Resting in the magnificent Great Rift Valley and presided over by the majestic Mount Kilimanjaro, Kenya is characterised by hauntingly beautiful natural landscapes of forested hills, patchwork farms, wooded savanna and vast forests brimming with an extraordinary abundance of wildlife. The nation’s diverse range of traditional African cultures is influenced by over 70 unique ethnic groups from the Maasai, Samburu, Kikuyu, and Turkana tribes to the Arabs and Indians that settled on the coast. Add to this: an exquisite tropical coastline fringed with breathtaking golden sand beaches; gorgeous coral gardens providing excellent snorkeling and diving opportunities; and a slew of lively beach resorts, and it is easy to see why so many visitors flock here from around the world to experience a truly unique African adventure in one of the world’s most pristine safari destinations.
Entry Requirements
Citizens of Eritrea, Ethiopia, Mozambique, San Marino, South Africa, The Republic of Congo and Union of Comoros travelling to Kenya are now exempt from paying the application fee when applying for Electronic Travel Authorisation.
Please be advised that Kenya will no longer be issuing visas on arrival. All travelers are advised to apply for their visas online through the e-Visa website https://evisa.go.ke before traveling to Kenya. All services on the e-Visa website have been restored.
Please be advised that Kenya's Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system is now operational. All travellers, including infants and children (except citizens of Kenya and EAC partner states) arriving in Kenya from 4th January 2024, are required to apply for ETA online via http://www.etakenya.go.ke prior to their arrival. A reminder that there is only one website for ETA applications www.etakenya.go.ke, please be wary of fraudulent websites.
Please be advised of the below requirements for ETA applications:
REQUIREMENTS - ALL TRAVELLERS
Valid passport (6 month validity from the date of arrival in Kenya, with a minimum of one blank page)
Passport-style photo
Contact information (home address, email address and phone number)
Itinerary details
Accommodation booking confirmation
Credit card, debit card, Apple pay for payment of $34 per person
REQUIREMENTS - DEPENDANT ON COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE / TRAVEL HISTORY
Yellow Fever certificate (if arriving from a Yellow Fever endemic country)
Additional vaccinations
Travellers are eligible to apply for ETAs within 3 months of their arrival date in Kenya. Following application, a confirmation will be sent to the email address submitted in the application. Upon approval, the ETA will be sent to the same email address.
Standard processing time for ETAs is three working days and the status of applications can be checked at any time on the ETA website using the ETA reference number.
All previous visa entry requirements for Kenya are now replaced by the requirement of ETAs. All e-visas currently in process will be issued and travellers with existing e-visas will be granted access to Kenya within the validity period of 90 days, without the additional requirement of an ETA.
Banking and Currency
Currency:
Local currency: Kenyan Shilling
Symbol: KSh
ISO code: KES
Central bank: Central Bank of Kenya
Subunit: Cent
Banknotes: KSh1000, 500, 200, 100, 50
Coins: KSh40, 20, 10, 5, 1 and 50, 10 cents(lesscommonly used)
Banking:
Card Transactions:
ATMs: Yes
Mastercard: Yes
Visa: Yes
American Express: Sometimes
Diner’s club: Sometimes
Banking Hours:
Weekdays: 09h00 - 15h00
Weekends:Saturdays: 09h00 -12h00. Sundays: Closed. Check the specific hours of the bank branch you plan to visit, as operating hours can vary between branches and regions.
Public Holidays: No
Foreign exchange services: Yes
Travel, Transport and Getting Around
Air:
Main airlines: Kenya Airways, Airkenya Express, Fly540, JamboJet, African Express Airways, Mombasa Air Safari
International Airports: Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Moi International Airport, Kisumu International Airport, Eldoret International Airport
Road:
Conditions vary greatly.
Tar roads: Yes
Gravel roads: Yes
Valid International Driver's License needed: No, unless your national licence is not in English. Third party insurance is needed.
Car hire available: Yes
Taxis: Yes
Uber available: Yes
Bus:
Inter-city bus services: Some, but not generally safe.
Local city bus networks: No
Rail:
Railway system: Yes
Subway System: No
Water:
Ferries: Yes
Water taxis: Yes
Leisure cruises: Yes
Food, Drink and Cuisine Advice
Food and water safety:
Can you drink the tap water: No
Fresh fruit and vegetables: No, unless thoroughly washed and peeled
Ice: No, unless made from bottled or purified water
Meat: Yes, but from reputable establishments
Street food: No, unless from a reputable source and freshly prepared
Local cuisine: Kenyan food is diverse, exhibiting the different tastes and flavours of its different tribes, as well as the spices of early Arab settlers and East Indian railway workers, and the fresh seafood straight from the Swahili coast. Top dishes include Kenyan Stew, made with meat and spices; Mutura, a rich, dark goat sausage; and Mandazi, a kind of donut flavoured with cardamom and sweet coconut milk.
