Before travelling to Kenya, please ensure that your passport has a minimum of 6 months validity from the date that you will exit Kenya. You will need to apply for your visas to Kenya online, as visas on arrival is no longer possible. Please apply for your visas through the official government immigration website on: www.etakenya.go.ke for Kenya and www.eservices.immigration.go.tz for Tanzania. We do not recommend that you apply for your visas through any other third parties or visa agents.

Baggage on safari should be restricted to one suitcase or hold-all per person, plus hand baggage. Guests staying at the Treetops and the Ark – Kenya’s two tree-lodges, are asked to take overnight bags only. Extra suitcases and baggage can be left at the base hotels at no extra cost. When visiting Treetops the base hotel is the Outspan, and in the case of the Ark, the base hotel is the Aberdares Country Club.
Safari Mania will also be glad to store any excess luggage at our Nairobi head office at no extra charge. When using domestic flights either to the National Parks or to the coast, there is a baggage weight restriction of 15 Kg per person.

Major hard currencies (US Dollars, Sterling Pounds and Euros) can be exchanged in cash at banks all over the country, at forex bureaus in Nairobi and other major towns, and in the majority of hotels and lodges that you will stay at. Bank timings are from 08:30 hrs to 15:00 hrs on weekdays, and from 09:00 hrs to 13:00 hrs on Saturdays. The best / most competitive rates of exchange can be found at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi.

The Kenyan and Tanzanian currencies comprises of Shillings and Cents – 100 Cents making up a Shilling. Approx. 1 USD equivalent to Kenya Shillings 130 and 1 USD equivalent to Tanzania Shillings 2800.

VISA, MASTERCARD & AMERICAN EXPRESS are accepted as a form of payment at most establishments in major towns, at all hotels and lodges and even at most roadside curio shops. There are ATM machines in all major towns and cities from which money in cash can be withdrawn.

• Smart / Casual attire is required at most hotels and lodges for dinner.
  Gentlemen, please note no shorts permitted in the dining rooms at some establishments over dinner. A collared polo shirt with informal trousers, however, will suffice.
  Ladies, no swimming attire is permitted in dining rooms. During breakfast and lunch, a beach wrap that covers your swimming suit or bikini will be fine.
• Warm clothing is essential for your early morning and evening game drives at the National Parks and Reserves.
• In the evenings, light long sleeved cotton shirts are recommended as these will not only provide warmth but will also protect you from mosquitoes which are more abundant at night.
• During the day, short sleeved cotton t-shirts and shorts are recommended.
• Comfortable shoes and a pair of slip-on flip-flops or slippers are recommended.

• Your minibus / 4WD vehicle will generally be provided with a cool box. You may therefore stock up on any beverages you may want prior to your safari to last you for the duration of your journey from one destination to the next. Bottled mineral water will be provided in your safari vehicles and is available at all hotels and lodges and in all towns that you will pass through en route to your next stop.
• Many of the roads in East Africa are not in good condition and your journey may prove to be bumpy. Potholes are the norm and not the exception.
• Flat tyres, overheating and a few unscheduled delays are all part and parcel of the safari experience!
• Your driver / guide has radio or mobile access to lodges, park gates and to our office.
• Your driver / guide has a wealth of knowledge – be friendly and inquisitive and he will be encouraged to keep you informed.
• Appreciate that your driver is stopping to chat and to gain inside knowledge from the other drivers as to the location of the wildlife inside the parks. If you would like him to switch off his VHF radio inside the parks, please feel free to ask him to do so.

• National Parks and Reserves: Pre-payment of entrance fees is essential for all parks and conservancies. Safari Mania will facilitate this for you.
• Payment of the driver and vehicle’s entry fees are included in the cost of your itinerary, and you are not responsible for them.

