TRAVEL DAY TIPS

Airport and Luggage
  1. Check your airline website for the luggage weight allowance. Some airlines use kilograms, some use pounds. Make sure you weigh your bag before you leave for the airport. 
  2. Make sure your bags are marked with your name and MITS’ address in Nairobi (see Contact Information section for MITS’ address)
  3. If your baggage gets delayed, obtain documentation of the delay and make sure the airport staff have contact information of a MITS staff member for pick up once the luggage arrives.

Documents Needed to Enter Kenya
  1. Your passport
  2. Printed visa
  3. Entry declaration form (you'll receive this in the arrivals section of the Nairobi airport and fill it out when you pass through immigration) 

Money
  1. Kenya’s monetary unit is the Kenyan Shilling (KSH) and as of 2017, $1 = 103.6 KSH. We strongly recommend that you get shillings at the airport immediately upon arrival, for expenses during the first few days.
  2. The 2 most popular options for managing the dollar >> shilling transition are bringing cash to exchange and withdrawing money from ATMs. Both of these can be done in the airport lobby, as soon as you exit the baggage claim.
    1. Bring cash to exchange
      1. Bring $100 bills that are newer than 2006. You can withdraw these at your bank by asking in person at the counter.
      2. Smaller bills (as small as $1) in good condition are possible to exchange but you might get a worse exchange rate
      3. Money can be exchanged at a forex (foreign exchange) bureau/office or at any bank in town. There is a forex in the airport as well as Village Market.
    2. Withdraw money from ATMs
      1. ATMs are all over Nairobi. Your first opportunity to withdraw cash will be at Kenyatta airport. ATMs are also located at Village Market, Sarit Centre, Ruai, and at any of the many banks downtown.
      2. Make sure you notify your bank ahead of time of the dates you’ll be in Kenya, including any layover airports/countries, so your debit card doesn’t get rejected and flagged when you attempt to use it.

Pick Up & Ride from Nairobi Airport to Kamulu
  1. One of our staff members will meet you at the arrivals gate of the Nairobi airport and drive you in a MITS vehicle back to Kamulu.
  2. Make sure you communicate your travel information (airline, flight number, arrival time, number of travelers) with Irene Akinyi, Francis Mbuvi, and Brad Voss at least a week before your arrival. Make sure you hear back from one of our staff members confirming they are aware of your travel information and everything is arranged for your pick up.
  3. Your pick up & ride from the airport (and drop off, at the end of your trip) is covered by the weekly visitor's fee that you pay to MITS for your stay.