East AFrica  Tourist Information Centre

Suggested Flights to Kenya 

These are the major airlines flying to Kenya (Jomokenyatta International Airport) DK Grand Safaris offers complimentary roundtrip Airport transfers irrespective of the arrival time or airline they fly. It’s always our pleasure to welcome our guests and escort them back to the airport at the end of their adventure. Kindly make sure all your inbound and outbound flights fly into and depart from the same airport. We highly recommend you book your outbound flights departing as from 18:00hrs not unless you have an overnight in Nairobi.

• Kenya airways flights

• British airways flights

• Emirates flights

• KLM

• Qatar airways flights

• Turkish airline flights

• Air France flights

• Lufthansa flights

• Swiss flights

• Etihad airways flights

• Ethiopian airline flights

• South African airline flights

• China Southern flights

• Royal air morocco flights

• Egypt air flights

• Saudia flights

• Air Mauritius flights

• Rwanda air flights

TRAVEL VISA

KENYA

A passport and visa are required for entry into Kenya. Nationals (Passport holders) of the following countries do not require visas to enter Kenya click for details, Nationals (Passport holders) of the following countries require visas to enter Kenya click for details. Good news for North America citizens, The Kenya Consulate wishes to inform all visa applicants of the introduction of a new electronic visa processing system (evisa http://evisa.go.ke/evisa.html ). This online visa application process which is currently running concurrently with the Kenya Consulate offices but visas are also available at ports of entry upon arrival. For more information on visa application and visa categories for North America citizens, please visit https://www.kenyaconsulatela.com/services/appforvisaonline.aspx

  Types of visa

• Single Entry: which allows guests to enter into Kenya once, However kindly note, a single entry Visa would allow re-entry to Kenya from any of the following East African Countries (Uganda and Rwanda) filled application form.  Click to download

• East Africa Visa – allows travel between Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda with the same multiple entry visas. The holder of the East Africa Tourist Visa shall enter the region from the country that issued the visa and move within the two other countries without applying for another visa or paying another visa fee. EAST AFRICA TOURIST VISA APPLICATION FORM

 A single entry visa costs $50 and $100 for multiple entry visas for each applicant regardless of age, and whether obtained in advance or at the airport.

EXEMPTION OF VISA FEES FOR CHILDREN UNDER 16 YEARS  – Effective 1st February 2016, children under 16 years of age accompanying their parents to Kenya will be exempted from paying visa fees.

VISA APPLICATION WASHINGTON, DC

VISA APPLICATION NEWYORK CONSULATE

CONTACT DETAILS:

Kenya Consulate General in Los Angeles

Kotra Building, Mezzanine Floor 4801 Wilshire Boulevard,

Los Angeles, CA 90010

Tel: (323) 939 2408, Fax: (323) 939 2412, Email: 

Please note that the possession of a Kenyan Visa is not the final authority to enter Kenya. The immigration officer at the port of entry may deny entry if the visitor is unable to fulfill the immigration requirements and if the entry and presence of such a person in Kenya would be contrary to national interests, even if such a person is in possession of a valid visa for Kenya.

 TANZANIA

A passport and visa are required for entry into Tanzania. Visa is a permission granted to a foreigner other than a prohibited Immigrant (please click here to see the list of countries whose nationals require visa) to enter and remain in the United Republic of Tanzania for the purpose of visit, leisure, holiday, business, health treatment, studies, or any other activity which is not illegal under the Laws of the United Republic of Tanzania. The U.S. Embassy recommends that U.S. citizens obtain visas before traveling Tanzania, but visas are also available at ports of entry upon arrival. A passport valid for a minimum of six months beyond visa issuance and/or date of entry, and at least one blank visa page is required.

Types of visa

 Single-entry tourist visa: US$50 on arrival (Except for US citizens for whom a single-entry visa is US$100)

Yellow Fever Vaccination,

Yellow fever vaccination is required for all travelers from yellow fever endemic countries/regions. You will need one as long as you transit via Kenya.

