms

Best time to Visit:

All year round.

Going on Safari...

2011-02-19T06:04:00.000-08:00

"I have found out that there ain't no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them." - Mark Twain

A safari, usually to Africa, is undertaken to view or hunt (were the law permits hunting) large game animals and other wildlife.

A safari is meant to be special, exciting, memorable and should be intended for one to experience nature in its purest form.

Every safari has an element of danger, that's what makes it exciting. While many of the animals you'll encounter can be dangerous, the four that you really have to watch out for are:

• Elephant

• Lion

• Buffalo

• And hippo, add crocodiles to the list if you're near water or intending to go into the water.

In the past, to go on safari was specifically to take part in a hunting expedition, but in the modern age, it is much more common for safaris to involve photography or simply viewing the animals in their natural habitat.

Preparing to go on safari can seem like a daunting task, but by breaking it down into manageable pieces, it becomes much less intimidating.

The first step is to determine what you want to do when you go on safari.

• Are you interested in taking a traditional hunting safari?

• Do you want to take photographs of specific wildlife?

• Are you interested in having a more authentic experience by staying in traditional villages, or would you prefer a more comfort-driven adventure with five-star hotels and luxury transportation?

If you are planning to go on safari with the intent of hunting game (which is illegal in most countries), make sure you are up-to-date on the laws regarding hunting in the country you are visiting. Most big game are protected species and are not available for hunting, but occasionally, unscrupulous safari organizers offer to take people out to hunt them anyway — something that is not only morally questionable, but also very illegal.

If you know the basic laws regarding hunting and poaching in the region you are visiting, you will be aware if what you are doing may put you on the wrong side of the law.

If you are planning to go on safari to take photographs of big game, you have much more flexibility in the kind of animals you can target.

A safari's success is usually measured by the number of animals you've seen along the way. We're not talking zebra and various antelope and gazelles, but the big 5, the spectacular lion kill, a baby giraffe -- something that makes you feel you have witnessed something truly special.

Some tips that will help you maximize your wildlife viewing successes.

Pick the right season.

The dry season is the most optimal season to see animals. The water holes attract a large concentration and a wide variety of animals. This makes it easy for you to view wildlife because many game parks have small shelters that overlook the water holes, or you can simply drive by.

In East Africa the dry seasons are from January through March and July through October. In Southern Africa the dry season runs from May through October. If you are interested in the annual migration of wildebeest and zebra then you also need to time your trip with the weather in mind. In the Masai Mara they usually arrive between August and September, stay through October and head back over to the Serengeti in Tanzania between December and January.

Pick the right time of day.

The best time to spot game is at dawn and dusk. At midday the sun is hot and most animals prefer to siesta under the shade of a tree, usually far from the roads you're driving on.

Go with a guide.

Guides will often be in radio contact with each other, so if one spots a great lion kill they can let your party know so you get to see it too. A guide is also useful in identifying species. Even if you carry a nice guide book, it can be difficult to tell the difference between a female sable and an impala when they are running.

Know where to look.

Look up in the trees if you want to spot a leopard, look in rivers if you want to see crocodiles (especially in patches of reeds) and watch out for steaming dung heaps to give you a good indication how close you might be to an elephant.

Bring binoculars.

Game parks are often bigger than some small European countries and the animals are wearing camouflage.

No two safaris are ever the same, at the evening camp fire, there shall always be different stories being exchanged, and each story is unique and different.

A safari is all about fun, adventure, good memories and hoping lady luck and mother nature smile on you, and remember to always keep your mind and eyes wide open.

“Too often. . .I would hear men boast of the miles covered that day, rarely of what they had seen.” – Louis L’Amour

Destinations for some of the best Wildlife Safaris

2011-02-15T06:12:00.000-08:00

A good Safari is generally expensive to a single individual and is best experienced in organised groups of friends or family. If an opportunity avails itself, try a tented camp for the full wildlife safari monty.

Wildlife places are selected for quantity and variety of animals, certainty and ease of viewing and the splendour of environment.

Big game safari:

Masai Mara National Park, Kenya

Massive amount of wildlife in a huge savannah. Although it may have too many tourists and it's not self-drive, it's probably the most animal accessible game reserve. Stay in a tented camp for the real safari experience. Very best July-Oct at [3 week] wildebeeste migration; this varies so check it. Good weather December - March. Avoid April-June [big rains].

Some say that recently too many jeeps are getting careless and scaring off animals, and Samburu National Park is now better - less busy and more romantic, though not the same quantity and variety of animals.

Marine life:

The Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

15 actively volcanic islands that constitute a 'living laboratory' of mainly marine animals - sea lions, seals, iguanas, turtles, sharks [you can snorkel with them too] giant tortoises, penguins and more blue footed boobies than you can shake a stick at.

A bleak and blasted landscape but the local inhabitants are totally unaffected by human presence and easy to approach and photograph. Strangely it was the unassuming Galapagos finches that triggered Darwin's Theory of Evolution.

Best Jan-March. Avoid July/Aug [busy, expensive, windy, rough], and September - November [when the waters are coldest, roughest and services are reduced]. Best to stay on a boat [smaller ones are better unless you get seasick] that will move between islands at night.

7 nights at least needed. For the very seasick prone there are some land hotels at Puerto Ayora in Isla Santa Cruz, though wildlife viewing will be restricted.

