Wild Frontiers

Flight Information

Direct flights from London Heathrow to Nairobi take 8:30hrs with british Airways, Kenyan Airways and Virgin.

Useful Tips

• Take spare caps or T-shirts to swap for local African artifacts

• Travel light - remember most of the camps include laundry in their rates

• The Mara is at altitude so wrap up warm for early game drives - it gets very chilly in winter

• Take spare cash for shopping at camp gift shops - they stock some wonderful trinkets

• Sponsor one of Dahne Shedrick's baby ophan elephants

Recommended Reading

Guide Books and Maps:
If you want to read up on your destination we recommend a variety of guidebooks such as Bradt Travel Guide, Odyssey Guides, The Rough Guide and Footprint Guides. All these publications have good general information as well as more specific country information that will help orientate you in the areas you visit.

Good books and maps of Kenya are available at Stanfords in Covent Garden, London or online at www.stanfords.co.uk

Relevant Reading:
Out of Africa, the fascinating memoirs of Karen Blixon’s experiences in Kenya during the early part of the 20th Century is the best starting point.

The Scramble for Africa, by Thomas Pakenham gives an outstanding depiction of the colonisation of a continent that was almost solely ruled by Africans until the ‘invasion’ of colonial enthusiasts from Europe at the end of the 19th Century.

White Man’s Country, by Lord Delamere is another historical read.

Journey to the Jade Sea, by John Hillaby, covers numerous areas worth visiting. Written in 1973, it is the story of a three-month/1,000 mile journey that Hillaby made on foot with camels from Wamba to Lake Turkana and back. Although it is out of print, you can order it from Adebooks (www.adebooks.co.uk).

For a more visual guide to Africa, have a look at Vanishing Africa by Mirella Ricciardi. An acclaimed photographer who grew up on the shores of Lake Naivasha, Ricciardi effortlessly captures the beauty and struggles of this stunning country.

When To Go

This is complicated as weather patterns across Africa are becoming increasingly unpredictable. It is not uncommon to see downpours in the middle of deserts and damaging droughts when rains should be falling.

Generally speaking, Kenya has two seasonal rains, the 'long rains' which fall between mid March and May and the 'short rains' which usually run from November until early December.

In the early months the weather is hot and dry and game viewing is at a peak as the gather at watering holes. Between March and May the country turns remarkably green and you can take advantage of great value and much fewer tourists on safari. The coldest time of year is the English summer from June to September and this is when the famous wildebeest migration takes place, covering the Masai Mara. The final months are similar to springtime in the UK with warm days and cool evenings. November and early December usually brings some rain, but nothing nothing to seriously put you off.

Packing List

Packing
Below is a list of general items you might take with you on a Wild Frontiers trip to Kenya.

With your booking confirmation you will receive a packing list specific to your tour, so please treat this as a general guideline only.

Luggage:
It is easiest to use a soft bag - rucksack/hold-all/duffel bag - so it can be transported and stored more easily.

On all our trips a small daypack is practical for keeping general items (e.g. camera, books, wallets etc.) at hand when your main pack is out of reach. It is also handy for day trips and excursions.

Clothing:
In general you should bring clothes you feel comfortable with.
• 2/3 pairs of cotton trousers. If preferred, women can wear skirts.
• Pair of shorts.
• Swim suit or trunks
• 3 x Light cotton shirts or T-shirts; short sleeved or long though both sexes should bring at least one with long sleeves.
• 2 x Lightweight jumpers or sweatshirts.
• 1 Good quality fleece or warm jumper (optional " but can be chilly in Addis, and on aircraft)
• Lightweight shower proof windbreaker (in case of showers or windy nights)
• Lightweight sleeping bag
• Sleep sheet (you may use the bag under &sheet on top)
• Mosquito Net (travel type that you can hang easily in hotels)
• Pair of comfortable hiking boots (optional for walking in the parks)
• Pair of recreational shoes (adventure sandals, trainers or pumps)
• Rucksack or duffel bag (Will be in & out of cars and tents)
• Travel towel, travel soap and toiletries
• Multi sized plug, for the bath!
• Water bottle
• Sun hat
• Socks, thick ones for walking as well as light weight ones for evenings etc.