Visa Application Form for all categories Click here to download or/and Visa Application Form

To obtain visa requirements, please refer to second page of the Visa Application Form (click here to download). Once application is fully complete, submit by courier or in person to:

Contact details in Canada

The Tanzania High Commission

Attention: Visa Department

50 Range Road

Ottawa, Ontario

Canada. K1N 8J4

Embassy of the United Republic of Tanzania

1232 22nd St. NW, Washington D.C 20037

Telephone: (202)884-1080, (202)939-6125/7

Fax: (202)797-7408

HEALTH

Its recommend you visit your doctor 4-6 weeks before your Safari to get vaccines or medicines you may need. You should be up to date on routine vaccinations while traveling to any destination.  Enquire from your doctor what vaccines and medicines you need based on where you are going, how long you are staying, especially when you are traveling from your original country.

 Yellow fever certificate is mandatory if you are travelling from or through an infected area. Here is a complete list, see Countries with risk of yellow fever virus (YFV) transmission. You will have to talk to your doctor about malaria prevention, most guest require taking prescription medicine before, during, and after their trip to prevent malaria, especially if they are visiting low-altitude areas. Guests should carry an adequate supply of their prescribed medicines with them although chemists in the major cities and towns may help. DK Grand Safaris recommends medical insurance in case of any need. Vaccines cannot protect you from many diseases, so your behaviors are important.

 Healthy Travel Packing List

Use the Healthy Travel Packing List for Kenya for a list of health-related items to consider packing for your trip. Talk to your doctor about which items are most important for you.

Nairobi city streets and other towns are NON-SMOKING ZONES but there are designated points for smoking.  Check with your tour director if you need to smoke.

CURRENCY

ATMs

Most of the banks have ATM’s which accept Visa and Master cards for cash. These banks are found within major towns and cities,

Banks

Many banks now offer extended banking hours (8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday and 8am to 4pm on Saturday, they include Barclays, Standard Chartered, Diamond Trust, NIC, Bank of Africa, African Banking Corporation and NIC now operate from between 7am and 8pm. They also operate at extended hours during weekends and holidays.

Credit Cards

Most hotels, lodges, camps, shopping malls will accept credit cards. Visa is much more widely accepted than other cards. Banks will advance local currency against your credit card if need be.

Currency Exchange

You can exchange any foreign currency at any authorized banks and bureau de change. There are many bureaus in East Africa, Just enquire from your guide for any assistance.

Currency rules

Currency Import regulations:

Residents may import up to KES 500,000.- (Kenya Shilling-KES) to cover expenses upon re-entry into Kenya. No restrictions apply to foreign currencies. Non-residents may import local and foreign currency without restrictions. However, for amounts equivalent to USD 5,000.- and more residents and non-residents need to hold documents indicating the source and the purpose of this amount.

Currency Export regulations:

Residents may export up to KES 500,000.- (Kenya Shilling-KES) to cover expenses upon re-entry into Kenya. No restrictions apply to foreign currencies. Non-residents may export local and foreign currency without restrictions. However, for amounts equivalent to USD 5,000.- and more residents and non-residents need to hold documents indicating the source and the purpose of this amount.

Kenyan Currency

The basic unit of currency in Kenya is the Shilling (KES). There are 100 cents in one Kenyan Shilling. Bills come in denominations of 1,000, 500, 200, 100 and 50 Shillings. We highly recommend you travel with US Dollars, don’t exchange in to the local currency to avoid getting confusion as all tourist related destinations do accept US Dollars. US bank notes with series date before the year 2000 will be declined in East Africa, Kindly make sure all your dollars bills that you bring along with you are post year 2006.

Kenya Top Attractions 

Kenya has some of the most sort after attractions ranging from Coastal White Sandy Beaches to vast African Savannah grasslands, a wide variety of wildlife and bird species and  friendly, hospitable people with rich cultural backgrounds …

 General Useful Information About East Africa

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. Those visitors with proper documents and who also possess onward or return tickets may be given visitor’s passes free of charge on arrival at any Kenyan point of entry. 

During the three months period, the visitors’ pass holders are not allowed to engage themselves in any form of work or business in the country without authority from the principal immigration officer. Visitors without proper documents will be required to pay a refundable deposit before they are issued with visitor passes. 

