What currency in Kenya

[Im a BusyBee]

Can someone tell me the currency in Kenya. Also im going on 1 wk all inclusive holiday, dont intend to spend too much, how much should i change? What is 'the thing to buy over there'?

[4GS]

Currency: Kenyan Shilling (KES)

[BBWCHATT]

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Search?where=body&r eturnTo=&pid=214&SearchTeaser=%28your+destinat ion%2C+hotel+or+attraction%29&q=Kenya&submit.x =31&submit.y=13

[LuBlu]

You should find things are quite cheap over there relative to the UK. For example, we had a lovely 3 course meal and drinks that came to about �20 if I remember rightly (and was meant to be a really good restaurant). Obviously staying AI will mean you won't be buying food though, so just an indication really.

We brought back painted canvases and wooden carvings. We bought a large wood carved giraffe and a pair of wooden traditional people - both were very cheap, but do remember to barter a lot with the sellers.

We visited a wood carving 'village' which was outstanding (just outside Mombasa, nr the airport I think). You wandered around watching them carving (by hand) amongst the trees, there was a shop too, like a co-operative. Amazingly intricate carvings from one piece of wood.

Be careful about which carvings you choose to bring home (esp. if they are large). Our giraffe stands approx 75-80cm tall and I was able to carry it in my hand luggage bag with the head sticking out, the people in front of us at airport check in on the way home had bought a large, squat shaped elephant and they had to check in into the hold and pay excess baggage for it too.

Have an amazing time (are you going on a safari?)

[Im a BusyBee]

thanks for your info, i cant wait! i would love to go on safari but only on a daily basis, i really dont fancy sleeping out anywhere. i hope we are able to do that even i do have to get up really early.

[VillageVicar]

Jambo!

Will you be in Nairobi, Mombassa, Malinidi, etc? In Nairobi I eat at the Carnivore when I bring tourists. For something more along a less touristy place, I prefer the Tamarin Seed. Let us know what part of Kenya you will be visiting and I'll either provide links or names of places and what their talents are. Near Joy Adam's home, there are beautiful hand-woven fabrics. I spent a month at Elsamere and without intending to ended up buying several dozen fabrics tobring home.

They're lovely people and you'll have a great time. Just as with any large city inthe world, do be careful and I'm sad to say - do not go out alone at night.

Good journey!

Fr Bill

[LuBlu]

You must do a safari. We had one prebooked before we went (2 nights, 3 days) we saw Tsavo East, Tsavo West and Amboseli. Cannot recommend enough, we saw all of the big 5 plus so much more wildlife (you can get really close too). We went in September 2004 and saw baby elephants jackels, warthogs, lion cubs.... the list goes on.
Infact we had such an amazing time on safari we booked to go on another while we were there. We went to the Masai Mara, saw the wildebeest migration, probably the most amazing thing I have ever seen. Just like the TV programmes, hordes of them, crossing the Mara river - WOW!!

You don't camp out under the stars (!), we stayed in perfectly good and clean hotels with breakfast and evening meal included. One of them had an idea of hanging a sign on your door handle and if a leopard came during the night they knocked to wake you up!! We saw one! I understand your concern about staying 'out there', but honestly the hotels are fine. One of the ones we stayed in had a spa, swimming pool and viewing pier overlooking a watering hole, the rooms were built so that you could see the watering hole from the veranda/balcony - stunning.

Please, don't go all of that way and miss out what Kenya is truely known for. Once you've done it, you'll be glad you did!!
Bear in mind that the 'parks' are a long way from the coast, so a really long drive is needed, it took us most of the morning with a v v early start to get to the first reserve (we had to fly on the Masai Mara trip).

Have an amzing time, it is a fab place, I think I left a piece of my heart there!! Be prepared for a real culture shock if you've not been anwhere like this before.

L x

[VillageVicar]

There are One Day safari trips available through Safari Seekers. SS are a supplier who provide the end product for a number of tour wholesalers around the world. Typically, airline crew use them regularly for their day trips out of Nairobi. I�ll provide you with a link of some of their short-tours.

http://www.safari-seekerskenya.com/safaris%20k enya%20road%20safaris.htm

The owner�s name is Mr. Zul Hasham. He�s a lovely chap. He has provided incredible services for me in the past, ranging from sorting three simultaneous hot air balloons for a picnic luncheon over Naivasha, a wedding party in Malindi with a safari-train to Addis Ababa. He operates daily day camera safaris if this meets your travel needs. Really nice people!

Which hotels have you planned to stay in? I used to regularly ride the Lunatic Express from Mombassa to Nairobi. Whilst it�s nothing of what its former image was, there are still the old chandeliers in the dining car and the lovely woodwork.

http://www.lwmcferrin.com/bookings/lunaticexp. htm

If you�d like to follow some magnificent scenery, the film �Out of Africa� was filmed at the famous Norfolk Hotel in Nairobi:

http://travel.webshots.com/album/349261349znTK LB

Since my childhood, I�ve more or less stayed at the Intercontinental.

http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/ic/1/en/hotel /nboha;jsessionid=101CSNGQ2OGKOCTGWANCHPQKM0YB WIY4?_requestid=386738

And the first

[VillageVicar]

time I ever took my son on a camera safari, (he was 5), we stayed there. However, I do occasionally stay at the Grand Regency � depending which airline crew I travel with.

http://www.worldhotels.com/kenya/nairobi/hotel _nboreg.html

Elsamere Joy Adamson�s Home at Naivasha

http://www.elsatrust.org/kenya_safari_holidays /default2.asp

I wish you a great trip!

Fr Bill

[Maggoty]

Don't take KES, take euros - they are more welcome over there. Tho they will tend to give you your change in shillings!!

I love Kenya. Best holiday EVER, best people. Loved it. You will get a certain amount of pestering but they are so poor that you can't really blame them for that.

But they are extemely polite!!

Soooo envious. And yes, although not particularly cheap, a safari is a must - we did the red elephant safari. The only animal we didn't see was the rhino - thats only present in certain areas.

We had a pride of lionesses walk passed our jeep, actually within inches of it - awesome!!

[Kleonna]

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[Kleonna]

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