Big game, big desert, big dunes:

Etosha National Park, Namibia

The great arid scrubland and salt pan of Etosha contains a massive concentration of wildlife, particularly huge herds of zebra, various antelope and wildebeest, but no shortage of elephants, giraffe or birdlife either. Predators are tricky to find and depend on luck and persistence.

There are three inexpensive, walled restcamps in Etosha, each with their own waterhole attracting animals. Namutoni is less successful, Halali's hole attracts a lot of elephants and giraffes, while Okaukuejo is the hands down winner, with superb huts and a wonderful waterhole with endless action, occasionally even getting lion kills.

Drive-yourself safaris visiting other waterholes are excellent, with varied, stunning scenery. Cars can be rented in the unattractive capital, Windhoek, about 5 hours drive away.

Cape Cross, on the Skeleton Coast also offers 100,000 seals that you can get close to if you can stand the smell, the monstrous red dunes at Sossusvlei are totally amazing and climbable - up to 600m high, and Swakopmund town is pretty and relaxed. You can 2WD drive to all.

Best June-Sept, OK May, October, otherwise incredibly hot.

Big game safari:

A) Serengeti, Tanzania:

The world's most famous big game park and great variety of animals, though jeeps often have to follow specific tracks, whereas they can go anywhere in the Masai Mara. The general infrastructure is not as good as Kenya's.

Very best in June - early July before/beginning of wildebeest [more than 2 million] and zebra migration which lasts 3 weeks [check the timing with tour operators]. Good also December- February. Avoid March-May [heavy rains].

B) Ngorongoro Crater [Conservation Area], Tanzania:

Huge concentration of prey and predators, spectacular scenery and no migration. Better than Serengetti but relatively confined so tourist vehicles jockeying for pole position can be a pain. Best June-October, December-February. Avoid March-May [rains].

C) Selous Game Reserve, South Tanzania:

If you want to have a walking with animals experience rather than riding one, try this monster game park. Best June-October or January-February for bird watching. Avoid March-May [rains].

Gorilla safari:

Rwanda, Parc National de Volcans and Uganda, Mgahinga National Park

[same volcano as Democratic Republic of Congo's [previously Zaire] Virunga] or Bwindi National Park [the worst option as vegetation is thickest here]. Mountain gorilla safaris. Not easy, heavy climbing and only one hour viewing, but if you get close you won't forget it. Best in January, February, June, July.

Kahuzi-Biega Parc [plains gorillas & other wildlife] and Virunga National Park

[mountain gorillas], DRC [Zaire], both currently closed due to civil war. n.b take a rain poncho, very fast film or digital camera [at least asa 400, 800 or even 1600?], a fast lens [2.8] if possible and NO flash!

Lemurs, plus plus:

Berenty Reserve, Madagascar:

80% of the plant and animal species are unique on this huge tropical island. Berenty is where you'll get closest to more than 30 kinds of lemurs including the scary aye-aye, chameleons, tortoises and more. Also not far away are exotic plants of every description - baobab trees for example, funky graves/tombs and weirdly eroded rock formations. Best May-June, September-November. Avoid December-March [rains, hurricanes].

Wildlife and plants in various national parks, Costa Rica:

This tiny peaceful tropical country has dedicated about 15% of its land to national parks containing a vast variety of wildlife - especially birds [850 species]- and over 12,000 species of flowering plants. In addition the country offers tourists volcanoes, hot springs, beaches and adrenalin activities. There are around 70 nature parks.

Generally Costa Rica is best from December-April. Avoid May-November [rains], tho' May and November may not be too wet and will be much less crowded.

Self-drive wildlife safari: Kruger National Park, South Africa: A massive reserve, the size of Wales, offering all the usual wildlife. Apart from the size, what makes Kruger different from most other safari parks is that you can self-drive and have a big choice of places to stay inside the park, from comfortable tented camps to luxury lodges.

Animals are habituated to cars so a fair number can be seen beside roads, though you won't see massive wildlife groups that you do in neighbouring Namibia's Etosha, or on East Africa's savannah. Beware busy South African holidays and book your rooms in advance.

The private lodges are superb experiences if you can afford them - beautifully designed and run, but ironically, because there's less traffic in their private game areas. The wildlife is less habituated to vehicles so the private, guided game safaris are likely to be less successful than just self driving on public roads!You can also walk in the park with an armed guard if you so choose.

Best June-September, the dry season, when animals are more visible due to shorter grass and malaria is less/not a problem. OK May-October.

Bare necessities:

If you enjoy the unspoilt outdoors and want to wander in wonder among forests of snowy peaks, glassy fjords, crystal lakes and rivers jumping with salmon-fishing bears, then a summer trip to Alaska [far north USA] could be the place for you.

At this time there are also plenty of moose, deer, wolves, whales and marine lifeforms.

The weather in this part of the world is erratic but the months for bear-fishing-watching are July-September. Early September provides best weather, best prices and least trouble booking things.

In pursuit of the 7th wonder of the world

2010-06-16T02:35:00.000-07:00

In the weeks to come, the Masai Mara will host the spectacular wildebeest migration as they cross the swollen, crocodile-infested Mara River.

