Map Of Kenya

Location

Located in Eastern Africa, with an estimated square area of around 580,000 kms. It borders Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, and the Indian Ocean.

Population

The population is estimated at around 37 million. Christianity is the most prevalent religion followed by Islam.

Cities

The capital is Nairobi. The only capital city in the world which has a national park. Other major cities include Mombasa, Eldoret, Kisumu, and Nakuru.

Language

The official national languages are Kiswahili and English. In total there are around 42+ ethnic languages.

Currency

The unit of currency is the Kenyan Shilling (Ksh). Notes in circulation are Ksh 1000/=, Ksh 500/=, Ksh 200/=, Ksh 100/=, Ksh 50/=, and Ksh 20/=, plus there are also new “copper” coins of Ksh 40/=, Ksh 20/=, Ksh 10/=, Ksh 5/=, and Ksh 1/= in circulation

Time Zone

The time zone in Kenya is 3 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+3) throughout the year.

Electricity

The electricity voltage is 220/240 AC, 50Hz. Most power sockets are of the three-square-pin variety as used in the United Kingdom.

Communication

You can make direct domestic and international telephone calls from Kenya. The international dialing code is +254. The four main mobile providers currently are Safaricom, Zain, Yu, and Orange. Mobile services are widely available everywhere in the country, and its recommended for tourists to purchase a mobile sim card as they are reasonably cheap.

Banking

Banking hours are from Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 2:00pm and on the first and last Saturday of the month from 9:00am to 11:00am. Some banks in Mombasa and Nairobi stay open later on weekdays. 24-hour access to your account can be facilitated by the many ATMs countrywide. All the major international credit cards are acceptable in Kenya and most ATMs can accept any international VISA and MASTERCARD credit cards.

Transport

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is the main international airport in Nairobi; located approximately half an hour’s drive from Nairobi city center. Moi International Airport is another one located in Mombasa. Plenty of other airstrips also connect Nairobi with Mombasa, Kisumu, Nanyuki, Malindi, Lamu, and the national parks/reserves of Amboseli, Maasai Mara and Samburu. While many flights are heavily booked flying around Kenya during the high season, it is a relatively safe and relatively cheap way to cover a lot of ground. Public Transportation is very extensive in Kenya, perhaps more so than many other African Countries. Some form of public transportation leaves every hour to major cities, and even several times daily to rural areas. There are several types of public transportation. These include buses, the train, and matatus. Matatu is the general name for smaller forms of public transportation, i.e., mini-buses.

Security

In terms of security, when walking through Nairobi, do not carry large amounts of money, nor valuables or jewels. Leave your documents in the hotel’s safe. Do not carry backpacks or waist bags. Hide your money and documents in one of those wallets that are carried inside the clothes. Always walk in groups and never walk at night, even through crowded areas. Never walk through solitary places or slums. When driving through Nairobi, keep your windows closed and the doors locked. Never leave objects inside the car.

Nightlife

If you’re the type who wants to explore a bit of the Nairobi nightlife, it may be wise to start at bar first, since the clubs and discos in Kenya don’t get busy until around midnight and don’t close until the sun rises. By far your best source of info on what’s rocking on any given weekend is a local daily newspaper. The end of month weekend offers the best local action.Several clubs stage “cultural nites” which feature music, traditional foods and drinks from some of Kenya’s main ethnic communities. An excellent opportunity to see Kenyans unplugged and hear the biggest local music acts.

Eating Out

Typical Kenyan cuisine revolves around hearty staples such as beans, potatoes and maize. The national dish is ugali, dough made from corn flour, and eaten with flavoursome stews or tangy gravy. Kenya’s abundance of natural produce, combined with the rich variety of cultures and traditions, have created a great culinary nation. Inland, Kenyans are formidable meat eaters. One of the best known Kenyan specialities is Nyama Choma - literally meaning ‘roasted meat’. Vegetarians will find more variety from Kenya’s large Asian population in the Indian, Pakistani and sub-continental restaurants throughout the country.

Shopping

At the shopping malls you will find a varying selection of shops, restaurants, cafés, bars, sport bars and cinemas as well as modern conveniences like banks, foreign exchange bureaus, ATM services and post offices. Major shopping malls include The Sarit Centre, Village Market, Westgate Shopping Mall, Yaya Centre, The Junction, The Mall, Karen Shopping Centre, and various others

Travelling

Kenya is a great destination for beach holidays and has some of the world’s most beautiful beaches, located along the coastal regions and the city of Mombasa.

Kenya has some of the world’s best National Parks and Game Reserves where you can see some of the finest African flora and fauna. They are famous for the Big Five – Lions, Leopards, Elephants, Rhinos and Buffalos, plus other wildlife including Zebras, Giraffes, and Wildebeests.

