Visit Kenya

There’s lots to see and do on your trip to Kenya! This East African country boasts wildlife including lions, elephants and rhinos to spot on safari. Meanwhile, the capital city Nairobi is home to the Maasai Market outdoor bazaar, and the Bomas of Kenya, a display of traditional tribal huts. Get yourself in the mood to travel with our useful facts below:

• The local currency is the Kenyan shilling. Fortunately, though, foreign currencies including US dollars and British pounds are widely accepted here, and you’ll typically use these to pay for activities like safaris.
• The official languages of this country are Swahili and English. That said, a relatively small proportion of the local population speaks English, which is more common in the tourist areas. To say ‘hello’ in Swahili, it’s ‘hujambo’!
• The main international airport in Kenya is Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (airport code: NBO). This was formerly called both Embakasi Airport and Nairobi International Airport. It’s located 17 km from Nairobi.

• The climate of Kenya varies depending on where you are in the country. It’s typically tropical on the coastline, while the further inland you go, the more arid the landscape becomes. Annual temperatures vary from 20°C (68°F) to 28°C (82°F).
• Kenya’s time zone is GMT+3, called East Africa Time. This is 8 hours ahead of Ottawa (Canada, GMT-5), 8 hours ahead of Washington DC, (USA, GMT-5), 3 hours ahead of London (UK, GMT) and 10 hours behind Wellington (New Zealand, GMT+13).
• In case you’re planning a trip of the region, the countries bordering Kenya are South Sudan to the northwest, Ethiopia to the north, Somalia to the northeast, Tanzania to the south and Uganda to the west.

Learn more about Kenya ahead of your trip by reading our articles below!