On holiday in Kenya
Page 3 of 5CASHLESS PAYMENT SYSTEM
You need not carry cash within your hotel as all purchases from the bar and boutiques, as well as any excursions or safaris you may book, are signed for using your African Safari Club membership card which carries a credit limit of €200. This will be issued to you soon after your arrival in Mombasa. On reaching this limit, you may be asked to settle your bill before making any further purchases.
In any event, your account must be settled the night before you leave the hotel. Any purchases made after your main account is settled must be paid for
at the cashiers office on the morning of departure. Regrettably, queues may be inevitable at this time.
Payment can be made by means of cash, travellers cheques, Visa or Mastercard. Any queries should be raised with the cashier at the time. If there are any discrepancies found upon return to the UK, it will be necessary to send a copy of your final account to the Customer Relations Department. Duplicate copies are charged at €25, approx £17.
ELECTRICITY
Kenya runs on the same voltage and uses the same plugs and sockets as the UK. You do not, therefore, need an adaptor. All African Safari Club hotel bathrooms have a socket for electric razors. As in many tropical countries there are occasional power failures and from time to time the local government authorities may also impose energy restrictions. African Safari Club cannot be held responsible for any such failures or restrictions.
WATER
Bottled water can be bought at the hotel bars and in the dining rooms. Boiled water (which may be described locally as drinking water) for cleaning your teeth is provided in your room. However, we recommend that this is not swallowed.
Whilst Mombasa and its surrounding area is supplied by a pipeline originating from springs up-country, most of the Kenyan coast is supplied with boreholewater which, depending upon location, may be salty. Occasionally there are failures of the water supply due to power cuts and repairs to pipelines and at the pumping station. In such instances there may be restrictions on water use. African Safari Club will always endeavour to ensure an efficient water supply but regrettably, the salt content and any failures are generally beyond our control. In any event, please try to conserve water, as Kenyan resources are much more limited than in Europe.
SWIMMING
African Safari Club does not employ lifeguards. Please check the depth of the swimming pools before allowing children and non-swimmers to enter and please ensure that they are supervised at all times. If you have any concern in this respect please contact your Travel Agent or African Safari Club for advice.
Always swim parallel to the shore and do not swim out of your depth. Never swim at night and do not swim in areas where motorised water sports are taking place.
You should always ensure that water is deep enough before diving, but for your own safety, we do not recommend diving anywhere. Please take care around the hotel and the pool area when the ground is wet as surfaces can become slippery.
You should not swim immediately after eating or consuming alcohol. REMEMBER THAT ALCOHOL AND SWIMMING DO NOT MIX.
SUN BEDS
There is a small charge for the use of sun beds at our hotels unless you have booked our Deluxe Package.
BEACH TOWELS
Beach towels are not provided at hotels. However, if you have booked our Deluxe Package you will be provided with one beach towel per person, shortly after your arrival at the hotel. This is for your use for the duration of your stay and for you to keep.
CORAL REEF
The coral reef is generally less than a mile from the beach and in many places can be reached at low tide by walking across the foreshore. Before embarking on a walk to the reef be sure to check the tide timetable, a copy of which is displayed on the hotel notice board. Footwear of some kind is strongly recommended. Please also see the ‘Conservation Code’.
SEAWEED
Due to the changing winds and tides, seaweed is sometimes washed up onto the beaches, especially at Watamu and, although they are cleaned daily, you may find that water sports are restricted on these occasions.
