Kenya 

Kenya sits halfway down the east coast of Africa, astride the equator. It is the most accessible country in the region. Kenya is the home of the safari and one of the world’s top holiday destinations. It offers a world of attractions: stunning landscapes, cultural diversity, adventure sports, beautiful beaches and its unique wildlife. It is fascinating from the sheer diversity of its many game parks.

One of the greatest sights is the annual migration of two million wildebeests – together with half a million zebras and thousands of gazelles across the endless savannah. Kenya boasts as the only country in the world with a national park in the capital.

General information -KENYA

AREA 580,367 km²

POPULATION  41,000,000

CAPITAL CITY Nairobi

CURRENCY Kenya Shillings (KES)

LANGUAGES English and Kiswahili

TIME ZONES + 03:00 (GMT/UTC)

COUNTRY PHONE CODE +254

ELECTRICITY 240 V

TIPPING Not mandatory, service staff can be tipped at own discretion.

BANKS OPENING HOURS Most operate Mondays to Fridays: 9:00 am–3:00 pm, Saturday: 9:00 am–11:00 am.

HEALTH Yellow fever vaccine is required. Take prophylactics two weeks before arrival.

CLIMATE The climate is generally warm and humid at the coast, cool and humid in the central highlands and hot and dry in the north and east of the country.

NATIONAL PUBLIC HOLIDAYS New Year: 01.01.2012, Good Friday: 06.04.2012, Easter Monday: 09.04.2012, Labour Day: 01.05.2012, Madaraka Day: 01.06.2012, Moi Day: 10.10.2012, Kenyatta Day: 20.10.2012, Jamhuri Day: 12.12.2012, Christmas Day: 25.12.2012, Boxing Day: 26.12.2012

Michael Njogu

Head of Meetings and Incentives in Eastern Africa

WHAT DO YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT YOUR DESTINATION?

The East African region, consisting of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda is one of the most diverse and beautiful places in the world. It boasts some of the most amazing marvels of Mother Nature. These include the Maasai Mara’s annual wildebeest migration, now acclaimed to be the 7th wonder of the world, the 19km wide Ngorongoro Crater and Mt Kilimanjaro, the roof of Africa, pristine white sandy beaches and mountain gorillas in Rwanda and Uganda, just to mention a few.

WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT YOUR DESTINATION?

The destination is very hospitable, with very friendly people. Also, some of the attractions found here are not found anywhere else in the world. Apart from being home to the 'big five', the lion, buffalo, elephant, leopard and rhino it's also popular with our 'distant cousins' on the human evolutionary tree, the gorillas found in the Virunga mountains. East Africa has a huge ethnic diversity, with many communities living together in harmony, all of whom differ on varying degrees, from each other in culture, social structures and language.

WHAT TIPS WOULD YOU GIVE A TRAVEL PROFESSIONAL WHO IS PLANNING A MEETING IN YOUR DESTINATION?

The local infrastructure in the cities can accommodate groups of about 4,000, but we recommend a maximum of 150 persons in the parks at one go. Although most hotels and lodges have conference facilities consistent with their capacities, there are some independent conference facility providers.

WHAT ARE THE MOST POPULAR DESTINATIONS IN YOUR COUNTRY?

Kenya and Tanzania are popular because of the wildlife, and especially the wildebeest migration and the beautiful warm water beaches off the East African coastline. The annual wildebeest migration is a natural spectacle that involves over 2 million animals – 1.5 million wildebeest, 200,000 zebras and 400,000 gazelles - moving seasonally from the Serengeti to the Maasai Mara and back in search of greener pastures. The predators, mostly the big cats, are never far behind. Rwanda offers an experience of a lifetime seeing mountain gorillas face to face.

WHY WOULD YOU RECOMMEND YOUR DESTINATION FOR MEETINGS & INCENTIVES?

It is great especially for incentives as it offers the clientele unique attractions and unrivalled hospitality.