Equipment:
The following is useful extra equipment for your trip:
• Rucksack, duffel or soft bag
• Torch (LED head-torch keeps your hands free)
• Pair of good quality sunglasses
• Water bottle
• Travel plug adapter

Personal First Aid Kit:
While we do carry a large medical kit (group tours only) we would advise that you take some of the basics with you. This should include:
• Any prescription medication required (please inform the tour leader or your local guide at your pre-departure meeting about these)
• Antibacterial dry hand wash
• Painkillers: paracetamol & ibuprofen
• Rehydration salts (Gastrolyte)
• Malaria Tablets (if necessary)
• Travel motion-sickness tablets if required (e.g. natural ginger tablets)
• Diarrhoea remedies
• Antihistamines
• Cold/flu decongestants
• Mosquito Repellent
• Insect bite cream
• Plasters/Bandage/Steri-Strips/Blister pads
• Sunscreen (30+ factor)
• Moisturiser/after sun cream/lip balm
• Contact lenses and solution if required
(A kit with most of this in is available at www.nomadtravel.co.uk)

Optional Extras
• Ear plugs (if sharing a room / camping)
• Alarm clock
• 3-4 plastic carrier bags are very useful for dirty washing, dirty shoes and rubbish
• Binoculars
• Small packs of tissues
• Money belt or secure pouch for money and passport etc.
• Eye patches if light affects your sleep
• Sewing kit/scissors
• Writing materials
• Spare batteries/camera memory cards
• Swiss Army knife
• Universal bath plug
• Calculator (for currency conversion)

NB: If you wear glasses, it is advisable to bring a spare pair since opticians are rare. If you wear contact lenses you may find that climatic changes and dust can create visual irritation, therefore, it is advisable to bring a pair of glasses. You might be tempted to buy a few souvenirs here and there, so leave a little room for those extra purchases!!

Hand Luggage:
Although it is very rare that luggage goes missing on flights, it has been known to happen and so it’s a good idea to carry a spare top, toothbrush, wash kit, underwear and any other essentials in your hand luggage so that you can at least freshen up while waiting for your bags to catch you up. If you wear your sturdy shoes/boots it will also reduce weight in your luggage and keep them safe.

Practical Information

Time:
Kenya is three hours ahead of GMT.
A useful website to check the time zone differences is www.worldtimezone.com

Food and Alcohol:
Kenyan food covers all bases from the wonderfully exotic and eclectic to the most basic street food, and all of it is delightful! alcohol is also widely available and local beers are well worth trying. The wine is mainly imported from South Africa and spirits are freely availablle.

Electricity:
Those bringing video & digital cameras that require battery chargers should also bring a two-pin, continental style adapter. In most hotels you can charge from the mains using a travel adaptor plug.

Money:
In Kenya the unit of currency is the Shilling.
To check out the latest exchange rate for the places that you are visiting you can go to www.oanda.com

A few points to help you plan:
• Payments are mainly made in cash.
• Increasingly more shops and hotels will accept credit card payments, though a cash advance is unlikely.
• You can easily exchange Euros, US Dollars and UK Sterling cash.
• ATM machines are available in the larger towns but best not to be relied upon.
• If using ATM machines, be sure to notify your bank before you travel.

Language & Religion:
The official language of Kenya is Swahili, or Kiswahili to give the official name! English is also widely spoken and there are a number of tribal dialects in various area, particularly out towards the coast. In total there is thought to be around 69 different languages spoken.

The vast majority of Kenyans are Christians, and the Anglican and Roman Catholic Churches are the most established Christian denominations. Other well established African religions and denominations include the African Inland Church (AIC), Seventh Day Adventists (SDA), and the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA).

In addition, there are a number of Evangelical churches and Independent African Christian churches.

Islam is the other major religion in Kenya. Followers include both Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims. The largest number of Muslims in Kenya are found in Mombasa and the neighboring coastal regions, as well as the northeastern regions of Kenya. Nairobi also has numerous mosques and a notable Muslim following.

Cultural Sensitivity:
At Wild Frontiers we are very aware of the ethical impact tourism can have on ancient cultures. We realise that taking a group of tourists through such a region can have a negative impact on the lives of those who live there and on all our tours we therefore go to great lengths to minimise the negative and accentuate the positive…after all, there are also many good things that the tourist can bring.

To help this process we ask that our clients do not hand out pens or sweets to children. As one sign in Egypt emphatically put it, ‘Please don't make beggars out of our children!' No matter how well intentioned, in our opinion the dolling out of free gifts fosters a ‘beggar mentality' that is ultimately extremely destructive to a society. In addition we do not condone giving out money to beggars or ‘students'.

However, we also realise that we are exceptionally privileged to be travelling in areas where most of the people have far less than us and that the desire to ‘help' can be very powerful. As a result we ask that you refer to your trip dossier for information on the Wild Frontiers Foundation which supports specific projects in the areas where we travel.

Photography:
Please remember, we are guests in the countries through which we travel and we may sometimes inadvertently cause offence by taking photographs without first asking permission.

Also many countries have very strict rules about taking photos of army, police or any official personnel; restrictions apply at borders, bridges and any government building. Please exercise care in this regard as the penalty may be to have your film and/or camera confiscated.