Kenya

Kenya is a country in East Africa. The country sports astounding wildlife, spectacular landscapes, and welcoming aboriginal tribes. From the Rift Valley and the shores of Lake Naivasha, to the cosmopolitan bustle of Nairobi and the white sand beaches that melt into the crystal Indian Ocean. There are many reasons why Kenya should top your travel wish list, with many national parks and game reserves of incredible scenery and bio-diversity. Kenya has one of the finest conservation programmes on the planet including one of the most famous wildlife reserves: The Masai Mara.

Highlights

National parks

by Ninara, CC BY 2.0

Beaches

Karl Ragnar., CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Wildlife

Ray in Manila, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Danijel Mihajlovic, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Rift Valley lakes

Николай Максимович, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Modern cities

Erasmus Kamugisha, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Hiking

DavyKirii, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Kristina Just, CC BY-SA 2.0

Ancient heritage

LutzBruno, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Ninara, CC BY 2.0

When to go

The temperature in Kenya is quite similar all year round, but it has two types of seasons: rainy and dry seasons. The best time to visit Kenya is during the dry season, from June to October and in January and February. During these periods, there is almost no rain. The weather is sunny, clear, and dry. The temperature is very comfortable. The rainy season is from March to May. Kenya’s beaches around the Indian Ocean coastline are very hot and wet with tropical storms. The paths in the parks could turn muddy and some roads may not be accessible because of the floods. Some camps may close because of the bad road conditions, but it is the cheapest time of the year to travel.

Snorkelling and Diving: the most popular time of the year to dive is from October to March. During this time, we receive spectacular, pristine conditions with visibility reaching up to 30m. The waters are at their calmest and the possibility to encounter whale sharks are higher than ever, and dolphins thrive across our waters.

Safaris/Wildlife viewing: Kenya is a year-round safari destination, but the busy period is during the dry season from June to October, when the sparse vegetation and limited water causes game to gather around water, making them easy to find and to view. However, this is the most crowded and active time to go on safari, especially in the Masai Mara from the latter half of August to October, when the Great Migration usually arrives.

Hiking: the best months and safest time to climb Mt. Kenya is during the dry seasons: January – February, and August to September.

Beaches: the best time is between December to March, are the driest and hottest months.

Birdwatching: the birdlife is good year-round, but at its perfect from November to April when the migratory birds from Europe and northern Africa are present. Currently, many resident bird species are nesting and are in breeding plumage.

Flamingos on the Rift Valley Lakes: the flamingos feed on the blue-green algae that are always on this soda lake and hover around the lake shores, covering the lake pink. The best time to see flamingos is during July, August, September, December, January, and February.

Practical information

Currency

The currency in Kenya is the Kenyan shilling. The exchange rate approximately is 1 Euro between 114 – 158 Kenyan shillings. 1 US Dolar is between 99 – 146 Kenyan shillings.

Language

There are two official languages in Kenya: English and Swahili, but there are many different languages are spoken across the country as each population has its own dialect. The most common are Kikuyu, Dholuo and Kamba. Sheng, a Swahili-based slang mixed with English is widely spoken in Nairobi.

Visa

Following the Presidential Directive issued on 12th December, 2023 that Kenya will be a “Visa Free” country for all travellers across the world. Visitors to Kenya from across the world no longer require a visa from January 2024 instead the Kenyan government has developed a semi-automated system that determines the eligibility of visitors to travel to Kenya called the Republic of Kenya Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA). The eTA must be applied for by all travellers including those that were previously Visa exempt. The eTA comes at a cost of $30.

Kenya citizens and citizens of EAC Partner States are exempt from the eTA.

The eTA application collects biographic information and answers to eligibility questions from the traveller. eTA applications should be submitted at least 3 days prior to travel to ensure adequate time for authorisation. Travellers can submit their applications up to 3 months prior to travel. It is mandatory to use the Government’s official website to submit your application. Applications submitted via third party websites will be automatically denied. For children under the age of 18, the legal guardian, parent or accompanying adult is responsible for filling in the application. It is recommended that families apply as a group.

Your eTA application fee is non-refundable; the system will require a valid credit or debit card to pay and complete the transaction. Once you submit your eTA application, the fee is non-refundable. The eTA is valid for one journey (single entry) only and must be redone for each additional journey. It expires once you exit the country. The travel information is an obligatory section of the application process. Therefore, it is only possible to apply for the eTA after having booked your transport and accommodation. The requirements to apply for an eTA are: your passport must have at least 6 months left before expiry date and 2 blank pages left for visas, recent passport picture or a selfie picture taken during application process, contact details (home address, telephone, email), travel information and flight itinerary (arrival flight number, date of departure of initial flight in case of connecting flights), proof of booking for the hotel you will be staying at (if staying with friends, a letter of invitation is accepted), yellow fever vaccination certificate if coming from endemic countries.

