East Africa has a whole host of diseases that Western tourists need to be prepared for. Travelers must be sure to leave adequate time prior to their trip to obtain the requisite travel vaccinations. Depending on the time of year, tourists may need vaccinations for a multitude of diseases, including Hepatitis A, typhoid and yellow fever. A physician may also prescribe malaria tablets.
In many hotels in Nairobi, armed guards stand at the hotel entrance, prohibiting tourists from leaving and outsiders from entering. This is an important safety measure as there are certain Kenyan factions that harbor resentment towards Westerners. Tourists should avoid compromising situations while in Kenya by staying close to their travel guide.
In addition, although Kenyans are a visually beautiful people, certain tribes in Kenya do not like to have their photos taken. The Masai, for instance, consider this a stealing of the soul. Alternatively, some locals will allow pictures to be taken if they are provided with some sort of compensation.This could be money, food or even Western items that are hard to come by, such as pens.
Traveling in Kenya is far more vigorous than vacationing in France or Italy. Both the climate and terrain are harsher and it is not possible to pop into a convenience store for a beverage or to use the restroom when necessary. Before leaving on safari each morning, travelers should have plenty of liquids and a hat to ward off the heat. At the same time, they should not drink in excess, since it is not possible to take multiple bathroom breaks on a whim. It is also necessary to have good supplies of sunscreen and bug repellent. Travelers may be exposed to the beating hot sun for hours each day, and without sunscreen will burn to a crisp. They will also need plenty of bug repellent to deter mosquitoes that spread deadly diseases like malaria.
Although seeing multitudes of animals up close may remind travelers of visiting the zoo, the reality is that they are in the proximity of truly wild animals. On safari, there is no zookeeper and more importantly, no cage to shield a tourist from an animal. The minute a tourist steps out of the safari vehicle, he or she is in wild animal territory and power shifts from man to animal. It is important not to tempt fate by stepping out of the safari vehicle to get a better photo of lions eating their caught prey.
