Backpackers’ Guide to Kenya – Dos and Don’ts

Are you planning to visit Kenya for your next holidays? If budget is your major concern and you love going on a backpacking expedition, here are some important tips for you before booking flights to Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya. After all, proper planning for any holiday is quite significant. It involves a lot of research and painstaking efforts to prepare well so as to avoid hassles and ensure a comfortable and memorable travel. These important Dos and Don’ts are worth considering.

Travel Insurance Is A Must
Before finally embarking on your journey ask yourself whether you have travel insurance or not. Even if you do have a travel insurance ensure that it is up-to-date. It is also important that your travel insurer is kept well informed. Before getting travel insurance for yourself, you must make sure that the cover also includes the cost of treatment when abroad. You must ensure that the insurance also covers multiple injuries and illnesses as well. Another vital component of the travel insurance should be that it should cover loss of baggage and other personal belongings, as well as flight cancellations too.

Money Exchange At Authorized Dealers
When you are visiting from a foreign country, the major concern for every visitor is exchange of money of your native country to that of host country’s currency. Be cautious and always contact an authorized dealer for exchanging your monies. You will find many Forex bureaus situated in the heart of Nairobi. You might also be approached by brokers on identifying you as a foreigner. You might be even persuaded to exchange your money at backstreets offering better rates instead of exchanging them at Forex bureaus. Keep away from such brokers and don’t get tempted with the offer of better rates. If you do so there is every possibility of falling into trap and being cheated with fake currencies. The best thing is always to exchange your monies from authorized dealers or the national banks.

Don’t Carry Hard Cash Always
Whenever in a foreign country or on holidays, try to avoid carrying hard cash as far as possible. There is no need as such to carry entire cash along with money. Have faith on Plastic Money such as Debit Cards and Credit Cards. Carry your Visa or Master cards along with you. Make extensive use of them wherever possible and acceptable. Even if you carry hard cash along with you, ensure that they are safely kept in your hotel room.

Keep Your Baggage Always With You
Backpackers mostly travel with their luggage on to their backs. The luggage is obviously minimal. So do remember to carry your baggage always with you. How will it be like if your entire luggage is stolen or lost with all of your belongings in it? Such a scenario might be possible with backpackers. Be cautious and alert. It is therefore advisable to carry your luggage always with you. If you are traveling in a group, it will be easy for you to get your luggage protected whenever you venture out. However, if you are traveling alone try to search for someone on whom you can rely to protect your belongings whenever need be. Whether you are at a hotel or café, taking good care of your valuables and belongings is essential.

Carry Your Emergency Numbers
It is highly important that you carry along with you all the emergency numbers. Do remember to keep them always handy. Emergency numbers such as those of high commission or embassies, ambulances and police of the host country should always be with you. Remember to buy booklets that will provide emergency numbers and vital information for tourists visiting Kenya.