Download Kenya travel information – US

Kenya Safari and Program Tour 2010
Travel Information
ENTRY / EXIT REQUIREMENTS: A passport and visa are required. Visas should be
obtained in advance, although airport visas are available. Travelers who opt to obtain an airport
visa should expect delays upon arrival. There is a fee for the visa, whether obtained in advance
or at the airport. Evidence of yellow fever immunization may be requested. Travelers to Kenya
and neighboring African countries should ensure that the validity of their passports is at least six
months beyond the end of their intended stay, and that their passport contains sufficient blank
pages for visas and immigration stamps.
Travelers may obtain the latest information on visas as well as any additional details regarding
entry requirements from the Embassy of Kenya, 2249 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008,
telephone (202) 387-6101, or the Kenyan Consulates General in Los Angeles and New York
City. Persons outside the United States should contact the nearest Kenyan embassy or
consulate. Visit the Embassy of Kenya web site at http://www.kenyaembassy.com for the most
current visa information.
Requirements:
Please note that the possession of a Kenyan Visa is not the final authority to enter Kenya. The
immigration officer at the port of entry may deny entry if the visitor is unable to fulfill the
immigration requirements and if the entry and presence of such a person in Kenya would be
contrary to national interests, even if such a person is in possession of a valid visa for Kenya.
If you have any questions at all, call or e-mail Sarah at (703) 317-9086 ext.251 or
[email protected]
Visa Requirements
1. Valid Passport (Not photocopy) –– To be submitted along with the application form.
Passport will be mailed back once your Visa has been processed.
2. Completed (Filled in) Application Form duly signed. This application must be filled out
at http://www.kenyaembassy.com/visa.html and then downloaded and printed to be sent
along with the rest of the materials listed. If you do not have access to a computer to
complete this application online, please email Sarah at [email protected] so that
she can help you complete this step.
3. Copy of flight Itinerary/Letter from travel agent on company letterhead confirming
booking.
4. Two Passport size photos (Note: Computer generated pictures are not acceptable)
5. Visa Fees: (Money order/Cashier's Cheque Only Payable to Embassy of The Republic of
Kenya)
6. US$25.00 For Single Entry (Tourist/Visitor/Business),
7. Expedited Service available at an extra $20.00
PLEASE NOTE:
ALL CLIENTS ARE ADVISED TO SUBMIT ONLY THE EXACT AMOUNT OF THE
OFFICIAL FEE FOR THE SERVICE REQUIRED IN THE FORM OF MONEY ORDER OR
CASHIERS CHEQUE. NO CASH OR PERSONAL CHEQUES ARE ACCEPTED.
NO REFUNDS WILL BE MADE TO APPLICATIONS MAILED TO THIS EMBASSY WITH
AN AMOUNT WHICH IS OVER AND ABOVE THE INDICATED AMOUNT.
VISA DESCRIPTIONS:
Single Entry: Allows you to enter into Kenya once. A Visa is required prior to entry into Kenya.
 Visas are usually valid for six months from the issuance date
 Visas are issued within 14 (Fourteen) business days from date of receipt of the
application being sent by mail and courier services.
 A self-addressed stamped return courier envelope for Fedex, Express Mail, Certified Mail
or Priority Mail with delivery confirmation (Note: UPS, Metered stamps and Regular
mail are not acceptable).
Please ensure that all your paperwork is well organized ( i.e photo stapled at the top left side of
Application form, while your itinerary and application form are together)
Visa applications without complete requirements will not be processed. Please ensure all the
requirements are met.
For more information on visa application and visa categories based on nationalities, please visit
www.immigration.go.ke This website provides comprehensive details on all immigration
If you have any questions at all, call or e-mail Sarah at (703) 317-9086 ext.251 or
[email protected]
services provided by the Department of Immigration of Kenya in Nairobi including but not
limited to work permit, passes, citizenship, other immigration services and frequently asked
questions (F.A.Qs)
Note: Any incomplete application will be returned.
