To enter Kenya you need an entry visa. The visa categories are as follows:
• transit visa (transit visa, USD 20) valid from one to seven days;
• tourist visa (tourist visa, 50 USD or 40 EURO) valid for one month, three months or, in special cases, renewable for up to six months;
• multiple visa (multiple visa, USD 110) for business;
• visa valid for a single journey (single journey visa, 25 USD or 20 EURO);
• double-entry visa (double-entry visa, 25 USD or 20 EURO) issued to people who enter Kenya and then continue to another member country of the "East Africa Community" (in addition to Kenya, Uganda, Rwuanda, Burundi and Tanzania) and then return to Kenya.
The Kenyan authorities announced the introduction from 1 September 2015 of an online procedure to obtain an electronic visa. It is advisable to follow this procedure, accessible at the following address: http://evisa.go.ke/evisa.html (only in English).
After entering the required data, attaching the necessary documents and paying by credit card $ 52 (single entry), the applicant receives within ten days a receipt with a barcode (E-Visa) to be presented at the Kenyota border crossing where, following the acquisition of biometric data, he obtains a visa. The East African Tourist Visa cannot be obtained online but only at the Kenyan Consulate and Embassy in Italy.
To enter Kenya, if you come from Uganda it is mandatory to have a valid vaccination certificate against Yellow Fever, which you are promptly requested at the Busia border post.
Keep in mind that in Kenya the public and private transport service on weekends and Sundays do not suffer reductions.
In Kenya many people speak English and some even Italian, especially in Malindi.
Once you have also obtained the Kenya entry stamp, you walk towards the bus that awaits you 200 meters. further on.
At the land border of Busia (Kenya), it is possible to withdraw money at ATMs, or change cash (Euros, Dollars or Pounds), at the desk located just beyond the Kenyota Custom but with a decidedly unfavorable exchange rate (1 Euro = 110 KSh or 1 USD = 91 KSh) compared to what you can get at the black currency exchange in Busia or in the center of Nairobi (1 Euro = 122.60 KSh or 1 USD = 103 KSh).
In Nairobi you generally arrive between 9.00pm and 10.00pm. The Easy Coach Bus Station is located in Exchange La Road, not far from the railway station. To reach the Modern Coast Bus Station, located in Cross La, the fastest and cheapest solution is to take a boda boda (motorbike) for the price of 200 KSh.
To reach Mombasa from Nairobi there are several bus companies with departures in the early morning, afternoon or evening. One of the most reliable is the Modern Coast, which has many departures a day: the last one at 10.30pm. The trip takes 6 to 8 hours. The ticket price is 800 KSh for the second class and 2,000 KSh for the first class. Sometimes the second class is sold out and one is forced to travel in first. You pay at the desk before getting on the bus.
In Mombasa generally the Bus of the Modern Coast Company, leaves you in the center in Digo Road, where many Matatu (25 KSh) pass directly to the port where the free ferries to Likoni depart every 15 ', which is an obligatory stop for those who want to reach the southern coast of Kenya.
If you want to reach the beautiful beaches of Diani Beach, you have to take from the Likoni Bus Terminal, adjacent to the Ferry Terminal, one of the numerous Matatu (minibuses) that leave when full and get off at Ukunda (70 KSh, 30 minutes), at junction for Diani Beach. From here there are numerous Boda Boda that for the price of 100 KSh, or TUC TUC for the price of 30 KSh, take you to any white beach of Diani Beach, where the masseuses are waiting for you to offer you their service.
From Diani Beach, if you want to reach the Sacred Forest of Kaya Kinondo, located 15 km south of Diani Beach, the cheapest solution is to take a Tuc Tuc along the coast from north to south until the end of the paved road at a cost of 30 KSh. From there you can take a Boda Boda which for 200 KSh travels the last 10 km to the aforementioned Forest.
The entrance to the Sacred Forest of Kaya Kinondo, declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco, costs 1,000 KSh, in addition to the non-compulsory tip (I gave 200 KSh) to be given to the compulsory Guide who accompanies you in the visit of about 1 hour of this mystical forest. It is an incredible experience in which everything seems out of reality: it is not possible to eat, wear hats, smoke, kiss, pick up anything and it is mandatory to wrap a black Kaniki (Sarong) around your waist. Then you will hug a tree that is hundreds of years old and walk barefoot for a while.
Once I returned to Mombasa with the same means of transport used on the outward journey, I visited it on foot. There is a beautiful historic center with semi-deserted alleys. Even during the day it doesn't seem the best of safety. There are guides who propose to accompany you on the visit for 1000 Ksh to negotiate, but perhaps it is better to accept the invitation so as not to endanger your own safety. But the absolute top attraction of Mombasa is Fort Jesus, located overlooking the sea and declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco. It is open every day from 8.00 to 18.00. The entrance fee is 1,200 Ksh.
