Health

Visitors coming from the Far East, Central America, South, Central and West Africa may be required to have valid certificates of inoculation against yellow fever and cholera.
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Visas

All visitors to Kenya are required to have valid passports. Visas are also required for visitors who are not citizens of the commonwealth countries in order to enter Kenya. At present visitors from Germany, Denmark, Norway, San Marino, Sweden, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Finland, Spain, Turkey and Uruguay do not require visas. However, since visa requirements may change, it is advisable for the visitors to check the current visa requirements through airlines, tour operators or Kenya Tourist Offices, Kenya Embassies or High Commissions in their countries before coming, to avoid embarrassment. Visas normally take up to six weeks to process and are valid for up to a three month period.
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Dress

Visitors should not walk in towns or public areas in their swim-wear as this is against African culture and offends a large section of the community. Nude bathing is not allowed. Kenyans appreciate decent behaviour devoid of immoral tendencies. Visitors are therefore advised to show respect to the local people, their culture and traditions.
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Customs

You may import personal effects like binoculars, cameras and films temporarily into the country without a permit. Consumables in small amounts of one litre of alcohol, a quarter litre of perfume, fifty cigars, two hundred cigarettes or quarter kilogram of tobacco will be allowed duty free. Obscene literature is not allowed. Pets accompanied by a recent health certificate and special permission from the Commissioner of Customs will be allowed. These are, however, not allowed into the National Park/Reserves. Firearms cannot be imported without an import certificate from the Central Firearms Bureau (P.O. Box 30263, Nairobi, Kenya).
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Laws and Respect for Authority

Visitors are expected to show respect to the Head of State and other leaders or uniformed officials of the Public Service. Tearing or burning the President's portrait is an offence. Avoid infringing the law especially the Foreign Exchange Control Act, traffic regulations and the laws against prostitution, sexual abuse and taking or trafficking in drugs. However, chewing of a locally grown shrub called "miraa", a mild stimulant reputed to keep chewers active and awake throughout the night is allowed.
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Accomodation

All Kenya's major towns have hotels or lodges ranging from high international standards to simple inexpensive holiday hotels. In addition, there are tourist lodges in nearly all major National Parks and Reserves in the country. The accommodation charges vary with the seasons, group and corporate rates.
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Currency

Kenya's currency is based on the decimal system. The unit is the Kenya "Shilling", divided into 100 cents. Coins are of 5, 10, 50 cents and of 1, 5 and 10 Shilling. Notes are of Kshs 20, Kshs 50, Kshs 100, Kshs 200, Kshs 500 and Kshs 1,000. There are no restrictions on the movement of currency into or out of Kenya for current transactions. Travellers can bring into or take out of Kenya currency notes up to the equivalent of US Dollars 5,000 and Ksh. 100,000 without making a custom declaration. Currency notes in excess of the above amounts can still be brought in or taken out of Kenya upon making a declaration.
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Parks and Reserves

Kenya has a total of twenty six National Parks and twenty nine National Reserves. All of them occupy a total area of 44,359 sq. kilometers or 7.5% of the total area of the Republic (582,644 sq kilometers). They range from marine national parks, savanna-bush woodland national parks, mountain national parks, arid and semi-arid national parks, to lake ecosystem national parks/reserves. Rare and fascinating species abound in Kenya. They include the high altitude bongo, a rare forest antelope to giant sea turtles and the unique dugong, origin of the mermaid legend.
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Hunting and Game Trophies

Hunting and trafficking in game trophies is banned in Kenya. Export of live animals, birds and reptiles is also banned except by a licensed professional dealer with special permission from the Director of Kenya Wildlife Services. However, there is a beautiful souvenir market in local handicrafts-wood and stone sculpture, beadwork, painting and drawing, basketry, wearing apparel and jewellery. It is an offence to photograph the National flag, The President, State Lodges, Soldiers, Prisons, Convicts and Military Barracks. However, photographers find a paradise of colourful birds, beautiful people and magnificent scenery all embellished in regular sunshine. Always ask for permission before photographing the local people.
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Departures

In addition to the other security checks, customs officers may weigh and inspect all outgoing baggage. Departing travellers are therefore required to identify their baggage for inspection by the custom officers. Airport departure tax (US $ 20) is payable on departure. There are duty-free shops at both Nairobi and Mombasa Airports.
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