In mid November 2006, a panel of experts and a major American television network declared the annual wildebeest migration in East Africa one of the new ‘seven wonders of the world.’

Wildebeest are sometimes referred to as “the clowns of the plains” because they just don’t look very balanced. An old African myth has it that after God created all the other animals; He created the wildebeest, to get rid of the leftovers from the other animals.

That’s why the wildebeest has the head of a buffalo, the back of a rhino, the rear of a warthog, the legs of an antelope and the tail of a horse. From the vast Serengeti plains to the champagne-colored hills of Kenya’s Masai Mara, every year millions of wildebeest, zebras and gazelles roam, pushing ever forward in a clockwise rotation and encountering friend and foe along the way.

High drama

The great migration begins with a short calving season lasting two to three weeks, between late January and mid-March around the Ngorongoro Conservation area, southeast of the Serengeti National Park.

Here the 1.8 million wildebeest enjoy their favorite meal of the long red oat grass that grows in high-alkaline soils.

Giving birth starts abruptly and is remarkably synchronized; 500,000 calves are born in just two to three weeks. A few are born ahead of time, but hardly any of them survive as they are easily seen by predators and are an easy kill.

The females (cows) do not seek isolation from the herd during calving. The wildebeest society is much more structured at this time in groupings of pregnant cows, cows that have calved, yearlings recently separated from their mothers and bachelor herds.

Expectant cows gather and drop their calves before midday when it is very hot and the predators are resting under the shade (very few are born after midday).

Labour will last 30 minutes to one hour. When the calf’s head and trunk emerge, gravity will complete the process as long as the cow is standing.

Once the calf is dropped, it will be on its feet within three to five minutes and immediately seeks its mother’s udder.

After suckling, the mother may walks away to encourage the calf to follow, and five to 10 minutes after birth the calf is able to keep up with the pace of the rest of the herd.

Only 15 minutes after birth, the calf is able to run fast enough to beat our renowned Kenyan runners. The calf eats its first grass at about 10 days, although it is still suckles for at least six months.

Even after weaning, it will stay with the mother throughout its first year all along the great migration until the next calf is born. At that time the young males are driven away by territorial males, but the females often remain in the same groups as their mothers.

Imprinted on the mother

The calf is imprinted on its mother starting with the first successful suckling. It recognizes the mother by scent and sound. A cow will never adopt a calf and will totally reject it, even if she has lost her own calf.

A calf under six months will not survive on its own since it relies on its mother’s milk. Surprisingly, in this super herd of over 2.3 million members, 95 per cent of lost calves reunite with their mothers.

March to May: The herds begin to swoop west and north towards the long grass plains and woodlands of the Serengeti’s western corridor.

The dangerous routes of wildebeest migration are not always easy; there is high drama almost the whole time. With the cycle of life comes the promise of death. Lions, cheetahs, wild dogs, leopards, hyenas, vultures and crocodiles look forward to the arrival of the herds.

Here they are joined by friends; 500,000 zebras and 100,000 plains game, most of which are Thomson’s gazelles and Grant’s gazelles. There is even a pattern to the way they eat.

First, the zebras eat the top part of the grass, and then the wildebeest go for the middle and then the following plains game like the gazelles go for the lowest part.

By the end of May rains start to end, and the rutting season begins at this time when males are in their prime. The bulls are territorial at four to five years old.

During rutting they undergo dramatic behavioral changes, becoming the noisiest and most active of all African antelopes and are continually seen galloping about to show that they are in good health and capable of defending their territory.

Rutting in their prime ensures a high conception rate. If yearlings are well nourished, first conception may occur at 16 months.

Their gestation period is eight to eight- and-a-half months. The wildebeest has a higher conception rate than all other mammals — more than 95 per cent of mating succeeds.

A male will compete to gather and hold as many as 16 females as long as they are in his territory. He must mate quickly.

Being a prey species, he cannot afford to indulge in long and complex mating rituals because he has to reduce the chances of being caught in a compromising position by a predator.

During this peak of activity, he will not eat or rest as he has constant fights with neighboring males.

June to July is a transitional period between the rains and the dry season. As the animals concentrate on the remaining green patches of savannah, they push further northwards towards the Mara.

Wildebeest must make a daily trip to water whenever possible to help drive the great trek. They can drink eight liters of water in a single session if undisturbed.

Now, after four months of trekking, they are in desperate need of water and grass. Many of the young find it difficult to come this far, sometimes going for days without water.

Many die from exhaustion and thirst before they reach the Mara, but many also survive only to find one last huge obstacle in their way.

The final push results in amassing along the banks of the swollen Mara River, producing one of the world’s most spectacular sights: Millions of wildebeest and thousands of zebras and gazelles in between, all waiting to cross the crocodile-infested river.

Although it is commonly assumed that this is simply a frenzy and that the animals cross blindly, recent research has shown that a herd of gnu possesses what is known as a swarm intelligence whereby the animals systematically explore and overcome the obstacle as one.

Depending on rainfall sometimes the chosen crossing place is shallow, and most of the animals can cross safely. But often the river is deep and fast with steep banks either side as it is now after the heavy rains.

Many of the weaker animals are not able to cope with the strong currents or the buffeting from other wildebeests as they swim. Hundreds can die during crossing, littering the river’s edge with corpses.

