kenya advice needed

I'd recommend booking with a company out there. It's cheaper and you can usually customise the package a bit to suit needs and wants. If you want a recommendation, let me know.

In terms of nets, if she's staying in hotels and lodges the whole time then there's no need - they'll be provided if they are necessary.

I've been to Kenya twice (9 weeks in total) so I know she'll have a great time!

Definately book when there. It is much cheaper.
If she is staying in any backpackers hostels then they won't provide mosquito nets so take her own. Also she may want to take her own anyway as she can be sure there are no holes in it and that it has the proper chemical impregnation.


I always use US dollars when in Africa as it is a good bargaining tool. In some parts of Africa, dollars can even be used in small food stores etc, not just for big things like trips.
The only exception I have come across is South Africa as the Rand is the only acceptable currency (due to it's stability compared with the rest of Africa). In a place with political unrest like Kenya then dollars are probably preferred by the locals.

I would personally take a mixture of shilling and dollars. Don't bother with the euro, the dollar is the international currency of choice.
It is always worth asking for discounts if you pay in dollars for things like taxis as sometimes you get a better rate of exchange paying for things like this than you would with the shilling.
She can always change dollars to shilling when she is there if it is an issue. I wouldn't use the hotel exchange though as it is really expensive normally, and never change money on the black market. Go into a bank to do it.
Also don't bother with travellers cheques, can be a nightmare to change in Africa and rubbish exchange rates.
In supermarkets etc things would be in shillings.
I always pay on markets with dollars. Never pay the price they say, half it, then take off a bit more, then a bit more. Then get them to their lowest price, and then offer to pay in dollars to the value of slightly less than they have agreed to.
I didn't visit markets in Kenya, but in Zambia and Zimbabwe, you can offer things like cheap biros, hair bobbles (just the small plain elastic ones) etc as these are things that are difficult and expensive to get hold of. THey would rather take these as money as they want them for their children. Might be different in Kenya though as things are a bit more developed there.

Voyager2002 wrote: »

Personally, I would travel with my own mosquito net. Too many hotels use nets that have tiny holes, or a torn somewhere. However, I would buy one on my first day there rather than lugging one all the way from England and paying a rip-off Britain price.

You might find pounds sterling acceptable rather than messing about with dollars and/or euros.

As for the black market, many shopkeepers are willing to change foreign cash for shillings at a rate rather better than that offered by the bank. The risk involved in doing this is near to zero. However, I would not advise changing money with anyone on the street.

I definately agree with the mosquito net, I always use my own, even if one is provided.
In terms of the exchanging in shops, I often buy in dollars to get a good exchange rate, but have never thought to change money in the shops literally cash for cash. When I mentioned the black market, I was thinking of people on the street.