Drinks:
Tusker Beer
Kenyan Coffee
Chai (Kenyan Tea)
Madafu (Fresh Coconut Water)
Maziwa Lala (Fermented Milk)
*In addition to these beverages, there are also a variety of everyday drinks available, such as fruit juices, sodas, and bottled water.
Tipping: 10%
Climate and Weather
Annual rainfall: 680 mm
Average temperature: 25°C - 29°C
Summer: December-March
Average in highs: 26°C
Average in lows: 16°C
Winter: July-October
Average in highs: 21°C
Average in lows: 12°C
* Kenya, due to its equatorial location, does not experience traditional summer and winter seasons. Instead, it has periods that are cooler and drier. The climate is generally characterized by wet and dry seasons.
Best time to visit: Visiting between June and September, during the long dry season, will allow you to experience a milder climate and witness the Great Migration of wildebeest and zebra. The short dry season, from January to March, provides excellent opportunities for beach visits and outdoor activities. During the rainy seasons, you’ll find fewer tourists and stunning, lush landscapes. The long rainy season runs from March to May, and the short rainy season runs from October to December.
Clothing and Dress Recommendations
Spring and Summer
Cool, light, breathable and comfortable: Yes
Lightweight warm clothes: Yes
Winter and Autumn
Jerseys, cardigans, sweaters, jackets: Yes
Heavyweight clothing and boots: No
General
Umbrella and raincoat: Yes, during the rainy seasons (March to May and October to December)
Warm gloves, hat and scarf: Yes, for early morning and evening game drives, especially in higher altitudes or cooler months (June to August).
Swimming costume (bathing suit): Yes
Hat, sunglasses and sunblock: Yes
Walking shoes: Yes
Casual: Yes
Smart-casual attire: Yes
Internet Availability
Internet cafes: Yes
Accommodation options: Yes
Restaurants: Yes
Cafes: Yes
Shopping malls: Yes
Public parks: No
Libraries: Yes, in cities.
Electricity and Plug Standards
Plug Type: G
Voltage (V): 240
Frequency Hertz (Hz): 50
*A Travel plug adapter and voltage converter might be necessary depending on your appliances.
General Guidance
As you will be travelling in vehicles and aircraft with limited space, luggage is required to be packed in a soft bag weighing a maximum of 15kg (33 lbs) which includes hand luggage and camera equipment. Type of luggage & dimensions: Soft bags with maximum dimensions of 35cm (13.7 inches) wide x 40 cm (15.7 inches) high and 70 cm (27.5 inches) long.
No hard suitcases are allowed, and oversized bags may not be carried on your lap. An additional seat can be booked for extra luggage, subject to availability. Airline luggage requirements will vary slightly between airlines – some will allow rigid frames or wheels according to strict internal guidelines. We recommend soft bags with correct dimensions as a default but can provide specific and up-to-date luggage rules on request.
These rules are often updated without notification so are best checked nearer departure. When travelling to any of our destinations in Africa, please remember that possession of wildlife trophies is illegal. A wildlife trophy is defined as “any protected animal, game animal, or game bird, alive or dead and any bone, claw, egg, feather, hair, hoof, skin, tooth, tusk or other durable portion whatsoever of that animal or bird or fish or other aquatic life whether processed, added to or changed by the work of man or not, which is recognizable as such a durable portion”. Any person found in possession of these restricted items, without the necessary permits, will be liable to a fine and/or prison term, with the said item being confiscated. In Kenya, certain items made from the ostrich and crocodile skin, both of which are being reared for the purpose, would be permitted as proper permits are issued by the dealers.
Plastic Bags Banned in Kenya and Tanzania Kenya and Tanzania join over 40 countries that have made plastic bags illegal, in a positive effort to reduce the impact on our environment. The ban applies to carrier bags with handles (and with or without gussets), and flat bags without handles and without gussets. The only exception is for re-sealable ‘Zip-Lock’ type bags remaining in guest luggage through the trip – only applicable to Tanzania. If you are travelling to Kenya and Tanzania, plastic bags that match the above description, including duty free bags, will be confiscated at the airport. However, there is a bigger risk that if anyone is caught using these plastic bags, the fine is KS h4 000 000 (approximately USD 38 000) or a prison sentence of up to four years. If you are travelling to these countries, please refrain from using all forms of ‘disposable’ plastic bags in both main luggage and hand luggage, to avoid inconveniences and possible prosecution. While we are aware that certain countries require carry on liquids to be packaged in clear bags for security reasons , we recommend purchasing a clear, non-disposable toiletry bag, as an alternative to zip-lock bags, when travelling to Kenya and Tanzania