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I am going to kenya in 3 weeks and would like some help!!!
Do you have to have a yellow fever vaccine? and how much is this?
What currency should I take with me?
Is it possible to do a day safari as i am only going for one week?
Thank you for any help!!!

Hi Vicky. The yellow fever jab is recommended, but not essential; it's available only from registered yellow fever/travel clinics, not from your GP. Mine cost £40 (I think) in Autumn 2004.
As for currency, we took a few Kenyan shillings with us, and took sterling travel cheques for the rest, and had no problems. I did see other people with US dollars, but then you're paying 2 lots of commission, but that's up to you.
Yes, one day safaris are possible from the coast (I assume you're going to the coast); your hotel should be able to help, otherwise you'll find someone on the beach who will sell you one.

Thinking of going to either Voyager resort or Sun and Sand in August next year.What is weather like that time of year? Any information or recommendations on for either hotel would be great.
Also we would like to do a 2 or 3 night safari whilst we are there. Any suggestions for which to do? Is it better to pre book them or arrange them locally?

Hi and welcome to HT !
Have you seen this thread?

Hi Bexter.

we went to the Voyager this August - there are 2 reviews on the hotel in the hotel review page (not too clever at posting links !! -I am sure Fiona might help !!)

it was fairly hot - high 70s- 80s depending on what pool you sat at !! - there was a very open sports pool - sun most of the day - a family pool - again sun most of the day - and the adult pool which could be quite shaded during different times of the day - but you could move sun beds..

The sun was out quite early 7.30 ish - we used to swim before brekky - and tended to disappear around 4.000 ish. We also had some downfalls of rain..but we all came back with tans !!

Nice climate if you are doing safari as it wasn't too hot when travelling around - quite nice breeze with roofs open on the buses.. - do take a sweater or something similar though...

The hotel is lovely and you cannot fault the staff at all..

Hope this helps

Tina x

Copy of tinac's safari report
We have just returned from Kenya. We did a 3 night/4 day safari - and it was fantastic.

We visited Tsavo east - Ambrolesi - Tasova West -also as an extra went to a Masi warrior village.

We stayed in Voi lodge - open seating areas loking over a waterhole - visited constantly by zebra etc..baboons in the lodge grounds - and yes one small monkey did attack some-one's afternoon tea !!.

We also stayed in Serena Lodge - dining is inside - but views again to die for..my children seemed to like this one best !

Finally we stayed at the Kalingui Lodge - everyone in our group had a room which overlooked the massive watering hole. The restaurant is open veranda - again overlooking this - and is constantly full of life. You must stay up until at least 10.30 at night - an amazing sight - all of a sudden a massive herd of buffalo descended and it looked like a row of ants coming down !! - must have been a couple of hundred - then 2 large elephants appeared followed shortly by more..you would never forget this sight. The waiters told us this happened every evening.. Then at 3 .00 in the morning my hubby woke and there was a massive herd of elephants at the watering hole - we sat outside on our balcony and took in the amazing sight (my hubbby at one stage thought he heard the roar of a lion !! - too much drink probably !! - we went in just in case and watched from behind closed doors)

All staff etc.. were the most helpful you can imagine - and food was on a buffet service - apart from Serena where there was a fixed evening menu.

The guides we had for the safari were also excellent - they operate a type of CB radio system so if one bus sees something the others are alerted and you go speeding off - this does not disturb the animals at all - at 7.30 one morning 5 buses were in the road as a pride of lions and cubs (18 of them !!) passed in front of us - and settled in the road !!

Also one afternnon there was the same buses as we atched a leopard stalk and go for the kill at a herdof Zebra (and he also crossed in front of the buses on the road as if we weren't there !!)

We saw loads of elephants/zebra/ our fair share of lions on each day/buffalo/deer etc/ crocodiles/hippos/hyenas - the only thing we didn/t catch was hippo.

It is a must if you go to Kenya. We booked ours through the tour company before we went (Cosmos)

Just a word of warning - if you book a Safari which starts at the beginning of your holiday then pack a seperate case as when you arrive at the aiport you go straight to the buses - the company then make sure the rest of your cases go to your hotels (and they did with no problems !!)

