Seremara Safaris Travel Guide
Travel Information
Resting in the magnificent Great Rift Valley and presided over by the majestic Mount Kilimanjaro, Kenya is characterized by hauntingly beautiful natural landscapes of forested hills, patchwork farms, wooded savanna and vast forests brimming with an extraordinary abundance of wildlife. The nation’s diverse range of traditional African cultures is influenced by over 70 unique ethnic groups from the Maasai, Samburu, Kikuyu, and Turkana tribes to the Arabs and Indians that settled on the coast. Add to this: an exquisite tropical coastline fringed with breathtaking golden sand beaches; gorgeous coral gardens providing excellent snorkeling and diving opportunities; and a slew of lively beach resorts, and it is easy to see why so many visitors flock here from around the world to experience a truly unique African adventure in one of the world‟s most pristine safari destinations.
COVID 19 ENTRY AND EXIT REQUIREMENTS
- General Travel Requirement
- 1. All travelers arriving into Kenya through any point of entry must have a certificate of COVID19 vaccination.
The following categories of travelers are exempt from the requirement:
- a. Travelers with medical conditions precluding vaccination. Such persons shall be required to provide a letter from a recognized medical practitioner detailing the medical reason precluding vaccination.
- b. Travelers who have recovered from an active COVID-19 infection or received convalescent plasma in the preceding 90 days. Such persons shall be required to provide a letter from a recognized medical practitioner showing that the person may have recovered from an active infection in the preceding 90 days.
- c. Returning unvaccinated Kenyans who have difficulty accessing vaccines in their current country of residenc Such persons must be prepared to be vaccinated immediately upon arrival and must register for vaccination on Chanjo-Ke platform before departure. Proof of registration shall be required before entry in to the country.
- 2. All travelers coming to Kenya who are fully vaccinated shall be exempt from the requirement of a PCR tes
- 3. All eligible unvaccinated travelers arriving at any port of entry into Kenya, must be in possession of a valid COVID-19 negative PCR test certificate conducted within 72 hours before departure regardless of the route of entry. Children below the age of five (5) years are exempt from this requiremen
- 4. Unvaccinated travelers arriving at any point of entry shall be subjected to rapid antigen test at their own cost of 30 US Any person who test positive on antigen RDT will be subjected to PCR test at their own further cost of 50 USD and self-isolate. Travelers below the age of five (5) years are exempt from this testing requirement.
- 5. There will be no paper verification of COVID-19 test results and vaccination certificates upon arrival into Kenya.
Airlines should ensure that all travelers have uploaded both documents into global haven before boarding via www.globalhaven.org
- 6. Operating crew are exempt from COVID-19 test when on a layover between flights. They must adhere to COVID-19 protocols from airport to hotel/residence and back to airpor
- 7. All travelers arriving at any port of entry into Kenya will be required to fill the passenger locator form on the “jitenge‟ platform. Airlines are advised to allow passengers onboard to use paper passenger locator forms
- 8. Whenever the “jitenge” platform may be down. Port health officers shall clear passengers upon arrival into Kenya. 8. Passengers travelling out of Kenya will be required to abide by the particular travel, health and COVID-19 related requirements of the destination country.
- 9. Pre-departure testing may be considered at the discretion of any of the airlines departing from or terminating in Kenya.
Visa
Visas are required for almost all visitors entering Kenya. You can now obtain a Kenyan visa online and pay using Visa Card, Master Card, or any other debit cards. You can also obtain a visa on arrival at the Jomo Kenyatta Airport. All you need is your passport and 50 USD for the visa fee. Ensure you have the exact amount since there is no foreign exchange facility in the immigration unit and they do not accept credit cards or cheques and they do not give change.
HOW TO APPLY FOR VISA ONINE
Go to eVisa webpage, create an account – you can use the same account for future visa applications as well. Select the single entry visa.
Apply for the visa and pay with valid credit card.
Await approval via email, then download and print the eVisa from your eCitizen account.
Note: It takes at least 2 working days to get your eVisa.
Print the visa before you travel – present your printed eVisa to the immigration officer at the port of entry.
DRESS CODE
In most Kenya camp, the dress code is fairly informal; just pick the clothes that you are most comfortable in.
Kenyan nights can be a bit chilly. Bring your sweater or fleece jacket and wind or rain coat as well. Morning and evening game drives can be quite cold.
The savannah is dusty, so white clothes are not advisable. Sandals are fine within the camp, but gym shoes –
Preferable with a solid sole – or hiking boots are important for walking safaris. Bring a small backpack to carry your water bottles, notebooks, binoculars etc.
GAME DRIVES
A game drive is an adventure that entails viewing wildlife in the comfort of a 4×4 open Land Rovers which accommodate 2 to 6 people, a sure way to give you that classical safari feeling. Safari game drives are one of the most popular ways to see wildlife in the Masai Mara.
