Wondering how much US Dollars to change to Kenyan Shillings?
 

I am wondering how much to change over to Kenya Shillings from US Dollars. I will be shopping for food and water for 3 days for my sister, a friend and me for our 3 days at Ithumba Camp. I think the supermarkets take Kenyan Shillings but not sure of the costs of things. $200- $300 in KSH for food? I am 3 days in Nairobi....drive down to Ithumba....then to Voi for 2 days then back up to Nairobi for 4 more days. Do the taxis in Nairobi take US Dollars? The meals in Ithumba and Voi are taken care of....just in Nairobi. I see some things take KSHs like the Giraffe Center and the Karen Blixen Museum....but I am a little confused about how much to change over, I do not want to have too much....thank you..

Elizabeth, you will love Ithumba. We brought way too much food, out of fear of running out where there's no market. We shopped at Nakumatt on the way out of Nairobi, and I paid with cc (can't recall whether AmEx or Visa). In either case, I did not use cash. What cash I needed for incidentals, tips, etc., I withdrew from ATMs in Nairobi.

You will want to pay for taxis in shillings.

If you are talking about exchanging money before you go, I probably would try to keep that at a minimum because you lose so much on the exchange with a bank. Maybe $100? And use an ATM in Nairobi for the rest.

Have a great trip!

Hi, Leely2.....could you give me an idea about food cost? I do not use ATMs. Don't they have a Money Exchange at the airport?

There is a money changer at NBO. Let me see if I can dig up my cc bill for the Ithumba food. It was certainly less than $300 for three nights, even with lots of wine and chocolate! We were three plus our driver-guide. Another couple from Kenya joined us and brought more food. But the guys at camp agreed to eat whatever we didn't cook. People will not let good food go to waste in Kenya.

If I can find my bill, I will post the cost on this thread.

Hi Elizabeth!
When we did our self-drive through Kenya and Tanzania in August of 2009, we purchased our groceries at a Shoprite in Arusha - not Kenya, I realize, but this info may give you an idea. We paid with MasterCard - our Canadian Visas would not work. For 6 nights/7 days worth of groceries, we paid 162,000 Tanzanian shillings, which at the time was equivalent to ~CDN$110. The groceries included all of our bottled water. In both Kenya and Tanzania, we always used US$ in the markets, not the local currency. There were ATMs easily available in both Nairobi and Arusha, so we could withdraw shillings whenever we needed them.

Our Kenyan groceries were purchased on our behalf by Serian Camp, because we flew into the Mara and obviously couldn't take 10 days worth of groceries on the small plane. The cost of the groceries was included in our room bill, and I'm afraid I don't remember how much they were - but certainly less than we would have paid in Canada.

To be safe, I would count on spending what you would at home, and expect to be able to pay for groceries by credit card. CR

Do your USD KES changes at BIG banks or big bank ATMs only MANY scammers. www.coinmill.com for correct rate it varies daily.

I've used Amex at Nakumatt (but bring a backup card just in case). I've also paid for smaller supermarket purchases with KES. I've never tried to pay with USD.

Like Leely said, we way overbought for our 3 nights at Ithumba. How many rolls of toilet paper did we leave behind? ;) I'm also fairly certain it was less than $300 and that included wine, beer, was there a bottle of Amarula too? We left quite a bit of food for the guys at the camp and they also joined us for dinner all 3 nights meaning we were feeding 9 people at dinner so you can imagine the amount of food we had.

I've always paid for taxis in KES as well. I've not tried paying with USD.

I prefer to use an ATM but have had no problems using the money changers at NBO either.

Thank you so much for these replies. I think paying by cc at the supermarket is a good idea....we have a very special meal planned for Ithumba for some very special people. :) I have nightmares about my cc being stopped, though! (it does that for some things) but I will call before my trip to let them know about my hotels, etc....

My place I am staying will take care of taxis (all in US dollars) Thanks again for the help...

I see your post now, Patty...thank you. Maybe I will just pay with kenyan shillings at the grocery store....still planning :)

Generally, when in NBO most places prefer KES - Giraffe Center, Sheldrick Ellee Orphanage - but when it comes to food, small and even larger markets and for larger amounts you can use credit cards. Just be sure they charge in KES and not USD (let your bank convert, which rate of exchange will be better than if the market does the conversion).

Of course you can use the Currency Exchanges (at airport or bank) for KES, but withdrawing from the ATM will provide a better rate.

Sandi. thank you....the Sheldrick's take US dollars...

Remember the general rule: pay in Kenya shillings to keep prices down. You can *always* pay in Kenya shillings, even if certain hotels and high-ticket items are advertised in dollars.

Richard

We have been to Kenya 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014 getting ready this August. Our credit card had a charge for "foreign exchange" for something we paid in American dollars (national wildlife park entrance, large group of ten or so). When I complained after our bill came, the issuer said "We have a card with no foreign exchange fee" - so I got that card and use it only when travel - Kenya - it is also a Rewards card.