We went to the Voyager hotel afterwards - other people in our group went to Whitesands/Neptune Paradise - and no-one had any complaints. One couple was getting married at Neptune - 2 others on Honeymoon.

Please feel free to contact with any queries etc..

Tina x

As requested here is Tina's hotel review

Hi , bit misleading from doonhammer there you most certainly can get malaria tablets from your gp in this neck of the woods, I have done several times. Got back from Kenya 3 weeks ago and everyone we talked to got malaria tablets etc. from their gp's.

If its your first time in tropical climes make an appointment with your doctors practice for travel advice and innoculations. ( I saw the practice nurse who gave me all the info on africa).

DONT go on what people tell you or what you read on here (a lot of comments are plain wrong and misinformed), get to your doctor or practice nurse and get it from the horses mouth.

You have only got 1 life protect it properly

Am I missing something ? Vicky only asked about Yellow fever jabs, not malaria. I don't find doonhammers info misleading, he/she gave a correct answer to the question asked.

I have got protection for malaria from GP. Have not had yellow fever jabs.

Before visiting any destination, it is wise to follow the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's advise.

The Kenya section can be read by following this link:

CLICK HERE

Mark

Sorry I meant to say that we got a yellow fever jab from our GP as well as all the other bits and bobs.
I still cant believe people ask about vaccinations on here. Its one of the best travel websites but its not a substitue for proper medical advice.

Go to your GP and sort it properly. I have seen tropical diseases first hand and trust me you dont want to get one.

The moderator has put on links to the FCO, and the american CDC (centre for disease control) in the Goa section, read them carefully. Be informed and stay healthy.

Has anyone visited Kenya in September? Is the weather usually nice or can it be overcast/rain often? What temperature does it get up to -sunbathing weather???

I will also be going on safari during my stay - what clothes would best suit this time of year?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Have a look here. Click on the nearest town to where you are going and you will get detailed weather for when you are going. Can't help beyond that I'm afraid but hopefully someone who had been on safari there can help you!

Don't know about September, but we were there in October, and it was in the mid-high 80s every day, sometimes higher. The "long" rainy season was starting as we left (early November), and I believe the "short" rainy season is around June, so you you should see little or no rain at all.

Last year we took the 1st Class Train from Luxor to Cairo.It was a fascinating experiance. This March we are off to Kenya staying at lti Kaskazi Beach hotel.
We fancy trying "THE LUNATIC EXPRESS" from Mombasa to Nairobi, very colonial sleeper train with Silver Service Dinner and breakfast.
Has anyone tried this in recent times? Thought it might be fun before the South Africans take over and modernise the service.
The railway passes through Game Parks but can one see animals from the train as I understand it leaves Monbasa at 1900 hours?
Any information on Kenyan trains, safaris and holidays welcome.

Hi Dariousdave,

It could be your idea of fun and it would certainly be an experience but you might decide to wait until the railway is modernised! The railway system in Kenya has apparently suffered badly as a result of under investment and is getting by by cannibalising rolling stock and equipment. I'm a Radio 4 addict and so I'm permanently tuned to it and on a recent addition of 'From our Own Correspondent' (which you might still be able to find and listen to on-line) they had a good piece about the railways in Kenya and it might even have been about this line from memory. The reporter commented on how efficient the service in the restaurant car was but that this had more to do with the waiters being anxious to clear away plates as quickly as possible so they could be washed and used to serve other passengers their meals because there isn't even enough cutlery and crockery left for every passenger to eat at the same time!

As a bit of a train anorak and having travelled around China in 3rd class sleepers nearly 25 years ago now I'd be prepared to treat it as an adventure and give it a go but the Orient Express it ain't from the sound of it :-)

SM

Cheers SM
The Radio 4 report is easily found with pictures via Google. The appeal now is that this wonderful old railway is about to be "Privatised" and the new owners will be South African. I fear they will not offer a single 1st Class ticket for £21 including Silver Service Diner 4 courses and breakfast.
It would be interesting to know if the reason this train runs 3 nights a week is security, or lack of air conditioning.
The potential joy would be to travel in ancient per WW2 rolling stock. Given normal delays one should see wonderful countryside from dawn to destination. This was the case on the Luxor Cairo 1st Class overnight journey except the Egyptian rolling stock was much more modern!
Just hope the "railway privatisation" won't result in closure this March.