THE FORTY EIGHTH GREATER HORN OF AFRICA CLIMATE OUTLOOK FORUM (GHACOF 48) FOR THE MARCH TO MAY 2018 RAINFALL SEASON:

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1 THE FORTY EIGHTH GREATER HORN OF AFRICA CLIMATE OUTLOOK FORUM (GHACOF 48) FOR THE MARCH TO MAY 2018 RAINFALL SEASON: 12 TO 13 FEBRUARY 2018; MOMBASA, KENYA KMD INFORMATION FOR PARTICIPANTS Welcome Note The Local Organizing Committee of the Forty Eighth Greater Horn of Africa Climate Outlook Forum (GHACOF48) welcomes you to Kenya. The conference will be held in a beach hotel in our famous coastal city, Mombasa. It is famous for Swahili and other Coastal Cultural activities. You will have an opportunity to taste the warm welcome and hospitality of coastal people. It is our duty and pleasure to make sure your stay in Kenya is comfortable. Please find information that will make your stay in Kenya more comfortable and enjoyable. 1. DATE AND VENUE The Workshop will be held from 12 th to 13 th February 2018 at the Sarova Whitesands Spa and Beach Resort in Mombasa, Kenya. The hotel is located on the mainland area of Mombasa County; 22km from the Mombasa International Airport. All relevant meeting documents have already been or will be shared with the participants via their respective addresses 2. IMMIGRATION REQUIREMENTS The Government of Kenya has issued new regulations for Entry visas. For some specific countries visas may be granted on arrival. We encourage and advise each participant to apply for entry visa online by visiting the website and You will also find further information on Entry Visa requirements on these two sites. A single entry visa processing time is 2 business days and is valid for 3 months and costs USD 50. Entry requirements (On arrival) 1) Passport valid for at least six months 2) E-visa Printout from 3) Travel itinerary 4) Supporting letter e.g. letter from company or invitation letter. 3. HEALTH REQUIREMENTS No inoculations or vaccinations are required unless one is coming from or passing through contaminated areas. Travelers flying from countries affected by Ebola should enquire with the relevant embassies or health ministry s about any requirements conditioning entry at their destination, and prepare accordingly. Allow additional time during arrival and departure to pass 1

2 through enhanced medical screening. Do not travel if you are sick. Persons with fever or other Ebola-like symptoms may be taken to designated centres or have entry/exit denied. Yellow fever certificates are required for visitors coming from Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Angola, Burkina Faso, the Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Mauritania, Mali, Nigeria, Sudan and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) (Those without this certificate are subject to quarantine).the following are recommended; Vaccination against typhoid and paratyphoid fever for all visitors to Kenya. Malaria prophylaxis. 4. MEDICAL /HEALTH INSURANCE The Forum organizers will not be responsible for any medical expenses which may be incurred during this meeting. Foreign participants are, therefore, advised to obtain international medical cover, for themselves, valid for the duration of their stay in Kenya. 5. ARRIVAL AND TRANSPORT ARRANGEMENTS ICPAC will provide travel support to sponsored participants as communicated. This will include a round trip air ticket by the most direct route in economy class only. ICPAC sponsored participants are not authorized to purchase their own tickets. The request of reimbursement of air tickets purchased by sponsored participants is not permissible under IGAD rules. In case a change to the ticket once issued is required, the participants should contact the airline directly. This will be considered as a personal request, and the participants are responsible for covering any additional cost due to changes made. Transport from and to Mombasa International Airport (JKIA) in Mombasa will be provided by ICPAC for all the sponsored participants. The self-sponsored participants are advised to make their own transport arrangements. NOTE: ICPAC driver will have a placard written GHACOF48. In the event that you don t find the driver the taxi charges range between USD MONEY The currency used in Kenya is the Kenya shilling (Ksh). The current approximate conversion rates in February 2018 (subject to change with time) with some of the main currencies are as follows: 1 US $ - KShs $ (Sterling Pound) - KShs Euro - KShs Most banks in Kenya have Bureaux de Change services. Banking hours are generally from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. A daily subsistence allowance (DSA) will be paid to sponsored participants. The DSA will cover accommodation, meals, local transport and any other incidentals. The DSA will only be paid 2