Some of Kenya’s top wildlife parks and reserves include:-

- Nairobi National Park (Best time to go is around July/August. Another major attraction is the Nairobi Safari Walk which offers you an opportunity to learn more about Kenya’s Parks and Reserves)
- The Maasai Mara National Reserve (Most popular wildlife park in Kenya. From July - October you can witness the incredible migration of millions of wildebeest and zebra)
- Lake Nakuru National Park (Lake Nakuru is famous for its huge flocks of flamingos that enjoy the alkaline waters of this shallow soda lake)
- Mount Kenya National Reserve (Mount Kenya is Africa’s second highest peak)
- Amboseli National Park (Amboseli is a popular park with breathtaking views of Mount Kilimanjaro) - Tsavo National Park (The ‘Big Five’ can be spotted here)
- Aberdare Natonal Park (Famous for its lovely waterfalls and its rare species of rhino, black leopard and bongo antelope)
- Lewa Wildlife Conservancy (Lewa is a private reserve set up primarily to protect black rhino, sitatunga, and the endangered Grevy’s zebra)

Swahili Guide

While you can probably get along very well in English it is always fun to know a little of the native language.

For starters

• Hello - Jambo! (say it loud, say it proud)
• How are you? - Habari? (sometimes said as a greeting as well 'What's the news?')
• Where is the bathroom? - Iko wapi choo? (where = wapi)
• OK/fine - Sawa sawa
• Yes - Ndiyo (try to skip the 'N', don't put a lot of effort into it)
• No - Hapana (use this often)
• Good - Mzuri (To say 'very good' you add 'sana' and get 'mzuri sana')
• Bad - Mbaya - (again, 'very bad' would be 'mbaya sana')
• Please - Tafadali (Although you will hear this very rarely by locals)
• Thank you (very much) - Asante (sana) (the 'e' is the stressed and sounds like 'eh?'
• Not Yet - Bado (what you will here when your room is not ready)

More

• Big / Small - Kubwa / Kidogo
• Water - Maji (see, we told you it could save your life!)
• Ice - Barafu (very useful and sometimes hard to find)
• Hot - Moto (this is physical heat not chemical. 'Kali' is for hot food)
• Cold - Baridi ('Nataka beera baridi sana' - ' I want a cold beer')

Food

• Tea - Chai (served everyday at 4pm. 'Chai' also means a bribe but don't bribe anyone with tea.)
• Coffee - Kahawa
• Milk - Maziwa
• Meat - Nyama ('Nyama choma' is cooked meat, a BBQ if you will and goat meat at that.)
• Beer - Bia (beera) or pombe (Try the local beer, Tusker)

Animals

• Lion - Simba
• Buffalo - Nyati
• Elephant - Tembo
• Rhino - Kifaro (or just 'faro')
• Leopard - Chui (pronounced 'chew-ee')
• Giraffe - Twiga
• Hippo - Kiboko
• Antelope - Swala
• Bird - Ndegi - Bird (also airplane)
• Cheetah - Ndoa Ndoa, Duma
• Bug - Dudu ("dudu kufa" would be "dead bug")

Tourist Attractions

Kenyan beaches

The Kenyan coast stands out as one of the best tourist destinations in the world. The white sandy beaches of Mombasa, Malindi/Watamu and Lamu offer an alluring coastal charm that is a heavenly experience for visitors in these areas. One can indulge in various activities including game fishing, water-skiing, snorkeling and deep sea diving

Maasai Mara

Arguably the most fantastic wildlife reserve in Africa, the Maasai Mara stretches 200 sq miles encompassing open plains, woodlands and riverine forest. Contiguous with the plains of the Serengeti, the Mara is home to a breathtaking array of life. The Maasai Mara is among one of the seven new wonders of the world owing to the great wildebeest migration. Between the months of July and October more than 1 million Wildebeest gather together in one massive herd and fight against swift raging currents of the Mara River and waiting crocodiles as they make the magical crossing to the Serengeti. The Mara is also home to some of the world?s most treacherous natural predators.

Lamu

Lamu is one of East Africa's oldest towns on an island off Kenya?s coast. A magical place of great natural beauty where tranquility rules. Lamu is steeped in history, from its rolling sand dunes to the depths of the Indian Ocean's sparkling waters. It is a place whose history is as mysterious and fascinating as the winding streets of it?s ancient stone town. You can experience dhow trips, that take you beyond Lamu into the surrounding archipelago, which encompasses ancient ruins and a few luxurious and exclusive resorts, which lie hidden among the islands of Manda, Siyu, Pate and Kiwayu

Mamba Village

Nairobi Mamba Village is located in the capital city, Nairobi, approximately 13 kilometers away from the city centre. The mamba village is a simulation of natural splendour lying on a 30-acre piece of land complete with a 4-star lounge and several restaurants and a seating capacity for more than 500 guests at a time. A crocodile farm is among the main attractions at this spot and the pens are home to more than 70 Nile crocodiles.

Mount Kenya

This is the second tallest peak in Africa. The mountain is very popular to hikers and mountain climbers. Its snow-covered peak adds a majestic touch to the scenic topography of the area surrounding the mountain.

Fort Jesus

The Portuguese people were the first outsiders to visit Kenya. Vasco da Gama visited Kenya in 1498. The Portuguese gained control over the eastern part of the country after 1505. They attacked Mombasa and created a fort over there in the year 1593 famously known as Fort Jesus. Fort Jesus stands today and is located on the edge of a coral ridge overlooking the entrance to the old Port of Mombasa