Upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi:
- you can use free wifi at airport to arrange your pickup;
- Uber and Bolt offer taxi deals to Nairobi, but longer journeys to Naivasha can be overprised with drivers requesting extra cash payment stating high fuel prizes and cost of living;
- SkyNomad Kenya can provide airport transfers to Naivasha upon request. There is an Whatsap group where confirmed competitors can request such service;
- you can buy Safaricom SIM card at airport;
Safaricom is the leading mobile phone operator in Kenya, offering the popular mobile money Mpesa service. Safaricom has offices in most shopping malls and thousands of agents in Kenyan towns and villages. In Safaricom office you can buy SIM card and register to Mpesa service paying in cash or credit/debit card at normal rates. Once you deposit money to your Mpesa account through Safaricom offices or agents, there is no need to carry cash with you. You use Mpesa to pay for everything – hotel, food, motorbike taxi, even for 2 bananas from street vendors. Almost anyone is using Mpesa in Kenya and it works on both old and smart phones.
…
You can change money in banks or change bureau in shopping malls. USD is preferred, but euro is also fine. Debit/credit cards are accepted in middle class and above shops, restaurants and hotels. Rates are normal.
…
There is no need to hire a car in Naivasha, because in most of Kenya there are thousands of motorbike taxis called boda-boda. During the competition, organizers will provide retrieve, but we strongly recommend competitors to use boda-boda when landing away from main roads. The use of boda-boda provides income to local communities and keeps their friendly attitude toward paragliding. Often boda-boda drivers eagerly come to your landing even before finish packing your equipment. This is safety and also makes transport available in remote places, where in other countries you will have to walk for hours and days. After landing send your location and inform competition organizers that you’re taking a boda boda to the nearest road or village. Keep your helmet on you for your own safety. Ask the boda boda driver to fasten your paraglider at the back of the motorbike seat, so its weight doesn’t load your back during the bumpy dirt road ride.
…
Hospitals and medical services in Kenya are of decent quality and not too expensive, but it’s good to have an adequate insurance. The best is to have a Kenyan insurance about medical evacuation and treatment in case of an accident. Amref is the biggest NGO medical service provider offering helicopter evacuation and medical insurances. In the additional extra entry fee of $150, organizers offer helicopter rescue insurance, together with retrieve and PAK membership.
There is no need of special vaccines for Kenya if you come from Europe, US, Australia. If you come from other African country, then you’ll be required to present a vaccination passport for yellow fever. There is no malaria in Naivasha area or in highlands above 2000 m msl. Anti malaria drugs are available in drug stores / pharmacies / dispensaries, in case of suspicious flu-like symptoms.
Tinder dating and sexual contacts are pretty common in Kenyan culture, where young people wanna have fun, but use condom and common sense. Ladies expect men to pay for restaurant, drinks, hotel and transport.
…
Food in Kenya is tasty and not very expensive (less than 10 usd per meal).