Enjoying yourself Kenya
Timetable Kenya
There are two ways to eat in Kenya: the formal restaurant, and the informal sidewalk restaurant. In the first one, you sit and eat like in any other restaurant in the world. In the second one, it is usually women who cook bananas or cassava (manioc) that you buy by the unit. In Kenya, one can eat this fast and local food at any time. Nevertheless, the family ritual consists of three daily meals. Most restaurants, especially in the capital, offer continuous service from 11am-12pm to 10-11pm. Elsewhere, it is customary to serve lunch between 11:30am and 3:30pm and dinner between 6:30pm and 9:30pm. The closing days vary, some establishments, from the smallest to the largest, are open every day, others close on Sunday or Monday
Budget & Tips Kenya
Food and catering are generally very cheap, but not in restaurants or in luxury lodges and hotels. However, there are many small restaurants where you can get a hearty meal for as little as €5 (especially in Indian restaurants or in local "nyama choma"). Most establishments (hotels, restaurants, cafes, gas stations, stores, etc.) accept credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, etc.). However, some small shops or restaurants may refuse it, and this will probably be the case as soon as you leave the cities. So remember to withdraw cash in these cases
What costs extra Kenya
In restaurants, you should expect to pay about 10% for the service. If it is already included, you can leave 20 Ksh or 30 Ksh. Government taxes (including VAT) are often included in the prices. Information on the Kenya Revenue Authority website: www. kra.go.ke
The local way Kenya
African cuisine is generally very spicy, and Kenya is no exception. The Indian influences tint the country's cuisine. And the spice is always on the table, ready to heat up the taste buds! In hotels and restaurants for tourists, it is often a watered down version of the same dishes that are served, much less risky for the palate, even if they remain spicy. In local restaurants, the food offered varies little, which can sometimes bore visitors. There are a number of international restaurants in Nairobi and Mombasa. They are more expensive, but offer a wide range of quality food. But Kenya remains above all the country of nyama choma! This is grilled meat (mutton, goat, chicken or beef...), traditionally accompanied byugali (millet or maize flour cooked in water and agglomerated in a ball) oririo kikuyu (pea, potato and maize puree). In the markets, on the roadside, in town or in remote villages, there will always be a stall where you can enjoy a nyama choma at any time of the day , in its basic version, with chili, salt and... with your fingers!
To be avoided Kenya
In order to avoid some intestinal inconveniences, some basic advice is necessary. Related to the ingestion of contaminated food or drinks, the famous "tourista" or "traveler's diarrhea" has an infectious origin, mostly bacterial (Escherichia coli, salmonella), sometimes viral (rotavirus, norovirus), or parasitic (such as amoebas). It is therefore advisable to systematically wash your hands before meals and any food handling. In the absence of soap and water, use a hydro-alcoholic solution. In general, avoid ice cubes, raw foods, raw vegetables and unpeeled fruits. " Cook it, peel it or forget it" ! This English expression sums up the precautions to take: "if you can't cook it, if you can't peel it, then avoid eating it". It is better to cook meat, fish and shellfish thoroughly. Drink only bottled water (opened in front of you) or boiled water. Coffee and tea are "safe" drinks. Also, it is preferable to brush your teeth with bottled mineral water or water that has been purified with disinfectant tablets such as Micropur® or Aquatabs®. Hotels generally provide mineral water in their guests' rooms.
Smokers Kenya
Smoking is prohibited in all public places, and therefore in restaurants, outside the areas dedicated to this purpose, often on the terrace or outside the establishment.
Take a break Kenya
Age restrictions Kenya
You must be 18 years of age to purchase and consume alcohol. Selling alcohol to a minor is also an offense punishable by law. Nevertheless, alcohol consumption has become a major public health problem in Kenya, including among those under 18. The Covid-19 pandemic has only made the situation worse. In total, more than 2.8 million Kenyans have regular and abusive alcohol use disorders, a prevalence rate of more than 10 percent. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, 5,000 alcohol-related deaths occur in the country each year
What's very local Kenya
" A Tusker Lager please! Let it be said, Kenyans are beer lovers. In fact, they are among the biggest beer drinkers in Africa (18 liters per capita per year). So much so that Tusker has become a national emblem... The slogan " Tusker. My country. My Beer" says a lot about what this " made in Kenya " lager brand represents today. An identity above all. Tuskerwas born in 1922, when the founder of Kenya Breweries Ltd, George Hurst, was killed by an elephant during a hunting accident. His brother Charles, who took over the management of the company, decided to name the very first lager after his brother. Tusker refers to the large male elephants indigenous to East Africa. A safari would not be complete without a Tusker! And even though Kenyans often eat it at room temperature, we recommend that you ask for it " baridi sana " (which means "very cold" in Swahili). The sunset, after a hot day, will be all the more tasty.
