Hi whilst your waiting for somebody to reply you may find the hotel reviews on the following link helpful.

Sarah

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g294206-i9216-Kenya.html
Try there - everyone on here seems to be on holiday!

Hello All

We're off to Kenya at Easter - a safari followed by some time in Mombasa. I'd be grateful for some advice on the following:

Visas - there seem to be conflicting opinions on either getting the visa beforehand versus getting it on arrival. Can anyone who has been recently let me know their experiences?

Money - is it better to buy our shillings in advance or not? I assume there will be exchange bureaux at Nairobi airport?

Mombasa - We'll be staying at the Voyager Beach hotel - is it easy to get around the area independently, e.g. by bus or taxi. After a week on an organised tour, I doubt we'll want to book any actual excursions but it might be nice to visit the town itself etc.

Any other comments also welcome!

hi i have just come back with regard to the visa i got mine at the airport and it looked like people that already had theres had to line up with everyone else anyway.

i would take the money with you saves time and hassle. take some extra english or u.s. just incase you need to change more.

take lots of suncream i had factor 40 on and still got burnt very hot out there.

not sure about hotel i stayed at the sun and sand.

hope this helps anything i missed let me know

dave

Hi
We are going to the mombasa beach hotel at the begining of February and hoping to do a 3 or 4 day safari, can anyone tell me what the heat will be like, for taking clothes, do we need warm clothes for the mornings? and the different journey times to safari from Mombasa hotels.
Also can we just go out for walks to the supermarket etc ( presuming there is one ) etc.
If anyone has stayed at the hotel ( Mombasa beach ) that would help a little, just not sure what to expect.
Also is it worth getting dollars rather than sterling , now the exchange rate is so good, thanks in advance

Hi Olga
we don't have this hotel in our reviews but I have asked for it to be added. So keep an eye out because hopefully someone can write a review for us

We went last year..

Obtained visa before we went (came within a week) - no queues at airport anyway.

We took shillings with us - anything extra you buy at the hotel is put on a "Tab" which you can pay by credit card on the day of departure

Voyager is lovely - we only ventured out once but the hotel arranged for a taxi and he waited for us to bring back (not xpensive though from what I remember)

Hope this helps

Tina

Hi could anyone tell me what the weather is like in july and is it still the rainy season? Thanks

Hi
We have been twice once in Aug and one in late sept , there was a little rain but it was over very quickly and its warm - there are two rainy seasons a long and short but not sure when. I check the internet google weather kenya it should put you in the right direction

Hi Olga

It's nearly ten years since I stayed there, so nothing really relevant though from my knowledge of Kenya Daytime walking is OK near hotel

DO NOT visit Mombasa town except on an escorted tour

Currency, yes the $ is king, especially small bills, hotel was always struggling to change money

Food if you like meat especially lamb and beef then no great problems, veggies were mainly spinach, courgettes & carrots didn't see a green bean all trip - must have have been export only

Booze - Tusker (beer) is excellent as is the local gin + limes and maybes tonic - Imported booze is expensive

Judge the tide right and the Nyali Beach Hotel is about an hour away for a pleasant lunch but DAYTIME only return via taxi if you run late

Tsavo Parks are 3 to 4 hours away & yes thermal fleece is reccomended for the am game drive

PZULBA - Out of Africa (I lived there in '60's)

we are going to the sun and sand kikumbala in april can anyone thats been advise on visa's for kenya do you get then before you go or can you get them at the airport i have heard different things someone please help

Can anyone give a rough guide as to the temps in the early morning, late evening when out on safari. We are going in August for our Honeymoon for a week and then a week and the Voyager.

Thanks.

Hi

Thanks for the info both of you - most helpful!

Hi Jill

I've been offered some advice on this issue already:

http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=90077

I don't like the idea of posting my passport to the Kenyan Embassy so am going to fill in the forms before we go and then get them on arrival in Nairobi. It can't possibly be as bad as getting through Cuban immigration was last year!

I'm interested to see that you think that Mombasa isn't safe to visit independently as we were thinking of visiting Fort Jesus by taxi from our hotel. The Rough Guide doesn't give the impression that it is that dangerous, although I'm aware from other holidays that what's within a travel writer's comfort zone is not always within mine! Does anyone else have any experiences they can share?

Thanks for the reply.
Corrine, i will fill you in on my return if you have not been to Mombassa before me, when are you planning on going there?

hi re weather in the early mornings when we were on safari mid aug '97 , it could be nippy but it does depend on the altitude of the game park and obviously it will feel colder if the day has been hot so suggest you take a fleece ,evenings same probarily 60 -70's - Cant remember being too bothered and I feel the cold
the weather on the coast was fine late 70-80's and i got burnt and I dont easily

hi- we been twice and are going again feb, we have never travelled in Mombasa on our own, most people who do it take taxi's from the hotel normally in twos or more and not to wander at night , did know a couple who took the local bus into town but He was in the armed forces and they had no problems- we haven't as two females we find we attract more attention than a couple. I think the main areas are ok eg Fort Jesus which is good, and if you take the usual precautions eg no bling etc it shouldn't be a problem

My partner and I want to visit Kenya in March, The Voyager beach resort in fact. Is March a good time to go. We are both scuba divers and would also like to go on safari. Please help as we have heard so many conflicting reports. Thanks. Jan