DIANI Beach – A Quick Travel Guide

Here are a few tips for those of you coming to Diani Beach and Kenya for the first time.

Immigration

All visitors arriving in Kenya need to have a valid Passport from their country of origin. Visa applications forms and information can be obtained through:
www.kenya-airways.com/root/pages/English/Home.asp

Banking
All major currencies can be changed in Kenya. While at Diani Beach, Barclays Bank, Equity Bank and Kenya Commercial Bank, Commercial Bank of Africa, Fidelity Bank, Cooperative Bank all provide local currenchttp://dianilife.comy at ATMs against Visa or Master Card. You can also change your foreign currency at the banks.

Post
The local post office (Diani Beach Post Office) along the beach road is open daily from 9 am to 4 pm.

Phone
The mobile phone network in Kenya is well developed and covers most of the country. There are four mobile phone companies operating and all offer good services mostly on pay as you go terms. No contracts, just buy a simcard for ksh. 50 ($0.65) and an airtime voucher for ksh. 100($1.20)to call. Safaricom and Orange offer 3G connectivity which is great for heavy data users.

Police
At Ukunda there is a local police station headed by a Police Chief and his officers. The police station also has a unit called the Tourist Police whose job is to patrol tourist areas and handle the security of the visitors.

Security
Private security companies can be found along the resort road. They have mobile bases spaced approximately 1 km apart. Of these, Group4 Security and Securicor are the major providers of private security services.

Health
Currently visitors to Kenya do not require any inoculations. All visitors coming to Kenya should take anti malaria pills before arrival; while in Kenya and a few weeks after they return.

On the South Coast there are a private hospital, heath clinic and private doctors giving service to the tourist sector.
www.dianibeach.com/hospital/

Electricity
Electricity is provided on AC 240 volts AC 50 cycles.Expect a standard 3 pin square socket rated at 13 amps for your electrical gadgets and implements.

Shopping
Shopping along Diani beach is easy and you will find the costs of living in Kenya way below those of Europe or America. There are no less that 4 shopping centers along the beach road featuring supermarkets, boutiques , gift shops, tour operators, bars, restaurants, Internet cafes’ . Most of the businesses expect you to pay for the services/products in Kenya Shillings.

Water
Bottled water is recommended.

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