Let us try to answer some of the questions you might have before choosing Namibia as your next destination. If you are not satisfied or have further doubts, don’t hesitate to contact us.
Will I be safe
In general Kenya’s people are friendly and welcoming foreigners. Our direct contact with people living in the country will ensure that we will be able to advise whether it is safe or not to visit it. Safe in terms of social stability: as many African countries Kenya might have the occasional uprising against the government but they are generally concentrated in the main cities and not affecting the safari destinations. Simply try to avoid the big urban areas, using them only as transit hubs. Kenya also experienced a few terrorist attacks in the past, but they were always in busy metropolitan areas, or closer to the Somali border, far away from national parks where the low density of people and strong presence of armed rangers are an effective deterrent. English and Swahili are the official languages. Safe in terms of medical assistance: given the remoteness of the places visited, and the lack of an adequate local health care system, personal medicines should be carried from home, and extra care be placed to avoid health issues and physical injuries. Nairobi does offer some private clinics of good standards. For serious conditions it might be advisable to be Med Evac to Johannesburg, Middle East or Europe, so make sure your travel insurance does cover for that.. Safe in terms of hygiene: no compulsory vaccination is required to enter Kenya, unless you arrive from countries where yellow fever is endemic. Generally speaking malaria prevention tablets are advisable, although the risk fluctuate depending on the time of the year and the areas visited. Food hygiene in selected camps and lodges is generally good, but always to ask your guide or camp/lodge management for advise. Drink only bottled or purified water. Safe in terms of quality of transportation: both the aviation industry and ground transports are generally speaking safe in Kenya.
Where will I sleep
A general note: in Africa a tented camp is not synonymous of basic accommodation. Some tented camps are of a 5 star hotel’s suite level, with its own style and décor, they just happen to have canvas walls instead of brick and cement walls, usually on a raised wooden deck. Ask us about pictures and descriptions, we will gladly provide them, together with our first hand feedback. While Kenya offers a wide range of accommodation, from 50+ rooms lodges and basic tented camps and up, we focus only on good level tented camps or lodges and up, with less than 20 rooms. A good tented camp will provide tented bedrooms of approx 20 sqm, private bathroom with shower, normally pitched on ground level, possibly an outside deck, no airconditioning. A luxury tented camp or lodge will provide ample bedrooms in excess of 20-30sqm, a unique décor, private bathroom with shower and/or bathtub, usually on raised wooden platform, an outside deck possibly with possibly outside shower, and airconditioning. Some top level tented camps and lodges are available in certain parks, and boast suite size rooms with all 5* hotel amenities such as gym, spas, swimming pool, 24h butler service etc…
What will I eat
Kenya has a mix of western colonial and Arab / Indian Ocean heritage, which reflects in its cuisine as well. So expect fresh or cooked vegetables, meats and sometimes fish. In general all our selected tented camps and lodges will offer a variety of food, and they can cater for any food allergies or preferences, vegetarians, vegans, gluten free etc…, provided they are notified at the time of booking.
Should I take my kids along
While many tented camps and lodges may not allow kids under the age of 6 or even 12, an increasing number of safari properties will cater for families with kids of all age, offering exclusive use of villas, family cottages or family tents. While there might be no age restrictions in such places, their remoteness, the long hours on safari and for transfers though might not be ideal in any case for kids 6 and under.
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