How to apply online for eTA, click HERE

ATM & credit card

You will find ATMs in major towns and cities in Kenya, but in smaller towns, villages, and rural areas, you will need to carry cash. Visa is far more widely accepted in Kenyan ATMs than Mastercard. Make sure you check the network the ATM accepts before you put your card in, if the ATM does not recognise the card, it could retain it, causing a major inconvenience. In Nairobi, other large cities, or in areas where there are lots of tourists, you are more likely to find an ATM which works on multiple networks. It is unlikely you will get free cash withdrawals in Kenya. Even local bank account holders pay a small fee in most cases, to withdraw cash via their own home bank. Barclays bank has easily the most reliable machines for international withdrawals, Standard Chartered and Kenya Commercial Bank are also good options.

Opening times

Most shops are open from 8.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. on weekdays. Some are also open during weekends from 9.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. Most shopping malls stay open until around 8 p.m. while others like supermarkets and grocery stores operate 24-hours. Restaurants from 11:30 – 2pm or 3pm and 5pm or 6pm- 9pm, some remain open between lunch and dinner. Opening hours can vary through the year, particularly in tourist areas, less in larger cities.

Time: GMT + 3 hours.

Main airports

Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta Airport (is one of the busiest airports in Africa, the airport is located southeast of the capital. The distance from the airport to the centre of Nairobi is 18 kilometres. By car, it takes 30 minutes to get to the centre)

Moi International Airport (located in Mombasa, the second-largest city in Kenya. The distance from the airport to the centre of Mombasa is 9 kilometres. By car, it takes 10 minutes to get to the centre)

Kisumu International Airport (it is the third-busiest airport in Kenya and located in Kisumu city. The distance from the airport to the centre of Kisumu is 6,5 kilometres. By car, it takes 10 minutes to get to the centre)

Eldoret International Airport (is in the city of Eldoret, close to the international border with Uganda. The distance from the airport to the centre of Eldoret is 16 kilometres. By car, it takes 16 minutes to get to the centre)

Public transport

Kenya has a wide range of travel options. You can travel on a shared or exclusive road safari where you sign up to an off-the-shelf or tailor-made itinerary. If you want more independence, you can easily rent a vehicle for self-drive or with a driver. If you are on a budget, you will find a wide range of public transport.

By bus, Kenya offers a network of long-distance bus lines; however, the journey can be bumpy and dusty, so pick a reputable bus company for long journeys. It is preferable to travel during the day rather than at night due to the threat of carjackings and road traffic accidents. Generally, need to reserve seats in advance. The large companies have proper ticket offices at or near the bus stations where they list their routes and prices.

Local buses in town are provided by private companies and are affordable while offering comfortable seating. These buses have regular services in and out of Nairobi’s city suburbs. Buses usually seat 20-35 passengers and, by law, no standing passengers. This is a safe, clean, and effective way of travelling through the cities of Kenya.

By matatu, is a minibus taxi and carries 14 passengers operating over short and medium distances. This is a risky mode of transport as the vehicles are poorly maintained and the drivers are usually reckless, hardly ever abiding to the rules of the road. Due to recent developments, matatus now provide seatbelts and do not exceed the vehicles seated capacity. Matatus usually travel along set routes; however, it is possible to charter a matatu for travel outside of major towns, just make sure to agree on a price before departure. When it comes to making a choice of matatu, always choose one that is close to full or you will have to wait inside until they are ready to go, sometimes for hours.

By train, the railway in Kenya provides an excellent public transportation service. The Kenya-Uganda railway starts from Mombasa and travels via Nairobi to Kampala in Uganda. Inaugurated in 2017, the new high-speed Nairobi-Mombasa rail service, offers a journey in 4:30 hours, so the line is faster, cheaper, and safer than taking a bus. You need to purchase tickets at the stations, ideally the day before, so you can check that the train is running. Tickets can also be booked in advance with most travel agents and tour operators in Nairobi and Mombasa, you pay extra as a booking fee, but it is much easier and most can arrange delivery of train tickets to hotels. The Nairobi–Mombasa train has three seat classes, but only first and second offer any kind of comfort. In first class, you get a private, two-berth compartment; second class has four-berth compartments, which are usually single-sex; third class has hard seats only and is packed with local passengers because it is half the price of the cheapest bus.

By rental car, several international car rental companies have offices in Nairobi and Mombasa and offers expensive but reliable cars with a full back-up network. It is advised to hire a heavy-duty car or jeep to get around in Kenya, as roads are difficult to travel and are in a state of neglect. When driving, it is important to exercise caution, as roads are often poorly maintained and potholed. Accidents, car-jacking, and theft are all common risks. However, you can mitigate these risks by traveling during the day. Officially Kenya drives on the left.

