Leaving for any journey can sometimes be the most hectic part. We hope to make your travels more enjoyable by providing you with some hints on what to bring in your suitcase as well as what to say when you step off the plane in that foreign country.
The emphasis should be on informal, comfortable clothing.
- Bring Mosquito Repellant!! Mosquitoes are a tangible issue in Kenya and Maleria is a very real problem. A good insect repellant is absolutely essential!
- In Nairobi, lightweight suits are ideal. Nights can be cool. It is advisable to have warm clothing for eveningwear. A jacket and tie for men and comparable dress for ladies is required for dining in city hotel grillrooms, smart restaurants and the Mt. Kenya Safari Club.
- Dress in Mombasa is more relaxed. In all Muslim areas (especially Lamu) it is very important that the visitor dresses appropriately, which means very conservatively. For women, very long skirts and covered shoulders. For men, long pants, and covered shoulders.
- On safari, lightweight cotton slacks and shirts for men and for ladies cotton skirts or culottes are recommended. Cotton bush jackets with pockets are very useful. Low heeled shoes and a light wool sweater is also handy. Swimsuits, a hat or scarf for protection against the sun, sunglasses, a safety razor, flashlight and travel alarm clock will all prove useful.
- At the coast, daytime beachwear is acceptable at the hotels. Light cotton clothing--cotton being cooler than manmade materials--is suitable in the evening as well as for walking around the cities. However, swimsuits are not permitted in the hotel dining rooms. In addition, topless (and bottomless) sunbathing is unacceptable in Muslim areas.
- Visitors must wear appropriate clothing at all meals, and while walking around the towns and villages out of respect to the local traditions and the people. A wide selection of colorful skirts, long or short cotton dresses and skirts, and men's shirts are available everywhere.