General Information

East Africa is readily accessed from Europe, USA, the Middle East, and Australia and all over Africa through five international airports at Nairobi (Kenya), Mombasa (Kenya), and Eldoret (Kenya), Entebbe (Uganda) and Kilimanjaro (Tanzania).

Kenya Airways is of high repute internationally and has consistently been voted the best Airline in Africa by the Aviation and Allied Business Update, the premier aviation industry journal.

There are also many other international airlines frequenting the airports including British airways, KLM (Royal Dutch Airline), virgin Atlantic etc. When departing, one needs to be at the airport 2 hours to flight time to allow for check in procedures.

ROAD TRANSPORT - transport on road safari is by 7 seater customized safari minibus with guaranteed window seat and open roof hatch for photography. Some of our safaris include a proportion of game viewing in fully open sided 4 wheel drive vehicles, which are normally operated by Tour companies and the camps or lodges.

FLYING SAFARIS - Transportation by light aircraft on flying safaris are operated on scheduled flights by aircraft with between 4 and 50 seats. While many flights are highly booked during the high season, flying is a relatively safe and affordable way to cover a lot of ground. It is always advisable to buy tickets in advance. Chartered flights especially to Game Reserves and Parks can be arranged.

English is the official language and Kiswahili the national language throughout East Africa though one will often hear the indigenous languages being spoken by the people.

Single time zone. To the GMT one adds 3hrs. Since it is at the Equator, it has an almost equal length of days and nights.

East African food is excellent and especially in the major towns, dishes are of international standards.

However there are all types of cuisines from around the world, ranging from English, to Chinese, French and of course the local traditional dishes. NOT to be missed is 'Nyama Choma' - meat barbecued over charcoal, or with A breakfast in the bush‘Mboga’ (vegetables) Other local delicacies are ‘Chapati’ (fried bread), ‘Samosa’ (minced meat in dough triangles), Kebabs and Rice‘Pilau’.

There's also excellent Indian food and lots of fresh fruits and snacks. Water in the major towns is safe to drink but it’s always advisable to use mineral bottled water for drinking. Food, milk, fresh fruits and vegetables are generally safe to eat.

There are many local and international banks of high repute. Banks generally open from 9.00a.m to 3.00pm on weekdays i.e. Monday - Friday. Some branches are open on Saturdays from 9.00 a.m -11.00 a.m and most are equipped with 24hr ATMS. Bank branches at airports run 24hr forex services.

The country code is +254 for Kenya and the Satellite Earth Station - 4 Intel Sat. Post Offices offer good local and International services. Hours of service are 0800hrs - 1700hrs from Monday to Friday. EMS services are also available at cheap rates.

There are quite a number of ISP'S and the major towns have many cyber cafes with Sat connections and reasonable rates. The Telecommunications sector is well established in Kenya. The Telecommunication Services provided by Telkom Kenya provide international direct dialing, subscriber trunk dialing, telex, facsimile, data communication and related services.

Most hotels in Nairobi and coastal region have international dialing facilitates from your bedroom. On safari this is not the case, but in some lodges and camps calls may be booked through reception. Check tariffs before placing calls from hotels. Mobile or cell phone calls may be made in most parts of the country, but not everywhere.

See: Accommodation

Health facilities are adequate in major cities and towns. Doctors often request cash payments. One is advised to organize for overseas supplements for health insurance. If not sure where to find medical help, check out with the nearest international hotel.

Malaria: Except for Nairobi and the high attitude area, Malaria is quite prevalent in East Africa with the predominant species being P. Faciparum. Taking an appropriate drug regiment is advisable. Use of anti-mosquito measures such as repellants and mosquito nets especially when out in the open at night is encouraged.

Narcotics are illegal in East Africa and possession is a criminal charge. Rugged Terrain of Northern Kenya Vaccination against other contactable diseases is advisable.

Emergencies: Police/Ambulance 999 St. Johns Ambulance 254 20 22 40 66 AMREF 254 20 50 12 80.

