About
Nairobi, Green City in the Sun
Dubbed the “Safari Capital of the World”
cool, clear and cosmopolitan Nairobi is the
natural departure point for most safari itineraries
and most of the famous safaris of colonial history
set out from here. A city of contrasts, it is
simultaneously the largest, the youngest, the
most modern, the highest (1700m) and the fastest
growing city in East Africa.
Climate
High-altitude Nairobi enjoys a pleasant tropical
climate all year round.
History
Nairobi, meaning “place of cool waters”,
came into being in May 1899 as an artificial
settlement created by the European builders
of the East African railway, halfway between
Mombasa and Uganda. Set in bleak swamps, it
began life as a supply depot and campsite for
the thousands of Indian labourers that were
employed to build the so-called “Lunatic
Line”. Thereafter it developed rapidly
and by 1907 was firmly established as the colonial
capital of the newly formed “British East
Africa”. Today, it is a thriving business
capital and a vibrant cultural melting pot,
standing at the meeting point of today’s
Maasai, Kikuyu and Kamba territories.
The People
Kenya is sometimes called the cultural microcosm
of Africa, people from all over the continent
having migrated here over the last 4,000 years,
each bringing with them a distinctive feature
of their homeland to add to the richness of
the cultural kaleidoscope. The result is a vibrant
mosaic of peoples that melds 40 different ethnic
groups into one colourfully harmonious whole.
In much the same way, the people of Nairobi
reflect a refreshing blend of a number of different
tribes, principally Kikuyu, but with a generous
dash of all the other tribes plus some Asian
and European ingredients thrown in for good
measure.
| WHAT
YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT KENYA
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| Currency |
Kenyan
Shilling (KShs) |
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Credit cards accepted |
American
Express, MasterCard, Visa, Diners Card,
JCB |
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| Time |
GMT/UTC
+3 all year round. Kenya maintains an almost
constant 12 hours of daylight, sun-up and
sun-down being at around 06.30 and 18.45
daily and varying only by 30 minutes per
year |
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| Climate |
The
coast is always hot with an average daytime
temperature of 27-31 degrees centigrade
whilst the average daytime temperature in
Nairobi is 21-26 degrees centigrade. Temperatures
elsewhere depend on altitude. July to August
marks the Kenyan winter. Broadly speaking,
January-February is dry. March-May is wet.
June-September is dry. October-December
is wet |
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| Language |
Kenya’s
national language is Kiswahili whilst the
official language is English |
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Electricity/
Water |
Voltage
is 240V /3 pin square plugs.
Water purity cannot be guaranteed so we
provide mineral water in all our rooms and
our ice is made with purified water |
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| Visas |
Visas
are required by most nationals – consult
your travel agent for details |
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| Insurance |
Travel
insurance/medical cover is recommended |
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| Health |
Protection
against malaria is essential as the disease
is in endemic in Africa. It is vital to
take anti-malarial tablets (consult your
doctor as to which brand is currently considered
the most effective). You should also wear
anti-insect sprays/creams in the evening
and wear long-sleeved garments and full-length
trousers or skirts after dusk. Nets are
not usually provided at Nairobi Serena since
the rooms are sprayed with repellents daily,
but if you prefer to sleep under nets, these
can be provided |
How
to Get There
Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International
Airport (JKIA) is at the hub of East Africa’s
flight routes and has worldwide links via the
major airlines of the world. Internal flights
depart regularly from JKIA (45 minutes from
the city centre) and from Wilson Airport (20
minutes from the city centre). Nairobi is situated
on the main trans-African highway with links
throughout the continent.
What to
Wear/Carry with you
Nairobi is a thriving business capital, as is
clearly reflected in the way the inhabitants
present themselves, so business dress or smart/casual
is the accepted mode of dress in the city. Whilst
on safari we suggest that you travel light,
dress comfortably (in lightweight cottons in
muted colours) and carry a light jacket, sunglasses,
sunhat, sunscreen and insect repellent plus
a good camera, plenty of film, binoculars and
a guide book covering your area of interest.
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Distances from other
African Serena properties
View distances between Nairobi Serena Hotel and the other African Serena properties, as well as driving
and flight duration. |
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