TRAVEL VISA

KENYA

A passport and visa are required for entry into Kenya. Nationals (Passport holders) of the following countries do not require visas to enter Kenya click for details, Nationals (Passport holders) of the following countries require visas to enter Kenya click for details. Good news for North America citizens, The Kenya Consulate wishes to inform all visa applicants of the introduction of a new electronic visa processing system (evisa http://evisa.go.ke/evisa.html ). This online visa application process which is currently running concurrently with the Kenya Consulate offices but visas are also available at ports of entry upon arrival. For more information on visa application and visa categories for North America citizens, please visit https://www.kenyaconsulatela.com/services/appforvisaonline.aspx

 Types of visa

• Single Entry: which allows guests to enter into Kenya once, However kindly note, a single entry Visa would allow re-entry to Kenya from any of the following East African Countries (Uganda and Rwanda) filled application form.  Click to download

• East Africa Visa – allows travel between Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda with the same multiple entry visas. The holder of the East Africa Tourist Visa shall enter the region from the country that issued the visa and move within the two other countries without applying for another visa or paying another visa fee. EAST AFRICA TOURIST VISA APPLICATION FORM

 A single entry visa costs $50 and $100 for multiple entry visas for each applicant regardless of age, and whether obtained in advance or at the airport.

EXEMPTION OF VISA FEES FOR CHILDREN UNDER 16 YEARS  – Effective 1st February 2016, children under 16 years of age accompanying their parents to Kenya will be exempted from paying visa fees.

VISA APPLICATION WASHINGTON, DC

VISA APPLICATION NEWYORK CONSULATE

CONTACT DETAILS:

Kenya Consulate General in Los Angeles

Kotra Building, Mezzanine Floor 4801 Wilshire Boulevard,

Los Angeles, CA 90010

Tel: (323) 939 2408, Fax: (323) 939 2412, Email: 

Please note that the possession of a Kenyan Visa is not the final authority to enter Kenya. The immigration officer at the port of entry may deny entry if the visitor is unable to fulfill the immigration requirements and if the entry and presence of such a person in Kenya would be contrary to national interests, even if such a person is in possession of a valid visa for Kenya.

 TANZANIA

A passport and visa are required for entry into Tanzania. Visa is a permission granted to a foreigner other than a prohibited Immigrant (please click here to see the list of countries whose nationals require visa) to enter and remain in the United Republic of Tanzania for the purpose of visit, leisure, holiday, business, health treatment, studies, or any other activity which is not illegal under the Laws of the United Republic of Tanzania. The U.S. Embassy recommends that U.S. citizens obtain visas before traveling Tanzania, but visas are also available at ports of entry upon arrival. A passport valid for a minimum of six months beyond visa issuance and/or date of entry, and at least one blank visa page is required.

Types of visa

 Single-entry tourist visa: US$50 on arrival (Except for US citizens for whom a single-entry visa is US$100)

Yellow Fever Vaccination,

Yellow fever vaccination is required for all travelers from yellow fever endemic countries/regions. You will need one as long as you transit via Kenya.

Visa Application Form for all categories Click here to download or/and Visa Application Form

To obtain visa requirements, please refer to second page of the Visa Application Form (click here to download). Once application is fully complete, submit by courier or in person to:

Contact details in Canada

The Tanzania High Commission

Attention: Visa Department

50 Range Road

Ottawa, Ontario

Canada. K1N 8J4

Embassy of the United Republic of Tanzania

1232 22nd St. NW, Washington D.C 20037

Telephone: (202)884-1080, (202)939-6125/7

Fax: (202)797-7408

Suggested Flights to Kenya 

These are the major airlines flying to Kenya (Jomokenyatta International Airport) DK Grand Safaris offers complimentary roundtrip Airport transfers irrespective of the arrival time or airline they fly. It’s always our pleasure to welcome our guests and escort them back to the airport at the end of their adventure. Kindly make sure all your inbound and outbound flights fly into and depart from the same airport. We highly recommend you book your outbound flights departing as from 18:00hrs not unless you have an overnight in Nairobi.

• Kenya airways flights

• British airways flights

• Emirates flights

• KLM

• Qatar airways flights

• Turkish airline flights

• Air France flights

• Lufthansa flights

• Swiss flights

• Etihad airways flights

• Ethiopian airline flights

• South African airline flights

• China Southern flights

• Royal air morocco flights

• Egypt air flights

• Saudia flights

• Air Mauritius flights

• Rwanda air flights

Weather

Kenya enjoys a tropical climate. It is hot and humid at the coast, temperate inland and very dry in the north and northeast parts of the country.

