Kenya Travel Guidelines – What you need to know before you get here.

Kenya Travel Guidelines. A leopard up a tree, a rhino in your campsite and a giraffe in your back garden are every day occurrences in Kenya. In our little corner of East Africa, wildlife and humans co-exist in astonishing proximity and Kenyan claims global honours for its natural beauty and abundance of wildlife. From gruesome safari sightings to its spectacular white sand coast, Kenya is astonishing, fierce and definitely fabulous and not for the faint-hearted.If you are planning on travelling to Kenya then you need to come prepared.

Kenya Travel Guidelines – Is travelling to Kenya safe?

‘Is Kenya safe?’ is one of Google’s top searches for Kenya and a point of concern for many prospective travellers.

Kenya is a developing country in East Africa, it is also the economic, financial, and transport hub of the area. It has the largest economy in East and Central Africa as is expected to remain that way for the indefinite future, growing at a rate of 5.5% per annum. Unfortunately, a corrupt government burdens Kenya, and it suffers from a high rate of unemployment and rampant poverty. 

Kenya has endured a torrid reputation for crime in the past – but the former unflattering title of Nairobbery is no longer justified. Kenyan’s are gentle people and violent crime is rare, although tourists need to be aware of opportunistic theft, pickpocketing and thieving from hotel rooms. None of it is malicious; just remember your cellphone is worth a year’s salary to most people in Kenya. Sometimes temptation proves too much.

Kenya has been subject to a few terrorist attacks over the last few years. The last one in Nairobi was in January 2019 but terrorist incidents are an exception rather than a rule. If you are worried then government advisory recommends you stay away from the borders with Somalia, for tourists this means Lamu. Check the current situation before you book.

Kenya Travel Guidelines – 5 things you need to do

Get vaccinated 

The CDC and WHO recommend the following vaccinations before travelling to 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. You NEED to have a yellow fever vaccination and certificate or you won’t be allowed in or out.

Bring medical supplies

Malaria is prevalent over most of Kenya, with the exception of the highlands and the capital city Nairobi. You can buy a course of antimalarials here in Kenya, but I would recommend getting them on prescription from your doctor back home. Most of the locals including expats don’t take malarials, but if you decide to do the same then watch out for malaria symptoms. These include: shaking, chills, high fever, profuse sweating, headache, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Nairobi has some great hospitals. Check the health and safety blog here, for a list of recommendations. Remember mosquito spray, Immodium and sunblock.

Get Insurance

If you do end up in the hospital it can cost a fortune. The first time I came to Kenya I got food poisoning and ended up on a drip, so it is not just mosquitoes and lions you need to worry about. A visit to a local GP or dentist won’t cost much, but you need to watch out for hospital fees.

You also need to consider insurance for theft. 

Bring the right clothes

More tourists than you would ever believe come to Kenya in full safari gear, and that’s cool if it floats your boat. If you aren’t down for wearing khaki pants and shirts for your entire stay then check out my Female Packing List for Kenya. You need lightweight and functional clothes for safari, the dust gets everywhere. 

At the coast it’s always hot and humid, it is also a Muslim area so bring sarongs and caftans for covering up when you aren’t on the beach. In Nairobi and the highlands, it can get quite cold even in the summer. Bring a sweater and if it’s the rainy season then some good waterproof shoes and a rain jacket 

Bring the right equipment

Don’t travel to Kenya without a camera, just don’t. And no your iPhone will not suffice, not if you want to take serious pictures of animals on safari. Remember cables, chargers and extra battery packs. Electricity can be unreliable and there are no charging stations in malls and airports. 

For UK visitors the plug sockets are the same as in the UK, for other nationals remember a converter.

Kenya Travel Guidelines – Essential Facts

Money: Local currency is Kenyan Shillings. Most people pay by Mpesa (mobile money), which you can access by obtaining a SIM card on arrival. Cards are accepted and ATMs are available in the cities but if you are leaving a major town then you will struggle to use either. Make sure you bring cash or MPESA

Time: +3 GM

When to travel to Kenya

April –Jun are the long rains and Oct – November is the short. In the highlands and Nairobi you will need warm clothing in the evenings and during the rainy season. Elsewhere is always hot. Bear in mind that will global warming the seasons are a law unto themselves. 