July to October: The wildebeest are residents of the Mara, grazing the lush green grasses that the earlier rains encouraged. The mass of over two million wildebeest covers the savannah grasslands as far as the eye can see. It’s party time for the lions.

Predation by lions, leopards, African wild dogs, cheetahs and hyenas at this time is great simply because of the numbers.

October to November: The short rains begin to fall in the south and east of Serengeti, so the herds start to leave the Mara, crossing the Mara River again and meeting the same perils as before. Sometimes the migrating animals seal their own fate.

One group starts out going south but is then distracted when they sense rain to the north. The result can be crossing a river filled with unfriendly crocodiles over and over again, sometimes 10 to 20 times depending on which direction they are going.

Finally they head slowly back to the eastern Serengeti plains and by the time they arrive it is between late January and February, and the cycle is complete. Arrival at the calving grounds marks the end of this migration and the start of next year’s.

In all, 250,000 wildebeest die during this 1,800-mile journey. But the next calving will produce 500,000 new calves who must take their chances along with the adults on the next great migration.

A Lakeshore Walk with Impalas, Kisumu Impala Sanctuary

2010-03-16T02:38:00.000-07:00

The Kisumu Impala Sanctuary spans about 38 ha. It was created to provide a home for threatened Impalas within Kisumu city and its environs. It also provides a safe grazing area for hippos from the lake.

The sanctuary consists of two portions, separated by private developers. KWS is coming up with ideas on how best to utilize Impala for conservation. Located just a Kilometre from Kisumu CBD, the sanctuary lies close to Hippo Point and features 3km of nature trails and a selection of picnic sites.

The Sanctuary’s focus is herds of impalas and zebras which roam freely in the sanctuary, and thus the name a Lakeshore walk with Impalas.

This walking sanctuary is a holding area for animals which require special protection in this densely populated area. Within the sanctuary is an animal orphanage that contains a collection of caged lions, leopard, cheetahs, baboons, hyena, jackals, bush duikers, bush buck and buffaloes.

The sanctuary also provides important open grazing for the local hippo population while the threatened sitatunga antelope exist in the nearby swamps and can be seen early in the morning.

With over 115 bird species recorded, the sanctuary is a delight to birdwatchers especially in the morning and late afternoon. There is a new public campsite in the sanctuary, State Lodge Campsite, which has modern amenities.

There are also several picnic sites within the sanctuary that offer excellent venues for weddings, corporate events and functions.

The Sundowner tower which faces the Railway trail is a perfect area for sundowners on the shores of the second largest fresh water lake in the world.

A new gate (Sunset Gate) connecting the sanctuary with Sunset Hotel has been opened to ease access by the guests from the Hotel.

A shady and peaceful place, with its abundance of birdlife and picnic areas beside the lake the Sanctuary provides an ideal refuge away from Kisumu’s busy town centre. The Sanctuary is open all year round.

Rift Valley Music Festival, Kenya 2010

2010-03-16T01:58:00.000-07:00

This year the Rift Valley is coming alive with music during the first Rift Valley Festival to be held from (26th, 27th & 28th March 2010) at Fisherman's Camp on Lake Naivasha Kenya.

This three-day musical celebration will bring together local and international musicians as well as arts, crafts and culture.

Based between London in the UK and Lake Naivasha in Kenya brothers Sean and Ivan Ross are at the heart of this event. With years of experience promoting events in the UK and with deep roots in Kenya, they came up with the idea of a festival as the perfect means to celebrate on an international stage the richness of East African culture and music as well as promote the unity and beauty of Kenya, while helping local community projects.

The festival’s charitable ethos is to raise funds directly for the local community in the Lake Naivasha area.

Over 4,000 people are expected at the festival, which aims to secure a thriving future for the local communities in the Rift Valley region.

All profit from the festival will go towards a local project run by Water and Sanitation for the Urban Poor (WSUP), highlighting the importance of securing clean water and sustainable sanitation services for people within the region.

For more information please visit www.riftvalleyfestival.com

Pink-rimmed shoreline of Lake Nakuru.

2009-09-29T04:52:00.000-07:00

Few natural sites in the world can match the magnificence and splendour of the pink-rimmed shoreline of Lake Nakuru.

One of the early European explorers wrote of the lake: "The aviary of Lesser flamingos, pelicans and other water birds yonder bewitches the eye and transfixes me for hours to its soft pink reflection."

The flamingos are the main attraction in a tour to Lake Nakuru National Park that also has different kinds of wild animals.

But the number of flamingos keeps fluctuating throughout the year, with the birds dotting the lakeshore at a particular time and then migrating seasonally, leaving only a handful.

When they return, around this time of the year, it is a site to behold.

They often fly back at dawn or dusk in endless uniform columns that could last for days.

Often, after the migration, a large number of birds remain on the lake.

But nature conservationists now say last year’s migration, which happens in November and lasts to in April, revealed a worrying trend, which they attributed to severe drought.

Low water levels caused by a persistent drought between November and March saw the flamingos migrate leaving just about 1,000 birds. These remained and were concentrated at one corner of the lake.

This is in sharp contrast to full aviary that sometimes attracts more than 250,000 birds.

With the ongoing return, already a blanket of pink has been enlarging along the shores of the lake, but conservationists say the numbers are still not near full nest.