The average annual temperature for the coastal town of Mombasa (altitude 17 meters) is 30.30 Celsius maximum and 22.40 Celsius minimum, the capital city, Nairobi (altitude 1,661 metres) 25.20 Celsius maximum and 13.60 Celsius minimum, Eldoret (altitude 3,085) 23.60 Celsius maximum and 9.50 Celsius minimum, Lodwar (altitude) 506 meters) and the drier north plain lands 34.80 Celsius maximum and 23.70 Celsius minimum. 

There is plenty of sunshine all the year round and summer clothes are worn throughout the year. However, it is usually cool at night and early in the morning. The long rains occur from April to June and short rains from October to December. The rainfall is sometimes heavy and when it does come it often falls in the afternoons and evenings. 

The hottest period is from February to March and coldest in July to august. 

The annual migration of wildlife between Serengeti national park in Tanzania and Masai mara national park in Kenya takes place between June and September. The migration of almost two million wildebeest, zebras and other species is nature’s greatest spectacle on earth. Filmmakers worldwide have captured the animal trek. 

———Useful tips———

Baggage

Baggage space on safari is restricted to one medium suitcase or hold all per person, plus hand baggage (private safaris where there are less than 7 persons in the vehicle are not subject to this restriction). Visitors to treetops and the ark are asked to take overnight bags only; suitcases can be left at the base hotel. Hotels will normally store baggage at no extra cost.. A baggage weight restriction of 15 kg per person applies on air safaris. Where very small aircraft are used this maybe reduced to 10kg. 

Currency

Hard currencies can be exchanged in cash or travelers cheques at banks all over the country, at forex bureaus in Nairobi and at most large hotels. Sterling pounds and us dollars are most acceptable and will cause the least delay. 

As a norm, always ask what commission and charges will be deducted first and prior to transaction. Banks are usually open from 9.00 am to 3.00 pm, Mondays through Fridays and from 9.00 am and 11.00 am on Saturdays. 

Credit cards 

Visa, MasterCard and American express are widely accepted for tourist services. There’s usually a 5% mark-up on top of the price as establishments are charged a fixed percentage of their transactions. 

Health

Since rules concerning disease prevention change from time to time, a check should be made with the nearest Kenyan high commission, Kenya tourist office or any airline flying scheduled services into Kenya. Malaria is endemic to most parts of Kenya and intending visitors should start taking anti-malarial tablets before departure and continue taking them for the prescribed time after their return. Insect repellents should be made use of after dusk and suitable cover up clothes should be worn in the evenings. 

Flying doctors society 

Membership of the flying doctors society is strongly recommended. In event of accident or sickness while on safari, the society will fly patients by air ambulance to Nairobi for admittance to hospital. The current cost for 1-month membership is US$ 25 per person. 

Drinking water

Drinking water from the tap must be considered risky. Hotels and lodges usually furnish safe water in a thermos flask in guest rooms. Bottled mineral water is available in every hotel and supermarket. 

Security

Normal precautions as in any other destination worldwide should be taken. Visitors are advised not to leave cash and valuables in their hotel rooms but to make use of safe deposit boxes and safes. One should never carry large sums in cash and women should keep a tight grip on handbags in crowds or busy streets. Jewellery snatching is quite common in city streets. As in all major cities walking alone or in small groups at night should be considered a hazard and avoided. Reliable taxis are available at all the principal hotels. Taking photographs at airports, near military installations, of policeman, the president, the national flag, the state house, state lodges, soldiers, prisons and prisoners etc., is prohibited. Before photographing local people, permission should be obtained and a fixed price agreed. Seek the assistance of your driver/guide in this matter. 

Voltage

Both mains electricity and generated supply in lodges provide 240 volts ac 50 cycles. Most large hotels and some game lodges provide shaving points with 110v 50 cycles. Sockets are normally three pin and of the ‘square’ variety. 

Tipping and poterage

Although hotels and lodges include a service charge, it is customary to tip porters, waiters, taxi drivers and safari drivers/guides. 

Language

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

Post and telephones

keeping in touch by mail and telephone is generally easy. Direct overseas dialing is possible from major centers and increasingly from remote places such as game lodges. Call home bureaus are in plenty in Nairobi as are the cyber café for e-mail and Internet access. 

Arrivals and departures

Kenya has two main ports of entry by Air: Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi. Located 16 km from the city center. Moi international airport, Mombasa. Located 12 km from the town center. Mombasa is the main port of entry by sea. 

