2 electric questions

Williamsburger

We have read previous posts about the electrics in the Kenyan and Tanzanian lodges and it seems that in the past the majority of the outlets have the British style 3 rectangular prongs. Is this the case? AND, how many outlets are there in the rooms? Will 2 travelers be able to charge camera batteries, cell phones, iPads, etc. simultaneously or we be jockeying for outlets? Someone suggested taking a power strip. Has anyone else tried this?

British

Yes, we took the power strip suggested in previous posts. We now use it all over the place. Just a few dollars to buy. I just found it again on Amazon. MONSTER MP OTG 400. It has 4 A/C outlets. It is priced $19-99. Sure we paid less but have had ours a while. We used it on our last trip to Tanzania less than two years ago with Tauck. It has an American plug on it so you need the correct adapter to put on it for the country you are visiting. we use it on US travel too. So you only need one outlet to charge everything you have with you.

AlanS

This repeats what you'll already see in the K&T forum.

Receptacles in Kenya and Tanzania supply 240 volts +/- (US household outlets supply 120 Volts) so be sure all your devices are dual voltage. "100V/240V" or "100V - 240V" will be stamped or printed right on the power module. Most modules these days are dual voltage.

The outlets you will find are indeed the British style. There are two British types - Type G- rectangular ones for most appliances (including high wattage ones which you won't have) will be in both countries. I don't recall if we saw any, but you may also see Type D- with 3 round prongs, so, to be safe, plan on taking an adapter for each type or get a multi-adapter.

Except in the larger hotels, outlets are not numerous. To ensure you have plenty of convenient receptacles for your various rechargeable (dual voltage) devices (camera, phone, tablet, shaver, etc. power modules/chargers) especially if you have more than one or two that you'll want to plug in at the same time, you should take both adapter(s) and a small travel-size multi-outlet strip. You find ones that have four receptacles, a short cord, stow neatly and take up little space like the "Monster" brand pictured below at Amazon, etc. Plug the adapter into wall receptacle then plug the power strip into the adapter. That way you don't need an adapter for each device.

Type G:


Type

Windward

Something of note that I found useful on our trip that I didn't know until just before. Most USB chargers auto convert between 240 and 120 volts. My 2.1 amp Ipad charger worked fine with the adapter without any sort of additional voltage regulator. Was able to charge my camera and iPad straight from the wall with a cheap $7 adapter I got from Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004OC920O).

Hope that helps!

Bernie33

An extension cord with two or three spots to plug things in works well for most phone and battery changers. Plug your adapter into an outlet, plug the extension cord into the adapter, and you're good to go. We've that approach in the US and in countries all over. Minimal space, minimal cost.

Williamsburger

We returned last week from the Kenya & Tanzania safari. In all the places we stayed, the outlets were of the British Type G. We were quite glad that we brought a dual-voltage multi-outlet surge protector. We found ours at Amazon and it was under $20. Well worth the price because everywhere (including The Four Seasons) had power cuts. All we needed was one adapter and could charge 4-5 things at the same time.

British

It is so kind of you to provide your feedback after people responded to your earlier posts. So few people fail to do that. Hey, how was your trip?