A trip to Nairobi - how to prepare?

The city of Nairobi is the capital of the African state of Kenya . If you are planning a trip to Nairobi and are thinking how to prepare, we will help you with this. In order to avoid the occurrence of various kinds of misunderstandings, problems and other troubles, we recommend that you work through the following questions.

An independent trip or a package tour?

So, the first thing you need to determine when preparing for a trip to Nairobi is your budget. When choosing a finished tour, you do not have to puzzle over the issues of buying tickets for an airplane and arranging a transfer to the hotel and back. It only remains to choose a hotel, type of food and, possibly, additional services and excursions.

If you prefer to organize your trip yourself, you will first need to buy tickets for the plane and book a hotel. There are plenty of hotels in Nairobi , so you will not have any problems with the choice. After buying tickets and booking a hotel, you should consider obtaining a visa to Kenya . You can arrange it yourself at the embassy and visa center or with the help of specialized companies dealing with these issues.

It will also be necessary to arrange insurance. Nowadays, an insurance policy can be issued online through the Internet. As for the transfer from the airport to the hotel and back, then this issue is better to attend to the trip. You can take a taxi and public transport or rent a car.

Choice of travel and rest time

In Kenya, the subequatorial climate, the whole year is quite warm, however, two dry and rainy seasons can be distinguished. The most favorable times for visiting Nairobi are the periods from December to March and from July to October (+24 ... + 26 degrees). At this time precipitation is a rare occurrence, which is very important when visiting, for example, nature reserves.

If you want to make your vacation active and full of impressions, then it's high time to think about what you want to see in Nairobi , plan the trip route, write out all the necessary information on the selected sights. Excursions to many places can be booked at the time of rest, but also in advance via the Internet. Safari tour in the Nairobi National Park is more profitable to buy on the spot, finding out from other tourists the coordinates of the travel agency, which they used, and the prices for such tours. Essentially you can save money if you participate in group excursions - there will be a lot of information about them in your hotel.

Vaccination and safety

This is one of the most important questions in preparation for the trip to Nairobi. You will need to get vaccinated against yellow fever, tetanus and typhus, vaccination against poliomyelitis, hepatitis A and B is also recommended. All vaccinations must be made in advance and only in specialized centers where you will be given an international certificate of vaccination.

It is not recommended to drink tap water. Better to use bottled water from supermarkets. Fruits and vegetables should be thoroughly washed or peeled.

As for security issues, it should be noted that although Kenyans are friendly and friendly, but with their things and money on the trip it is worth to be very careful. Late evenings and at night it's better not to wander through poor areas, but to call a taxi and get to your destination.

What things do you need to take with you?

Be sure to take with you a first aid kit, which should be anesthetic, antipyretic, antiseptics, cotton wool, plasters, repellents, antimalarials, sunscreens and insect bites.

Think about your wardrobe for a trip to Nairobi. Light summer clothes are allowed everywhere, except for formal events. In nature reserves, you will need clothing that closes the body as much as possible and dense enough to avoid insect bites and cuts from plants. It is strongly recommended to take wide-brimmed hats and high shoes with ankle support.

Transport in Nairobi

  1. In the city there are often traffic jams, so be sure to consider this fact, going to the airport or on an excursion.
  2. Using the services of a taxi, always agree in advance the cost of the trip, since in local taxis there is rarely a counter.
  3. Very popular transport in Nairobi, as in many other cities of Kenya , are matata - an analog of our minibuses. Do not leave things unattended in them.
  4. When traveling by car in Kenya, be careful at night. This is due to the fact that during the cold nights sometimes animals go to bask on the warm asphalt. On the road there are a lot of them, but it is difficult to see even an elephant.

It is important to know

  1. Please note that in Nairobi and Kenya it is generally not recommended to photograph local residents and visit their homes without permission. This is especially true of the Masai tribe. Also you can not shoot on the main square of Nairobi, near the mausoleum.
  2. During a visit to national parks it is not allowed to approach very close to the animals, to leave the route and leave the car without the permission of accompanying guides. Feeding animals and birds is strictly prohibited, all violations are punishable by huge fines.
  3. Preparing for a trip to Nairobi, be sure to keep in mind that this city is quite expensive and there is not always an opportunity to pay with a bank card or withdraw cash from an ATM. Therefore, stock up in cash US dollars, which you can, if necessary, change on the spot or pay them off.