KENYA
The official currency of Kenya is the Kenyan Shilling (KES).
When it comes to money matters on the trip, every traveller is a little different. You know your spending habits better than we do, so please budget a sensible amount for things like meals not included, drinks, shopping, optional activities, tipping and laundry. It’s always better to bring a little more than you think you’ll need.
Also, make sure you’ve read your trip details thoroughly, so you know what’s included in the trip price and what isn’t. This should make budgeting a little easier. You’ll find this info in the Inclusions section of your Essential Trip Information (that’s this document).
Please note: all recommendations for additional costs, tipping etc. are in USD. You will need to convert these into the relevant local currency.
MEALS NOT INCLUDED
Breakfast, dinner and most lunches are included while camping on our overland safaris.
For lunches not included a budget of USD15 to USD35 per meal will be more than sufficient.
For dinners not included, your leader will normally recommend options and restaurants where you can safely try the region's local specialties. Expect meals to cost between USD20 and USD50 per meal. These are indicative prices only. If you are on a tight budget and are happy to try local food, you can eat cheaper than this.
TIPPING
Gratuities aren’t compulsory on your trip, but they can make a big difference to locals employed in the tourism industry. If you are happy with the services provided, a tip is an appropriate way to thank them. While it may not be customary to you, it is of great significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels, inspires excellent service, and is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry across many destinations. Usually, the equivalent of around USD7 to USD14 per person per day to cover all tips is fine.
TIPPING GUIDE
To give you a bit of guidance, we’ve put together the following tipping notes. These are just suggestions, based on feedback from past travellers and our staff on the ground.
- Your Crew (including Leaders, Drivers and Cooks): You may also consider tipping your crew for outstanding service throughout your trip. The amount is entirely a personal preference; however, USD2 to USD4 per staff member per day can be used as a guideline. Of course, you are free to tip more or less as you see fit, depending on your perception of service quality and the length of your trip. It is best to then divide these amounts into separate envelopes for each crew member. Remember, a tip is not compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service.
- Local guides: Throughout your trip, you may, at times, have a local guide in addition to your leader. We suggest around USD2 per person, per day for local guides.
Basic restaurants: When checking the bill, if a 10% service charge is added, tipping is not required. Otherwise, 10% of the total bill amount is appropriate.
- We recommend bringing a range of smaller denominations of USD ($1, $5, $10) for tipping and small purchases.
TIPPING KITTY
Over the years we have found that many of our travellers find the need for tipping local guides and operators to be both tiresome and embarrassing, especially if they don't have the correct small change. To overcome this, your leader might raise the idea of a group tipping kitty. At your group meeting, your tour leader may discuss the idea of running this kitty, whereby everybody contributes an equal amount and then your tour leader pays the tips as you go. The leader will keep a running record of all monies spent (except restaurant tips). The record can be checked at any time, and any money remaining at the end of the tour will be returned to group members. This kitty does not include tips for your leader and crew.
EMERGENCY FUNDS
We try to plan for every eventuality, but some things are beyond our control. Please make sure you bring an extra USD500 for emergencies (e.g., natural disasters, or civil unrest). Sometimes, these things necessitate last-minute changes to our itineraries, and we can’t guarantee there won’t be some extra costs involved.
CREDIT CARDS, ATMS AND MONEY EXCHANGE:
Credit cards are generally accepted in tourist shops and some restaurants across Africa. Visa and Mastercard are generally preferred over American Express, Diners, etc. Smaller venues take cash only. Foreign currency is easily changed at exchange bureaus, and they generally offer the best rates.
With ATMs being increasingly available in many major towns and cities and even some campsites, credit or debit cards are a convenient way to access money. Be aware that your withdrawing limit may vary from country to country (regardless of your withdrawing limit in your home country), and it can be as low as the equivalent of USD100 per day. Throughout Africa, cards with the Visa logo are most readily recognized, although MasterCard is also accepted in most places. A charge is made for each international transaction - please check with your bank how much this fee will be. Check with your bank before leaving home that your card can be used as a debit card in Africa. You may also want to notify your bank that you are visiting Africa as it's not unknown for banks to freeze cards which show sudden transactions in other countries. If you're on a multi-country tour, your tour leader will be able to give you an approximate idea of how much money you may need for your stay in each country.
PLEASE NOTE: Many businesses and banks in Africa, especially East Africa, do not accept US dollar notes older than 2013. When exchanging USD into local currency, we strongly recommend using medium to large bills ($20, $50, $100), in good condition, 2013 series onwards. Ensure you do not bring torn, marked, or damaged bills. The slightest marking can result in your bill being rejected.
