If you are a tourist wanting to drive in Kenya, this is the right article for you.
It is the fact that a journey with your hire car around Kenya is the most satisfying experience! Kenya is one of the most famous countries with beautiful scenery. The striking and stunning scenery that surrounds tourists is truly breathtaking.
Not to mention, car owners will experience desert plains, national parks along with its wildlife, along deep mountain forests when traveling through the country. And to have the best experience ever, this is what you need to know before going to this African nation.
What You Need To Know About Kenya
Kenya time difference
Kenya time is GMT + 3 hours, and the time difference is set just as in the Eastern Africa Time Zone. Therefore, before collecting your rented car, it is a good idea to set the watch at the right time.
Not only can it tell the accurate time but also saves you from a lot of trouble on the journey. So before understanding how to drive in Kenya, you need to adjust the time first.
Kenya currency
Currency is another thing to keep in mind. When traveling in foreign countries, you must be able to acknowledge the correct currency of that country.
In the case of Kenya, we have Shillings (KES). You also do not need to carry all the cash. The cities have many stores accepting credit cards. Kenya also has ATMs everywhere.
Kenya electricity
You might want to know the electricity in Kenya if you want to travel in this country. The electricity in Kenya is 50Hz, 240V. And the plugs are two parallel flats, which have a ground pin.
Tourism in Kenya
One of the most important things to do before going to any country is to take a look at tourism websites. You can find all the information online. There are various useful websites to find places to visit, tourist attractions, and office locations, along with many other things you may need before traveling.
Kenya visa
Of course, you need a visa to set foot in Kenya or any other country. And when traveling to Kenya, you might need to buy a travel visa. Tourists can check at Kenya Tourist Visas to choose the one that best suits their needs.
If you are looking for the British High Commission, you can easily find it in Nairobi. And if you are wondering or want to know more about UK embassies, you can visit the Kenya website anytime.
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Kenya language
You do not have to speak the Kenya language to be able to travel in this country. However, it is crucial to know what language they are using. Kenyans use the native language of Swahili. And they are also using English a lot.
Drive in Kenya: Things You Should Know
Driving license requirements
To drive, you need a driver’s license. And the same happens to Kenya. According to UsedCars.co.ke, to meet all the requirements for driving in Kenya, travelers must be older than 18 years old, and they must have a full driving license in their countries. If you have an international driver’s license, that works too.
Proper driving distances
There are many different roads and driving distances in Kenya. Yet we are claiming the top three most crucial roads. From Nairobi to Kitui, you will need 2 hours and 40 mins to drive 166 km.
From Nakuru to Nyeri, it is around 163km, which takes 2 hours and 10 minutes. The last driving distance is 120 km from Mombasa to Malindi, which takes around 1 hour and 40 minutes.
Age restrictions
We know that you must be at least 18 years old to drive, so what is the age restriction to hire a vehicle in Kenya? This depends on the car hire category, yet 23 years old is the minimum age to hire a car.
Not to mention, you need to have a driving license for two years, so remember this when you want to buy a car in Kenya.
Petrol stations
To drive, you need to know the location of petrol stations. And it is very easy to find. The petrol stations are everywhere in Kenya, not to mention, you have a very affordable price. Also, Kenya has various companies for filling up your car hire. Shell and Caltex are the main examples.
Road rules
The other crucial point is the regulation, laws as well and rules of the road in Kenya. There are three main rules to remember:
The first one is that driving in Kenya is on the left-hand side of the road.
The second rule is the seat belts. You are required to have seatbelts on at all times when driving a rented car in Kenya.
The third rule is that you cannot use mobile phones while driving. A hands-free system like Bluetooth is acceptable. Last but certainly not least, you must have a driver’s license, insurance documents as well as registration documents all the time.
