Highlights Of Kenya With Aberdare

• The country is named after Mt. Kenya, the second highest mountain in Africa and the only mountain in the world lying astride the equator with ice on its peaks.
• Nairobi is a Masai word meaning ‘place of cool waters’. It was initially used as grazing land by the Masai since the water there rarely dried up.
• ‘Hakuna Matata’ is a famous Kenyan song sung in many versions and the title means ‘no worries’, it was used in the animated movie Lion King.

• Jambo – Hello
• Habari! – How are you?
• Mzuri Sana – I am fine, thank you!
• Sisemi Kiswahili – I can’t speak Swahili
• Hapana - No
• Ndiyo - Yes
• Asante Sana – Thank you very much!
• Kwaheri – Good bye!
• Bia Baridi – Cold beer!

 Kenyan food is an amalgamation of various cuisines. The Portuguese introduced maize, bananas, pineapples, sweet potatoes and cassava. The Europeans brought white potatoes, cucumber and tomatoes. The     British imported Indian cooks to prepare dishes like curries, chutneys and chapattis that form a delightful part of traditional Kenyan food
Some of the staple local food is –

• Nyama Choma - Meaning literally ‘roasted meat’ goat, beef, mutton or chicken
• Ugali - Much loved staple food of Kenya. It is a stiff porridge of maize flour.
• Mandazi - Popular sweet dish of Africa quite similar to doughnuts, it’s made of flour, sugar and eggs.

Entertainment & NightLife

Nairobi offers the most choices for entertainment in Kenya, with an assortment of casinos, nightclubs, and movie theatres. The main theatres offer Hollywood features, with an assortment of Bollywood films showing in many of the cinemas. Nairobi and Mombasa both offer a good selection of dance clubs. Some clubs offer live entertainment in Nairobi, otherwise most feature discos with a DJ. Local theatres are located in Nairobi and Mombasa, providing productions of popular plays. Many hotels and lodges provide evening entertainment. Often this will include traditional tribal dancing. 

• Shopping in Kenya is dominated by souvenir sellers. Handmade items may be purchased at market stalls, roadside stands, and from street peddlers.
Nairobi has an endless variety of places to shop. The City Market, on Muindi Mbingu Street is a good source of inexpensive souvenirs. Bargains may be found at street stalls on many of the major thoroughfares, with local traders offering an assortment of goods.
There are also a number of department stores and shopping malls within Nairobi.
 
• When travelling around, you will come across a variety of arts and crafts, many of them reflecting regional traditions and designs.
What you will find most are textiles, batiks, soapstone & wood carvings. Bead-work and traditional utensils made out of gourds are also very popular, but Kenya’s most important artisan traditions are ironwork, metal jewellery and basket ware. They go back centuries in some communities!
 
• The Masai bead-work jewellery is particularly popular, with a traditional and modern range of designs geared more and more to the tourist market. The leather/beaded bracelets can be worn by women and men and are great gifts to bring home.
 
• Wooden carvings tend to come from the Kamba people who are specialised in them; there are people, animals, bowls and spoons to napkin rings.
Soapstone art is mostly produced by the Kisii carvers with beautiful paintings on small little boxes, chess sets, plates and little animal & people statues. If you hold them close enough to your nose, you can SMELL the soapstone!
Banana fibre picture, tribal masks and wire toys can easily be found by the big open markets, curios stalls and street vendors.
 
• As far as the textile; they are absolutely wonderful, colourful with endless different designs, light to pack and fantastic gifts and souvenirs to bring home.
 
• The Kikoys, which make excellent scarves, table cloths or bed-covers
• The Khanga, which can be worn as a skirt, headscarf or baby sling
• And a Shuka that can be a red piece of cloth, or now, in more modern times, a red blanket, sometimes with checker designs. 

Electric Plug Details

• The standard electrical voltage is 220 – 240V, 50Hz. 3 plug rectangular sockets are most common.
 

• Air: Kenya has a good network of domestic flights. These airlines serve the coast, major game parks and Western Kenya.
• Taxis: In Nairobi, Mombasa and other large towns, taxis are widely available, and convenient. Taxis are often parked in the street around hotels and tourist areas. Nairobi taxis are usually marked with a yellow line along each side. Taxis are not metered, and a price should be agreed with the driver before departure.
• Matatu: The most common form of public transport in Kenya is the Matatu, which has become a national icon and a large part of Kenyan modern culture. A Matatu is a minibus, usually a Nissan.
• Rail: Kenya has a railway connection between Nairobi – Mombasa and Nairobi – Kisumu.  The overnight Nairobi – Mombasa rail trip is the most popular rail route for visitors.