The number that flew back to the lake between March and May is estimated to be more than 100,000.

Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Central Rift Senior Scientist Joseph Edebe says the number of flamingos had declined due to an increased concentration of salt in the waters of the lake.

A census by KWS last July showed the number of flamingos at the lake was 6,630, down from 258,210 in January the same year.

Dry and low spells

Mr Edebe explains that the number fluctuates during different rain seasons in a year and the birds will stay or move depending on the water levels in the lake.

He says low and high water levels may lead to the migration of the flamingos.

"When the water level is too low during dry spells and too high when it rains, the flamingos will move to other saline lakes," the scientist says.

He says during dry seasons, alkalinity in the water increases due to the decrease of fresh water flowing into the lake from rivers Njoro, Nderit, Lamudiae and Makalia.

"The source of the rivers is the Mau complex and they dried up early due to human activities at the water tower," he says.

Bird food

The high alkalinity on the lake, he adds, is not conducive to production of algae that is food for flamingos.

Too much water is also not good, as it dilutes the alkalinity, thus affecting production of algae.

Edebe says algae grow on precise water conditions and temperatures.

"Thus when the water is too alkaline, there is little algae in the lake and the birds migrate to other salty lakes where they will get food and return to Nakuru when the conditions improve," he says.

Edebe says most of the flamingos migrated to Lake Oloiden in Naivasha and others to Lake Bogoria and Elementaita.

He says between last July and March this year, there was little water flowing into Lake Nakuru, thus the alkalinity was affected and the birds migrated.

He attributed the latest increase in the number of flamingos to the improvement of water quality in the lake.

He says: "The recent rains that have pounded Nakuru and its environs in the past few weeks have diluted the alkalinity of the lake’s waters enabling the formation of algae."

"We at times know the water quality in the lake depending on the number of flamingos present," he adds.

Edebe says pollution of water flowing into the lake also affects production of algae.

According to the KWS official, during rainy season, storm drains get blocked and the water flows directly into the lake, carrying with it toxic substances.

These toxic wastes include fertilisers, agrochemicals from farms, heavy metal from industries in the densely populated Nakuru town and Njoro sub basin.

Human waste from burst sewage pipes also pollutes the lake.

Peak number

According to Edebe, the lake has the peak number of flamingos when there is moderate rainfall, which does drastically alter the water concentration.

The KWS scientist says the trend of flamingos due to the factors stated have changed due to the changing weather patterns.

The lake was too salty in January due to drought and the birds stayed away.

"This explains why there were just about 1,000 flamingos at the lake at that period," he says.

Beautyful memories from Samburu National park & Bogoria

2009-07-16T15:02:00.000-07:00

Recently Leftfoot African Safaris had a group of domestic tourists who wanted to experience there country's wild first hand, here are some of the memorable moments captured at Samburu National park and Lake Bogoria.

He ain't no snake handler.

All photos property of Leftfoot African Safaris

Hotels re-open ahead of peak tourist season

2009-07-13T03:23:00.001-07:00

After the worst post election violence ever witnessed in Kenya's history, Kenya's tourism industry is still recovering from the negative effects of the post election violence.

The Kenyan tourism sector was one of the hardest hit sectors of the Kenyan economy, with dozens of people losing their jobs, and establishments closing down due to lack of business.

Now things are beginning to slowly look up. As the Ministry of Tourism re-brands the country's image to the rest of the world, even though it is doing this with a limited budget. Industry players are keeping their fingers crossed that with the upcoming "high season" anticipated, that things will drastically improve.

Dozens of hotels at the Coast have reopened to welcome holidaymakers from Europe and local tourists ahead of the school holidays next month.

Mombasa and Coast Tourist Association chairman John Cleave said tourist arrival figures are expected to rise beginning July 15 owing to the setting in of the customary high tourist season.

He said charter flights from Europe to Mombasa will increase to 20 a week compared to 10 during the low season.

“The number of tourist arrivals from Europe will average 60 per cent as from July 15 to next month compared to the same period in 2007 when we had a larger number of visitors,” said Mr Cleave.

“In the months of August, September and October we expect the tourism sector to improve. Charter flights are expected to shoot up during these busy months,” he added.

The tourist official, however, said full recovery of industry might be achieved in December during the Christmas season when the winter season hits Europe.

“We anticipate the industry to recover at the end of the year as many tourists in Europe go for holidays during winter season,” he said.

Dozens of hotels and cottages in Malindi and Watamu which had shut down owing to lack of business are re-opening in anticipation of the high season.

Sighting of Rare African Wild Dogs at Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Kenya

2009-07-13T03:08:00.000-07:00

The Photo above was taken by Stephen Siapan of Ol Pejeta, who spotted this pack

The African Hunting Dog, one of the world's rarest predators, has returned to Ol Pejeta conservancy in Kenya. A pack of the very rare and endangered African Wild Dog (Lycaon pictus) was sighted on the North Western side of Ol Pejeta Conservancy on the 2nd of July 2009. The African Wild Dog or “Painted Wolf” was last seen on the Conservancy 3 years ago.

The African Wild dog (Lycaon pictus) is one of the rarest carnivores in Africa, having disappeared from large parts of their former ranges. The Wild Dog’s endangered status is owed mostly to habitat loss and hunting. Moving in packs of up to 20 individuals, they travel over very large territories and, in the process, tend to wander into human settlements where they may prey on goats and sheep, therefore endangering themselves at the hands of the farmers.

