By Air
Travelling by Air is the most convenient to get to the North Rift. There are a number of airlines that offer safe and efficient domestic flights from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to Eldoret International Airport and other destinations.
On arrangement, charters planes can fly you to capital towns and other places in North Rift. Major Airlines that fly to Eldret and other capitals of North Rift include Fly 540, Jambo Jet and Skyward Express.
By Car
Cars are readily available for hire at the airport of arrival and from rental companies in all major towns in North Rift if you wish to drive yourself. It is easy to drive your way around the counties if you have a good map. By and large, Kenyans are not good at giving directions. You can spend hours finding your way around counties if you rely on the directions given by the people you ask by the roadside. It is advisable to hire a car with a driver. You will save on fuel as as benefit from the knowledge and skilled service of a good local driver. Taxi for quick travel within the town is the best option. Get help from the Kenya Airport Authority at your point arrival point to get the right taxi.
By Bus
Public transport is cheap and popular in Kenya. Buses and Matatus shuttles(Private owned minibuses) have mass appeal to the travelers around and about the cities and towns. Where as buses have an inclination towards time keeping and operate in own stage that are normally quiet. Matatus on the other hand can be rowdy, often play loud music and run unfixed schedules with the frequent stop -over wherever convenient to the passenger. Matatus give North Rift and the rest of Kenya a dramatic slant of the Kenyan life. It is a unique tourist attraction of its own kind.
Coaches are intercity express public transport. They are expedient and express transport service network between cities. Whereas the fare for buses and Matatus are paid on board, advance booking is done at their offices before travel day or time.
Other Facilities
Banking Services
The official currency in Kenya is Kenya shillings, written in abbreviations as Ksh or KES, or use of /- or /= symbols as in Ksh500, or KES500, or 500/- or 500/=. Available currency note rates are 50, 100, 200, 500 or 1000 shillings. Coins in use are 1, 5, 10, 20 and 40 shillings.
Travel with the Kenyan currency in your wallet. It is advisable to change your foreign currency at banks, or bureau de change. Check for indicative rates of change from newspapers – the Daily Nation and the Standard (along sister weekend editions) are the leading newspapers in the country. It is easy to trade with dollar and/or sterling pounds.
Airtel and Safaricom mobile companies offer money transfer services through Airtel money and M-pesa. With a registered M-pesa account you can receive transfer from the United Kingdom. Airtel and Safaricom run e-banking, which allows their customers to deposit or withdraw money from their bank accounts. You can pay for products and/or service b use of these facilities. International Visa cards are acceptable by ATM. Most banks operate between 8.30am and 5.00pm.
Mobile Network
Many areas in North Rift has good telecommunication network. The local mobile phone operators use GSM networks that have roaming agreements with most international mobile service providers. If your phone has roaming connection, then you can make use of networks offered by Safaricom, Airtel, Orange and others. Some hotels and lodges in town and tourist areas give telecommunication services. Mobile numbers in Kenya can easily be obtained at the airport of entry or at mobile cards sales shops in most towns. The international code of Kenya is +254.
Electricity
Electricity supply in Kenya is 220/240 v 50 Hz. Plugs are three points square. You can purchase charges, voltage and plugs adaptors in major towns in this country.
Safety and Security
Kenya is generally a safe and peaceful country. However, a tourist police unit is dedicated to tourist security. People in North Rift are generous and welcoming. Normal precautions as in other parts of the world should be taken, such as avoid walking in back streets at night, keeping an eye on your belongings and use hotel safety deposit boxes to safeguard your valuables.
Languages
English and Kiswahili are both the official languages of Kenya; Kiswahili is also the national language. Often tourist would like to communicate in Kiswahili, but the local communities would prefer to talk to them in English – a regional dialect. Most Kenyans speaks three languages- – Kiswahili, English and their local dialect.
The major languages of North Kenya are Kikuyu, Luhya, Nandi, Keiyo, Kipsigis, Tugen, Luo, Kamba, Somali, Kisii, Turkana, Maasai, Teso, Samburu, Hindu, Gujarat, Borana, Orma and Rendile.