Domestic/Internal Flight options:

• Kenya has a well-developed domestic flight network, serving both major cities and more remote areas.

Kenya Airways, Jambojet, Fly540, etc

• Luggage: Please pack in a couple of small soft duffel bags (NOT in hard suitcases), to facilitate loading in the small luggage compartments of the light aircraft / SAFARI VEHICLES that fly / drive you from place to place. Your hand luggage should include your camera equipment, toiletries, medicines and a change of under clothes. 
• On internal flights, the total luggage limit, including hand luggage, is 33 pounds/15 kgs per person.

Clothing: What to pack?

• Kenya is casual. Please bring neutral colours. Remember, as there is lots of dust, khaki is always good. The best method of dress is layering. Early morning and evening game runs call for a sweater/fleece or windbreaker over a cotton long-sleeved shirt. A T-shirt or short-sleeved cotton shirt is good for mid-day. Hats are a must. Cotton or poly trousers, shorts, sneakers or comfortable hiking shoes are recommended. 
• Evenings are cool around the campfire but casual. A fleece with a light-weight turtle neck and jeans are perfect. Safari style jackets/vests are convenient for photographers with their many pockets for film, lenses etc.
• Bottle Water Policy: • Bottled water during the safari is provided in the safari vehicle throughout the Safari. • All properties provide Bottled Drinking water in the rooms. Quantity depends on Individual Hotel policies. • Bottled Drinking water and soft drinks during meal times in the dining and Lounge areas of any properties is chargeable direct in all the properties and is not on FOC basis.
For the Day:
• 2 to 3 pairs of shorts, 5 to 6 cotton shirts, and bathing suits.  
• Enough underwear, socks and hankies.
• Sunscreen, 2 pairs of comfortable walking shoes, hats or caps.
• For the Evening - warm clothes for the cool:
• 1 safari jacket, or 1 lightweight jacket, or a fleece jacket or a windbreaker, 2 long sleeve shirts.
• 2 pairs of casual trousers.

• Insect repellent (for the body) any special medications or prescriptions (bear in mind that you may not find your prescriptions in Kenya so bring enough).
• Extra pair of prescription glasses and sunglasses, contact lenses - as it is dusty - brings ample cleaning solutions.
• Small, lightweight flashlight, lotions, Kleenex, moisturisers, chopstick.
• Personal cosmetics, toiletries, scarves, money belts, binoculars - extremely important.

• Do pronounce the name of the country KEHN-yah (KEEN-yah, which is the old British colonial pronunciation, may offend residents).
• Don't photograph the people or their homes and livestock without asking permission first, and don't be offended if you're asked to pay for the privilege—it's customary in some areas, particularly with the Masai who expect payment.
• Don't encourage your driver to go off road on safari to get closer to the animals. Some will happily do this for the promise of a tip, but it is against national park rules and destroys the environment for the animals.
• Do stock up on insect repellent and general medicines in case you suffer from minor ailments while you are out on safari without access to a pharmacy or a doctor.
• Do take more camera film or memory cards than you think you'll need. There are great photographic opportunities on safari, and most people get carried away taking photographs of animals. If you run out, it is very expensive to buy film or cards in the national park lodges.
• If you are going on a Safari, watch your clothing choices. Bright colours (such as whites and blues) attract wild animals as well as insects.
• When on safari, please do not get out of your vehicle, unless you are told it is safe to do so. Do not attempt to go for walks outside the lodge premises, when staying in game lodges/ camps
  

Tipping: Not normally obligatory but a tip for exceptional service will be appreciated. Suggested amount is Per Participants in the vehicle: 

• Driver guides U.S.$ 10.00 to U.S.$ 15.00 Per Day. 
• Waiter/Waitress U.S.$ 5.00 Per Served meals 
• Porters U.S.$ 2.00 Per Suitcase/Item.

• Transport in seven seater NON AC safari 4x4 land cruiser with a pop up roof for easy game viewing 
Capacity: Typically 6 to 7 passengers.

Features:

• Pop-Up Roof: Designed for unobstructed views and easy photography.
• Comfortable Seating: Often equipped with individual seats and ample legroom.
• Air Conditioning: Non AC safari vehicle 4x4 land cruiser
• Advanced Suspension: Built to handle rough and uneven terrain typical of safari environments.