This is very much part of Kenyan culture as developing good rapport between shopkeeper and customer takes precedence over the actual sale.

There are a huge number of curio and souvenir shops in Kenya, mostly at the tourist destination area, and hotels. They vary enormously in terms of more price range and quality.

Only at the stalls will be able to bargain the prices down to between a third and a half of the original asking price, but not in the more formal shops, which tend to have fixed prices.

Shops that are part of hotels are always much more expensive then markets. You can buy paintings, handicrafts and curios like wood and stone carvings of common game, people, object like stalls, etc, from markets, jewellery from the jewellery shops especially in major towns. There are also supermarkets.

Hawkers may move around with their goods and if you decide to buy, you had better be certain of the quality of the products.

It is not advisable however to expose your money in public as you buy from these hawkers as pickpockets could be on the look out. Street beggars are found in major towns and may be too persistent; if you decide to help them, it's better you buy them food but not give them money.

There are several bookshops where you can but literature about Kenyan culture or even buy local video from the wide range of video shops. Stationery can also be bought in bookshops.

You can buy photograph exposures and also have your films developed in any photo studio especially in the major towns.

Some hotels also stock film exposures and can have your films developed if you request them. Photo-me booths for automatic passport size photos are found only in major towns like Nairobi and Mombasa.

Remember that it is an offence to photograph Kenya's Head of state, airports or strategic buildings like the state house and parliament, military grounds, power installations, and policemen in uniform.

Photos should not be taken of people (especially the traditional Masai and Samburu, and Turkana) without their consent.

For game, bird or scenery photography, no licence is required as long as these are for personal use to remember the trip and not for commercial use.

A telephoto lens of 200-300 mm is strongly recommended.

As you depart, your baggage is subjected to x-ray inspection before loading.

All baggage is weighed and the system where two pieces of luggage of any weight are accepted is not in use in Kenya.