WELCOME TO KENYA WITH ARNFINN JOHANSEN

This document contains important information to read before your trip to Kenya.

Please read through it carefully. Should you have any questions afterwards, you are most welcome to contact Hans Elmqvist at Zoom Photo Tours by phone 070-180 90 99 or by email, hans.elmqvist@zoomfotoresor.se

WELCOME TO KENYA WITH ARNFINN JOHANSEN

This document contains important information to read before your trip to Kenya.

Please read through it carefully. Should you have any questions afterwards, you are most welcome to contact Hans Elmqvist at Zoom Photo Tours by phone 070-180 90 99 or by email, hans.elmqvist@zoomfotoresor.se

YOUR FLIGHT TICKET
Please check that the spelling of your name matches the spelling in your passport.

BAGGAGE
The airlines normally allow two pieces of luggage per person, one piece of hand luggage and one suitcase. The suitcase may weigh a maximum of 23 kg and the hand luggage a maximum of 8 kg, with dimensions of 56 x 45 x 25 cm. For Icelandair the same applies, except that the hand luggage may weigh a maximum of 10 kg with dimensions of 56 x 40 x 20 cm. For exact information about the airline you are travelling with, see the respective airline’s website.

CHECK-IN
Check-in must be completed no later than one hour before departure. However, we recommend at least two hours before departure, as there may be queues at passport and security control.

PASSPORT
Don’t forget your passport, as the airline always asks to see it at check-in. Without a passport, there is a risk that the airline will not let you board.

Copies of passport and important documents. Bring a paper copy + a digital copy (phone/email) of your passport, ETA, insurance, and flight ticket.

CURRENCY / EXCHANGE
The currency in Kenya is the Kenyan shilling (KES). 100 KES is approximately 7.25 SEK (June 2026). You can exchange money in Kenya, but many places give a poor rate for Swedish kronor. It is therefore better to exchange at home or to bring US dollars. NOTE! 100-dollar bills, and sometimes also 50-dollar bills, are not accepted in some places in East Africa. Preferably bring bills in denominations of 5, 10 and 20 dollars. These should be ordered in advance from the banks, as they usually only carry bills of higher denominations. Dollar bills from before 2003 are not accepted in Kenya. It can be difficult to withdraw cash with a credit card, but conditions are constantly changing and credit cards are becoming more common. Credit cards are accepted at most hotels and lodges as well as in souvenir shops.

For more information and for currency exchange, we refer you to a currency exchange office or to your local bank.

VACCINATION
The vaccination centres recommend that your polio, tetanus and diphtheria vaccinations be reviewed, and that you have protection against hepatitis A (epidemic jaundice) and yellow fever. For certain risk groups, Dukoral is also recommended. Malaria occurs throughout Kenya below 1,500 metres of altitude, which is why malaria tablets are advised.

We recommend that you contact your local vaccination centre for the current status, as some vaccinations must be taken well in advance of the trip.

ETA / HEALTH SURVEILLANCE FORM
Electronic Travel Authorisation – ETA (instead of a visa). As of 1 January 2024, there is no visa requirement for Kenya. Instead, you must apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). An ETA is an electronic document linked to the traveller’s passport, granting permission to enter the country for tourism, business or transit purposes.

It is recommended that you apply for an ETA at least 7 days before you travel, or up to 3 months in advance. The granted ETA permits a stay of up to 90 days.

The passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the date of arrival, and must have at least 1 blank page.

Recommendations when filling in the application:
Primary purpose of visit: Tourism
Address in Kenya: Oltepesi Tented Safari Camp, Aitong, Kenya. John Siololo / cell 254711612961 / e-mail siololojohn@gmail.com
Accommodation booking confirmation: Booking confirmation for ETA application

For more information and to apply for an ETA, go to the official Kenyan government website at https://www.etakenya.go.ke/en. Please note that the information on the website may change. Once your ETA has been approved, it is recommended that you keep a printout of it in your passport.

Before departure, you also need to fill in an International Travelers Health Surveillance form. You do this on the following website https://ears.health.go.ke/international_registration/

WHATSAPP GROUP
We are starting a WhatsApp group for the trip. Here you can communicate, share photos and other information with the other participants and with Arnfinn before, during and after the trip.

You will receive an invitation to the group on your phone. If you are not on WhatsApp, we suggest you download the app from the App Store or Android, and then let us know at info@zoomfotoresor.se once you have done so, and we will send you an invitation to the group.

Should you have any problems joining the group, email Alexander and he will help you. alexander.elmqvist@zoomphototours.com

PARTICIPANT LIST
A participant list for the trip is attached to this email. NOTE! If a participant has chosen not to have their information shared, only that participant’s name is included.

SEND YOUR TIMETABLE
If you have not already sent a copy of your flight timetable so that we know how each person is travelling, we kindly ask you to do so as soon as possible to info@zoomfotoresor.se

TIPPING
Tips are given in many places around the world, including on the African continent. Service staff such as waiters, cleaners, porters and so on usually have a very low fixed salary. They are therefore very dependent on the tips they receive when they do a good job. Rule of thumb for tips in USD: 1 USD per suitcase that a porter handles. At bars and restaurants, 10 percent of the bill applies.

Tips for the safari guide/driver are normally 15 dollars per day. This is given as a total sum directly on the last day of the safari. For those who work at the lodge, there is usually a shared tip box that all lodge staff share. Here, 10 USD per day is a guideline. If you are very satisfied you can pay more, while if you are not satisfied you can pay less.

