readitogo

Wow, I am SO confused about what I read as to what we need before our safari to Kenya!! Some places report that we need a visa before leaving the US, some say we can get it when the plane lands in the airport (Nairobi)--who can tell us what we need? We leave the US in Sept. so we do need to be preparing. Also, the shots needed--yellow fever needed??? Hepatitis A??? Malaria pills? When we traveled to China our Dr. sent along anti-biotic pills in case of "travelers revenge" (a polite term!!)--is this necessary? Sure could use some input from someone that has been there!! Also as to what kind of clothing to bring along. I am going to include my e-mail address in case anyone cares to mail me direct!!! [email protected] THANKS!!!!

AAFrequentFlyer

Visa can be obtained at the Naorobi airport upon arrival. $50 - just make sure you have nice new bills, $10, $20 or $50 bills work the best.

It's always a good idea to get shots. I went to the public clinic in Sarasota, Florida. Most doctors don't want to bother with yellow fever because it's very seldom used. My doctor recommended the traveling nurse at the public county clinic. I had to call them for an appointment because they need to order the yellow fever shots. During the visit, the travel specialist nurse went over the shots /pills that are recommended. I did not get all of the recommended shots but I did get yellow fever, Hepatitis A and C and tetnus (always a good idea) shots. I had to go back to get a second hepatits booster shot about a month later. I also got a prescription for anti-malaria pills.

It's better to safe than sorry!

Have a great trip!

sandi

Yes, you can get your Visa upon arrival. Download the Visa application from the Kenyan website, have it completed while on the plane or before and submit it at Immigration with USD$50. Photos are not necessary.

As far as inoculations, Yellow Fever is not required of US citizens for entry into Kenya. For the other inoculations, it's a good idea to be current with Tetanus, Hep A, Polio booster and Thyphoid. But you should discuss these with your own physician based on your own medical history.

Tetanus and Hep-A will be good for 10-years, while the Polio booster should last the rest of your life.

Malaria meds are required and the current recommended one is Malarone with few if any side effects to most all who take this. If you have a drug plan these should be covered along with your co-pay; otherwise, espect to pay in the range of $90-$120/person.

Remember to discuss all of these with your own physician and if his/her costs are too high, consider as did AAFrequentFlyer, your Public Health Clinic.

Happy travels.

AAFrequentFlyer

Cost had nothing to do with my decision to go to the county clinic. I still had to pay ~$230 for the visit and shots. Malarone prescription was another ~$75 or so.

atravelynn

I think AAFrequentFlyer and Sandi covered all the necessary medications and visa info.

As for the travelers revenge...I always have a perscription for Cypro filled and take it with me. Only once did I use it (and that was for an infection I had been treating before I left home.)

On a few occasions I've used Pepto Bismal for the slight stomach problems I have encountered. It has been a lifesaver for nausea from bumpy flights, jet lag, etc.

I also carry something like Imodium, which just halts the revenge, that I would try before resorting to the more potent Cypro, which fights the underlying cause of the revenge.

Clothing--beige and neutral colors. Unless you have an especially fancy accommodation booked, no need to dress up at all.

Take collared shirts, couple long and couple short, for sun protection. Also take at least one brimmed hat (I take 2 in case I lose one) and some sun screen lip balms. Couple pairs of sunglasses (again loss or breakage) with the neck strings are good.

Unless you are doing walking safaris, boots aren't needed, just tennis shoes. I like flip flops for the tent/shower.

I love the zipoff pants to save on packing space. Layers is a good strategy with a windbreaker and/or fleece for early mornings.

Have a great trip!

dorish34

My trip to Kenya,Tanzania and Uganda is in October. I am applying for my visas from home. The vaccinations I need are a bit more extensive because of going to Ngamba island. I have included the following:
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Measles Vac
Polio
Tetanus
Yellow Fever
Meningoccal meningitis
TB test
Typhoid pills
Malaria pills

Thyra

Reditogo, I dont' know where you are emailing from, but there are a number of "traveler health clinics" about, you might want to do an Internet search. We are in LA and Pasadena has a very good one.
We had all of the shots required (incl. yellow fever) before we went to Kenya in 2004 the tetanus booster was a real lifesaver! The shots came to about $250.00 but luckily both of our insurance providers covered the malarone. Also, we took over the counter "revenge" pills immodium AD which we both used one time each. Additionaly,we brought an antibiotic which was never opened. Don't forget insect repellent!

We are headed now to North Africa and have to go back to the clinic to see what we need boosters on, if anything!