A ride in Tuc Tuc from the historic center of Mombasa to the Bus Station on Abdel Nasser Road, where Bus and Matatu leave for Malindi costs 100 KSh.
From there, from early morning until evening, numerous buses and matatu for Malindi depart when they are full, but they fill up quickly. The ride lasts from 2 to 3 hours and 30 'and costs 350 KSh.
In Malindi many people speak Italian and a ride in Boda Boda costs 50 KSh.
The cheapest accommodation to sleep in Malindi is Tana Guest House, located in the center of Jamburi Street, close to many bus offices. The cost per day is 600 KSh, for a double with mosquito net, without breakfast and without wifi.
Keep in mind that Malindi is safe during the day but after sunset it is dangerous to go to the beach or drive along the deserted Mama Ngina Road.
The combined ticket to visit the House of Columns, the Portuguese Church and the Colonna de Vasco de Gama costs 500 KSh.
To reach Lamu Island from Malindi, there are several bus companies with departures only in the morning. Many have offices on Jamburi Street, in front of which buses depart. One of them is the "Mombasa Raha", which has 2 departures a day: at 9.00 and 11.00. The journey is not the most trivial as the area is infested with Somali terrorists from Al Shabaab and therefore the buses run part of the caravan ride escorted by the Kenyan army. In addition, you must undergo at least 5 check points where you need to get off the bus, walk for a while, show your identity document, have your baggage checked and wait for the bus which in turn has been meticulously checked by the staff of the army. For all the reasons set out above, plus the fact that the bus makes numerous stops to pick up and drop off passengers, the journey of scarce 200 km (more than half dirt roads) can last up to 8 hours. The ticket price is 1,000 KSh. You pay at the desk before getting on the bus or on the bus itself.
The bus arrives in Mokowe, where it is necessary to take a boat to Lamu. It leaves when it is full, but fills up quickly as all bus passengers need a boat. The crossing takes just 30 minutes and costs 100 KSh, the slow one, 150 KSh, the smaller and faster one.
Once you arrive in Lamu, you are met by some client finders who offer you hotels and excursions to some islands.
The cheapest accommodation to sleep in Lamu is New Makrus Hotel, located in the center, 100 mt. from the port, on Kenyatta Road. The cost per day is 500 KSh, for a single room with mosquito net, without breakfast and without wifi.
The beautiful city of Lamu, declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco, is made up of very narrow alleys where donkeys also circulate freely and is fabulous to walk around. Almost the totality of the population is Muslim.
To return to Malindi from Lamu there are several bus companies with departures only in the morning. One of them is the “Mombasa Raha”, which has 2 departures a day from Mokowe: at 7.00 and 10.00. Keep in mind that to be in Mokowe at 7.00 it is advisable to take a boat from Lamu at 6.15. As mentioned above, the bus journey between Mokowe and Malindi is not the most trivial as the area is infested by Somali terrorists from Al Shabaab and therefore the buses travel most of the journey in a caravan escorted by the Kenyan army. In addition, you must undergo at least 5 check points where you need to get off the bus, walk for a while, show your identity document, have your baggage checked and wait for the bus which in turn has been meticulously checked by the staff of the army. For all the reasons set out above, plus the fact that the bus makes numerous stops to pick up and drop off passengers, the journey of scarce 200 km (more than half dirt roads) can last up to 8 hours. The ticket price is 1,000 KSh. You pay at the desk in Lamu or even in Malindi or before getting on the bus or the bus itself.
A ride in Boda Boda from Jamburi Street in Mombasa to Matatu Bus Station on Mombasa Road, where Matatu leaves for Mombasa costs 50 KSh.
From there, from early morning until evening, many matatu for Mombasa leave when they are full, but they fill up quickly. They also stop in Gede, 17 km south of Malindi. The ride takes about 30 KSh and should cost 50 KSh, although you will probably be asked to pay the full 350 Ksh fare to Mombasa and you will have to fight hard to get them to get you a discount. I managed to pay 200 KSh.
To reach the Ruins of Gede from the junction x Watamu on the Malindi - Mombasa road it is necessary to take a boda - boda paying 50 KSh.
The archaeological site of Gede is open every day from 7.00 to 18.00. Admission costs 500 KSh, over 250 KSh if you are interested in seeing the serpentarium and over 250 KHs if you are also interested in seeing butterflies. Guides are available at the entrance where there are also some nice monkeys who love to jump on your head.
To go to Mombasa da Gede, take the main road where many matatu pass from early morning until evening for Mombasa. The ride lasts a generous 2 hours and costs 300 KSh.
To reach Nairobi from Mombasa there are several bus companies with departures in the early morning, afternoon or evening. Most of them have offices on Kenyatta Ave or Abdel Nasser Road. Unfortunately I took the bus of the company "Daima Connections" departing at 21.30 which took incredibly 12 hours to get to the center of Nairobi. I paid 1,000 KSh for the ticket before getting on the bus.
