BORANA
Located in the Heart of Africa, Kenya shares borders with Ethiopia in the north, Sudan in the Northwest, Uganda in the West and Tanzania in the south. The Indian Ocean lies to the East. The Rift Valley runs through the country, north to south. There are four primary regions: The northern deserts,including Lake Turkana and the Laikipia Plateau. The southern savannah,including the Masai Mara and the Great Rift Valley. The coastal lowlands,including Mombasa and the Watamu National Marine Park. The highlands, including Nairobi and Mount Kenya. Borana is situated on the eastern edge of the Laikipia plateau overlooking the Northern Frontier District.
English is the official language, and is widely spoken in commercial areas. Kiswahili is the unofficial language, used throughout the country. In remote areas, the majority of people will only speak their tribal language.
Kenya is well served by major international airlines, which fly into Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (Nairobi) or Moi International Airport (Mombasa). Some Commonwealth citizens do not require visas. We strongly recommend you check with the nearest Kenya Embassy or Tourist Office to ensure you have the most up to date visa information. When applicable, a tourist visa costs $25 and is available at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on arrival.
Kenya offers warm days with cool early mornings and evenings throughout most of the country. East Africa's climate is based upon altitude.The coldest months are June, July and August; the hottest months are January, February and March. June, July, August and November may provide some showers and misty weather as these are the times of the Long and Short rains. Borana is situated at 6,500 feet above sea level, so it can be chilly in the evenings. There are fireplaces in each bedroom as well as in the sitting and dining rooms to ensure a warm and cosy atmosphere at night.
There is a telephone service at Borana, as well as a satellite phone for overseas calls. Internet and email facilities are available at the Lodge and Laragai.
The Kenya shilling is freely exchangeable. Borana accepts Visa and Mastercard Credit Cards
Kenyans drive on the left hand side of the road. It is recommended that you travel with an international driving license if you plan to drive in Kenya.
GMT plus 3.
220 / 240 volts AC. Plugs are the UK-type, round 2-pin or flat 3 pin. Borana has adaptors.
YES, CHILDREN ARE WELCOME.
Yellow Fever, hepatitis and tetanus vaccinations are recommended for all of East Africa.
You should take precautions against malaria. There are a number of prophylaxis available. Some have mild side effects; you should check with your doctor for advice. We recommend starting your course of tablets early, in order to determine if you have any side effects before your safari begins.
Whilst in East Africa, only drink bottled water. Borana supplies bottled water. We recommend that you drink at least 4 liters of non-alcoholic fluid each day to prevent dehydration. The most common cause of stomach upsets and diarrhea is dehydration; increasing your fluid intake should prevent this illness. All countries have their own 'bugs' to which residents develop immunity. The African gastroenteritis 'bugs' are the next most common cause of 'traveler's tummy.' Generally, antibiotics will cure this illness within 24 hours. This mild form of stomach upset is most commonly caught from hand to mouth contact with people. If you have shaken hands (harmless) with children or people in the bush, please wash your hands afterwards before you accidentally brush your mouth and transfer the germs.
Borana uses clean water for their food preparation. We take great pride in our exceptional menu, fresh fruits, salads and vegetables, tempting light lunch dishes and exotically delicious dinners.
Nairobi, Kenya has excellent, European standard hospitals. Should evacuation be necessary, excellent medical care is a short flight away.
The Borana Shop is well stocked with beautiful things, from beaded leather jackets to exquisitely designed jewelry. from African arts to Borana tee shirts and everything in between.
When traveling on safari, baggage should be kept to a minimum. Charter flights and vehicle transfers do not allow a large amount of baggage. Soft duffle bags should be used rather than suitcases, as frequently the air plane baggage lockers cannot fit a large suitcase.
Laundry service (excluding underwear) is available so large amounts of clothing are not required. Towels are supplied. Borana provides electricity through a generator. Hair dryers are supplied, but please bring your own electric shaver. all batteries can be recharged.
Long-sleeved, lightweight shirts or blouses and trousers, with a sweater and light jacket are appropriate for the evenings. Shorts and t-shirts are suitable for the hotter days. A lightweight rain jacket is useful and a wide-brimmed hat is vital. Dress is casual, but we all love dressing up on special occasions.
A good pair of walking shoes or boots is advisable when out on walks or horse rides. However, within Borana, light footwear may be worn. Neutral colors, such as gray, khaki, browns or greens, are best; bright colors and patterns, including white, can spook animals and birds. Borana has a swimming pool so bring your swimsuit!
Bring all camera equipment, including spare batteries and film(100-400ASA)- also for sale in the Borana shop, binoculars, high factor (over 20) sunscreen lip-screen a small torch (flashlight)insect repellent and moisturizer moist towelettes (Wet Wipes)
Suggested medicines include:
packets of rehydrant powder (such as Gatorade)anti-diarrhea tablets
generic antibiotics aspirin anti-histamine tablets plasters (band-aids)
If you are taking any prescribed medicines, please ensure you have an adequate supply for the duration of your trip.If wearing contact lenses, please remember that it will be dusty and you will need extra cleaning fluid.