Arriving in Kenya

Nairobi is the capital city of Kenya and a large city by African standards but only half the size of London. Nairobi is bustling, chaotic, dusty, colourful, grubby and awe-inspiring depending on where you end up. Ending up in the right place is what it’s all about.

There are places you never want to set foot in and places that are just lush. Read my blog here for guides to the places that traveller’s and expats stay. As a holidaymaker or short term traveller in Nairobi then I would choose Karen as its close to the tourist attractions or Gigiri as its fairly central with good bars and shopping. Remember nowhere in Nairobi is like a western city, you may find the odd shiny gem but you will still be driving past wandering cows, toppling towers and tin-roofed shacks even in the most salubrious of locations. 

Travelling from Jomo Kenyatta airport 

Jomo Kenyatta International airport is Kenya’s no.1 airport and unless you are flying straight to the coast and arriving in Mombasa you will probably land here. Serving more than 5 million passengers a year it’s a mid-sized, but basic airport with a small duty-free, a Java House and a coffee shop. 

The airport is located 15km from central Nairobi, there is no public transport other than the local buses so your two options are car rental or taxi. Uber does operate in Kenya but they can be unreliable. Your best bet is to ask your host/hotel to book a taxi or driver for you. Car hire is available from Jomo Kenyatta but you should book in advance, definitely get insurance, and be aware that driving in Kenya aint like driving in Ottowa. 

Where to stay in Nairobi 

For a list of my favourite and recommended places to stay in Nairobi then read these blogs:

The 12 Best Nairobi Hotels – Where to Stay in Kenya

Cheap bed and breakfast in Nairobi

21 Incredible Family Friendly Resorts in Kenya 

12 best 5 Star Hotels In Nairobi

Kenya Travel Guidelines for Travelling around Kenya 

Nairobi is fabulous but Kenya is all about the great outdoors. I’ve given some suggestions of Kenya MUST DO’s and a few off the beaten track destinations, but how are you going to get there?

A tour – Pre-book or book on arrival?

It is popular for tourists travelling to Kenya to pre-book tours in their own country. This way they can select a predetermined itinerary of places that they wish to see and tour companies will arrange every last detail. This takes a lot the risk and planning out of travelling to Kenya but it’s not nearly as exciting as doing it yourself.  

If you aren’t ready to sling on a backpack and jump on a plane without a place or a plan, then booking tours within Kenya is a great idea. You can do this from your own country or book when you land. This option gives you the flexibility to plan your own itinerary and supplement it with bespoke tours to destinations in Kenya. Get your Guide does many short and medium-term tours all around Kenya.  

Kenya Travel Guidelines for Independent travel

I have written two blogs which should help Independent travellers: Solo Kenya Travel Guidelines and self-drive safari in Kenya. Travelling in Kenya under your own steam is pretty easy; you can hire a car or a driver to get around the cities. If you are headed upcountry or into the bush then hire a car and self-drive. If the thought of navigating Kenya roads makes you nervous then a driver can take you to the reserve and you can book a game drive through your camp.

If you are heading to the coast, take a local flight with Jambojet or catch the speedy and efficient SGR down to Mombasa. For Diani and Tiwi fly to Ukunda and take a tuk-tuk. for Malindi and Watamu its approximately a 2.5-hour drive so you need to take a taxi (approx. cost 6000 KES). 

3 Kenyan Tourist Hotspots.

Maasai Mara

Let’s get straight down to it, if you want the safari of a lifetime, a wildlife adventure to rival few others then the Maasai Mara should be your number one destination in Kenya. There are more scenic parks and parks with a higher number of endangered animals but there are no parks that will as fully satisfy your lion king fantasies. The ‘Mara’ has endless stretches of savannah, wildebeest rushing through crocodile-filled waters, majestic lion prides silhouetted on hilltops and Maasai Morans shepherding their flock. The Maasai Mara is one of the most celebrated and renown safari destinations in the world. Choose from luxurious lodges, tented camps, self catering cottages or do it cheaply and camp.  