A boda boda ride downtown Nairobi costs 200 KSh, although many will try to ask you for more, even 500 KHs.
If you want to organize a Low Cost Safari in Kenya there are several possibilities:
1. book directly on the internet before arriving; for example, the site "Babun" offers $ 100 Safaris (including rental of minibuses with 9-seat sunroof including driver, accommodation in tents, buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner, 1 liter of water, entrance to the Parks , driver who also acts as a guide and all the necessary transfers, in the Masai Mara National Reserve, in the Lake Nakuru National Park, in the Amboseli National Park and in other parks), you pay 20% down payment, the rest in Nairobi;
2. you rely on a hotel or hostel that contacts a reliable agency for you and in this case you can get a price between $ 100 and $ 120 per day for the same safaris described in point 1;
3. You spend a whole day consulting the Nairobi agencies that are based mainly around Kenyatta and then in the end you choose the one that makes you the best price for the same services. So did 2 Japanese guys who were on safari with me who managed to get a price of only 83 $ a day for the same safaris illustrated in point 1;
4. If you are in a hurry like me who arrived in Nairobi at 9.30 in the morning and wanted to do a 3 day Safari starting from the same day, you have to go to Kenyatta Ave and wait for a Safari agency employee to meet you make you his proposal, that he takes you to the office to explain his proposal. By doing so I was able to tick, through the Bencia Africa Adventure & Safari LTD Agency, based in Nairobi, Uganda House, 1st floor, Room 26c, Kenyatt Avenue, tel: +2540208063233, Mobile: +254722917288, +254731838282, E_mail: info@benciaafricaadventure.com, booking@benciaafricaadventure.com, Website: http://www.enciaafricaadventure.com, a price of 107 $ per day for the same safaris illustrated in point 1, but including transport by car private from Nairobi to Narok, where I had to join my safari companions, who had left 2 and a half hours before me;
Having said that, keep in mind that if you have little time available, the Top Safari in Kenya is 3 days in the Masai Mara National Reserve, which many have said is the most extraordinary wildlife show in the world and usually the program is illustrated below:
1st DAY
• 8.30 / 9.00: departure by Minibus from Nairobi;
• 12.30 / 13.00 Buffet lunch in a restaurant in Narok (140 km from Nairobi);
• 3.00 / 3.30 pm arrival and accommodation at the Tented Camp of Mitimingi Camp in the Oltepesi Village, near the Oloolaimutiek Gate of the Masai Mara National Reserve;
• 16.00 / 16.30: Safari in the Masai Mara National Reserve until sunset;
• 7.30 pm: Buffet dinner in the restaurant attached to the Tented Camp of Mitimingi Camp;
2nd DAY
• 5.45 am: Buffet breakfast in the restaurant attached to the Tented Camp of Mitimingi Camp;
• 6.30: Safari in the Masai Mara National Reserve for the whole day;
• 1.00 pm / 1.30 pm packed lunch in the Masai Mara National Reserve;
• 16.30: optional visit to the Masai Village of Oltepesi, at the price of 10 $ or 1.000 KSh: there will be typical dances, lighting a fire and a visit to a typical house and a school;
• 7.30 pm: Buffet dinner in the restaurant attached to the Tented Camp of Mitimingi Camp;
3rd DAY
• 5.45 am: Buffet breakfast in the restaurant attached to the Tented Camp of Mitimingi Camp;
• 6.15 am: Safari in the Masai Mara National Reserve until about 9.30 am;
• 12.30 / 13.00 Buffet lunch in a restaurant in Ololulunga;
• 16.00 / 16.30: return to Nairobi, including transport to the hotel of your choice;
•
One of the cheapest accommodations for sleeping in downtown Nairobi is the Terrace Hotel, located downtown on Ronald Ngala Street, just beyond the eastern edge of the less dangerous area of Nairobi. The cost per day is 1,000 KSh, for a single room with mosquito net, without breakfast and without wifi.
When visiting Nairobi, keep in mind that it is one of the most dangerous cities in Africa and the world, but that the downtown area between Kenyatta Ave, Moi Ave Haile Selassie Ave and Uhuru Hwy during the day does not present particular dangers and is relatively quiet. , if you take some simple common sense precautions, for example do not show valuables. After sunset instead you have to move by taxi or boda boda, anywhere in Nairobi. Uhuru Park is also safe during the day but very dangerous at night. Then remember not to photograph the Parliament of Nairobi, in Parlamient Road, to avoid being arrested.
A nice thing to visit in Nairobi is the American Embassy Memorial Garden in memory of the 1998 American Embassy terrorist attack. The entrance fee is 30 KSh.
