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The average daytime temperature in Nairobi is 21-26 degrees centigrade. The coast is always hot with an average daytime temperature of 27-31 degrees centigrade whilst temperatures elsewhere depend on altitude. July and August mark the Kenyan winter.

The dry season extends from June to October, and the two rainy seasons are usually from April to late May and October to December. The best time to visit Kenya for wildlife viewing is during the dry season. The wildebeest migration usually reaches the Masai Mara in August and remains until October when they move back to the Serengeti in Tanzania.

Kenya maintains an almost constant 12 hours of daylight, sunrise, and sunset being at around 6.30 and 18.45 daily, varying only by 30 minutes during the year.

To enter Kenya, a valid passport, valid for at least six months, is required as well as an entry visa (obtainable on arrival for a fee of US$50 per person or online via evisa.go.ke). It is also recommended to have at least two empty facing pages as visa passport stickers are large.

The local currency is the Kenya shilling but US dollars are also accepted at hotels and game lodges. ATMs are available countrywide with 24-hour access. All major international cards are accepted.

Most Kenyans in the travel industry rely heavily on tips. Tip what you feel is appropriate and what has been deserved, usually up to 10% of the bill, and tip in Kenyan Shillings as most staff find it difficult to change foreign currency.

The international telephone code is +254.

Mobile roaming rates can be very high, check with your service provider before you depart or consider setting up a safety buffer.

The quality of WiFi varies throughout Kenya. It is usually very good in major cities and most hotels offer free access. On safari, the service drops considerably.

Numerous international carriers serve Kenya, and Nairobi is the hub of the East African region. Kenya has two international airports: Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is half an hour’s drive from Nairobi’s city center, and Mombasa’s Moi International Airport is even closer to the town center. Taxis are readily available at both airports (officially regulated tariffs should be displayed).

It is strongly advised to take out adequate travel insurance and to have accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation. If emergency medical assistance is required during your trip, there are several very good private health clinics and hospitals. In Nairobi, there are Accident and Emergency Departments at Nairobi Hospital and the Aga Khan University Hospital.

A number of vaccinations are recommended (check with your doctor in advance). A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required ONLY if you are arriving from an infected country. Malaria is endemic in tropical Africa and protection against it recommended.

Kenya is a safe travel destination though there are issues with crime in the major cities, as in all parts of the world. Check your Government's travel advice for the latest information.

GMT +3 all year-round.

English (official), Kiswahili (national), multiple ethnic languages (Bantu, Cushitic and Nilotic language groups)

220-240 volts, with standard 13-amp square three-pin plugs.