Food:

Restaurants: The type and quality of food will vary considerably within the country. Often you will be eating at "touristy" places or other establishments where Western influence can be tasted. Most dishes include beef, chicken, or fish along with bread, rice, and a variety of cooked vegetables and fresh fruits. While some of the spices and flavorings may be new, rarely will you encounter food that is totally unfamiliar to what you have seen at home. Vegetarians may want to learn to request "no meat" in Kiswahili "Sitaki nyama tafadhali -no meat please," so as to prevent confusion. Locally, you will want to taste the samosa/sambusa and mandazi. Kenya has it all. The country is multicultural. In the morning, you are just as likely to hear an early Islamic call to worship, as church bells.

Snacks and Water: It may not be convenient to eat all your meals at restaurants. Plan to buy snacks and so forth at grocery stores and markets. Typical "junk food" such as potato chips, candy bars, etc. along with more substantial foodstuffs can be found in stores (e.g. Uchumi) in cities and towns. Markets (including the roadside) sell fresh produce, including cheap and delicious fruit that can often be found and remember the price is negotiable (see "Staying Healthy" section). In addition to keeping some basic snacks on hand, you will always want to have a supply of bottled drinking water available. Bottled water is available throughout the country. Large and small bottles of spring water, known as "mineral water," sell cheaply at grocery stores and will be available at restaurants and hotels at tourist prices.

Tea Time: Teatime is very important in Kenyan life. And, whenever and wherever you make a visit, it is time for tea. Along with tea, biscuits (plain cookies) are usually served. Kenyans are among the most hospitable people in the world and feel it is a cultural offence not to offer you food. However, because time is taken for tea, life usually goes on at a much more relaxed pace.