KENYA CENTER
Preparation

Visum
You can get a tourist visa at the Kenyan Embassy, Nieuwe Parklaan 21, 2597 LA Den Haag, 070-3504215. Costs are approximately € 25. Bring one passport size picture. The visa will be ready in a day.
A visa can also be purchased at Nairobi/Mombasa airport for 25 DOLLARS
The maximum duration of the visa is three (3) months. After that you need to renew it.
When asked for the reason for travelling always state tourist / safari. For volunteering you officially need a work permit.
Immigration papers are being handed out during the flight. Make sure that you fill in the same information as on your visa. Have an address of a hotel with you that you can use to give to the immigration.

Vaccination/health
Check travelclinic.nl or the GGD.
Kenya, but especially the coast is a malaria prone area so take malaria prophylaxes with you. Vaccination against rabies is often advised. But it is very expensive and in Kenya there not many stray dogs. However if you do not get vaccinated, do NOT touch any animals whilst travelling (dogs, cats, rats, monkeys, bats etc.)

Take with you: confirm with JoHo (www.meeneemlijst.nl)
• First aid kit + medical gloves + diarrhoea medication
• Disinfection soap to clean hands/feet in the evening
• Advised to have little bottle of disinfection lotion with you to clean hands in between if you had contact with infectious people.

Insurances
It is mandatory that you have a travel, health and volunteer insurance. Talk to our insurance adviser to check your current insurance at JoHo (in Holland) www.verzekeringeninhetbuitenland.nl, insurance@joho.nl. Some insurance do not cover incidents if you are working or volunteering abroad.

Clothing
The Coast of Kenya is partly Islamic and otherwise quite conservative. Therefore be respectful in the way you dress:
• Long trousers, skirts minimum knee-length
• No tight shirts, no tanktops
• Check the weather forecast. In the June/August Nairobi can be rather chilly at night

Finance
You can use your European ATM card at Barclay’s Bank (with a daily limit of 40.000 KSH). Use Barclay’s cash machine at Nairobi airport or Mombasa airport to get some KSH. If you need to pin a larger amount (eg. for safari) make sure that you get the money well in advance, as cash machines may not always work.
Make sure you don’t travel with a lot of cash money. Don’t keep your money all in one place.
Tip: take a small wallet for daily costs and keep the rest in a safe place.

Transport
Plane
There are direct flights to Nairobi or Mombasa.
If you fly through Nairobi it is possible to take a domestic flight to Malindi or Mombasa.

Trains
A night train runs three times a week from Nairobi to Mombassa (and from Mombasa to Nairobi)
A 1st class ticket (bed, diner and breakfast) costs approximately 3.000 KES per persons. It’s a great experience although it’s sometimes very slow. The train leaves 7 pm and you are supposed to arrive at around 10.30 am.
Transport from Mombasa-Kilifi
Every volunteer/cultural exchangers will be picked up at the airport by taxi. You can choose to travel by taxi to the Kenya support center Office in Kilifi or to travel by yourself by public transport from Mombasa town.

Other transport
Check with local management for references where to find the most suitable transport and how much to pay. When you travel with any of the vehicles used at the project, please consider a small donation for fuel.

Accommodation
For detailed information check the project information

Watamu
• Family guesthouse Krabella, 1200 KES per room, you can cook your own food
• Beach view hotel, swimming pool, in the middle of town, near the ocean.
Costs are 1.200 a person a night. Some of the rooms have possibilities to
cook your own food.
• Home stays will be possible in the near future.

Shariani
• Home stay with Rukia Suleiman, who is the owner, founder and director of the project. You will experience life in a village. Costs are 22.000 kes a month per person for food and housing (approx. 700 kes a day).
• There are no hotels or guesthouses in Shariani

Kilifi/Mnarani
• Dhows Inn hotel, right near the office MTG, 900 kes a night, including breakfast
• Guesthouses with a peaceful garden or view on the creek, 1000 kes per night
• Hotels in Kilifi town between 800 Kes and 3000 per night
• Home-stays (700 kes per day)will be a possibility in the future. Let us know when you’re interested

St. Pauls children centre, Embulbul:
• Guesthouse on the compound, 700 kes a night, including breakfast and dinner. There is capacity for four persons. You are free to cook for yourself in the kitchen.


Food
In some of the projects you can join for meals. See the project information. In general people eat ugali (maize cake), beans, vegetables, rice and upcountry meals with mashed potatoes etc. In the coast you should try pilau (spiced rice) and buriyani (spiced rice with meat). Kenyans love meat. They like to eat roasted chicken and barbecued meat (nyama choma). Be careful with roasted meat! Make sure it is not raw and don’t eat it when it has been in the open air for a long time.

Water
Tap water is not drinkable. Always check if there is a water filter. You can add purifier or you buy bottled water. Make sure the bottle is sealed when you buy it.

Security
Please be aware that travelling to Kenya is at your own risk. We kindly advise you to check with local management for security issues. Always follow their advice!
In general for all project you should:

Relationships
Be aware that you as an adult and European are a role model to the children. Behave as one! Treat everyone with great respect. You’re a guest in Kenya to learn and broaden your horizon, not ‘to help’ them.
When you are assisting at a school or orphanage be aware that the children have local staff as their mother/father figures. People that take care of them and who they trust. You’re a guest at the school or orphanage and should therefore not establish a close relationship with any of the children.
Homosexuality is forbidden in Kenya. Please respect this and do not show your sexuality openly in order to avoid trouble for the project you are staying at.
It’s not allowed to have an affair with the children or staff.

Religion
Religion is a very serious issue in Kenya. Please respect this when you’re a guest at any of the projects, or at some ones house.
If you’re not religious be very sensitive towards others in Kenya about this and do not discuss your opinion freely.

Gifts
All gifts to staff members, children or any other people near the projects should pass through the management of the project. Please keep in mind that the management is trying their best to keep life in balance and fair for everyone!
Tip for things to bring: children clothes, shoes, English books, games, balloons, toothbrushes, medicine, samples of shampoo/lotions. Lots of things can be purchased quite cheap locally such as school supplies, pens, paper etc. Donations to buy food are also very welcome at most orphanages.

Questions?
Always ask local management when you have any questions!

Travelguides:
Lonely Planet
Te Gast in Kenia

MOST IMPORTANT
Enjoy your stay in Kenya! Learn from the wonderful Kenyan culture and tell others when you are back in your home country about Kenya.


KARIBUNI SANA!
For questions: kenia@joho.nl