To avoid delays in processing your application, please ensure that you have read all the
requirements above.
If you have any questions at all, call or e-mail Sarah at (703) 317-9086 ext.251 or
[email protected]
Vaccination Information
Before visiting Kenya, you may need to get the following vaccinations and medications for
vaccine-preventable diseases and other diseases you might be at risk for at your
destination: (Note: Your doctor or health-care provider will determine what you will need,
depending on factors such as your health and immunization history, areas of the country you will
be visiting, and planned activities.)
To have the most benefit, see a health-care provider at least 4–6 weeks before your trip to allow
time for your vaccines to take effect and to start taking medicine to prevent malaria, if you need
it.
Even if you have less than 4 weeks before you leave, you should still see a health-care provider
for needed vaccines, anti-malaria drugs and other medications and information about how to
protect yourself from illness and injury while traveling.
CDC recommends that you see a health-care provider who specializes in Travel Medicine. If you
have a medical condition, you should also share your travel plans with any doctors you are
currently seeing for other medical reasons.
If your travel plans will take you to more than one country during a single trip, be sure to let your
health-care provider know so that you can receive the appropriate vaccinations and information
for all of your destinations. Long-term travelers, such as those who plan to work or study abroad,
may also need additional vaccinations as required by their employer or school.
Be sure your routine vaccinations are up-to-date. Check the links below to see which
vaccinations adults and children should get.
Routine vaccines, as they are often called, such as for influenza, chickenpox (or varicella),
polio, measles/mumps/rubella (MMR), and diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus (DPT) are given at all
stages of life.
Routine vaccines are recommended even if you do not travel. Although childhood diseases, such
as measles, rarely occur in the United States, they are still common in many parts of the world. A
traveler who is not vaccinated would be at risk for infection.
If you have any questions at all, call or e-mail Sarah at (703) 317-9086 ext.251 or
[email protected]
Vaccines: Preventable Diseases
Vaccine recommendations are based on the best available risk information. Please note that the
level of risk for vaccine-preventable diseases can change at any time.
Vaccination or
Disease
Recommendations or Requirements for Vaccine-Preventable
Diseases
Routine
Recommended if you are not up-to-date with routine shots such as,
measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus
(DPT) vaccine, poliovirus vaccine, etc.
Yellow Fever
CDC yellow fever vaccination recommendation for travelers to
Kenya: For all travelers ≥9 months of age. The cities of Nairobi and
Mombasa have lower risk of transmission than rural areas. Kenya
requires travelers arriving from countries where yellow fever is present
to present proof of yellow fever vaccination. Vaccination should be
given 10 days before travel and at 10-year intervals if there is ongoing
risk. Find an authorized U.S. yellow fever vaccination clinic.
Hepatitis A or
immune globulin
(IG)
Recommended for all unvaccinated people traveling to or working in
countries with an intermediate or high level of hepatitis A virus
infection (see map) where exposure might occur through food or water.
Cases of travel-related hepatitis A can also occur in travelers to
developing countries with "standard" tourist itineraries,
accommodations, and food consumption behaviors.
Hepatitis B
Recommended for all unvaccinated persons traveling to or working in
countries with intermediate to high levels of endemic HBV transmission
(see map), especially those who might be exposed to blood or body
fluids, have sexual contact with the local population, or be exposed
through medical treatment (e.g., for an accident).
Typhoid
Recommended for all unvaccinated people traveling to or working in
East Africa, especially if visiting smaller cities, villages, or rural areas
and staying with friends or relatives where exposure might occur
through food or water.
Meningococcal
(meningitis)
Recommended if you plan to visit countries that experience epidemics
of meningococcal disease during December through June (see map).
