j...I am thinkin of takin the SAK Tinker and a Mora. I don't want it to be something that I will miss if I lose/trade it out. We, as a group, have selected all of the 'gift-type' things for the local kids. We had to actually be advised on this by the local bishop apparently. I was debating a multi of some sort, being a former Boy Scout and all. I am thinkin of a knock off instead of a high-quality and value tool. I read the travel warning list and theft, sometimes violent, is common. I suppose the less flash I bring, the better.
Kenya is a great country and people are very friendly. Don't bring anything too flashy, there is theft but nothing unusual for a developing country. Very little violence (tribal issues don't affect foreigners).
Take a camera, if you can't lock your stuff then bring a cheapo with lots of optical zoom. If you can lock it away then take an SLR with long lenses. If you do just one game ride you will swear at your compact.
The comment about cotton clothes plus the ironing is true, only way to kill the parasites. If you stay in the bush iron everything. The sprays against ticks and co you can get there. November is rainy season to my knowledge, take the daily malaria pills (malanil is the brand name), don't take the weekly ones the side effects are massive unless you like to halucinate. Bottled drinks shipped?? Buy them there, if they don't have water then drink coke, do not put ice cubes in your drinks.
If the medical stuff is taken care off great, if not bring some stuff from your local travel clinic. Basically water tablets, saline solution, etc. But if you have guys there then they'll have it anyways.
Knife wise bring a multitool and a small fixed one. Anything larger you can buy there. If you need a machete (which you won't) then buy a local panga and support the local industry.
Bring condoms (very high HIV penetration rate), If you don't use them, then give them to people who do, you might save some lives. Check on your TB immunisation, also typhoid and cholera are serious issues. Yellow fever is a MUST. Bring 50 US$ to the airport in cash, thats what the visa costs in Nairobi international. Getting the visa in the country is no problem and the lines are shorter than the normal passport control. Thereafter change to shilling, people don't really take dollars and if they do they might not give you change.
Bring good hiking boots (the light ones) and seriously take a sweater, Nairobi does get cold in the winter (November should be fine though). Depending where you are in the country you can always use the sweater as a pillow. Get a local cell + prepaid (Safaricom or Celtel are the two big national operators, airtime can be bought basically everywhere), everybody has a phone in Kenya and the coverage is good, don't roam, far too expensive. Bring a hat (or cap), sandals and sun glasses, also take shirts with long sleaves and long pants for those sundowners, you don't want to be cheawed alive by the mozis.
And have fun & take pics.
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