Discover my complete guide to the Maasai Mara migration or read up on how my family and I did a Mara weekend for under $150.

Diani Beach

Travelling in Kenya ticks the box on a number of fantasies. Out of Africa style safari’s. TICK. Palm-fringed white sand beach fronted by the Indian Ocean. TICK. For the ultimate honeymoon dream, head down to Diani Beach where miles of powder-soft sand stretch to the horizon, fringed with palms and soothed by the cerulean sea. Diani is one of the busiest coastal destinations in Kenya but the beach itself feels surprisingly remote and untouched. Wake early in the morning and you may find yourself only in the company of fisherman. There are one or two beachside bars where you can sip cocktails overlooking the beach, and a few kitesurfing and diving outfits if you can drag yourself off your sun loungers. It’s a lazy, laid back, idyll, one where acrobats scale palms to fetch you fresh coconuts and camels wander past to take the kids for a ride.

Amboseli 

Where the Maasai Mara is all rolling hills and rushing rivers, Amboseli is Kilimanjaro and vast wetlands. Famed for its huge herds of elephants, sometimes up to 100 a time. It is one of the only places in Africa that still has big tusker elephants. Elephants with monstrous tusks that can weight up to 50kg each, these gentle giants have been hunted nearly to the point of extinction. Amboseli is the second most popular park after the Maasai Mara and a UNESCO World Heritage site. 

The park has two water basins fed by the waters of Kilimanjaro, which serve as permanent watering holes for all the Big 5 and many rare and endangered species of animal.   

Off the Beaten Track

If you are travelling in Kenya independently then hitting some of the lesser-known but no less spectacular places should be top of your list. Kenya is very underdeveloped outside of the cities, if you visit these hidden gems you may find your self on safari completely alone, or on a beach without soul in sight.

Tiwi 

Tiwi is a local secret, a beach so beautiful that we keep it all to ourselves.

There are no restaurants or bars at Tiwi to distract from the stunning natural landscape. Tropical gardens sit atop the coral cliffs or sweep down to shell scattered beach. There are no hawkers here, no nightlife, nothing but the whisper of the wind in the trees and waves breaking out over the reef. This is the unspoilt getaway you have been looking for all your life. At Tiwi, the reef comes right up to the shore, so at low tide, it’s a beachcombers dream of rock pools filled with the ocean’s treasures. My favourite place in the whole of Kenya. Read about the fabulous Sand Island Beach Cottages, for a budget but beautiful place to stay. 

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READ MY ULTIMATE GUIDE TO THE KENYAN COAST

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Kimana Sanctuary

A blissful wildlife sanctuary, right next to Amboseli. I first heard about this place through the Kenyan Campers wonderful blog. Kimana has everything Amboseli has; the views of Kilimanjaro, the elephant families and the Big 5 but none of the tourists. This tiny park has varying types of habitat and its flat landscapes allow for awesome game viewing. We spotted Tim, the worlds biggest tusker elephant here just before he died, but we also had wonderful sightings of harder to find animals. During our weekend here we only saw one other car. Read about our weekend camping at Kimana. 

Mount Kenya – Castle Forest Lodge

Castle Forest Lodge in the foothills of Mount Kenya is a breath of fresh air, literally. An alpine destination with far-reaching views across Laikipia. Nestled in indigenous rainforest with the snowy peaks of Mount Kenya ever-present in the distance, its a world away from dusty safari’s or the humid coast. Even here, in the shadow of the mountain, there is still a profusion of wildlife, elephants still wander these forests, as do leopard, buffalo and hyena. Rivers and waterfalls are abundant. This is a place of calm, of cool air, a place for walks in nature, a moment of silence and contemplation. Read about our experience at Castle Forest and the accommodation and facilities here.

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Kenya Travel Guidelines – Further Reading

https://theexpatmummy.com/21-incredible-family-friendly-resorts-in-kenya/

https://theexpatmummy.com/45-unmissable-kenya-tourist-attractions/

https://theexpatmummy.com/expat-housing-nairobi-find/

https://theexpatmummy.com/cost-of-living-kenya-2022/

https://theexpatmummy.com/how-much-masai-mara-safari-cost/

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