Airport departure tax

International airport departure tax equivalent to us$ 40 per person is payable on departure from the international airports. A local airport service charge is also payable on departure for domestic flights. As this varies from country to country, please check with us on the prevailing amounts payable prior to your flight departure. 

Opening and shopping hours

Major stores, tourist services, offices and museums open from 8.00 am to 5.00 pm in large towns though offices often break for lunch. In rural areas and out in the bush small shops can be open at almost any hour. Souvenirs to take back home can include wood and soap stone sculptures and carvings, ciondos (sisal baskets), beadwork and tribal regalia, masks, textiles and gemstones set in unique jewellery pieces.

EAST AFRICA FACT SHEET

Prepare for your trip to East Africa with the guidelines below. They will help you keep healthy, safe and travel responsibly. Please inform us, if you feel some essential information is missing here and you would like to share with future guests to this inspiring region!

Health

Visitors arriving into East Africa must have valid vaccination certificate for yellow fever!

This is particularly important when crossing from one East African country to another.

Typhoid and cholera vaccination certificates are also recommended.

Malaria is rare in Nairobi and the highlands but prevalent in hot and humid low altitude areas such as the Coastal region, Lake Victoria and the savannah.

Visitors are advised to consult with their doctor on the best time to take Malaria prophylactics when visiting East Africa.

It is safe to swim in the sea and swimming pools but it is not recommended in lakes, rivers and open reservoirs as you risk getting infected with bilharzia.

We encourage visitors to East Africa, to drink bottled water which is widely available in supermarkets and general stores.

The Flying Doctor Service, which covers the entire East African region, provides highly effective emergency response and ambulance services in case of accidents.

The Intensive Care Air Ambulance (ICAA) also provides emergency evacuation services to the nearest hospital. We can arrange an independent rescue cover for you if this is not included in your package. East Africa’s top medical facilities are in Nairobi. The Aga Khan Hospital and Nairobi Hospital have highly qualified medical personnel available to deal with any emergency.

Weather & Climate

Because of East Africa’s geography, the temperature, rainfall and humidity vary widely. The region experiences different climatic conditions.

Kenya: 

The area around Lake Victoria, the second largest lake in Africa is generally hot, fairly humid with rainfall spread throughout the year. The area receives the highest rainfall of 200mm in April while the lowest is in January. Temperatures range from 180C to 280C. The highlands around Mt. Kenya, Mt Kilimanjaro and the Rift Valley enjoy perhaps the most agreeable weather in the country. There is a great variation of climate between the hot and relatively dry floor of the central Rift Valley and the snow-capped peaks of Kilimanjaro and Mt. Kenya. Rainfall varies from 20mm in July to 200mm in April and falls into 2 seasons (Long rains March – May and Short rains October–December). Temperatures vary from a minimum of 100Celsius to 280 Celsius. The coastal belt is hot and humid all year round with coastal sea breezes. Average temperatures vary little throughout the year ranging from a minimum of 240 C to 300C.

Tanzania:

The semi arid areas of Northern and Eastern Kenya and Eastern and Southern Tanzania experience the most extreme variations of temperature ranging from 400C during the day to 180C at night. Rainfall is sparse but when it falls, it often falls in form of violent storms.

Ethiopia:

Rainfall season in Ethiopia is between July and October if you are visiting the northern circuit which covers Ethiopia’s Historical attractions. If you are visiting the South, the rains are experienced in April and May. The average temperature in Ethiopia is 250C

Customs & Visa Requirements

Tourist Visas can be obtained at most entry points though visitors are advised to obtain their visa from their home countries to avoid delay at the entry points. 

The visa fees vary between Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ethiopia and Uganda.

The single entry visa allows multiple entries within the East African countries. However, applications for a Kenyan visa can be done online.

Tourists travelling to Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda can also apply for the East African Tourist Visa, a multiple-entry visa which covers travel to these three countries.

To apply for the Rwandan Visa online visit: https://www.migration.gov.rw/index.php?id=203 

To apply for the Kenyan Visa online visit: http://evisa.go.ke/single-entry-visa.html

Visitors are not allowed to engage in any paid or unpaid employment during their stay except with written permission from the Department of Immigration.

Apart from personal effects visitors may bring with them cameras, binoculars, cigarettes, perfumes and spirits in such quantities as are in the opinion of the authorities consistent with the visit. Gifts are subjected to duty while firearms; illicit drugs and obscene literature are prohibited

Security

As elsewhere in the world, visitors are advised not to leave cash and valuables in their hotel rooms but make use of the hotels safe deposit box.

