Nairobi Travel Forum

I will be staying in rural Kenya with a host family. I would like to bring them some gifts from Canada. I would like to get them things that they would be able to use and that may not be available to get in Kenya. I am sure they will be grateful for anything but I would appreciate any ideas people have in case there are some things that maybe I take for granted and wouldn't think of bringing them.

Thanks

Exercise books and pens for any school children in the family.

High quality tupperware of different sizes that are air tight. Durable, easy to pack too. Chocoloate melts in tropics. So tasty Canadian flavored candies will be great to share with everyone including the neighbor kids.

Naturally, you may not want to perpetuate the nasty consumer behavior of North Americans. I'd bring Canadian Maple Syrup or other delicacies unique to Canada and not marketed world-wide. They have plenty of pens, logo T-shirts, candies, and other such junk.

Anything solar powered as batteries are expensive. Lots of Kenyans now own mobiles so a solar powered charger would go down well. You could also buy top up cards for mobiles when in Kenya.

Battery chargers are agreat idea, do you have those wind up torches that include a mobile phone charger built in?

Nairobi is a large cosmopolitan town. You can get just about anything. So my advice to you is: imagine you were shopping for a Christmas gift for someone in Skipton. (I used to live at 25 Southchurch drive in Gargrave!!) What would you get them? Naturally, it would depend upon their individual tastes, what they already own, etc. But it is NOT influenced by what is available to them... because everything is. Whether they can afford it or not - that is a different story.

Best Wishes,

Mwenyeji

That's true. To say that Nairobi is "cosmopolitan town" is an understandment. It is a metropolis with every consumable produced by China and elsewhere in the world's factories, including batteries. Think local Canadian product. But don't give ear muffs or mittens :-)

I wouldn't bother with clothes, people can pick them up very cheaply (for as little as 10p) at the markets. Shoes yes, doesn't really matter what size, someone somewhere will use them. Educational books are a great idea, encyclopedias etc. Toys are expensive in Kenya, they are taxed quite heavily so are welcome. A wind up radio would be a marvellous gift, the whole family can listen to it.

You say rural host family. People are saying that you can get anything in Nairobi which is true, but they may not travel to Nairobi. In which case, anything educational is a bonus. Ant proof containers are good, I would also get some mosquito killer sticks. Don't forget your malaria tabs and it would be wise to take your own bed net, you can leave it behind when you leave. Sweeties are good. Alternatively, you might think of asking what the family needs in terms of household goods and buy it when you get there.