INSURANCE
Insurance is always the guest’s responsibility
Make sure you have valid travel insurance that covers your safari trip to Kenya.
Amref offers Maisha short term cover aimed at providing quality and affordable Air and Ground Ambulance evacuation services throughout the Eastern African region targeting individuals and small groups travelling for holiday short time
We recommend guests to have the local evacuation cover on top of their medical insurance cover. AMREF Flying doctors evacuation membership link: https://flydoc.org/maisha/products/ – Short term cover for USD 10 per person.
MEDICAL EMERGENCY ON SAFARI
What happens if there is a medical emergency on safari?
Should you require medical services while on safari, most camps have an in-house doctor who will attend to you. In the event of a medical emergency you are assured of the services from the Flying Doctors, a group of well -qualified physicians who travel by aircraft throughout the East African bush providing treatment and emergency transportation to quality medical facilities in larger towns. We also recommend that you purchase a Medical travel insurance with a supplement benefit for emergency medical evacuation.
IS IT SAFE TO DRINK THE WATER?
We recommend that you drink only bottled water (not tap water). While staying in any of our camps, you will be supplied with bottled water in your tent, it will also be available during meal times as well as in the vehicle during game drives. We recommend you use bottled water for brushing teeth as well.
PAYMENT
When booking a trip with Seremara Safaris most activities are usually included in the price. Drinks, tipping, shopping and additional activities are for extra cost.
You can make payments using VISA and MasterCard in most camps hotels, lodges and shopping malls. It is however, good to have cash in Kenyan shillings for tipping and some shopping. If so, a couple of thousand Kenyan Shillings (approx. 20 USD) per day is enough, depending on your shopping mood. Be sure to get smaller notes. In some areas, you are best advised to bring cash with you, as most restaurants and shops do not offer VISA services. There are cash machines in Nairobi and other major Kenya towns for withdrawing cash.
One of life’s greatest pleasures is food. Most camps and lodges offer an unforgettable dining experience in African inspired restaurants with exceptional views at every turn.
WHAT KIND OF FOOD TO EXPECT DURING YOUR KENYAN SAFARI
Our guests are likely to encounter delicious homemade snacks and tea-time treats, 3-course lunches and dinners.
Relish on sumptuous meals made from the very finest locally produced ingredients. Most camps have organic gardens which ensure freshly picked vegetables are part of every meal. Enjoy your meals while listening to the sounds of the Africa under the stars and safari lanterns.
SPECIAL DIETARY REQUIREMENTS AND PRIVATE DINING
Guests with special dietary requirements can send us their meal preferences prior to the booking in order for the arrangements to be made accordingly. Private dining can also be arranged in unique dining venues upon request.
POWER AND ADAPTERS
Is there power to charge my mobile/camera? What kind of adapter do I need?
Yes, most camps have some form of full time electricity from solar power or generator. The supply is generally 220-
240v and plugs are three-pin square or round. If you have a video or digital camera, make sure your battery charger
is the same voltage, Note; it is always best to carry at least one worldwide adaptor with you to charge any equipment from the main source of power.
SAFETY
Your safety is our highest priority, and upon arrival at the camps you will be briefed on do’s and don’ts by our experiencedsafari guides.
Kenya is generally safe for tourists; however, you should use the same travel precautions as you would in other parts of the world. Avoid travelling after dark in isolated places, and keep valuables safe at all times. It is advisable to not carry large sums of cash or wear expensive-looking jewelry or watches in the streets.
MOBILE CONNECTION ON SAFARI
Do mobile/cell phones work on safari?
Yes, there is an extensive mobile (cell) phone service coverage throughout the country. However, some parts of the game reserves have intermittent network coverage. Since most people come on safari to get away from the outside world, we feel that we must set some limitations to the use of these phones in our camps and on safari. If you use your phone during your safari please respect other guests and do not use the phone during game drives or within the camp‟s common areas such as the restaurant.
WHAT TO PACK?
Below you can find our carefully created packing list for your Safari Travel. We wish you to have the most comfortable holiday in Kenya!
H E A D T O R C H
It‟s always great to have – African nights are dark!
A G O O D B O O K
For relaxation between the adventures.
F O O T W E AR
Comfortable footwear for walking safaris (gym shoes/hiking boots) and sandals while in the camp.
C A M E R A
To capture the memories.
W I N D J A C KE T /R A I N C O A T
For the cold mornings.
S W E A T E R /F L E E CE J A C KE T
For chilly nights around the campfire.
COMFORTABLE SAFARI CLOTHES
Avoid white because of the dust from the savannah.
B I N O C U L A R S
Make sure to not miss a thing!
S U N S C R E E N
To avoid being burned by the sun.
S U N H A T & S U N G L A S SE S
Protection from the strong African sun.
P A C K I N A S O L ID , S O F T B A G
Easier to stack in safari jeeps and small airplanes. Remember max. 15kg limit for domestic flights.