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Safari Tips

Passports

A passport that is valid for at least six months after the end of your trip is required for both U.S. and Canadian citizens to enter and depart the country. Please ensure that the name on your passport matches all travel documents to be issued. If this is not the case, please contact us immediately. Your passport must have at least two blank pages for the entry stamp. This cannot include the ‘endorsement’ page at the back.

Please make a photocopy of your passport’s identification page and keep it separate from your original. It’s also a good idea to leave a digital copy with someone at home. This may speed up the replacement process should you lose your passport.

Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) For Kenya

From 01st January 2024, travelers to Kenya will not require a Visa and will instead apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization. The ETA system has replaced the eVisa system for Kenya and is currently in effect.

Visit www.etakenya.go.ke to experience this seamless new system, effective from 4th January 2024. This applies to all international travelers, including children .Kenyan citizens and East African Community (EAC) partner states residents are exempted.

Travelers may submit their applications as early as 3 months prior to travel.

It is recommended that travellers apply as soon as they have reserved their flight tickets and accommodations / tour packages in Kenya.

Your ETA Application Checklist:

  • Passport Validity: Ensure your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your planned arrival date in Kenya and has one blank page.
  • Photographic Identification: A recent passport-style photo or a clear selfie.
  • Contact Essentials: Your email address and phone number.
  • Travel Itinerary: Details of your arrival, departure, and where you’ll be staying in Kenya.
  • Payment Method: A credit card, debit card, or Apple Pay ready to cover the fee.

Additional Requirements for Certain Travelers:

  • Yellow Fever Certificate: Necessary if you’re arriving from a Yellow Fever-endemic country.
  • Additional Vaccinations: Based on your travel history or country of residence.

Application Steps for Your Convenience:

  1. Upload the information page of your passport.
  2. Capture a selfie using your webcam.
  3. Fill in your contact details.
  4. Provide your arrival, departure, and accommodation details in Kenya.
  5. Complete the general information section.
  6. Make a customs declaration.
  7. Complete the health declaration.8. Provide your travel insurance information.
  8. Upload your accommodation booking confirmation and flight ticket/confirmation.
  9. Add any additional documents if required.
  10. Agree to the terms and conditions.

Application Timeline: You can apply for your ETA up to 3 months before your planned arrival in Kenya.

Processing Time: It typically takes 3 working days to process your ETA.

What Happens After You Apply?

  • Once you’ve submitted your application, look out for an email notification. Upon approval, you’ll receive an ETA receipt with a reference number, which you can use to check your application status on the ETA website.

Insurance

Cancellation and Medical Insurance is highly recommended as it can safeguard against the Expenses associated with in-country medical emergencies, lost or delayed baggage and emergency cancellation or interruption of your trip. Please ensure your policy will provide you with upfront medical coverage so that you are not responsible for a hefty doctor’s bill while away.

Vaccinations

Some vaccines require more than one dose or a major length of time to be effective. Currently Required

  • Vaccinations: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travelers over one year of age arriving from infected areas. It must be given at least 10 days before your trip in order to be effective.
  • Malaria is present although not generally in Nairobi and the highlands (above 8200ft/2500m). However, malaria pills are an option to discuss with your doctor.

Other vaccines to discuss with your doctor or travel health professional:

Weather, Seasons & Climate

Kenya’s climate is warm and humid at the coast, cool and humid in the central highlands, and hot and dry in the north and east. Since Kenya lies on the equator, daytime temperatures in most parts are consistently warm all year.

Kenya has a long rainy season from April to June, and a short rainy season from late October to mid- December. The best game- viewing is during the dry winter months (May –August) and warmer spring months (September & October).

Clothing & Essential Items

It is important to pack clothes for warm days and cool evenings, as well as a warm jacket for early morning game drives. Light, quick-drying, practical clothes are advisable. Non-synthetic, comfortably fitting, cotton clothing breathes more easily and will keep you cooler under the hot African sun.

Shorts and T-shirts are normally the order of the day, and are replaced with long-sleeved shirts and trousers at night for warmth and protection from insect bites.

Preferred colors on safari are khaki, beige, olive green and brown.

Other essential items:

Sweater, jersey pullover, safari jacket or windbreaker for the evenings Swimwear Bandannas, handkerchiefs and hat with a brim. For upscale lodges and nights out in Nairobi, you may want to pack something more formal.

FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS: Video camera, camera with zoom lens in a dust-resistant case, sufficient memory cards, a spare camera battery charge an and binoculars

Electricity, Phone & Internet

Electricity: Electricity in Kenya is 220/240 volts and 50HZ. Plugs have three rectangular prongs that form a triangle. To conserve power in environmentally sensitive areas lodges may turn off electricity overnight.

If you have a medical device that requires 24 hour electricity please contact your travel consultant.

Phone Your cell phone will work in most areas while on safari if you have a “Smart Phone.” Internet cafés and wireless access are available in most urban areas, airports and hotels. Please note that wi-fi and internet service provided in properties is at the discretion of each establishment and Nature watch safaris has no control over this.

Currency

The currency in Kenya is the Kenyan Shilling (KSh), divided into 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of KSh1,000, 500, 200, 100 and 50. Coins are in denominations of KSh20, 10 and 5.

Bring some cash, an ATM card and a credit card.The official exchange rate is published daily in the Newspapers and online at www.xe.com.

Please note that due to the number of fake notes in circulation, no US Dollar bills printed before 2003 are accepted in Kenya.

In fact, your safest bet is to carry notes printed after 2006.

Banking facilities and ATMs are found throughout Kenya’s major travel destinations.

Booking And Reservations

To reserve a safari, customers need to provide accurate information. A 50% deposit will be required to secure a booking, with the remaining balance due at least 30 days prior to the commencement of the safari A booking is considered confirmed after payment is received.

PAYMENT BY CREDIT/DEBIT CARDS:

Payment can be made via credit card (Visa, Amex or MasterCard) through a secure online payment system. Payments can also be made via bank transfers (details shall be provided during safari confirmation and invoice).

CANCELLATION AND REFUNDS:

Force Majeure: In situations beyond the company’s control, such as natural disasters, political unrest, or acts of terrorism, the company may be forced to cancel a safari/ tour.

In these cases, the company will provide alternative travel options or issue refunds for the affected portions of the safari.

CUSTOMER-INITIATED CANCELLATION:

Booking cancellation conditions are determined by the fact that once hotel, Safari lodge/ camps, local domestic airlines or services are booked on your behalf, we shall incur a cancellation fee if we are required to cancel the booking.

We try to keep such cancellation charges to a minimum and they apply as follows calculated as a percentage of the total price:

CANCELLATION CHARGES FOR BOTH KENYA AND TANZANIA SAFARIS.

  • Cancellation up to 60 days prior to commencement of the safari: Will incur 20% of the
  • Cancellation up to 35 days prior to commencement of the safari: 30% cancellation charges
  • Cancellation up to 15 days prior to commencement of the safari: 60% cancellation charges
  • Cancellation between 15-1 day (including NO-SHOW) prior to safari start: will incur 100% of the

Law And Jurisdiction

All terms and conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Kenya, and any litigation necessary to resolve disputes between the parties shall be held in Kenyan courts. Disputes can be solved through arbitration.