Hunting Dogs closely resemble wolves in body shape, but have mottled reddish brown striped markings, and distinctive large ears. They are gregarious animals that form packs of up to 40 members.

African Wild Dogs hunt in packs led by the alpha male, mainly hunting in the morning and early evening. They will hunt at night with a full moon. They generally use their sense of sight, rather than smell to find prey. Hunts can last for several kilometers at speeds of up to 55 km/hour.

Wild dogs generally live on the move, though breeding females give birth to litters in a grass-lined burrow that is usually an abandoned aardvark hole. Litters normally consist of anywhere between 2 and 22 pups.

Wild Dogs are now endangered all over Africa, due to habitat loss and hunting. Their sudden return to Ol Pejeta is a result of a concerted conservation effort throughout the Laikipia region, now considered one of Kenya's finest wildlife reserves.

The Ol Pejeta Conservancy works to conserve wildlife, provide a sanctuary for great apes and to generate income through wildlife tourism and complementary enterprise for reinvestment in conservation and community development.

Information courtesy of magical Kenya.

Adrenaline Safaris that make Kenya an Adventure Paradise

2009-06-25T23:32:00.000-07:00

Kenya has long been known as an adventurer's paradise. This is a land of endless scenic beauty, which provides every opportunity for the active traveler, a country rich with possibilities for adventure and discovery.

For the Trekker, Kenya is a world of highs and lows – from the snow capped peak of Mt Kenya to the desert plains of the north. There are a range of treks from sedate hill walks through game rich ranges to high altitude routes on alpine slopes.

For those aiming higher, Kenya offers plenty of challenges.

For the super adventurous and extreme adrenaline junkies, Kenya is fast becoming a stopover for white water rafting and sky diving, previously thought of as experiences that one could only experience when out of the country.

White Water Rafting in Kenya

One of Kenya's best adventure safaris is a rafting expedition along the Ewaso N'giro river. The trip can last between three and eight days, depending on water levels and accessibility.

Full equipment and expert guides are provided for this ultimate adventure. The river winds its way through spectacular white water, with up to 30 Kms of nonstop Class II, III and IV rapids, and separate stretches of demanding Class V water.

This trip also promises plenty of game, with the river itself home to both crocodiles and hippos. The bank attracts plenty of big game, and herds of Elephant, antelope, zebra and giraffe are usually seen along the way.

Rafting trips in this area have even been known to encounter lions. Each night camp is made on a sandbank, and rafters sleep under the stars, surrounded by the sounds of the African night.

For the real adventure traveler, it doesn't get much better than this. High water season is May and December.

Sky Diving in Kenya

There are many ways to see Kenya on safari, but how about from 14,000 feet above the ground, falling earthwards at 120 miles per hour?

For adrenaline junkies, the Kenyan coast has become the latest hot spot for aerial adventure- where the equatorial atmosphere at sea level can give skydivers more than a minute of full freefall over the beautiful blue Indian Ocean, before touching down on pure white sands on one of the world’s best beaches. This is the draw for international skydivers who gather at Diani Beach on Kenya’s South Coast each year for the Kenya Skydive Boogie.

This event is proving very popular both with experienced skydivers and those interested in experiencing the thrill of freefall for the first time. What began as a social event organized each year among Kenyan divers has become a major event on the international skydiving calendar.

The term Boogie is generic term for a gathering of skydivers from all over the globe, and each year brings a bevy of boogies as enthusiasts meet up in the world’s best skydive destinations.
To the uninitiated, one skydive location may not be that different to any other, but wind and weather conditions, altitude and the facilities and attractions on the ground all combine to make each boogie unique.

The Kenyan boogie is becoming increasingly popular- as it is one of the only such events where divers are based at a single beach resort and can depart from a nearby airstrip and dive from an aircraft directly over their base.

Kenya's Tusker Safari Sevens

2009-06-11T02:37:00.000-07:00

Tusker Safari Sevens is back and lovers of rugby, both local and internal are expected to flock to Kenya for this annual event. This year’s event takes place on 19th-21st June 2009 at the RFUEA grounds in Nairobi.

Going by the past performance of the Kenya Sevens rugby team in the international arena, the Kenya rugby sevens a side team had a good run in the just concluded IRB Sevens series, this year’s sevens tournament promises to be a spectacular one.

Kenya is primarily well known for her world class long distance runners, but now, the country can boast of a fine sevens rugby squad and a tournament as big as the team itself. The Tusker Safari Sevens is now a world recognized tournament in the global sevens rugby series. This year’s event marks the 14th Edition of the Safari sevens since its humble beginning in 1996. Currently, Kenya is the defending Safari Seven’s champion and the Kenya team is poised to be the star attraction at the event.

Sevens Rugby Team:
Led from the front by skipper Humphrey Kayange, the team had a huge following of fans, and as a result, they were ranked the most supported team besides the hosts in the IRB sevens series. Kenya’s Collins Injera scoped the top try scorer’s award. Sponsored by Virgin Atlantic the team is currently ranked sixth in the world ahead of rugby power house Australia, Samoa, Scotland and Wales.

