Kenya

Kenya can be visited at any time of year (Kenya Tourism Board).

Wildlife viewing in general: Kenya Wildlife Service says July to December and December to March are the best months, because the grass is shorter and food is plentiful. April to June is the low season, with the long rains.

Great Migration in the Maasai Mara: Kenya's tourism board says the most dramatic part, the herds crossing into the Mara, happens from July to October. The Mara Conservancy says the migration usually starts around June or July and continues until November.

River crossings are frequent but hard to predict. They depend on rain and on the herds, so no month or day can be guaranteed.

Kenya no longer issues tourist visas to most visitors. Since 1 January 2024, visitors apply online for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) before they travel. The official site is etakenya.go.ke (Directorate of Immigration Services). Everyone needs one, including infants and children. Without one you may be denied boarding or face a penalty fee on arrival (checked 8 October 2026).

- Fee: the official FAQ says normal processing starts at USD 30, and the fee varies with the type of application. Expedited processing costs an extra USD 100. Fees can change, so trust the amount shown at checkout.
- Timing: usually three working days, but it can take longer. Apply at least 2 weeks before travel (official sites and UK FCDO).
- Validity: the official pages we read do not state how long an eTA lasts. Kenya's embassy in Vienna says 90 days from issue and generally single-entry. Please confirm on the official portal. An eTA does not guarantee entry; the border officer decides.
- Exempt: citizens of East African Community states (Burundi, DR Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda), most other African countries, a few other listed nationalities, Kenya residents and permit holders, and airport transit passengers. US, UK, EU, Canadian and Australian passport holders were not on the exemption lists, so they need an eTA.

East African Tourist Visa: Uganda and Rwanda describe a USD 100, 90-day visa covering Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda. We could not confirm Kenya currently issues it, so check with all three immigration authorities before relying on it. The Kenya eTA covers Kenya only; Uganda and Rwanda have their own rules and fees.

- Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the day you arrive in Kenya (official eTA portal and UK FCDO).
- Blank pages: the eTA portal says at least one, the UK FCDO says at least two. The two sources differ, so travel with two or more blank pages to be safe.
- Entry is refused with an invalid travel document or a passport reported lost or stolen.

The eTA application asks for a selfie or passport-style photo, an email address and phone number, your arrival and departure plans, proof of accommodation booking, and a payment card. Each person in a group needs their own eTA.

Carry ID at all times in Kenya. A copy of your passport is usually accepted, but police may ask to see the original. Keep a printed copy of your eTA approval with you (checked 8 October 2026).

Yellow fever certificate (entry rule, checked 8 October 2026): Kenya's Ministry of Health port health service says travellers arriving from a country with a risk of yellow fever transmission must carry a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate, and should be vaccinated at least 10 days before travel. The certificate is valid for life (WHO). If you arrive directly from a country that is not on the WHO at-risk list (for example the UK or US), the certificate is not an entry requirement, but check any country you pass through. Check the WHO at-risk list or ask your travel clinic.

Yellow fever (health recommendation): WHO and TravelHealthPro recommend the vaccine for travellers aged 9 months and over, except for trips limited to low-risk areas such as Nairobi, Mombasa, the North Eastern region and some coastal areas. TravelHealthPro specifically includes Tsavo East and West, Masai Mara and Lake Nakuru. People aged 60 and over should not have it for low-risk-only travel.

Other vaccines (TravelHealthPro): for most travellers hepatitis A, typhoid and tetanus. For some travellers measles (MMR), hepatitis B, cholera, meningococcal ACWY and rabies. The US CDC says cholera vaccine is not needed for typical safari travel.

See a travel health professional 4 to 6 weeks before you travel (TravelHealthPro); the UK FCDO says at least 8 weeks, so book early.

Visiting Uganda too? Uganda's immigration site (notice of 2 October 2026) says a certificate is no longer mandatory for entering Uganda. Check Uganda's rule separately.

