Are there opportunities to buy locally where cards may not be acceptable?

Jane

I took a mixture of Kenyan Shilling and UK£ (£500 in total), as long as you have sufficient to get by for the first part of your trip, when you head from Amboseli to Mountain Lodge you stop off in Nairobi for lunch and the Hotel is next to a Shopping Mall where there are cashpoints, you will also have other opportunities later in the trip, I would speak with your TM when you meet up at the Airport.

Martin

Do you recommend taking Kenyan shillings for this trip? 

Are there opportunities to buy locally where cards may not be acceptable?

Jane

Hi Jane,

I took Kenyan shillings with me. You won't need a lot as all meals are included so it is really for drinks and souvenirs.

We sometimes stopped to buy fruit (bananas, mangos etc) off street vendors. Beautifully fresh and very cheap. Ask for, say, bananas and you get an enormous bunch. Enough to feed the van for a couple of days.

The only real place you need cash only is if you visit the Masai village in Amboseli. Mainly beads and stuff. A bit hard sell and you can but similar in gift shops but if you want to say you bought in a Masai village........

I left most of my shopping until the last stop, the tented village in the Masai Mara. They certainly take cards but their internet connection was a bit flaky. My transaction went through in the end but I suggest you don't leave it until the last minute. The hotel in Nairobi also had a good shop.

Ian

I went on a Kenya safari tour a few years ago and took Kenya shillings . I do remember they so

Sometimes took USD as well as £ ... I did not take a cash card only a credit card the tour I was on I didn’t spend a vast amount of money .

Cindy

Hi,

I took a mixture of Kenyan Shilling and UK£ (£500 in total), as long as you have sufficient to get by for the first part of your trip, when you head from Amboseli to Mountain Lodge you stop off in Nairobi for lunch and the Hotel is next to a Shopping Mall where there are cashpoints, you will also have other opportunities later in the trip, I would speak with your TM when you meet up at the Airport.

Martin

Many thanks - very helpful

Jane