7 nights safari at various lodges and 7 nights at Leopard Beach, Mombasa - what is the best currency to take, Shillings, Dollars, Euro's or Sterling (or a mix)?

Don't like to draw cash from ATM's as we go along and only use credit card for larger purchases.

Hi, its best to take Kenyan Shillings and UK Sterling. Kenyan Shillings are mainly used but UK Sterling is accepted as well. Try and get your Shillings in as low as notes as possible for tipping and buying small items as the Kenyans dont like to give change out.

Just noticed you stayed at the above hotel. We are going there in July, Can you give me any info and any tips on what we may need etc etc. We have a 3 day safari from Day 4 of our hols!! We are really looking forward to it but as never done anything like this before am anxious to get as much info as poss!!
Were do you get the currency from? Will we need much money
Many Thanks

Firstly I'm sure that you will have an excellent holiday and the hotel is fantastic and we have just booked a return visit for November this year.

I would suggest you change a minimum of money for Kenyan money say £100 ( I found the post office a good rate) as there is not really a great deal to spend your money on as all is included . If you need any more there is a Barclays bank 5 minutes walk from hotel.

Would recommend a blow up cushing for travelling to the safari as the road there and back is really bumpy.

We found Boots insect repellent good and also the plug in for room was great get the one with a standard 3 pin UK plug.

Take a good suntan lotion as the sun can get very fierce without you noticing.
I recommend P20 as you only have to put this on once a day and it gives good protection.

Apart from your own personal toiletries and shampoo ther is not a lot to take except your camera and plenty of film.

Don't be put off by the beach traders as if you tell them you have been to Africa many times and you have a house full of carvings and pictures they will evantually stop bothering you.

Dont be conned by their offers to swap your socks, t shirt or actually anything it is only a means to set upo a sale and they will end up with your cash.If you make any purchases don't forget to barter and its best to offer half the asking price or even less.

I hope that this helps and if I can be of any further assistance please ask.

Have a fantastic time.

Jason

Thank you so much for replying, I am feeling even more excited now. When the family read your reply if we have any more questions I will let you know. Many thanks again!!
Carol

Can anyone help?

I've been told several different things with regards to getting our Visa's for Kenya:

First I was told we HAVE to buy them before we go which costs around £90 for two people and if we wanted to get them when we land in Kenya they will charge us mega bucks to get them there.

Then we were told not to bother getting them in the UK as they are too expensive and we could get them for half the price at the airport when we land.

And finally, I was told we could not possibly get them at the airport when we land and our only choice is to get them in the UK.[/list]

Please help?!

you are so very welcome

One word of warning---When you get off the plane be prepared for the most welcoming friendly and appreciative people you will ever meet.

Regards

Jason

Sam, we got ours before we went, but loads of people were getting theirs at the airport - not sure aboutr the cost difference, but I didn't hear anyone moaning, so ...

BTW, the Kenyan High Commission website has this to say:

Q. Is the High Commission the only place a British passport holder can get a visa?

A. No. a British passport holder may be issued with a visa at any port of entry to Kenya provided they meet the usual Immigration formalities.

HI,

we got ours before we went - took just a week to arrive..I think there was approx £10 difference if you got them when you arrived...

Tina

There is no problem in either obtaining your visa at the Kenya High Commission here, or on arrival. The prices are the same for the actual visa and are payable in sterling or USD in Kenya or sterling, if you apply here. Cost approx £30 for a 3 month single entry visa.

If you apply from here, then you must pay by postal order, unless you are able to present in person. If you want a multi-entry (valid one year) visa, then it is best to get that one here and it is about £70.

Prices and application forms are available on the Kenya High Commission Website and it really is worth downloading the application form and completing it before you go (assuming you intend to apply on arrival). Saves time and hassle at the other end/onthe flight.

Hope this helps.

I travel to Kenya frequently and agree with the previous posting.

I would recommend against buying Kenya Shillings in the UK as the exchange rate is usually dire. Take your cash in £'s. and change on arrival. There are plenty of forex bureaus and the ones at the airport (in Nairobi) offer very good rates.

If you do run short of cash, there are plently of ATM's offering visa services.

It is really best to make purchases in the local currency, then you will not have problems with the seller converting £ to shillings and using a poor rate, thereby ripping you off.

Note that the airport duty free shops trade in Dollars - so it is worth having a few just in case.