Shopping can be a lot of fun and in most shops, bargaining is a must, mostly as a game and a form of entertainment. Of interest are the City Market, the Maasai Market and the little shops by the roadsides. If you are not the haggling type, there are other places with fixed prices that offer the advantage of use of credit cards and shipping your stuff for you. There are many curio shops in the towns, modern shopping Malls, markets and well-stocked supermarkets and shops for your every need.

East Africa has an international reputation for its classic beauty and is one of the most geographically diverse countries on earth.

Its landscape stretches from sea level to 5,799m on the snow capped Mt. Kenya and there are vast expanses of Savannah, highland ranges, equatorial rainforests, exotic volcanoes, a series of fresh water and soda lake, alpine glaciers, and deserts, tropical beaches, cosmopolitan cities, big game, timeless cultures, cool highland retreats, an exotic history, a fascinating modern culture and endless opportunities for adventure, discovery and relaxation...... And all these within the borders of one country.

Clients on our scheduled safaris are asked to restrict baggage to one medium size suitcase per person or preferably, one or two soft bags. If the itinerary includes flights to the game parks, there is a 15 kilo baggage (33 pounces) weight restriction per person. One small bag and camera bag is acceptable as hand luggage. Only one overnight bag may be taken to Treetops and the Ark (rest of the luggage will be stored at base hotel).

Excess baggage charges are usually nominal, but if the aircraft is full, the excess baggage may be refused.

When safari departure is from Nairobi or Arusha, The Sirinket Adventure Safari will be happy to make arrangements to store excess baggage with a hotel until your return.

The climate in East Africa is strongly influenced by altitude and proximity to the sea. The coast has a hot and humid tropical climate (July and August are cooler and less humid). Inland, a pleasant temperate climate prevails, with warm, sunny days and cool nights. In July and August the highland areas can be overcast during the day and cold at night. There are two rainy seasons. The long rains occur during April and May, and the short rains mid-November to mid-December. Rain falls generally at night, and the days are often sunny and warm.

Clothing should be practical, comfortable and informal. Lightweight cotton shirts, shorts, trousers or skirts are ideal on safari, while a warm sweater or jacket (and socks!) are required for early morning and late afternoon game drives and the cool highland evenings. Generally, a jacket and tie is not a requirement except for visitors on business. Bring swimwear, sunhat, good sun protection cream, sunglasses, a small flash light (torch), alarm clock and comfortable, dustproof shoes. Lip balm, insect repellant, and reading material, is also advisable. Leave valuable jewellery at home.

The electrical supply in Kenya and Tanzania is 240v/50 Hz. Sockets are usually 3 pin square (British type). In most tented camps and lodges it is possible to re-charge video camera batteries on request.

Membership of the Flying Doctor's is strongly recommended. In the unlikely event of an accident or unforeseen illness while on safari, The Sirinket Adventure Safaris will make arrangements foremergency evacuation by flying ambulance from the nearest operational airfield to a Nairobi hospital. Please enquire about the nominal cost of membership at the time of booking your safari.

Dining is an integral part of the safari experience. High standards of cuisine and a welcoming choice of mouthwatering dishes will usually greet the hungry guest just in from a safari. Full board is normally provided and includes early morning tea, full breakfast, buffet lunch, afternoon tea and a four-course dinner. Tea and coffee is served with all meals.

Cash in US Dollars, Euros, or British Pounds are accepted and be exchanged into local currency as required. Well known credit cardssuch as Visa, MasterCard and American Express are widely accepted in major hotels and shops in Kenya but on a limited basis in Tanzania and Uganda. When purchasing curios in markets places, bargaining is expected, but for cash only.

Bring plenty of film with you. Wide choices of films are available locally but are rather expensive and in establishments outside main towns and cities can be out of date. Telephoto lens (minimum 200 mm recommended) is a must for wildlife photography. Other useful items include filters, dust-proof bags and, of course, spare batteries. Home video cameras may be brought in but professional filming is subject to government permits and levies. Individual binoculars are an invaluable aid to spotting distant animals or birds.