Paraphrasing one of the famous nursery rhymes sung by Lorenzo Cherubini aka Jovanotti, we could title this article "To you who are preparing a trip to Kenya."
There are indeed many requests for suggestions, advice, tips and reassurance before departure to the desired destination. It is a sign first of all that there is great interest in the African country even after the "hangover" of the holidays, but also that many doubts remain.

Of course, these days our experience based on daily (volunteer) work teaches us that there is great distraction and quite a lot of confusion in searching for news, that too much information taken indiscriminately from reliable institutional sources or from the latest beach boy from the beach at Watamu, end up creating chaos in the already somewhat anxious head of those about to travel.

Here is a brief guide to dispel some inner fog before traveling to Kenya for what can become "a great love and a great love."

VISA: The online visa is now a must, there is little to be complained about. If you have problems with the Internet and its myriad windows or with the English language, it is best to rely on an agency right away. You will spend (we hope) no more than 20 to 30 euros in commission, to be added to the price of the visa, which is $51 (and equivalent in euros at the exchange rate on the day you do it).
In this case be sure, if you look for the agency online, that it is really an agency and not a scam site that offers you the visa at the same price as the real one and then does not issue it to you.
Otherwise, try it yourself, perhaps with the help of a family member or a practical young person. In this case, we recommend, the only possible address for the visa is the Kenyan government's: evisa.go.ke
The others, precisely, if they are not specialized agencies, are scammers.
HEALTHCARE: Even in 2023 you started with this one rule to enter Kenya, all you need is certificates of two vaccinations to be uploaded on the globalhaven.org website to which you have to register. This is to enter, while to depart some airlines may require a Green Pass.
In the absence of these requirements, even unvaccinated people can travel to Kenya, just have a negative PCR swab result issued no more than 72 hours after departure. Nothing is needed to leave Kenya and re-enter Italy.
CURRENCY: Many people ask us about currency exchange. Just as you cannot exchange the Kenyan shilling in advance in Italy, instead the euro, like the dollar, is safely accepted at an exchange rate regulated by the Central Bank of Kenya. On arrival at the airport you can find exchange offices and also bank branches. In tourist areas there is also "black" exchange on the street, but since the difference with the bank counter is minimal (especially for small amounts) and it is better not to be seen with money in public, we recommend banks.
TELEPHONE CARD: For those who want to buy a Kenyan SIM card, tourists are advised to use the operator Safaricom, which has the easiest system for buying Internet and phone traffic and possibly also the money transfer system (Mpesa) for making any kind of transaction. Note that some bars and restaurants do not accept cash, and inserting small amounts into your cell phone can also be a convenient way to escape demands and inadvertent misuse of bills. To get a SIM card all you have to do is walk into an authorized Safaricom store, give your passport, have your photograph taken, and activate the card. The whole thing is free, for the price of the first recharge only. It pays to have the (easy) process for recharging your internet usage written down. There are programs that provide free use of Whatsapp, for example.
SAFARI: Several readers who email us at info@malindikenya.net or prospective travelers who join our "Italians in Kenya" group, ask us for information and advice on safaris, one of Kenya's great attractions.
As for suggestions of parks and reserves, we are always prodigal. On agencies and companies with which to do them, we refer you privately to make contact, but we have our own advice: always ask for confirmation of the licenses of those who offer you safaris, that is, that the company is duly registered; there are many "improvisers." Drivers should also be professionals, with regular badges. If you are asked for an advance from Italy, demand a receipt with the safari company's billing information or possibly the organizer's personal information. Scams, but also mishaps and, shall we say, misunderstandings, are the order of the day in this area as well.