Rabies
Recommended for travelers spending a lot of time outdoors, especially
in rural areas, involved in activities such as bicycling, camping, or
If you have any questions at all, call or e-mail Sarah at (703) 317-9086 ext.251 or
[email protected]
Vaccination or
Disease
Recommendations or Requirements for Vaccine-Preventable
Diseases
hiking. Also recommended for travelers with significant occupational
risks (such as veterinarians), for long-term travelers and expatriates
living in areas with a significant risk of exposure, and for travelers
involved in any activities that might bring them into direct contact with
bats, carnivores, and other mammals. Children are considered at higher
risk because they tend to play with animals, may receive more severe
bites, or may not report bites.
Polio
Recommended for adult travelers who have received a primary series
with either inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) or oral polio vaccine
(OPV). They should receive another dose of IPV before departure. For
adults, available data do not indicate the need for more than a single
lifetime booster dose with IPV.
Malaria
Areas of Kenya with Malaria: Present in all areas (including game parks) at altitudes <2,500 m
(<8,202 ft). (The Keekorok Lodge is at 1,612 metres, so anti-malarial drugs are necessary).
If you will be visiting an area of Kenya with malaria, you will need to discuss with your doctor
the best ways for you to avoid getting sick with malaria. Ways to prevent malaria include the
following:
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Taking a prescription antimalarial drug
Using insect repellent and wearing long pants and sleeves to prevent mosquito bites
Sleeping in air-conditioned or well-screened rooms or using bednets
All of the following antimalarial drugs are equal options for preventing malaria in Kenya:
Atovaquone/proguanil, doxycycline, or mefloquine. For information that can help you
and your doctor decide which of these drugs would be best for you, please see Choosing
a Drug to Prevent Malaria below.
Note: Chloroquine is NOT an effective antimalarial drug in Kenya and should not be taken
to prevent malaria in this region.
If you have any questions at all, call or e-mail Sarah at (703) 317-9086 ext.251 or
[email protected]
Malaria Contact for Health-Care Providers
For assistance with the diagnosis or management of suspected cases of malaria, call the CDC
Malaria Hotline: 770-488-7788 (M-F, 9 am-5 pm, Eastern time). For emergency consultation
after hours, call 770-488-7100 and ask to speak with a CDC Malaria Branch clinician.
A Special Note about Antimalarial Drugs
You should purchase your antimalarial drugs before travel. Drugs purchased overseas may not be
manufactured according to United States standards and may not be effective. They also may be
dangerous, contain counterfeit medications or contaminants, or be combinations of drugs that are
not safe to use.
Halofantrine (marketed as Halfan) is widely used overseas to treat malaria. CDC recommends
that you do NOT use halofantrine because of serious heart-related side effects, including deaths.
You should avoid using antimalarial drugs that are not recommended unless you have been
diagnosed with life-threatening malaria and no other options are immediately available..
Items to Bring With You
Medicines you may need:
The prescription medicines you take every day. Make sure you have enough to last during
your trip. Keep them in their original prescription bottles and always in your carry-on luggage.
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Antimalarial drugs
Medicine for diarrhea, usually over-the-counter.
Other items you may need:
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Sunblock and sunglasses for protection from harmful effects of UV sun rays
Antibacterial hand wipes or alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.
To prevent insect/mosquito bites, bring:
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Lightweight long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and a hat to wear outside, whenever possible.
Flying-insect spray to help clear rooms of mosquitoes. The product should contain a
pyrethroid insecticide; these insecticides quickly kill flying insects, including mosquitoes.
If you have any questions at all, call or e-mail Sarah at (703) 317-9086 ext.251 or
[email protected]
Choosing a Drug to Prevent Malaria
Considerations when choosing a drug for malaria prophylaxis:
No antimalarial drug is 100% protective and must be combined with the use of personal
protective measures, (i.e., insect repellent, long sleeves, long pants, sleeping in a mosquito-free
setting or using an insecticide-treated bednet).
For all medicines, also consider the possibility of drug-drug interactions with other medicines
that the person might be taking as well as other medical contraindications, such as drug allergies.
Your doctor should be able to answer any questions you may have regarding such precautions.