Another thing to do in the center of Nairobi is to go up to the roof (29th floor) of the Kenyatta Conference Center, the most characteristic building in the capital, from which you can enjoy a magnificent 360 ° view over the whole city. It can be accessed from Harambee Ave or City Hall Way every day from 9.30 to 18.00, passing numerous security checks and leaving the passport to the police. After that it will be necessary to pay the rate of 500 KSh and be accompanied to the top first by the elevator and finally by 2 flights of stairs.
Another attraction not to be missed is the National Museum, located on Museum Hill Road, just beyond the northern limit of the center, reachable with a short ride in Boda Boda (200 KSh). The price of the entrance ticket is 1,200 KHs, or 1,500 KHs, if you combine the visit with the adjacent Snake Park.
If, on the other hand, you intend to see something unique on the southwestern outskirts of Nairobi near Nairobi National Park, you have to go to the Giraffe Center and the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (if you rent a taxi you will spend around 2,000 KHs to see both attractions).
The Giraffe Center allows you to observe, feed, stroke and even kiss Giraffes from a raised wooden platform. An unforgettable experience. The center is open every day from 9.00 to 17.30. The cost of the ticket is 1,000 KSh. To get here from the center of Nairobi by public transport, take matatu no. 24 (70 KSh), which departs at regular intervals on Mi Ave, near the intersection with City Hall Way. After about half an hour, get off near the Hardy Shopping Center and walk for about 2 km or take a boda boda for 50 KHs.
The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is a reserve located within the Nairobi National Park, which allows, every day from 11.00 A.M. at 12.00 A.M. to observe several elephant cubs that are suckled with gigantic bottles by the staff and then take a daily bath in the mud pools. It is an unforgettable experience. ticket cost is 500 KSh or 7 USD. To get here from the center of Nairobi by public transport, take matatu no. 124 or 125 (70 KSh), which leaves at regular intervals in Mi Ave, After about half an hour, get off near the main KWS workshop in Magadi Road and walk on the dirt road inside Nairobi National Park for about 1 km or take a boda boda for the price of 50 KHs.
Instead, to get here from the Giraffe Center it is necessary to take a boda boda for the price of 30 KHs.
The cheapest way to reach the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, located 15 km east of Nairobi is to take Bus n. 34 which leaves when full on Moi Ave, near the intersection with Ronald Ngala Street. The ride lasts from 45 minutes to 1 h 30 'depending on traffic and costs 60 KSh. About 5 km before reaching the airport it is necessary to get off the bus and scan your luggage. Also keep in mind that the bus does not arrive in front of the Terminals but stops in a parking lot located 1 km before and it is necessary to travel this distance on foot.
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport consists of Terminals 1, 1B, 1C and 1D, all within walking distance. The baggage scanner check takes place before entering the terminal and not before going to the gates. Inside the terminal it is possible to change money.
Before leaving the country and thus obtaining the exit stamp from the competent authorities, it is necessary at the desk to take a photo and fingerprint all 10 fingers.
As for the Ethiopian Airlines Company, flights depart from Terminal 1C. Before printing my plane ticket, they wanted to check my credit card at the office. This is strange but it happened.
Punctual as never before from Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at 17.40 my plane no. ET305 of the Ethiopian Airlines Company, in the direction of Terminal 2 of the International Airport of Addis Ababa Bole (Ethiopia), (price of the multi-route ticket including taxes from Malpensa to Entebbe (Uganda) and from Nairobi (Kenya) to Malpensa with a stopover in Addis Ababa: Euro 514.14). Since the plane was full, they made me travel in first class at the same rate as second class.
Dinner is served on the aforementioned aircraft.
Arrival on time at 7.40 pm, at Terminal 2 of Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (Ethiopia). There is a 1 hour time zone compared to Italy.
At the aforementioned airport, I stay in the transit area (where there are seats where you can lie down to sleep) and therefore it is not necessary for me to be stamped with the Ethiopian entry stamp. As always there is a lot of confusion in this airport and therefore it is necessary to get in line to face the security check to access the gate at least 2 hours before but since 2 hours before your flight gate does not appear on the monitor you need to ask the information desk.
Punctual as never before, my Airplane no. ET734 of the Ethiopian Airlines Company in the direction of Bruxcel International Airport, but with a stopover at Malpensa multi-route ticket price including taxes from Malpensa to Entebbe (Uganda) and from Nairobi (Kenya) to Malpensa with a stopover in Addis Ababa: Euro 514, 14).
Dinner and breakfast are served on the aforementioned aircraft.
I therefore arrive at 5.20 A.M., at Malpensa International Airport, where my long journey ends.
My complete travel report with map, photographs and videos is available at this link:
http://vivendosalendo.blogspot.com/2018/04/viaggio-in-uganda-e-kenya-attraverso-le.html
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