| Tips and photos of Kenya tourist attractions and tourist traps, posted by real travelers and Kenya locals. Map |
 | Kenya Tourist Traps | Tips 1 - 10 of 61 |  |
They are trying to look alike to Maasai by dressing their cloths and seling their souvenirs but, this are only some local Mombasa guys. All of this "original" souvenirs are produced in the nearby factory and you can buy them their for cheap.
When in Kenya never buy any souveniers in your first days, check other wendors compare the prices and than buy. Never pay the price before burgaing because the first price asked is probably tripled. Leave a Comment
|
Visiting Kenya?
Read reviews about Kenya Hotels
Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.
When in Kenya, you cannot know wether the car authorized taxi service or the guy who want to earn some extra money. First because there isn't any visible inscription outside the car and the second, they never use taxi-meter.
In my experience it even doesn't matter, tourist might expect to be traped by both authorized and unauthorized taxis. What you need to do is this; never enter inside the car if the price for a ride isn't agreed. Insist on change, even if small money, because after two or three weeks of staying small money becomes big. Ten kilometres of ride should cost you maximum 800 to 1000 shillings, no matter if day or night. Never give more than 500 shillings for a drive inside the town.
Use city buses or matatus, the same ride or even longer cost you about 10 to 20 shillings. Leave a Comment
|
What is the main problem a traveler might have if going to Africa over one of European tour operators? According to my own experiences a couple of unpredictable surprices can be expected, but all of them should be accepted with the cold head. Instead of four stars hotel, as written in the program, the accommodation could be bellow it, the beach resort you saw in the picture is there but not right in front of your hotel as indicated, and many other small things of less importance but enough to spoil the whole picture you got about back home. All of that, however, should be considered as a minor problem.
According to my program, (paid in advance), I was supposed to visit the Maasai Mara game reserve. Instead of what I paid for, my tour operator proposed the other game reserve but only after I already arived to Mombasa. It is why I felt betrayed but all of my complains were in wain. A certain small compensation was promiced to me but I never got it, not even when I came back home.
Since such a things happens all the time I quit of tour operators and my next trip to Kenya and Uganda, in the following year, I made on my own. The biggest cost was plain ticket, which I paid 850 euros, but all other expensies were more cheaper. Leave a Comment
|
 | |  |
Anywhere and everywhere.... Village Market on Fridays, Curio market in centre of town every day, Masaai Market in town on Tuesdays, Curio Shop near the National Park
Ok, they quardruple the prices for tourists. If you can get it down to half what they ask by bargaining (which can be fun) you are doing well. a quarter? you deserve a medal! Take a local with you (the driver won't go he has to guard the vehicle from thieves) to get to know the real price and it;s better if you only deal with the women. You will find that there are many men hanging around getting in the way, clogging up the road, hang on to your bag!!!!
It is fun, but can be very wearing, lots of noise and pressure for you to buy things at inflated prices. I found Village Market more relaxed, better quality goods. Just do it the once, it can cost a fortune before you realise what you have bought!!!! Leave a Comment
|
 a cute-ish butterfly by call_me_rhia
Go as an add-on after having visited the ruins of Gedi: they really are impressive. But the butterfly farm is just across the road - so it's worth taking in while you're there - mainly out of curiosity. Frankly speaking it's not worth the tour if you're not planning to see the ruins. Leave a Comment
|
Visiting Kenya?
Read reviews about Kenya Hotels
Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.
If you ever log on to Lonely planet you will hear about the The Thorn Tree, which is Lonely planet's message board. It is named after the famous Thorn tree in the Famous Thorn tree cafe in Nairobi, where Cape to Cairo overlanders would stop off to leave messages, on the thorns of the tree.
Oh how fabulous.
You can imagine this bohemian hangout of independent overland travellers sharing experiences. These are the REAL Travellers, the ones I admire and envy. This is the sort of café that should be in your top ten travel experiences. There was no way I would have missed this cafe.
The Tree Died.
So did the soul of the cafe.
The tree has been replaced.
The atmosphere of the cafe is gone forever. All that is left is a sterile soulless coffee shop like you will find in any shopping centre or hotel from Hamburg to strasburg to Milton Keynes to Pittsburgh.
Look at the tree, buy a coke, keep a note card as a souvenir.
BUT Then-
Go out the door, turn right. Look for the Kenya or Nairobi Coffee shops (in amongst book shops) The one the opposite side of the road is the winner (but it was very close) in the competition for best coffee, best lunch, best value, best cake. They tied on atmosphere.
This was the only place in Nairobi where we could chat with locals without fearing a scam.
I bought the T Shirt.. 6 years later I still wear it and rmember the great coffee shops of Nairobi.
This is what I hoped the Thorn Tree would be. Leave a Comment
|
| | |
 by grets
However you may feel about dual pricing, it is a fact of life in Kenya.
There are many ways of looking at this issue:
As tourists we are naturally wealthier than the locals, so we should pay more.
In that case, should someone from the Scandinavian countries for instance, pay more than someone from Easten Europe?
The locals already pay for the upkeep of this park as part of the taxes.
A lower entrance fee for locals will encourage more local people to value their surroundings and help in the conservation of wildlife and the environment.
My personal opinion is that it may be a rip-off, but I have paid so much to be here in the first place, and the fact that I have the opportunity to actually come here and enjoy this park, makes me extremely fortunate. Why lose sleep over a few pounds?
The way I see it is - you have two choices: either you go and pay, or you don't pay and stay at home. Your call. Leave a Comment
|
| | |
 crocodiles fighting for smelly
food by call_me_rhia
Go only if it's a rainy day and there's nothing else to do - it's really a waste of time unless there are no other options. If you have kids, they'll find the reptiles and animals quite nice. If you reall^y have to go, try to be there at 4 pm on wednesday and friday - they are feeding days - so at least there's a bit of action Leave a Comment
|
Actually this might be considered as non tourist trap but to me it is the biggest trap I've noticed during my visits to Kenya. Besides the prices for the admissions, which are in some cases 8 times higher than what the locals paying, there are different prices in the hotels too. Just for a record, double room in the Holiday Inn hotel at Nairobi costs 200 dollars per night for the tourists from abroad, while at the same time that room costs 100 dollars only for the citizens of Kenya! The same goes for the all other hotels in whole of Kenya.
My question for the Kenyan Ministry of Tourism is, why am I discriminated in the Kenyan hotels?
In case of knowing somebody local, reliable of course, ask him/her to book a room for you and pay it. It is what I did in Holiday Inn and the room cost me 100 dollars only.
The most cheaper way for staying in Kenya is to rent an apartment or the house. Householded apartment, in both Nairobi or Mombasa, could cost around 20.000 kes per month, which is around 200 euros. In addition, you need to pay a deposit (in around the same amount), which will be returned back to you. Non householded apartment cost half of that price.
To rent a house, with 3-4 bedrooms, pool and security, could cost around 300-400 euros per month. Leave a Comment
|
| | |
 by stonefree
In the case of me, as it was just before employment when I went there, I have been thinking for almost a year long it foolish to continue work by the inner side of Tokyo like a tiny concrete jungle. Leave a Comment
|
|
More Kenya Travel Deals Tanzania holiday
Everything you need to know about safari in Tanzania. Mombasa Hotels
Compare Top Travel Sites Find Lower Accommodation Rates! Guided Tours in Africa
Choice of Lodge & Camping Safaris. Kruger National Park at Low Prices. Sponsored Links
|