When several different drugs are recommended for an area, the following table might help in the
decision process.
Drug
Reasons that might make you
consider using this drug
Good for last-minute travelers
because the drug is started 1-2
days before traveling to an area
where malaria transmission
occurs
Some people prefer to take a
daily medicine
Atovaquone/Proguanil
Good choice for shorter trips
(Malarone)
because you only have to take the
medicine for 7 days after
traveling rather than 4 weeks
Very well tolerated medicine –
side effects uncommon
Pediatric tablets are available and
may be more convenient
Reasons that might make you avoid
using this drug
Cannot be used by women who are
pregnant or breastfeeding a child less
than 5 kg
Cannot be taken by people with
severe renal impairment
Tends to be more expensive than
some of the other options (especially
for trips of long duration)
Some people (including children)
would rather not take a medicine
every day
If you have any questions at all, call or e-mail Sarah at (703) 317-9086 ext.251 or
[email protected]
Drug
Doxycycline
Mefloquine
(Lariam)
Primaquine
Reasons that might make you
consider using this drug
Some people prefer to take a
daily medicine
Good for last-minute travelers
because the drug is started 1-2
days before traveling to an area
where malaria transmission
occurs
Tends to be the least expensive
antimalarial
Some people are already taking
doxycycline chronically for
prevention of acne. In those
instances, they do not have to
take an additional medicine
Doxycycline also can prevent
some additional infections (e.g.,
Rickettsiae and leptospirosis) and
so it may be preferred by people
planning to do lots of hiking,
camping, and wading and
swimming in fresh water
Reasons that might make you avoid
using this drug
Cannot be used by pregnant women
and children <8 years old
Some people would rather not take a
medicine every day
For trips of short duration, some
people would rather not take
medication for 4 weeks after travel
Women prone to getting vaginal
yeast infections when taking
antibiotics may prefer taking a
different medicine
Persons planning on considerable sun
exposure may want to avoid the
increased risk of sun sensitivity
Some people are concerned about the
potential of getting an upset stomach
from doxycycline
Cannot be used in areas with
mefloquine resistance
Cannot be used in patients with
certain psychiatric conditions
Some people would rather take Cannot be used in patients with a
medicine weekly
seizure disorder
Good choice for long trips
Not recommended for persons with
because it is taken only weekly cardiac conduction abnormalities
Can be used in second and third Not a good choice for last-minute
trimester of pregnancy and in
travelers because drug needs to be
first trimester if there is no other started at least 2 weeks prior to travel
option (i.e., postpone travel)
Some people would rather not take a
weekly medication
For trips of short duration, some
people would rather not take
medication for 4 weeks after travel
It is the most effective medicine Cannot be used in patients with
for preventing P. vivax and so it glucose-6-phosphatase
If you have any questions at all, call or e-mail Sarah at (703) 317-9086 ext.251 or
[email protected]
Drug
Reasons that might make you
consider using this drug
is a good choice for travel to
places with > 90% P. vivax
Good choice for shorter trips
because you only have to take the
medicine for 7 days after
traveling rather than 4 weeks
Good for last-minute travelers
because the drug is started 1-2
days before traveling to an area
where malaria transmission
occurs
Some people prefer to take a
daily medicine
Reasons that might make you avoid
using this drug
dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency
Cannot be used in patients who have
not been tested for G6PD deficiency
There are costs and delays associated
with getting a G6PD test done;
however, it only has to be done once.
Once a normal G6PD level is verified
and documented, the test does not
have to be repeated the next time
primaquine is considered
Cannot be used by pregnant women
Cannot be used by women who are
breastfeeding unless the infant has
also been tested for G6PD deficiency
Some people (including children)
would rather not take a medicine
every day
Some people are concerned about the
potential of getting an upset stomach
from primaquine
All of the above information can be found on the CDC website at www.CDC.gov
If you have any questions at all, call or e-mail Sarah at (703) 317-9086 ext.251 or
[email protected]