My first trip to Kenya was an experience I’ll never forget, and I think the vast majority of first-time visitors feel the same. As with any destination, however, there are always things that I wish I’d know before my trip. That’s why I write one of these articles for every destination I visit. Here is everything you need to know before your first visit to Kenya!
They drive on the left.
I forgot about this one until we arrived! Way in the back of my mind, I’m pretty sure I knew this, but when we got into our airport pick-up vehicle upon arrival after nearly 24 hours of travel, I was surprised to see the steering wheel on the right side of the vehicle. Kenya was under British rule from 1895-1963, so it makes sense that their road system is set up for British-style driving. Now you know!
Helpful info: The Tips You Need for Driving on the Left
The people are mostly Christian.
Many countries in Northern and Eastern Africa are primarily Islamic, but some people are surprised to find that Kenya is primarily Christian. We saw several Christian churches, even in the towns we visited that were farther afield. There are also many Christian organizations here that do mission work, including water purification, medical missions, and more.
Keep reading: How to Savor Your Travels
Kenya is on the shilling.
The Kenyan Shilling, or KES, is the official currency of Kenya, but many businesses, especially in tourism-heavy areas, will also take United States Dollars (USD) instead. The exchange rate is less than one shilling to one US cent, so to keep it straight in your head, I recommend downloading the XE Currency Converter App from the Apple App Store or Google Play. I used it constantly, so I always knew how much I was actually spending.
More here: The Best Tips for Your Safari with The Safari Collection
The equator runs through the country.
The equator runs right through Kenya, just south of the middle of the country. You can visit the equator for yourself in Nanyuki! Have your photo taken with the marker, get a certificate saying you were there, and watch the water direction demonstration. Water swirls down a drain one direction in the northern hemisphere, and the opposite direction in the southern hemisphere!
Helpful reminder: The Top 10 Things You Forgot to Pack for Your Safari
Don’t drink the water!
No, really, don’t even brush your teeth with the tap water. Most hotels will offer bottled water next to the sink for teeth brushing, next to the bed for drinking, and at the coffee station in the room for making coffee. Drink bottled or filtered water throughout the day, and keep your mouth closed in the shower! And bring Pepto-bismol, Imodium, or your preferred tummy trouble medication with you for the trip, just in case.
Read on: What It’s Like Staying at Giraffe Manor
Poaching is illegal.
Poaching is super illegal in Kenya. And not just illegal, like you get jail time. If you’re caught poaching in Kenya, whether that’s elephants, rhinos, lions, giraffes, etc., you will be shot on-site. You’ll see the armed anti-poaching patrol inside game reserves, national parks, conservation areas, the Maasai Mara, etc. They remove traps and quite literally look for poachers, planning to shoot to kill. This is the most effective way to curb poaching (clearly), and it works. Poaching is now nearly non-existent.
Keep reading: How to Visit the Rhino Orphanage at Solio Lodge
You need a UK adaptor.
I wasn’t even thinking about this before I left, and I realized too late that I had packed the wrong adaptor! Whoops. For the same reasons Kenya’s roads are oriented for left-side driving, Kenya has UK-style outlets. The universal adaptor below should be all you need for any of your travels. As soon as I got home, I ordered this one and put it with all my travel “must pack” items. Between the phone, the iPad, my laptop, and the earbuds, I’m always charging something. You’ll need a UK adaptor to make sure you can charge your devices wherever you are!
More here: Why I Chose to Take my Toddler on Safari (and would I do it again?)
Want more? Check out my dedicated Kenya Page!
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