Visitors should also not carry large amounts of cash while walking on the streets.

They should also be careful with handbags and other valuables while in crowded places and busy streets. It is advisable to take a taxi/cab if you are visiting the city after 6pm. Walking alone at night should be avoided. Besides an efficient police force and a special Tourist Police Unit, most hotels employ experienced security personnel.

All in all it is advisable to take precautions as anywhere in the world.

Currency & Banking

There is no restriction on the amount of foreign currency you bring into any of the East African countries. It is advisable to change the foreign currency into local currency only in banks and Forex Bureaus. Before your departure visitors can change the local currency back to their original currency but visitors may be asked for the initial exchange receipt. US$ are acceptable for payments in most tourist establishments and are commonly used than the Euros. Many hotels and National Parks quote their rates in US$ for visitors.

The present Exchange Rates are as follows:

• 1 US$ = 102.21 Ksh

• 1 US$ = 2104 Tsh

• 1 US$ = 3530 Ush

• 1 US$ = 724.14 Rwandan Franc

• 1 US$ = 20.92 Ethiopian Diir

The exchange rates are constantly changing, for live exchange rates you can refer to http://www.x-rates.com/. Credit cards such as Visa Card, Master card and Chinese Union Card are widely accepted in tourist establishments; with a 5% surcharge for processing card payment. In Kenya, there are many ATMs where you can use credit cards to obtain cash. The banking system in Kenya & Rwanda are very advanced as compared to Uganda, Tanzania & Ethiopia. Banking hours are usually from 8.00 am – 4.00pm from Monday – Friday. At the Airports the banks are open 24 hours.

Photography

East Africa is a photographer’s haven. It is abundant in wildlife and bird life in their natural habitat, magnificent scenery, diverse culture and unlimited sunlight. It is difficult not to capture its beauty. While on safari, one must remember that the animals are not tame and it is advisable to keep a distance or remain in the vehicle.

When taking shots of local people, respect their culture and always seek permission from them first. Photography around government institutions and premises is prohibited. Tourists intending to film and take photos in parks and public city space for commercial purposes have to apply for a permit beforehand. The use of drones is not allowed.

A UV filter and lens hood is required to redu ce the glare while a camera bag comes in handy to protect the equipment from the dust.

Media

International newspapers as well as local English Newspapers are available. International television stations are available in all major urban centers. Most hotels will have television in the rooms and/or visitors lounge.

Driving

For a first time visitor to East Africa self-drive vehicle are not advisable. Some of the tarmac roads are in poor condition and the traffic is heavy. Most of the roads to the National Parks and Reserves are gravel roads, which are very rough and can become a treacherous sea of mud during the rainy season. If you still insist on driving on your own, you need an international driving licence. Self-drive vehicles are commonly available in Kenya but not in Tanzania and Uganda. Crossing international borders in East Africa is also not possible with rented self-drive vehicles.

Time

X. TIME

Nairobi- Kenya Arusha- Tanzania Kampala- Uganda Kigali- Rwanda Addis Ababa-Ethiopia

G.M.T+3 (Greenwich Mean Time) G.M.T+3 (Greenwich Mean Time) G.M.T+3 (Greenwich Mean Time) (C.A.T)+2Central African Time G.M.T+3 (Greenwich Mean Time)

Telephone and Postal Service

East Africa has good telecommunication networks for local and international services. International STD system is fully operational in most urban centers and there are mobile phone networks in most urban centers too. Radio call equipment is available in most lodges and tented camps located in remote areas where telephone facilities have not yet been installed. Radio call communication is not available in Ethiopia. 

Orange Adventure Tours and Safaris also has VHF/HF radios installed in all safari vehicles while guides regularly carry along mobile telephone handsets where networks exist and even outside the urban centers. Internet services are available in most lodges although the speeds may not match those in other parts of the world and the prices are high due to long distance calls to the service provider.

Tipping

Most hotels, game lodges and tented camps include a service charge in their tariff, as do most restaurants. Most workers expect a tip for services offered. 

Driver guides and other safari and hiking crew will generally expect some form of gratitude if you are happy with their services. The amount is at your discretion. Recommendation for tipping can be obtained from our office and varies from program to program.