Kenya is quite diverse geographically, with different areas of the country have quite varied climatic conditions. Monsoon winds temper the tropical conditions of the coastal areas. The temperature in Nairobi is normally pleasant throughout the year, due to its altitude.

Lake Victoria gets much higher temperatures, and the rainfall is also quite heavy. The highlands have four distinct seasons, whereas the lowlands are hot all year round but mainly dry.

The coldest months in Kenya are July and August. During these months, it can often be quite overcast.

There are 2 distinct rainy seasons throughout most of Kenya. From late October until November you will find the short rain season, with the longer rains taking place from March to early June. Most rains occur during the late afternoon, with the days being fine, preceded by bright, sunny and fresh days. Most rains do not continue for extended periods of time.

Travellers should not be put off travelling during these months, as very few roads are affected by the rain and the scenery can be even more spectacular. Also prices are often lower and tourist destinations less crowded.

When travelling to areas close to the coast and lakeside, lightweight clothing is recommended (such as cottons and linens). It is also strongly recommended that wet weather clothing is taken, especially during the wet months. Warmer clothing may be needed during the colder months.

Click on this Weather link to view the current weather conditions in Kenya, then select the city/region you wish to view.

The international dialling code for Kenya is +254. To dial overseas from within Kenya, dial 000 followed by the relevant country code and phone number.

Emergency numbers within Kenya are 999 for police, ambulance and fire department.

Public telephones are available and are operated by both coins and phone cards, which can be purchased from post offices (and are identified by Telkom Kenya). International calls can be inefficient and expensive, but can be made from most hotels and resorts. If calls cant be made directly, this can be done via operator assistance by dialling 0196.

Roaming agreements exist with international mobile phone companies have roaming agreements in Kenya. The two main networks are Celtel (http://www.celtel.com/) and Safaricom (http://www.safaricom.co.ke/).

Internet services can be found throughout the major cities and tourist destinations, as well as within post offices and most hotels. It may be extremely hard to find internet services in regional areas.

Airmail to Western Europe or North America takes about four days, and the service is generally quite reliable. Standard post office hours are Monday-Friday 08:00-17:00, and the main post offices are also open Saturday 09:00-12:00.

Kenya's official currency is the Kenyan Shilling (KES), which consists of 100 cents. Banknotes come in denominations of KES1000, 500, 200, 100 and 50, whereas coins are available in denominations of KES20, 10 and 5. The current Kenyan Shilling exchange rate can be found by going to OANDA.com - The Currency Site.

Foreign currency can be exchanged at most major banks, bureaux de change or authorised hotels. 24 hour exchange services are available at the 2 major international airports. The easiest currencies to exchange are US Dollars, Pounds Sterling and Euros.

American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are all widely accepted, and most major hotels now also accept payment by credit card, as do major safari companies, travel agencies and restaurants. Travellers cheques can be changed at banks and are widely accepted. Standard banking hours are Monday-Friday 09:00-15:00.

Population: 34.7 million people
Total Area: 582,650 square kilometres
Capital: Nairobi
Time Zone: GMT/UTC +3 hours

To view the current time in Nairobi, click on this link to TimeAndDate.com.

The official language of Kenya is English, while Swahili is the national language. Throughout Kenya there are over 40 ethnic languages spoken. Some useful phrases for travellers to know are:

Hello, welcome! - Jambo/ Karibu
No problem - Hakuna matata
Thank you very much - Asante Sana
What is your name? - Jina lako ni nani?
My name is George - Jina langu ni George
I am going on safari - Naenda safari
I am very happy - Nimefurahi sana
Please bring me a cold beer - Naomba bia baridi
What is the price? - Bei gani?
I want  - Ninataka
Until later - Mpaka baadaye
Goodbye - Kwaheri
Let's go! - Twende
I don't know - Sijui
I don't understand - Sielewi

Nationals of the United Kingdom, other EU Countries, USA, Canada, Australia, Japan and New Zealand all require visas for Kenya. Transit passengers continuing their journey by the same or first connecting aircraft provided holding valid onward or return documentation and not leaving the airport do not require visas. Passports must be valid for at least 3 months from date of entry.

Types of Visa:
Single-Entry - US$60 (valid for 3 months);
Multiple-entry - US$120 (Valid for up to 1 year. Only available to UK nationals);
Transit - US$20.

It is advisable to check this information with your relevant embassy prior to travel.