By boats and ferries, there is no passenger shipping along the Kenya coast apart from small vessels connecting the islands of the Lamu archipelago, and the Likoni car and foot passenger ferry across Kilindini Creek between Mombasa Island and the south coast. It is illegal for foreigners to ride on ocean-going dhows, and there are few working dhows left, but there are plenty of opportunities to go on short dhow trips from the resorts for fishing, snorkelling, or sightseeing.

Taxis and other vehicle, transport in towns often comes down to private taxis. You will need to discuss the fare in advance. In some towns, there is also the option of using a tuk-tuk, fares are around half the price of an ordinary taxi.

Things to avoid

Drinking tap water during your stay in Kenya and to be cautious when consuming ice and washed fruits and vegetables

Wearing valuable jewellery and watches, as well as brand new clothing

Leaving belongings unattended on beaches and beach areas at night

Carrying too much cash

Walking alone at night or always take a taxi from door to door after dark in cities, especially in Nairobi

Plastic bags are banned in Kenya. Arriving visitors are requested to avoid bring plastic bags into the country and being in possession of a plastic bag is an offence and offenders could be penalised. Visitors are advised to avoid packing any plastic bags in their suitcases or in carry-on hand luggage before flying to Kenya. Items purchased at the airport before boarding the aircraft should be removed from plastic bags. Travellers coming into Kenya with plastic duty-free shop bags will also be required to leave them at the airport. Please check hand luggage before disembarking and any plastic bags (including the transparent Ziplock plastic bags that some airlines require passengers to use for keeping liquids, cosmetics, toiletries etc) should be left in the plane. This does not apply to people in transit. All single use plastics, such as plastic water bottles and straws, are banned in all National Parks, forests, beaches, and conservation areas.

Food

Kenyan food features rice and grains such as maize, sorghum and millet paired with vegetables and meats. Ugali, cornmeal cooked until it achieves a dough-like consistency, is Kenya’s staple food. Stews made with potatoes and meat are also popular. The food in Kenya’s coastal towns features plenty of seafood specialities.

The most traditional dishes are: “Nyama Choma” (is grilled meat cut into bite-sized pieces and served with vegetables or ugali. It is usually goat meat. The meat is often marinated with salt, pepper, and spices before grilling), “Sukuma Wiki” (cabbage or spinach, is sauteed together with onions, tomatoes, and spices in a pan), “Nyama” (it is a stew prepared with beef, tomatoes, onions, garlic, potatoes, and various spices. It is often served with rice, ugali or chapati), “Mandazi” (sweet fried dough balls or dough triangles and are popularly served as a snack or dessert).

Electricity and plug types

For Kenya the associated plug type is G, which is the plug that has three rectangular pins in a triangular pattern. Kenya operates on a 240V supply voltage and 50Hz.

Health and insurance

Kenya’s healthcare system is managed by the National Health Insurance Fund and is broadly divided into two classes of establishments, hospitals, and dispensaries. Many of the hospitals based in Nairobi and Mombasa follow international care standards, while the rest are still in the process of developing. Medical dispensaries form another class of the healthcare system and are mostly run by registered nurses under the supervision of a nursing officer. Healthcare in Kenya is accessible to everyone, including expats, global citizens, and tourists. The quality of healthcare for tourists in Kenya varies, depending on location, hospital, and type of ailment. The standard of public healthcare in Kenya is generally not up to western standards. Private hospitals are costlier, but they also offer a much better quality of medical care. It is still recommended that travellers buy a good insurance plan that can cover all medication expenses.

You can easily locate a pharmacy (known locally as chemists) in every town and city of Kenya. Many of the generic medications are inexpensive and are readily available over the counter.

Some vaccines are recommended or required for Kenya: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, cholera, yellow fever, rabies, meningitis, polio, measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis), chickenpox, shingles, pneumonia, and influenza.

The risk of contracting malaria is considered moderate. Travelers should consult a travel medicine specialist to determine the best antimalarial for their trip. Dengue and chikungunya are also present in the country. Be sure to bring and use mosquito repellents and netting. Meningitis poses a risk to travellers to Kenya.

Other

In Kenya, tipping is generally expected and many workers rely on the additional income tips provide. A service charge is never usually included in a bill, except occasionally at a restaurant. The general rule is to add on 10% of the invoice amount. Staff at hotels will appreciate a gesture on your part if their service has been good. A guide will expect a tip at the end of a safari.

There are specific areas of the country that are considered unsafe (along the border regions with Somalia, South Sudan, and Ethiopia), however these are not areas of the country that tourists visit.

When visiting Lamu, most of the population are Muslim and tourists are encouraged to adopt a more modest dress code. When meeting the Maasai people, it is best to wait until your guides have obtained permission before taking photos. When it is granted, be discrete in your photo taking.

Be sceptical of strangers who claim to recognise you in the street or people who gesticulate wildly to indicate that your front wheels are wobbling, if you stop, you will probably be relieved of your valuables.