For local rugby fans, the Tusker Safari Sevens is a great chance to see Kenya’s top local players in action against some of the best teams in the region and internationally on home soil. The Safari Sevens has grown to become an important event in Kenya’s sporting calendar.

Like past events, there will be plenty of action and excitement on and off the pitch. The legendary New Zealand coach, Gordon Tiejens will grace this year’s event.

The only shame spoiling the party is the Safari Sevens Website, according to the information displayed on the site, the event is meant to take place between 19^th – 21^st June 2009 at the RFUEA grounds, then they say the website is to be launched In May 2009, we are currently in June and there seems to be no new activity on the site.

For an international event, and for Kenya to market it-self, the people in-charge need to stop sleeping and wake up and realize the importance of internet marketing, the question is, when will they realize this? When its two days to the event?

Run Wild at the Safaricom Marathon at Lewa

2009-05-18T21:40:00.000-07:00

27th of June 2009

The 2009 Safaricom marathon gives participants an opportunity to experience the Kenyan wild in a most unique way. What makes this marathon unique is that it is run within the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy a protected game reserve located at an altitude of 5,500 feet above sea level.

This year’s Marathon will be run for the tenth time and is expected to attract competitors from all over the world. The race, which is organized by Tusk Trust and Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in conjunction with Safaricom, is in support of conservation and community projects in the Lewa/Il Ngwesi area, in North Central Kenya, about four hours drive and a 45 minute flight from the capital, Nairobi.

Rugged, fun and breathtaking it is an enticing experience which has continued to inspire long distance runners and athletic fans alike. Regarded as one of the extraordinary endurance marathons in the world, runners of all abilities take part at Lewa; from walkers, to fun runners, amateurs, to world renowned professionals.

Many athletes from around the world come to join in the race, both to face this challenging wilderness race and for the chance to rub shoulders with some of Kenya's incomparable long distance superstars. The Lewa marathon is run on dirt roads, over a 42km route (21km for the half-marathon), through some of the world’s most beautiful scenery. Its picturesque setting makes the marathon all the more worthwhile. With Mount Kenya to the south and Samburu and Mount Lololokwe to the north, this backdrop adds to the whole Lewa experience.

The Lewa Wildlife Conservancy is a protected, 55,000 acre wildlife sanctuary and is home to over 80 rhino, herds of elephant and a vast assortment of game, including the eland, zebra, giraffe, buffalo just to name a few. To enhance the safety of the event the course is watched over by a large and experienced team of game rangers, with a helicopter and spotter plane to ensure the safety of runners throughout the race. Water stations and first aid points are situated every 2.5km, with medical support provided by AMREF and the Red Cross.

The main purpose of the Safaricom Marathon at Lewa is to raise the much needed funds for wildlife conservation and community projects in Kenya. This joint community partnership between the Il Ngwesi community tourism project and private ranch owners has created a sanctuary for wildlife. The project breeds endangered rhinos and provides a safe haven and habitat for species threatened by growing human populations in surrounding areas. The Lewa conservancy protects 6% of the country's population of endangered Black Rhino, and 20% of the world's population of rare Grevy's Zebra.

Lewa marathon entrants facilitate the conservation effort by fundraising and seeking sponsorship for their participation, with the funds going directly to the conservation projects, community development, education and healthcare in northern Kenya. Tusk Trust is the official NGO associated with the Safaricom Marathon and has been instrumental in the organization and distribution of funds raised by the event since 2000.

Come lets run wild at the Safaricom marathon at Lewa on the 27th of June, 2009 and support a noble cause.

Is it Safe to Visit Kenya???

2009-05-13T02:11:00.000-07:00

Yes, IT is SAFE to VISIT Kenya.....

While the news media focused on the post election violence, they failed to let the people know that this violence was limited to a only a few towns, and most of those were removed from areas typically visited by tourists.

None of Kenya’s well known parks and reserves were impacted. Additionally, none of the violence was directed at tourists and no tourists were involved in the violence. At this time the election issues have been resolved, the violence ended back at the beginning of February and has not occurred since.

The Great WildeBeest Migration

2009-05-13T01:55:00.000-07:00

The annual Wildebeest Migration at the Maasai Mara is a natural cycle that replenishes and renews the grasslands of East Africa. Each June, around 1.3 million Wildebeest gather in the Serengeti to calve. They slowly mass into a huge single herd, until the dry season withers their supply of fresh grass.

The scent of rain to the North begins to draw the herd throughout July, and soon the planet’s greatest animal migration is underway. This is one of the remarkable wildlife attractions that make's Kenya one of the best wildlife destinations in the world. Kenya’s most popular attraction, the Mara was awarded its title for its sheer volume and variety of game.

One traveller summed up the appeal of the Maasai Mara Reserve; “This is the total sensory experience holiday. Your senses are constantly stimulated by the sights, smells and sounds of the Mara and its many inhabitants. The thrill of leaving camp at dawn, in search of big cats is an experience that is difficult to repeat.”

There is no better time to visit the Mara than during the Great Migration. The sound of the approaching herd is a deep, primal rumbling of thundering hooves and low grunts.

The sight of the wildebeest is staggering- a continuous charging mass that stretches from one horizon to the other this endless grey river of life is mottled with black and white as zebras join the throng.

