This needs to be done at the post office as contents are checked to see if export duty must be paid. For large or valuable items, always use a courier. If you want to receive a letter, the Poste Restante general delivery service is free, and fairly reliable in Nairobi and Mombasa. There are very few good road maps of Kenya.
A local company, touristmapskenya. These are available in bookshops, some large supermarkets like Nakumatt and at park gates. There are notes of Ksh, , , and 50, and coins of Ksh20, 10, 5, 1 and 50 cents half a shilling.
You can import or export up to Ksh, you need the exchange receipts if exporting. Because the Kenya shilling is a weak currency, prices for anything connected to the tourist industry tend to be quoted in US dollars.
Cash dollars, together with British pounds and euros, are invariably acceptable, and often preferred, as payment. People often have calculators and know the latest exchange rates. While most prices are given in Kenyan shillings or US dollars, the occasional use of euros or pounds sterling reflects the way hotels and tour operators price their services. Credit and debit cards are more secure than cash, can be used to withdraw cash from ATMs and increasingly to buy things.
Also useful are pre-paid currency cards also known as travel money cards or cash passports affiliated with Visa and MasterCard, which can also be used to withdraw money at ATMs.
As well as at banks, ATMs can also be found at petrol stations and shopping malls. On the street, always find one inside a secure booth or with a guard on duty. ATMs usually offer the best rate of exchange, but home banks charge a fee for withdrawing cash from a foreign ATM and there may be a daily limit. Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted for tourist services such as upmarket hotels, curio shops and restaurants, flights, safaris and car rental.
US dollars, British pounds and euros are always the most easily changed. Always check the commission and any charges, as they may vary slightly.
Many banks and forex bureaus also give over-the-counter cash advances in Kenyan shillings and in Nairobi or along parts of the coast, in US dollars or pounds on MasterCard and Visa cards.
Banks are usually open Mon—Fri 9am—3pm, Sat 9—11am some smaller branches are not open every Sat. Forex bureaus usually offer better rates of exchang e than banks and are open longer hours often on Sunday mornings too.
Changing money on the street is illegal — ignore any offers as you will most likely be ripped off and run the risk of being arrested if caught. But be careful with any transaction — always count notes very carefully before swapping, and if at all possible wait to get cash at an ATM.
Shops are generally open Mon—Sat 8am—5pm, with the smaller ones having a break for lunch. In parts of the coast, and especially Muslim areas like Lamu, shops are more likely to close for an afternoon siesta 2—4pm but they will stay open later in the evening.
Muslim-owned shops may also close on Fridays, and correspondingly open on Sundays. Large supermarkets have extended hours until at least 7pm every day, and big towns often have at least one hour Nakumatt hypermarket. Small kiosk-type shops dukas can be open at almost any hour. Tourism businesses such as travel agents, car rental firms and airline offices are usually open Mon—Fri 8am—6pm, plus Sat 9am—noon.
Banks are open Mon—Fri 9am—3pm and most open Sat 9—11am, too, while forex bureaus stay open later and some are open on Sunday mornings as well. Museums and historical sites are open seven days a week, usually 8. Post offices open Mon—Fri 8am—5pm, Sat 9am—noon, though smaller branches will close for an hour over lunch.
Most other offices are closed all weekend. Most petrol stations stay open late, and there are hour ones on the major highways and in urban areas. In national parks and reserves , gates are open from sunrise to sunset, and given that Kenya is on the equator, these times stay the same virtually all year round: 6am—7pm.
The vast majority of adult Kenyans a staggering estimated 90 percent are mobile phone users, and while businesses still have landlines, they nearly always use an additional cell phone too.
Traditional call boxes, where they still exist even Kenyans have a giggle at the sight of these archaic contraptions , have either been decommissioned or are defunct. If you do need to find a working call box, your best bet will be a post office.
Landline area codes are all three figures, comprising 0 plus two digits. The subscriber numbers are five, six or seven digits depending on area: Nairobi numbers have seven, while a small northern town may have only five. Most of the country has mobile cell phone coverage.
The main exception is the far north, but reception can also be patchy in thinly populated rural areas further south and in the remoter parks and reserves. You can get some from here. Pack a casual pair of shoes for city strolls or night dates. One minute could be all bright and shiny, but the next could be gloomy and raining. You can get one from here. Kenya is blessed with a lot of sunshine, but too much of anything will definitely make you uncomfortable.
You can get one here. If you wear contact lenses and you intend to go on a safari, you may want to wear some sunglasses to prevent your eyes from drying out in the heat.
But if you do not wear contact lenses, you should plan on having sunglasses, so you do not have to squint on those sunny days. This is an obvious item for any avid traveler, but there is a need to remind you that Kenya is full of picturesque locations. Make sure you invest in a good camera to capture those unforgettable memories. A universal plug adaptor would be great, especially if you have any layovers in destinations that use a different type of plug.
Also, invest in proper power converters as Kenyan electric switches supply between and volts. You can buy one here.
Although many high-end hotels have a back-up in case of a blackout, you may want to have a small flashlight just in case. Trust me, wet wipes and sanitizers are not among the most common items in Africa. Kenya is not any different, especially if you are traveling to rural areas. These items are widely available in Nairobi and other major cities, but you may not have the extra time to run to the store. The coast and the western part of the country are famous for having bugs and malaria-causing mosquitos.
Be sure to pack an ample amount of bug and mosquito repellent spray. If you are going on a safari, beware of the tsetse flies, blood-sucking insects that transmit sleeping sickness in humans. Your daily activities may get your shoes dirty or muddy. Streets can be uneven. Light sandals are not good for daily tours and hikes, but they are nice for relaxing at your hotel. Water purification tablets May be needed if camping or visiting remote areas Insect repellent Select an insect repellent based on CDC recommendations: Avoid Bug Bites Permethrin Permethrin is insect repellent for clothing.
It may be needed if you spend a lot of time outdoors. Clothing can also be treated at home in advance. See Sun Exposure. Sunglasses and hat Wear for additional sun protection. A wide brim hat is preferred.
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