Just thinking about tipping. I have read reports whereby people take pens/pencils/crayons etc as to give/leave for the maids etc, Wot are your thoughts on gifts versus cash?
Cheers
Carol

Did not have any problem with tipping as it isn't a country where everyone is holding out a hand and expecting a tip.

We tipped the hotel porter 100 kenyan schillings (about 80p 0 and that seems to be the amount to tip.

You can buy pens etc in the shops there just as cheap as here.

As for the maid we left our unwanted cosmetics and they appreciated that .

Any further help just ask.

Regards

Jason

Hi All

We are thinking of going to kenya and of course a safari.

Any ideas on whos the best people to book with, not the cheapest but the safest.

i have been looking at the through the great rift valley safari (Samburu game reserve, aberdare park, lake nakuru, masai mara) which is 7 nights followed by 6 days at the beach to recover. In the cosmos brochure.

Will this be to long out in the bush for a first timer, also is it true that the food you generally get served on the safari is bush meat ?? and if it is whats the dangers with it ie aids and stuff.

Cheers

Peter

I went this Feb with Somak holidays ( 2 adults 2 kids 10 and 8 ). One weeks safari is fine but be warned a lot of travelling in the van. I did Amboseli, lake Nirvasha and Masai Mara. The food on our safari was superb not bush meat as close to home cooking as you could imagine IE breakfast everything from creals/fruit,yoghurts to bacon,sausages,eggs. Dinner lovely selection of salads then alwats at least one roasted meat one pasta dish and probably a curry or a stir fry. then a selection of vegetables. The food was amazing.

We all loved the safari and weeks was definitely not too long could have done more.

A lot of people we met at the beach in the second week had done the safari differently. Thye booked 2 weeks beach and then bought 3 day safaris locally and went in the middle of their holiday. Depending on how much you spen this can reduce the travelling time a lot as some use small aircraft that can fly right into the safari parks.

Kind Regards
Stewart

Look at Somak, they have an excellent reputation.

We are booked with Kuoni on the Cheetah Serena Safari First Class, 1 night Nairobi, 6 nights Safari and 7 nights at Leopard beach Mombasa. The Serena chain of lodges used on the safari (except for 1 place) are supposed to be great, don't know about Leopard beach but we've upgraded our room so hopefully it will be up to the standard of the Serena's.

Cost each is under £1500, Somak was slightly higher but their 'extra' balloon trip is cheaper, think they also have dedicated rooms in the hotels of a good class and a lounge at Nairobi airport so you can shower and wait in comfort for your connection to Mombassa or wherever after your safari.

Have a look here INVALID URL gives an indication of where the lodges/tented camps etc are.

If I were booking again after researching everywhere I think I'd opt for Somak.

The cost of flying between safari locations can be prohibitive - for us it was be driven or don't go.

I have just booked the Through the Rift Valley week safari and then a beach stay with Cosmos for our Honeymoon next year. Was an excellent price and looked to be a good safari compared to other brochures. Cosmos actually use Somak once you are out in Kenya for the safari.

Hi
I am travelling solo to Mombasa (1st time to Africa) for 2 weeks in November staying at the Voyager (hope it's good the reviews were generally positive). Am debating whether to book safari local or prebook shadows of kilamjaro with Cosmos as it's only £360 extra for 3 nights. Also is it feasible to visit Zanzibar? Do they do excursions there, if so approx cost? Diving--anyone do any while in Mombasa? Any recommendations for a decent, reasonable dive centre, I want to see some white tip sharks, turtles while there and hopefully get in some snaps of whale sharks as they are on their migration at that time. Did anyone check out the cost of Gorilla trekking to Uganda from Mombasa and is this a trip that can be done from there or do you need to go to Nairobi? Any other excursions which people found to be very good? What exactly do they classify as safari clothes??

Do you get a lot of hassle from the beach guys? If I want to go into town should I have a guide?
Any other tips would be welcome also
Many Thanks
Tankgirl

Can anyone help. The downloadable visa application form from the kenya high commision ask's for a photograph if we send off in advance. If we decide to get visa at the airport do we need to take a photograph with us? Also we fly to Nairobi and only have an hour for the connecting flight to Mombassa, would we have time to get visa in Nairobi or can we wait intil we get to Mombassa?
Thanks
Shazzer