FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if there is something we’ve not covered here.

 

WHAT IS THE WEATHER LIKE?

At an altitude of 6000ft above sea level, it is beautiful all year round. Visitors can expect:

      • Generally hot dry days and cooler nights.
      • December to March are the dry months.
      • The long rains usually run from April to early May with short rains in October/November.
      • May to July are the ‘winter’ months, when it can be quite cold with sunny days.
      • August, September and November are the ‘spring’ months with beautiful clear weather.
      • February and October are when the trees burst into flower. This is a wonderful time to get married!

WHAT SHOULD I PACK?

      • Lightweight clothes and hat for the day. Warmer, smarter clothes for the evening. A fleece or shawl is a must.
      • Good walking shoes or sneakers are essential, with lighter shoes or slipper socks for the evening.
      • Swimwear and riding gear. Golf equipment can be hired at Rift Valley Lodge.
      • Sunglasses, sunscreen, a torch, mosquito repellent and a camera to capture the memories around you.

WHAT KIND OF FOOD CAN I EXPECT?

The food is one of the highlights. Three organic gardens supply year-round fruit, vegetables and herbs for daily use in the kitchen.

      • Fresh bread, pasta, ice cream, jams, jellies and condiments are homemade.
      • Menus are planned according to season.
      • Most of our ingredients come from our organic farm or free roaming pasture-raised livestock.
      • Please inform us of any dietary requirements or allergies prior to arrival.
      • Any purely lunch bookings need to be confirmed and paid for 48 hours in advance.

CAN I DRINK THE WATER?

      • We don’t recommend it. Bottled water is available free of charge and supplied in big recyclable containers. As a stand against pollution, we do not encourage the use of plastic bottles. Please re-use any water bottles you bring with you and take them away when you leave.
      • Drinking water in glass bottles can be found in all bedrooms and is served at meals.

WHAT ABOUT MY HEALTH? WHAT VACCINATIONS DO I NEED?

      • Full medical and travel insurance is recommended.
      • There is no malaria in Naivasha.
      • Flying Doctors evacuation service is recommended. The office can sign up clients for a small fee.
      • It is imperative for all travellers to have a yellow fever vaccination no less than 10 days prior to travel if you are coming from or have been to a country with risk of yellow fever.

IS THERE ELECTRICITY?

      • The mains power line supplies 240V electricity through British-style three pin plug sockets. There is a back-up generator.
      • Guests are recommended to bring converters & universal plug adapters.

IS THERE MOBILE RECEPTION? WHAT ABOUT INTERNET?

      • Kenya’s major networks Safaricom and Airtel, and Wi-Fi, are all available.

WHAT LANGUAGES DO YOU SPEAK?

      • All guides speak English and Kiswahili.

HOW CAN I PAY?

      • All payments for accommodation, travel and transfers should be arranged in advance with the Elephant Watch Portfolio head office in Nairobi. There is a 3% charge on visa card payments. Travellers’ cheques are not accepted.
      • Please note that US dollar notes issued before 2007 are not valid in Kenya.

SHOULD I TIP? HOW MUCH?

    • Tipping staff is a custom in Kenya and very much appreciated. A lot of people you may not see are working hard to make your stay as agreeable as possible. We operate a communal tipping system, which is distributed to all staff at the end of the month. A recommended tip at Olerai is $10-20 per guest per night.

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