Over the course of the migration, visitors to Kenya will have the opportunity to follow the progress of the herds and experience the full grassland cycle firsthand. In the Maasai Mara, Africa’s largest concentrations of predators are drawn to this perfect opportunity for easy hunting. Lions are frequently seen attacking the herds - especially at night- dragging down straggling individuals.

At the same time, packs of Hyena freely weave throughout the herds, singling out and separating the young and the weak.

Predators are not the only obstacles that the wildebeest face. Kenya’s heavy rainfall in the highland Mau escarpment has turns the Mara River into a raging torrent. As happens each year, the herds will gather at the banks in preparation for the most perilous stretch of their journey.

As sheer pressure builds, the herds are finally forced to surge into the river, often hurling themselves off high banks.

In the struggle across the Mara River, many are drowned or swept away by strong currents. The crossing attracts massive crocodiles who each year awaits this season of bounty. By September the herds will begin reaching their goal, and spreading out to graze across the expanse of the Mara.

For this beautiful game reserve, it is a time of renewal, as the dung from the visiting herds fertilizes the plains. October will see the herds turn southward and repeat the same journey back to the Serengeti, where the renewed grasslands await.

The Migration is the planet’s last great epic of life and death. Of all the calves born in the Serengeti, two out of three will never return from their first and most demanding migration.

It is this inextricable binding of renewal and sustenance, feast and famine, life and death that makes this event one of nature’s greatest wonders. Kenya’s Maasai Mara reserve has a wide range of accommodation and travel options. There are luxury lodges, exclusive tented camps, campsites and more available.

The migration can be experienced on early morning game drives in customized vehicles, walking safaris with Maasai Warrior guides, horseback safaris in areas surrounding the Mara, or even from hot air Balloon safaris over the herds.

Information from the Kenya Tourist Board

Safari Gallery

2008-11-20T13:01:00.000-08:00

About Kenya

2008-11-20T12:42:00.000-08:00

General Information about Kenya:

No other country on earth can offer the visitor as much to see and do within the borders of a single country, you will find savannahs rich with big game, timeless cultures unchanged by the modern world, pristine beaches and coral reef, equatorial forests and mighty snow-capped mountains, searing deserts and cool highland retreats and endless opportunities for adventure, discovery, relaxation; more than you would ever expect...

Location and topography

Kenya

lies astride the equator on the eastern coast of Africa. It is a medium-sized country by continental standards; covering an area of about 586,600km sq. Inland water bodies cover some 10,700km sq, the bulk of this in Lakes Victoria and Turkana.

Kenya

has tremendous topographical diversity, including glaciated mountains with snow-capped peaks, the Rift Valley with its scarps and volcanoes, ancient granitic hills, flat desert landscapes and coral reefs and islets.

Climate
Generally the climate is warm and humid at the coast, cool and humid in the central highlands, and hot and dry in the north and east. Across most of the country, rainfall is strongly seasonal, although its pattern, timing and extent vary greatly from place to place and from year to year. Rainfall peaks in most areas are in November and April.

Currency
The official currency is the Kenya Shilling (Kshs).
The written abbreviation is either KSh or using /= after the amount (ie 500/=)
Available Notes are 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000 shillings.
Available coins are 5, 10,20 and 40 shillings.

Visitors to Kenya should change foreign currency at banks, bureaux de change or authorized hotels. The easiest currencies to exchange are US Dollars, Pounds sterling and EURO.

Travellers Cheques are widely accepted, and many hotels, travel agencies, safari companies and restaurants accept Credit Cards. Most Banks in Kenya are equipped to advance cash on credit cards.

There are no restrictions on the amount of foreign currency that can be brought into Kenya.

Before departure, travellers are advised to convert any excess Kenya shillings into foreign currency at a bank or bureau de change before departure. Departure taxes can be paid in local or foreign currency.

Anyone wishing to take more than 500,000 Kenya Shillings out of the country will require written authorization from the Central Bank.

Time, Public Holidays and Business Hours.

Kenya has a single time zone- which is GMT+3.

Kenyan Public holidays include:

1st January New Years Day
February/March Idd il Fitr *
March/April Good Friday**
March/April Easter Monday**
1st May Labour Day
1st June Madaraka Day
10th October Moi Day
20th October Kenyatta Day
12th December Jamhuri Day
25th December Christmas Day
26th December Boxing Day

*The Muslim Festival of Idd il Fitr celebrates the end of Ramadhan. The date varies each year depending on the sighting of a new moon in Mecca.

** Dates for the Christian festival of Easter vary from year to year.

Most businesses in Kenya are open from Monday to Friday, though some also trade on Saturday and Sunday.
Business hours are generally 9:00am to 5:00pm, closing for an hour over lunch (1:00pm – 2:00pm), this is subject to the type of business.

Banks are open from 9:00am to 3:00pm Monday to Friday. Some branches open on Saturdays from 9:00am to 11:00am. Some banks are openned upto 4.00pm (16hrs)

Many banks are now equipped with 24 hour ATM machines.

The Bank branches at Jomo Kenyatta International airport (Nairobi) and Moi International Airport both run 24 hour forex services.

Electricity
The electricity supply in Kenya is 220/240 v 50hz.

Plugs are 3 point square.

If you are planning to bring a video camera charger or any other electrical advice, please bring voltage and plug adaptors where appropriate