Kenya was the most amazing trip! We both enjoyed perfect health (usually when in Europe we get at least a head cold). But were extra careful about bottled water(for brushing teeth even) not eating any foods with high water content (lettuce for example), no dairy, no rare meets and we followed the old, if you can't peel it don't eat it rule.. But the day we got back we went on a 2 hour salad bar binge~

For visa, we just filled it out upon arrival at Kenyatta airport, paid our $50.00 cash and went through in no time. I am very jealous of your impending safari.. this was an amazing trip for us, I wish you all the best! OH, on shots, be sure to start your shots as soon as possible,on the off chance you have a reaction (most commonly colds). We are going Tuesday to clinic for September trip to Egypt.

regg11

I am also going to Kenya in Sept. & I checked on shots that I needed & was told only Malaria Pills are all you need. I'm getting Larium that you only have to take once a week & for 12 days & 5 pills from Costco are under $40.00. I also called the Kenya Embassy & they highly recommended that you get your Visa before you go. A little more money but I don't want any problems when I get there.

JazzDrew

I just returned from Kenya and Tanzania and posted a reply to these same questions:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...amp;dirtyBit=1

Hope that helps!

Duck

We got our visa in Kenya at the the airport a few weeks ago. With your fifty in hand, it is as easy as pie. We were fast-tracked through quicker than the ones in the group who paid for a visa service to process theirs in advance and were standing in the regular immigration line. When we arrived, our guide said that we could eat all the salads etc. we wanted because of the places we were staying and eating--Norfolk, the Ark, Siana Springs Intrepid, Lake Nakuru Lodge, Mt. Kenya Safari Club, Aberdares for lunch, Ol Tukai, Intercontinental. We ate it all and had no problem at all. Of course, we may have just been lucky but the hygenie looked to be better than a cruise to me with really extensive buffets. We did stick with bottled water to drink and brush our teeth and packed immodium and Cipro with us just in case. The food was excellent with too many desserts!! I am still working it off. If you have room in your luggage, Africans really need children's books, pens, crayons etc. ---they also often ask if you have any American magazines. My son gave a group of young men a basketball magazine and a crowd around it formed quickly. Make sure you pack a couple of warm sweaters because it does get cool at night. Several of the places we stayed tucked a hot water bottle into our bed at night. It was lovely. Also--one of the the best things I brought was those inflatable travel/neck pillows for the long trecks in the safari vehicles on bumpy roads where your head is bouncing around and you might want to snooze a little. They are tiny to pack--and cheap- $4.44 each at Walmart with ear plugs. I packed several for us and to give away. They became quite coveted with our fellow passengers who kept them for the trip home.

AAFrequentFlyer

Just one more important information about shots.

Yellow fever shots are only recommended, not required to enter Kenya or return to US, BUT in my case I was continuing to Asia and one of my stops included Singapore. Singapore <b>REQUIRES</b> that anybody that visit Kenya and some other African countries in the last 30-90?(don't remember) days before arriving in Singapore has yellow fever certification.

In my case it was <b>mandatory</b>. There are few other Asian and European countries with same requirements. The Singapore immigration official did check my cert after noticing my Kenya visa in my passport. He did tell me that without it I would be denied entrance.

Something to consider and check if you are continuing with your travels to other parts of the world.

danbirchall

I'll be visiting Kenya but also Uganda, where the yellow fever shot was mandatory. The malaria in Uganda is also P. falcinium (or something like that) and resistant to multiple drugs, so I'll be taking Doxycycline, which is a very common and inexpensive medicine - I have to take it every day, but 50 pills only cost me $28, even without any insurance.

cybor

Hi,
I'm tossing around whether to take the doxy rather than the usual Malaria meds. as well. My only reservation with the doxy though is that it will possibly make you very photo sensitive to the sun - that worries me being so close to the equator.
Thanks;
Sherry

sandi

Doxy is an antibiotic and not specific as a malaria preventative. The old Lariam which is known to cause side-effects to many; the newer Malarone with few side-effects - are specific for Malaria.

Only for those, for whatever reason cannot or should not take Lariam or Malarone, is doxy recommended. Yes, it's way less expensive, but sun sensitivity and for women, yeast infection, is often a side effect. So SPF is suggested. Besides, one has to take these daily for a month after returning from the infected area.

I seriously wish they'd start spraying Africa with DDT. It worked in the US (in the 50s) and many other countries until the farmers complained that the DDT was killing the bugs that killed the bugs infecting their fields. But humans weren't affected by the spraying and the malaria mossies were gone*. All before Africa even had a chance. And millions, mostly children, continue to die yearly. At this time, only Permithin (sp) drenched mossie nets work in these poor villages throughout Africa, as most villace locals can bearly afford the least expensive malaria meds. If you can, donate a few dollars for nets so everyone can sleep well at night. Ok, I'm off the soap box.

*The local municipalities are spraying again now that West Nile has reached our shores!

Don't play around with your health while traveling in Africa or elsewhere.