KENYA

KENYA - GENERAL INFORMATION

Size: 582.646 km²

Population: 49,7 Mio (2017)

Population Density: ca. 82 pro km2

Capitol: Nairobi. Einwohner: ca. 4,4 Mio

Government: Presidential republic since 1963. President: Uhuru Kenyatta, since 2012. Independent since 1963 (former British colony).

Language: Beside Kiswahili and English as the official languages more than 30 tribal languages like Kikuyu, Luo or Maasai are spoken in Kenya. German is not very common, German speaking Kenyans can mostly be found in the touristic areas along the coast.

Religion: 83% Christian (47% Protestants), 11% Muslims, 1.7% indigenous beliefs, 1% hindu

Local Time: UTC + 3. No daylight saving time. The difference to central Europe is 2 hours during the European winter time and 1 hour during European summer time.

Electricity: 220/240 V, 50 Hz. British 3 pin sockets, an adapter is required. Many hotels offer adapters for a small deposit, carrying an international adapter is recommended though.

Currency: Kenya Shilling (1 Kenya Shilling = 10 Cent)

Geographie

Kenya lies between latitudes 4°N and 4°S, and longitudes 34° and 42°E. The eastern border is the Indian Ocean, northern and north eastern neighbours are Somalia and Ethiopia. to the north west there lies Sudan, western neighbour is Uganda and south west Kenya shares its border with Tanzania.

From the coast on the Indian Ocean, the low plains rise to central highlands. The highlands are bisected by the Great Rift Valley with the city of Nakuru and the Aberdare National Park. A fertile plateau lies to the east.

The highlands are the site of the highest point in Kenya and the second highest peak on the continent: Mount Kenya, which reaches 5,199 m and is the site of glaciers. Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895 m) can be seen from Kenya to the South of the Tanzanian border. The capitol Nairobi is located in the western highland which stretches up to Lake Victoria at the western border.

FOREX

in all major banks as well as in most hotels. Credit card ATM’s are available countrywide. Forex bureaus and banks on the airports are open until midnight. Forex receipts need to be kept!

Credit Cards

Mastercard, Visa, American Express and Diners Club are the most commonly accepted cards. Most hotels accept credit cards.

Customs

Kenya Shillings and foreign currencies may be brought into or taken out of the country without limitations. For amounts higher than US$ 5,000.00 however origin and destination of the money has to be declared in writing.
Goods free of declaration are: 200 cigarettes OR 50 cigars OR 225g tobacco, 1 bottle of wine or spirits, 568 ml of perfume. The holder needs to have a minimum age of 16 years.

Prohibited and restricted goods:

Fire arms, ammunition, illegal drugs, pornographic material, fruits, plants and seeds. Valuable electronic devices need to be declared, they will be noted in the passport together with their values.

Export restrictions

skin or game trophies, which are not obtained from the authorized personnel of the Government of Kenya. Corals, sea shells and sea turtle shells are subject to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and therefore their export is prohibited entirely. Most dealers try to convince buyers that exporting these goods is no problem, but the breach of this regulation results in severe fines!

Telephone

The cheapest way to use telephone in Kenya is getting a SIM card after your arrival from one of the two major mobile providers, Safaricom or Airtel. With this local tariffs apply, which are quite moderate even when calling abroad. SIM cards are available in the provider’s outlets, on airports, in many supermarkets, pharmacies and other local shops. For the registration of a new SIM card an ID or passport is required.

Country Code: 254

City Codes: Nairobi 2, Mombasa 11, Nakuru 37