More Things To Know

 

LANGUAGE: English is widely spoken in lodges, camps and the larger towns, but Swahili is a beautiful language, and you may want to learn some basic words. Here are some basic phrases to get you started.

English Phrase	Swahili
Hello Thank you Thank you very much How many shillings? How much money? No Yes Please Sorry Water Tea Coffee Beer Goodbye	Jambo! Asante Asante sana Shilingi ngapi? Pesa ngapi? Hapana Ndiyo Tafadhali Pole Maji Chai Kahawa Pombe Kwaheri

TIME: Kenya is eight hours ahead of EST, or 3 + GMT. When it's noon in New York, its 8 PM in Kenya, except during Daylight Savings Time, when Kenya is only seven hours ahead of the eastern U.S.

VOLTAGE: In Kenya the power system is 240 volts AC, with 13 amp square pin plugs. Bring an adaptor/converter for small appliances. Most hotels and lodges will happily recharge video and digital camera batteries at the reception area. And many of the most select hotels in larger cities offer in-room hair dryers. The bush lodgings all generate their own power but there may be hours when power is off - usually mid-day when everyone is out game-driving or during late night hours.

SAFETY AND SECURITY: U.S. Citizens should avoid crowds in large cities and street demonstrations and maintain a low profile. It is unwise to walk alone at night outside the immediate grounds of city hotels. The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local authorities and the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. The pamphlet "A Safe Trip Abroad" provides useful information on personal security while traveling abroad. It is available by mail from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402 or via the Internet at http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs or via the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page at http://travel.state.gov/.

MEDICAL FACILITIES: Adequate medical facilities in Kenya are available in Nairobi and Mombasa. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health care services. U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States.