Since rules concerning disease prevention vary from time to time, information should be sought from the Kenyan / Tanzanian Embassy / High Commission, Tourist Office or from any airline flying scheduled services into Kenya in your country of residence prior to travelling. Malaria is endemic to several parts of Kenya and Tanzania. Your agent will inform you if you are going to be in a malarial zone, in which case visitors should start taking anti-malarial tablets before departure and should continue taking them for the prescribed period of time after their return home. Insect repellants should be utilized after dusk and suitable cover-up clothes should be worn in the evenings. Possession of a Yellow Fever Certificate is required for entry into Tanzania.

Membership of the Flying Doctors Society (AMFREF) is strongly recommended.
In the event of accident or sickness while on safari, the society will fly / evacuate patients by air ambulance to Nairobi for admittance into hospital. The current cost for a 1 month membership is US $ 30.00 per person and this can be organized by Safari Mania, prior to your arrival in Kenya.

Please do not consume any tap water during your trip.
Hotels and lodges generally provide a thermos flask in your rooms with safe drinking water. In addition, bottled mineral water is available at all supermarkets, lodges and hotels.

Normal precautions, as in any other destination should be taken. Visitors are advised not to leave cash and valuables in their hotel rooms, and to ensure that use is made of safe deposit boxes which are available at most hotels and lodges.
Visitors should never carry large sums of cash when walking around and women should keep a tight grip on their handbags in crowded or busy streets.
Jewelry snatching is quite common in the city streets, and as such very noticeable adornments should be avoided.
As in all major cities, walking alone or in small groups at night could be considered dangerous, and should be avoided.
Reliable taxis and Uber taxis are available (your reception desk will assist you with this) and should be made use of. The use of public transportation is not recommended.

Taking photographs at airports, near military installations, of policemen, the President, the National Flag, the State House, state properties and prisons, is completely prohibited. Prior to taking photographs of local people, permission should be obtained, and on occasion a small payment may be requested. Please seek the assistance of your driver / guide regarding this matter.

• Hours of opening: Generally, 09:00 – 17:30. shopping malls: 09:00 – 20:00. Sundays: 10:00 – 18:00.
• Curios shops: Worth a visit but beware of being hassled by hawkers. Bargaining essential.
• Food stuff: Kenya is famous for its tea and coffee. Macadamia nuts and cashew nuts are also popular with visitors. Indian spices are readily available. Should you have any specific dietary requirements / restrictions, please let the office know in advance so that we can inform all properties of the same.
• NB: Sale and purchase of game skins and trophies are strictly forbidden. The sale and purchase of ivory is strictly forbidden.

Both mains electricity and generated supply in lodges and hotels provide 240 volts AC 50 cycles. Most large hotels and some game lodges provide shaving points with 110v 50 cycles. Sockets are usually 3 pin and are of the “square” variety.

Although hotels and lodges include a service charge, it is customary to tip porters and waiters (US $ 2 – 5 per service rendered is acceptable), and safari drivers / guides (US $ 5 – 10 per person per day is acceptable). In addition, most hotels and lodges will have a tip box by the reception, so if you would prefer to leave a tip there on check-out rather than handing out individual tips for hotel / lodge staff, that is fine.

Kiswahili is the lingua franca while English is the official language. In addition, most tribes have their own dialects / languages.

Keeping in touch by email and telephone is generally easy. Most hotels and lodges will have Wi-Fi that you can connect to. In addition, if you would like to buy a local sim card with pre-loaded internet bundles (inexpensive in Kenya), please let your driver / guide know and he will assist you with this.

• Minimum recommended check-in time for international flights: 3 hours.
• Minimum recommended check-in time for domestic and other flights: 1.5 hours.
• The check-in time at most hotels and lodges is 12 noon.

Whilst most hotels and lodges will have a resident doctor, it is recommended that you bring a basic first aid kit with you to include items such as: paracetamol, anti-diarrhea and anti-nausea pills, rehydration sachets, antihistamine, anti-itch creams and plasters and if applicable enough prescription medicine to last you for the duration of your visit.