Ebola alert (checked 8 October 2026): on 6 October 2026 Kenya's Ministry of Health confirmed its first imported case of Bundibugyo Ebola virus disease, in a Kenyan citizen arriving from the DR Congo. The patient has died. The UK FCDO updated its advice on 7 October 2026 and says travellers arriving from Uganda, Ethiopia and DR Congo may face enhanced health screening. The Ministry advises frequent handwashing, avoiding close contact with sick people arriving from affected countries, and seeking care at a recognised facility if unwell. Its toll-free health line is 719. Check the Ministry and your own government's advice before you leave.

- Malaria: TravelHealthPro rates the risk as high across most of Kenya and recommends anti-malaria tablets. Risk is very low in Nairobi and in highlands above 2,500 m. Also use repellent, long sleeves and trousers.
- Dengue, chikungunya, tsetse flies and African tick bite fever are also risks on safari (CDC).
- Water: drink only boiled, filtered or sealed bottled water. Avoid wading or swimming in fresh water because of bilharzia; the sea and chlorinated pools are not a risk.
- Altitude: altitude illness is a risk at 2,500 m and above, for example on Mount Kenya. Nairobi is at about 1,800 m.
- Rabies is present. Avoid contact with animals and seek urgent care after any bite or scratch.
- TravelHealthPro also lists mpox clade I and cholera outbreaks.
- Medical care is limited outside major cities and may need payment upfront (US State Department). Advanced care may not be available near remote parks.

Travel insurance is strongly advised. The UK FCDO recommends a policy that covers local medical treatment and unexpected medical evacuation, and says to contact your insurer promptly if you are referred to a medical facility.

The US CDC advises confirming that your health insurance works abroad, and says safari travellers should consider a separate medical evacuation policy, because advanced care may not be available near the destination. TravelHealthPro also advises adequate travel health insurance.

Before you buy, check the policy wording for:
- the activities you plan, such as game drives, walking safaris, hot-air ballooning and hiking at altitude
- cover if you are affected by an outbreak or by official government travel warnings (checked 8 October 2026)

The currency is the Kenyan shilling (KES), issued by the Central Bank of Kenya.

Mobile money is widely used in Kenya. Kenya's tourism board says visitors can buy a local SIM card, register with a telecom provider and use mobile money. Short-stay tourist data bundles are also sold to visitors.

Park entry fees for self-organised trips can be paid online by mobile money, Visa card or bank transfer (see the permit section). If you book a package safari, your operator normally handles park payments.

The UK FCDO advises against carrying large sums of cash or wearing expensive jewellery.

We do not have an official source on how widely US dollar cash is accepted, ATM availability, card acceptance in remote areas, today's exchange rates or tipping amounts. Ask your safari operator and your bank before you travel, and carry a card that works abroad.

English and Kiswahili (Swahili) are the two official languages of Kenya.

Kenya's tourism board says around 60 languages are spoken across the country, and most people speak more than one African language. English is widely used in tourism and business, so visitors can usually get by in English.

Kenya sits on the equator, so temperatures change little through the year. Rainfall and altitude matter more. Kenya's tourism board describes the climate as allowing visits at any time of year.

- Long rains: March to May.
- Short rains: October or November to December.
- Nairobi: the UK government climate profile gives little rain from June to October and drier weather in January and February.
- Altitude: Nairobi is about 1,800 m above sea level. Daytime highs are around 22 C in the cooler months (June to August) and around 27 C in January to March. Nights are cool, around 11 C in July. Higher ground such as Mount Kenya is much colder.
- Roads: Kenya Wildlife Service says many park roads may need four-wheel drive during the long rains, April to June.

We do not have sourced figures for coastal temperatures or for rainfall outside Nairobi.

- Clothing: natural, earth-toned or khaki colours (Kenya Wildlife Service). Long sleeves and trousers help against insects (CDC). Bring warm layers for cool mornings, evenings and higher ground. Avoid camouflage prints; police have warned civilians against clothing that resembles police or military uniforms, and we found no official rule for visitors.
- Health: insect repellent, anti-malaria tablets prescribed by your doctor, hand sanitiser (at least 60 percent alcohol), and a personal medical kit with enough of your regular medication. Carry medicines in their original packaging; rules on medicines differ from the UK (FCDO).
- Plastic: Kenya has banned single-use plastic in national parks, beaches, forests and conservation areas since June 2020 (UNEP). This includes water bottles, cups, plates, cutlery and straws, so bring a reusable water bottle. Single-use plastic carrier bags are also banned nationwide, so bring cloth or paper bags. Please confirm current rules with your operator.
- Documents: passport with 6 months validity, printed eTA approval, yellow fever certificate if required, insurance details, and a copy of your passport.
- Drones: do not pack a drone unless you have approval. Importing one needs prior approval from the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (FCDO).
- Plug adapter: UK-style Type G (see travel tips).

- Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), Nairobi, code NBO, is Kenya's main international airport. It is run by the Kenya Airports Authority and lies in Embakasi, about 18 km south-east of central Nairobi.
- Wilson Airport, Nairobi, code WIL, is a separate airport about 4 km south of central Nairobi. It handles scheduled domestic flights and small aircraft, including flights to safari areas such as the Maasai Mara, Amboseli and Samburu. Do not confuse it with JKIA when planning connections.
- Moi International Airport, Mombasa, code MBA, serves the coast.

Kenya's tourism board says the country has 38 airports and airstrips in total.

We do not have confirmed names or codes for individual Maasai Mara airstrips, or the current departure charge. Your itinerary will tell you which airfield your flight uses; confirm the departure charge and whether it is included in your ticket with your airline (checked 8 October 2026).

Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) parks: since 1 November 2025, KWS entry and conservation fees are paid through KWSPay, an online payment portal within eCitizen. KWS says tickets can be bought online before arrival, for local and international visitors.

- Accepted payment methods on KWS pages are mobile money (M-Pesa), Visa card and bank transfer. Card payments may carry extra charges. Plan not to pay in cash at the gate.
- If you book a package safari, your operator normally includes park entry fees in the total cost and handles payment (KWS FAQ).

Maasai Mara National Reserve is managed by the Narok County Government, not KWS. It has its own entry fees and rules. We could not confirm whether Mara fees are paid through KWSPay, so check with your operator or Narok County before you travel.

Private conservancies around the Mara charge conservancy fees that are listed separately from reserve entry fees.

Park and conservancy fee amounts are not shown here, because they are updated often. KWS publishes its official fee schedule on its website (checked 8 October 2026).

- Police and emergency services: 999 or 112 (US State Department).
- Ambulance: 999 (UK FCDO).
- Ministry of Health toll-free health information line: 719.
- The Kenya Tourism Federation Safety and Communication Center offers tourist advice and emergency help (UK FCDO). We do not have its number, so ask your operator for it before you travel.
- Kenya eTA helpdesk (not an emergency line): +254 717 436 070 (phone), +254 110 922 064 (WhatsApp), [email protected].

For a lost passport or a serious incident, contact your own country's embassy. UK citizens can also call the FCDO 24-hour line on 020 7008 5000.

Save these numbers on your phone before you leave, and keep a note of your travel insurer's emergency number.

- Driving: traffic drives on the left. Speed limits are 50 km/h in towns and 80 km/h on highways, and front seatbelts are compulsory. UK photocard licence holders can drive for up to 3 months, then need a 1968 International Driving Permit (FCDO). Avoid driving at night where possible.
- Time and power: East Africa Time (UTC+3), no daylight saving. 240 V, 50 Hz, Type G (British three-pin) plugs.
- Drones: importing one needs prior approval from the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority. Do not plan to fly one in parks or reserves without written permission.
- Photography: photographing official buildings, embassies or airports is illegal and can lead to arrest. Ask before photographing people.
- Wildlife: follow park rules and your guide. Swimming in park rivers and lakes is illegal.
- Safety (checked 8 October 2026): violent crime including mugging and carjacking is frequent in cities and on major highways. The US State Department rates Kenya Level 2 (exercise increased caution) as of July 2026 and advises against travel to parts of northern and north-eastern Kenya, areas near the Somalia border, and the coast north of Malindi. The UK FCDO advises against all travel to Mandera, Lamu County (except Lamu and Manda islands) and parts of Wajir and Garissa. Terrorism threat is high and protests are common in Nairobi. Read your own government's advice.
- Coast: dress conservatively away from resorts and hotels.
- Local laws: drug possession carries severe penalties, smoking is illegal in public places except designated areas, and same-sex sexual activity is illegal (FCDO).