ELECTRICITY
In Kenya, 220 volts and three-pin plugs of type G, the same kind as in England, are used. You can often borrow or rent an adapter at hotel receptions. However, we recommend that you bring a travel set. Also bring a power strip with 2-3 outlets so you can easily charge your camera batteries, phones and other electrical equipment.

CLIMATE
Kenya lies on the equator and the average temperature is a pleasant 24-25 degrees during the day. Evenings and nights are a little cooler and can drop towards 13-14 degrees. Rain occurs very rarely at this time of year. It is, however, dry heat with low humidity.

CLOTHING
During your stay in Kenya, casual clothing applies throughout the trip. It may be wise to bring a pair of comfortable walking shoes and rugged clothes, as we will spend the days on safaris. Early in the morning it can get a little cold, so we recommend that you bring a jacket or a sweater. Khaki colour has two advantages. Dirt and dust are not as visible on khaki, which is also said to be the colour that attracts tsetse flies the least (while darker blue and black attract them the most). White clothes are impractical because dirt and dust show up clearly.

You can hand in clothes for washing at the lodges. It is normally possible to have clothes washed and ironed overnight. The cost is approximately 2 dollars per garment.

CREDIT CARDS
Visa and Mastercard are accepted at the hotels in Nairobi. At the camp you do not need the card, as everything is included except some cash for tips, laundry, alcohol and souvenirs.

STOMACH UPSET
Since the bacterial flora in Kenya is different from what we have at home, it pays to be a little extra careful. The cause of stomach problems and diarrhoea is very often poor water and sewage treatment, as well as having eaten bad and uncooked food. Therefore do not drink tap water, but instead buy bottled mineral water, which is cheap and good. We also recommend that you brush your teeth with mineral water instead of tap water. Also remember never to eat fruit without first washing it in mineral water, and never to put ice in your drink. We recommend that you bring plenty of hand sanitiser, and that you always wash your hands with it before meals and before putting anything in your mouth. We also recommend that you bring medication containing loperamide, such as Bifiform Travel or Imodium Plus, in case of bad luck. These are available without prescription. It is also important to drink plenty to avoid dehydration.

FOOD AND DRINK
At the lodge, all meals are included in the trip price. Soft drinks as well as coffee and tea are also included. Beer, wine and spirits are paid for on site.

MOSQUITOES
The mosquitoes come out when the sun goes down, and it is in the evening and at night that you get bitten the most. It is therefore wise to wear long trousers in the evening and perhaps also a long-sleeved shirt, and to make sure to spray your ankles, wrists, hands and neck.

Our camp has mosquito nets over the beds. In Nairobi this is not necessary.

LANGUAGE
Just over 40 ethnic groups live in Kenya. Almost two thirds of the inhabitants belong to one of the five largest: Kikuyu, Luhya, Kalenjin, Luo and Kamba. The official languages are Swahili and English, but up to 70 indigenous languages are spoken in the country.

PHONE
Generally, you have coverage (GSM) in and around the larger cities, but not in more remote areas. The mobile network is being built up gradually, and today there is coverage out in the most visited parks. Where there is coverage also depends on which operator you have and which agreements they have with local telecom companies in Kenya. To call Kenya, the country code is +254, and to call from Kenya to Sweden it is +46, Denmark +45, England +44 and India +91. It is, however, very expensive to call from Kenya.

TIME DIFFERENCE
Kenya is +1 hour compared to Scandinavia, +2 hours from England and -2.5 hours compared to India.

WATER
Never drink tap water, as it has a completely different bacterial flora than at home. Always drink mineral water.

IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS
Photographer: Arnfinn Johansen +47 976 71 870
Local guide: John Siololo +254 711612961
Emergency number in Kenya: 999

WEBSITES
Kenya Tourist Board www.magicalkenya.com
Lonely Planet www.lonelyplanet.com/kenya
African Wildlife Foundation www.awf.org/country/kenya
Kenya Wildlife Service www.kws.go.ke
Cheetah For Ever https://www.cheetahforever.org/english-1/

PACKING LIST
Below are some tips on equipment. This is not a must but rather a set of guidelines.

BAGS
Suitcase/large bag. We recommend that, instead of hard suitcases, you pack in a soft, large bag. They are much easier to stow in the minibuses and take up less space in the tent.

A camera bag.

SHOES AND CLOTHES

• A pair of sturdy walking shoes, or boots.
• A pair of sandals or lighter shoes to wear at the lodge.
• Summer clothes such as shorts and trousers, plus light polo shirts.
• A long-sleeved shirt / a pair of long trousers for cooler moments.
• A cap or similar.
• Sunglasses.

OTHER EQUIPMENT

• Mobile phone.
• Binoculars.
• Power adapter.
• A small torch.
• A sewing kit for emergency repairs.

MEDICAL SUPPLIES
We recommend that you bring some of your own personal medical supplies, such as:

• Plasters.
• Mosquito repellent stick.
• Antiseptic cream.
• Paracetamol or equivalent.
• Sunscreen.

CAMERA EQUIPMENT

• A system camera.
• A telephoto lens up to 600mm.
• Preferably a short zoom such as a 70-200.
• A teleconverter, 1.4x or 2.0.
• A polarising filter is useful for increasing the saturation in your images.
• A monopod.
• Spare batteries, at least a couple.
• A battery charger for the camera and other electronics.
• A power strip with 2-3 outlets so you can charge the camera batteries, phones and other equipment at the same time.
• Memory cards as needed, plus a portable hard drive, or transfer directly to your computer.
• Cleaning equipment such as cleaning cloths, compressed air and other cleaning gear for the camera.
• Batteries if you need these for your equipment.
• A laptop for image editing with one of the programs Photoshop or Lightroom.