Accompanying Persons' Program
Accompanying persons are welcome to attend the Receptions
organized by the Kenyan Government in Fort Jesus and by the OIML, and
are also welcome to participate in the visit to the Ngomongo Villages
on Thursday 29 October.
No specific program will be organized for accompanying
persons; however, in addition to the activities proposed in the Whitesands
Resort, tours may be booked in the Tourist Information Office which
is located in the Resort.
Airport Departure Tax
In Kenya there is an airport departure tax of 20 US
Dollars. Payment is also accepted in Shillings. This tax is normally
included in the price of airline tickets but if you are unsure, you
should check with the airline or travel company.
Arrival in Kenya
Kenya
Airways (whose web site also offers a wealth of other information)
offers a regular service from Nairobi to Mombasa - there are numerous
flights daily. Most Delegates will probably be arriving in Nairobi,
and are invited to consult the Kenya Airways site and make the appropriate
reservations for their onward journey to Mombasa.
Mombasa Airport lies 10 km/6 miles west-northwest of
Mombasa; the hotel is slightly further away. Taxis are readily available
and cost about KSh 1800; the journey takes approximately 30 minutes
to the hotel. Government owned taxis are available at a negotiated rate
of KSh. 1650 per trip (use the company Kenatco Taxis Ltd.).
Climate
During October in Mombasa, the average day temperature
is 29 °C and the average night temperature is 22 °C. There is
a mean rainfall in October of about 80 mm.
Kenya's altitude and terrain create contrasts in climate.
The coast is hot and often humid, mornings in the central highlands
can be cool, while in the north and northeast, the days are dry and
very hot. In the areas most frequented by visitors, the weather is little
short of perfect: it is neither too hot nor too cool with long sun-filled
days. Day and night in Kenya are almost equal the whole year round with
sunrise between 6:00 and 6:30 am and sundown between 6:30 and 7:00 pm.
Currency, Banking, Credit cards
The official currency is the Kenya Shilling. The written
abbreviation is KSh, or alternatively /= is used after the amount (e.g.
500/=). Available notes are 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000 Shillings. Available
coins are 5, 10 and 20 Shillings.
Visitors to Kenya can change foreign currency at banks,
bureaux de change or authorized hotels. The easiest currencies to exchange
are US Dollars, Pounds Sterling and Euros.
Travellers Cheques are widely accepted, and many hotels,
travel agencies, safari companies and restaurants accept credit cards.
Most Banks in Kenya are equipped to advance cash on credit cards.
There are no restrictions on the amount of foreign currency
that can be brought into Kenya.
Before departure, travellers are advised to convert
any excess Kenya Shillings into foreign currency at a bank or bureau
de change before departure. Departure taxes can be paid in local or
foreign currency.
Anyone wishing to take more than 500,000 Shillings out
of the country will require written authorization from the Central Bank.
Banks are open from 9:00am to 3:00pm Monday to Friday.
Some branches open on Saturdays from 9:00am to 11:00am. Many banks have
24 hour cash dispensers. The Bank branches at Jomo Kenyatta International
airport (Nairobi) and Moi International Airport both run 24 hour exchange
services.
Electricity
The electricity supply in Kenya is 220/240 V AC, 50Hz.
If you are planning to bring any electrical devices, please bring the
appropriate adaptor(s). Plugs and sockets are 3 pin rectangular (UK
type):
Internet access
Kenya has good internet service providers. E-mail and
internet services are offered by many hotels and lodges. In most towns,
there are plenty of private business centers and cyber cafes offering
e-mail and internet access. Several computers will be available at the
meeting venue so that Delegates may consult e-mails.
Languages
The official language spoken during the Seminar, Round
Tables and CIML Meeting will be English; no translation or simultaneous
interpretation will be available.
Lunches and refreshment breaks
Buffet lunch will be served to Delegates (and Accompanying
Persons if they wish to attend) Monday through Friday. Refreshment breaks
will also be served in the morning and afternoon each day.
Media
Kenya has several English language newspapers. The most
popular are the Daily
Nation and the East
African Standard, which is a weekly newspaper sold throughout Kenya,
Tanzania and Uganda. There are two separate Swahili newspapers, Taifa
Leo and Kenya Leo.
There are also locally produced television and radio,
and international newspapers and magazines are widely available in Kenya.
Digital Satellite Television has become widespread throughout the country.
Medical / vaccinations
In general, certain vaccinations are necessary for travel
to Kenya. Delegates are strongly advised to consult their doctor or
physician well in advance of their departure to ascertain whether vaccination
is appropriate. More information is available on this
web site.
Meeting documents
Delegates should please note that no paper documents
will be available for the CIML Meeting; all the CIML Meeting documents
will be made available for download via the CIML
Meeting Agenda page.
Telecommunications
Kenya has a good network of telephone, cellular and
satellite connections. Work is under way to expand this network and
introduce fibre optic cables. Most hotels and lodges offer international
telephone and fax services. In larger towns, private telecommunication
centers also offer international services. If you have a mobile phone
with a roaming connection, you can make use of Kenya's excellent cellular
network, which covers most larger towns and tourist areas. When calling
Kenya, the International code is 254+ local area code.
Time zone
Kenya is UTC + 3 hours. Local time, and various other
information concerning Mombasa (and all other cities in the world) can
be found at the World
Time and Date web site.
Tipping
Tipping is not mandatory in Kenya. Guides, drivers,
waiters and hotel staff can be tipped at your discretion.
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