Flying into Kenya, especially from America, can be an arduous experience. Until very recently, the quickest flight you could get to Kenya would probably have run more than eighteen hours with at least two stops.

However, Delta Airlines is scheduled to commence direct flights to Kenya soon. With only a short stopover in Dakar, Delta Airlines will make flying into Kenya from the US less complicated.

Kenya is reached by air mainly through Jomo Kenyatta and Mombasa international airports. Jomo Kenyatta International airport in Nairobi, about 20 km outside the city, is the busier of the two and is excellent for tourists who want to go on tours around the whole of Kenya.  However, if you just want to take in the warm sun and the sandy beaches, then the Moi International Airport in Mombasa is the choice for you. There are excellent deals to be made on cheap flights in Kenya through your travel agent.

Finished in the early twentieth century, the Kenyan railway line traverses some of Kenya’s most beautiful landscapes, going through the Tsavo National Park. It will provide you with perhaps the most leisurely and scenic route through Kenya with trips to Mombasa and to Kisumu. The attendants on the train are friendly, the food is excellent and the cabins are extremely comfortable. The train offers first class double cabins, second class cabins that will accommodate four people and economy class seats. The Nairobi-Mombasa route, which the more popular among tourists, makes three round trips a week. A one way adult first class ticket will probably cost you around 65 USD while a second class ticket will cost you 54 USD. If you do decide to take the train across Kenya, beware of the slight time delays and don’t plan anything too tightly around the train schedule.

Of all the modes of transportation you will find in Kenya, matatus (minibuses) are probably the most colourful. Matatus get their name from the Swahili word for ‘three’ which is ‘tatu’. During earlier decades, the standard fare on a matatu was three cents, thus the name. The mutation you will see on Kenyan roads today has evolved from that earlier ‘three cents’ creature, and with it, a thriving culture has also been created. The culture of the matatu is the culture of the youth. Driven at breakneck speeds, the matatus blast music and are decorated with catch phrases or portraits of popular urban artists.

Although trendy among the youth, matatus are not for the faint-hearted. I would advise any tourists to avoid them at most times. They are only for the most adventurous, and even then, it’s a good idea to take a friend with you and to leave all your valuables in your hotel room. Matatus are an easy way to get around town, but not the only way. A far more conservative mode is the longer buses. You will recognize these because they have brand names such as Citi Hoppa or Connections. Their stage in town is also within the city center, making them rather convenient.  They have fixed prices and are usually more civil than Matatus.

Taxis are the most convenient mode of transport to get you around the city. Taxis, although sometimes quite expensive are the safest way to get around town. They are usually outside every major hotel and at the airports. If you are at the airport, there probably will be an attendant only too willing to help you, and in the city, the security guards outside banks and office buildings are always a safe bet.

The other transportation option that you might have in Kenya is renting a car. Considering the unfamiliar surroundings and driving rules, chauffeur services might be something for you to consider. Although renting a car is relatively expensive, it gives you the independence and mobility that you might find desirable—especially if you plan on going deep into the Kenyan wild. There are various car rental agencies in Nairobi that have offices all over, including the airport.

Everyone needs a Visa to come into Kenya, except if your country has a reciprocal visa abolition agreement. Commonwealth countries are the ones most likely to have this agreement, but be careful, because even for these there are exceptions. Nationals of the U.K. and Canada, for example, must have a visa to come into Kenya. U.S. citizens and those of various other countries can get their visa upon entry into the country, but it’s always better to get it before you leave your own country. This will help you avoid pointless delays and complications upon arrival.

If you plan on crossing over to other African countries, then you will need a multiple entry visa. Make sure your passport is at least valid for six months before you apply. A single entry visa will cost you 50 USD while a multiple entry visa will cost 100 USD. Check with your nearest Kenyan consulate to get all the information you need pertaining you visa. Do this early; don’t wait until a week before departure.

- Image courtesy: Photokina 2008

Share This

 Email This Post To Friend
This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 16th, 2009 at 9:50 am and is filed under Safaris and Tours. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.