General Information
Nairobi: is Kenya’s Capital city and is one of Africa’s largest as well as fastest growing cities.
Vaccinations
The Kenyan government requires no specific immunizations for travelers unless there is an outbreak threat. However, it is very important for all travelers to take precaution by due to health concerns. The following vaccinations are recommended by CODEC Volunteers:
Hepatitis A: Inoculation is recommended for all travelers. However it should be done about a week before travel since it becomes less effective over time.
Hepatitis B: Recommended for travelers who might be exposed through blood contact, intimate contact especially if staying for periods longer than six (6) months.
Yellow Fever: A valid International Certificate of Vaccination against Yellow Fever is required from every person entering the country. It is highly recommended for travelers since most come yellow-fever prone areas.
Malaria: is very common in Kenya especially in wetlands / highlands areas. A combination of preventative measures and prophylactic measures should be used to ensure one is malaria-free during their stay in the country with Codec Volunteers.
Rabies: It is recommended for visitors who (will) have animal contact.
Note: CODEC Volunteers recommends that all visitors should contact a doctor / physician attention to update their health on diseases and infections such as Cholera, Polio, Tetanus-diphtheria, Meningitis, Measles/mumps/Rubella, Typhoid and diarrhoea.
Safety
CODEC Volunteers recognizes safety as always a key concern for every traveler and even citizenry. It is important for the visitor to ensure that they are well informed of the travel warnings being issued by the country through their consulates / high commissions or embassies. It is noteworthy to highlight the importance of visitors being responsible judgment of risky situations and also use common sense to maintain their safety. Volunteers are advised to be in their home-stay or hostel before dark (Preferably at 1800 hrs). It’s important to request for assistance from the Country Coordinator(Codec volunteers) for travel advisories on a specific destination, as not all areas are unsafe as may be implied. Besides, we suggest that all volunteers should receive an update of travel advisory before traveling. For more information about your safety you click on the following links: -
Visas
All tourists and visitors traveling to Kenya require a visa to come to Kenya. Visas are issued at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA)- Nairobi and Kenyan embassies or High Commissions. The Tourist Visa is issued to citizens of United States, Canada, Latin America, European countries as well as Asia. The Tourist Visa is valid for three (3) months or Ninety (90) days and costs fifty USD ($50). Ensure that your passport is valid for at least six (6) months after the expiry date of your tourist visa. Once you have a valid visa, you can visit Tanzania and Uganda without applying for an entry visa to these countries. However, you will need a visa while returning from any other country. Please check the visa requirements of your country before you arrive to Nairobi by visiting (http://kenyaembassy.com/consular/visa_excemt.htm).
Weather
The country enjoys a tropical climate with minimal differences due to altitude and climatic seasons. The climatic seasons in Kenya are: “Long Rains” starting from April to June and “Short Rains” starting from October to December. During the Long rains season, the weather is cold especially towards July to September (Winter) while the hottest and drier times are between January and March (Summer). For more about weather click here.
The temperatures vary greatly in different parts of the country but average annual temperature in Nairobi ranging between Min 13 °C to Max 25 °C while Coastal temperatures ranging between Min 21 °C to Max 32 °C. |