Kenya's central part (where over 80% of the population live) consists of several plateaus. These are bisected vertically by the Great Rift Valley, which is speckled with lakes. The heart of the country is Mount Kenya with its glaciers, also known as Mount Kirinyaga, the second highest mountain (5 199 m / 17 057 ft) in Africa after neighbouring Mount Kilimanjaro. Another striking landmark is the 258 km / 160 miles long Lake Turkana in the north. To the east, the coast has low plains and islands, whereas the west is a fertile plateau and the north consists of rather dry bush lands. The whole country is cut through horizontally by the Equator. 

The climate at the coast is humid and tropical with a mean temperature of 27°C / 81°F whereas the higher plateaus are cool with Mount Kenya sporting a year-round snowcap. Nairobi in the interior has an annual average of 19°C / 66°F. There are two rainy seasons in Kenya. The long rains appear from late March to early June, the short ones from October to December, when there are mostly short rainfalls in the afternoons. January and February are the hottest and driest months.

All nationalities need a visa in order to enter Kenya, which can be obtained upon arrival in most cases. The passport needs to be valid for at least six more months and you need to have proof of a return or onward ticket as well as sufficient funds. Children ID's are accepted.

Diplomatic Embassies and High Commissions of Kenya
 

Germany Markgrafenstr. 63 10969 Berlin Germany	Tel. ++49 30 25 92 66 0  Fax ++49 30 25 92 66 50
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United Kingdom 45 Portland Place London W1N 4AS United Kingdom .	Tel. ++44 20 7636 2371, ++44 20 7636 2375 Fax ++44 20 7323 6717
United States 2249 R Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20008 United States	Tel. ++1 202 387 6101 Fax ++1 202 462 3829 info@kenyaembassy.com www.kenyaembassy.com

Diplomatic Embassies and High Commissions in Kenya
 

European Union Union Insurance Building Ragati Road  00100 Nairobi Kenya Postal Address: P.O. Box 45119, Nairobi, Kenya .	Tel. ++254 2 271 3020, ++254 2 271 3021, ++254 2 271 2905, ++254 2 271 2906 Fax ++254 2 271 6481 kenya@cec.eu.int . .
Germany Riverside Drive 113 Nairobi Kenya Postal Address: Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, P.O. Box 3 01 80, Nairobi, Kenya .	Tel. ++254 20 426 21 00 Fax ++254 20 426 21 29 gerembnrb@wananchi.com ger-emb@kenyaweb.com www.deutschebotschaftnairobi.org . .
United Kingdom Upper Hill Road Nairobi Kenya  Postal Address: P.O. Box 48543, Nairobi, Kenya .	Tel. ++254 20 271 4699 Fax ++254 20 271 9110 bhcinfo@iconnect.co.ke www.britishhighcommission.gov.uk/kenya .
United States United Nations Avenue Nairobi Kenya Postal Address: P.O. Box 606, Village Market, 00621 Nairobi, Kenya	Tel. ++254 20 363 6000, ++254 20 375 3700 . . . . .

1 Kenyan Shilling (KES) = 100 Cents

You can exchange cash (major currencies) and traveller cheques at banks or foreign exchange bureaus (with the bureaus being the cheaper option when it comes to commission). There is no import limit on foreign currencies, import of Kenyan Shilling, however, is limited to the equivalent of 6 000 US$. Most credit cards are widely accepted.

Banks are usually open Monday - Friday from 9.00 to 14:00 (to 16.30 in bigger cities). Banks located in the airport stay open until midnight.

Country code: ++254. City code Nairobi: 02. City code Mombasa: 011
International access code from Kenya: 00
Internet code: .ke

Other important numbers: 
Police: 999
Ambulance: 999

Local and international phone calls can be made (using coins or a phone card) from phone boxes, although there may be hard to find. Alternatively, try post offices or hotels. The number for the international operator is 0196. 
Kenya's post system is quite efficient; sending letters overseas usually takes between a week and 10 days. If you would like to receive mail, the poste restante is reliable and, even better, free. The number of internet cafes is increasing, especially in the bigger cities and tourist centres. 

Post and telephone offices are usually open Monday to Friday from 8.00 to 13.00 and from14.00 to 16.30. You might find some that are open on Saturdays as well.

Electricity

Kenya uses 240 V / 50 Hz.
The plug is a rectangular blade plug.

plus variable Muslim holidays

Air

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is about 15 km / 9 miles out of Nairobi on the road that leads to Mombasa. Kenya Airways connects Nairobi with other African cities as Johannesburg, Cape Town, Harare, Lilongwe, Lusaka, Dar es Salaam, and Zanzibar and has direct flights to London and Amsterdam. British Airways offers a direct connection between London and Nairobi, Air France offers Paris-Nairobi and KLM Amsterdam - Nairobi. Upon departure, an airport tax of 20 US$ has to be paid in cash, either in US $ or Kenyan Shilling.

Overland 

Driving

The main border crossings with Tanzania are: 

Longido – Namanga, Lunga Lunga, Taveta, Isebania, Serengeti National Park – Masai Mara National Reserve

Bus

Direct buses and minibuses (matatus) run between Arusha and Nairobi using the Longido – Namanga border crossing. You can also take a minibus from Arusha to the Tanzanian side of the border and then continue on the Kenyan side to Nairobi. 
If you are coming from Dar es Salaam, buses and minibuses will take you directly to Mombasa via Tanga and the Lunga Lunga border crossing. It is also possible to split the trip and take matatus between Dar es Salaam, Tanga, the border crossing, and Mombasa. 
Between Moshi and Voi, you can use buses and minibuses to cross at the Taveta border crossing. To go from Musoma via the Isebania border crossing and Kisii to Kisumu you would need your own transport as well as for crossing from the Serengeti National Park into the Masai Mara National Reserve. 

Train

It is possible to travel between Nairobi and Mombasa by train, but there is no cross-border route. 

Boat

Dar es Salaam and Tanga on the mainland as well as the islands of Zanzibar and Pemba are connected to Mombasa by dhow or catamaran. Note that there is no crossing into Kenya from Tanzania via Lake Victoria.