Visas
Since January 2024, Kenya no longer requires advance visas. All visitors must obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) before arriving. Apply online at etakenya.go.ke. The fee is USD 30 and processing normally takes 2–5 business days, so apply at least a week before travel. Your passport must be valid for at least six months from entry and have two blank pages.
Health
Yellow fever vaccination is required if you are travelling from a yellow fever-endemic country (most of sub-Saharan Africa, parts of South America). Carry your vaccination certificate.
Malaria is present at low to medium altitude across much of the country, though Nairobi (at 1,700m) and areas above 2,500m are considered low-risk. Take prophylaxis if you are going to coastal areas, the Rift Valley, or on safari. Consult a travel health clinic before you go.
Tap water is generally not safe to drink outside the main hotels. Bottled water is cheap and widely available. In rural areas, purification tablets or a filter are worth carrying.
Private hospitals in Nairobi — Aga Khan Hospital and Nairobi Hospital in particular — are the best medical facilities in East Africa. Outside Nairobi, medical care varies enormously. Travel insurance with medical evacuation cover is strongly advisable.
Money
The currency is the Kenyan Shilling (KES). In early 2025, the exchange rate is approximately KES 130–135 to the US dollar. ATMs are plentiful in Nairobi and other cities and accept Visa and Mastercard. In rural areas and smaller towns, carry cash. US dollars and euros are accepted at most tourist lodges, often at a slight premium over the KES rate.
M-Pesa is Kenya's mobile money system and is used for almost everything — tipping, market stalls, taxis, supermarkets. If you have a Kenyan SIM card, you can register for M-Pesa at any Safaricom agent. Highly recommended for longer stays.
Safety
Nairobi has a real crime problem, particularly pickpocketing and bag-snatching in the city centre. Keep valuables out of sight, don't walk around at night in unfamiliar areas, and use Uber or a trusted taxi rather than hailing random cabs. The tourist areas (Karen, Westlands, Gigiri) are considerably safer.
Terrorism remains a background risk — Kenya has experienced attacks in the past, mostly targeting public spaces. Check your government's travel advice before departure and follow it.
The northeastern region (near the Somali border) is genuinely dangerous due to bandit activity and Al-Shabaab incursions. Avoid this area entirely unless travelling with an armed escort arranged by a reputable operator.
Road safety is poor. Night travel by road outside major cities carries real risk. Use the overnight train to Mombasa rather than a night bus if you can.
Communications
Safaricom is the dominant mobile network and has good coverage in all populated areas. A local SIM is cheap and easy to obtain at the airport or any Safaricom shop — bring your passport. Data is affordable. In remote northern Kenya and deep wilderness areas, expect no signal.
Electricity
230V, 50Hz. UK-style three-pin (Type G) sockets are standard. Bring an adaptor if your devices use a different plug.
Time
East Africa Time (EAT), UTC+3. No daylight saving time. Note that Swahili time runs six hours behind Western time — in Swahili convention, "saa moja" (one o'clock) means 7am, since the day is counted from sunrise. This can cause genuine confusion when arranging times with locals.