3 upon presentation of the used boarding passes (for the participants coming from their home/work station base abroad). Participants are kindly advised to make sure that they keep their boarding passes and submit them upon request. NOTE: It is advisable that the participants carry a few USD (Not their local currencies) to cater for any unforeseen incidental expenses. 7. CREDIT CARDS Credit cards are widely accepted at most hotels and shopping malls. The most popular ones are the Visa and Master Cards. 8. ACCOMMODATION All participants are advised to book their own accommodation. The Local Organizing Committee has sourced several affordable hotels close to the meeting venue from which you may choose to stay in. Those who need assistance should get in touch with the coordinator of the local organising committee. These hotels are listed below; No Hotel Rates (Single rooms bed and breakfast) 1. Sarova White S Garden facing - $100; Sands D-$140 S Pool facing - $140 D- $160 S Sea facing - $185 D $220 S Single D Double (On half Board) Contact Person Wycliffe Mati Telephone Telephone Mobile Bamburi Beach Hotel Kshs 5, or $55 3. Kahama Hotel Kshs 5950 or $ 59.5 (double) Kshs 5750 or $57.5 (single) 4. Travellers Beach Hotel 5. Kenya Bay Beach Hotel Kshs 7000 or $70 (Singles) Kshs 8000 or $80 (half board) Kshs (double) BB Kshs 6750 (single) Exchange rate $1 = 103 David Gichuru Rachael or sales@bamburibeachkenya.com or reservations@bamburibeachkenya.com or kahama@gmail.com Fred Kiuru (Walking distance) gm@travellershtl.com Margaret reservations@kenyabay.com 3

4 6. Pride Inn Kshs 8000 or $80 (singles) Kshs or $120 (doubles) 7. Flamingo Kshs 8000 or $80 (singles) Kshs or $120 (Doubles) Moses (15 Minutes Drive) Ms Fara or (15 minutes drive) 9. ELECTRICITY The electric current in Kenya is 240V, 50Hz, and the plug below is usually used. If your appliances plug has a different shape, you will require an adapter. 10. MEALS There will be a morning and afternoon coffee/tea break and lunch provided during the meeting for all the participants. 11. MOMBASA CLIMATE IN FEBRUARY In Mombasa, February is generally a warm and dry month. The mean conditions in Mombasa in February are: Month Temperature 0 C Maximum Minimum Relative Humidity mean (%) Total Rainfall (mm) Number of Rain Days Number of Sunshine Hours February Weather forecasts for Mombasa can be obtained at and from our Facebook page: Kenya Meteorological Department and twitter 12. SECURITY 4

5 The organizers are not responsible for personal losses. In case you bring any valuables, large sums of money, or personal items, we recommend that you have them secured. Mombasa is generally safe but like any other city in the world, there are some areas which may not be safe especially in the evenings. You are advised to avoid dark alleys and to walk in twos or more. In the evenings, visitors are advised to take taxis that are well marked. 13. TIME ZONE Mombasa is GMT+3 all year round. 14. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The Kenya Meteorological Department and ICPAC are responsible for the local arrangements of the Workshop. Should you require further information regarding the arrangements for the Workshop, please contact: Mr Zachary K.K. Atheru IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC) Mr. Samuel Mwangi Kenya Meteorological Department BAN OF PLASTIC BAGS IN KENYA Please note that the Government of Kenya banned the use and sale of plastic paper bags within its borders. Participants are advised to avoid carrying on their person or in their luggage plastic bags. There is a cost of USD40000 for breaking this law. (kenya_gazette/gazette/notice/ ) We would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a safe journey and we look forward to seeing you all in Mombasa City, Kenya. 5