Kenya Travel Planner
On this page, you’ll find my favourite Kenya travel resources to help you plan your trip to and around Kenya.
Kenya Accommodation
Booking.com for hotels
Booking.com is Kenya’s top booking engine for accommodation. This global favourite is easy to use, with a great selection of hotels, competitive prices, and no fees.
Agoda for hotels
Agoda is another useful alterative.
FlipKey
Flipkey is TripAdvisor version of Airbnb. It has a TripAdvisor in-depth review system, so you get more knowledge about what you are booking than with Airbnb.
TripAdvisor for checking out reviews.
Even if I book through another site, I never book unless I’ve checked out the TripAdvisor reviews first. You can also book directly through TripAdvisor for flights, hotels and more.
Book budget airport parking in advance with companies like Flyparks to save on unnecessary costs. (For example saving costs with Airport Parking Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane)”
Travel Within Kenya
Local flights
Kenya Airways - longer distance, more expensive
Jambojet - cheap flights within Kenya
Safarilink - cheap flights within Kenya
Train Travel
SGR Madaraka Express - is a modern, clean and fast way to travel from Nairobi to Mombasa
Car Rental
Discover Cars - Searches platforms to deliver the cheapest cars, no hidden costs.
Bus
Kenya Bus Service - timetables are available here. Buses are cheap but far from glamorous
Matatu
Matatu's (small and large buses) are everywhere in Kenya and are the primary form of transport. They are cheap but crowded and provide a useful way to travel around cities.
Boda Boda
Small motorcycles called Boda Boda and/or Piki Piki's are another common feature in Kenya. Super cheap, but pretty dangerous.
Health & Safety
This Kenya Travel Planner lists sites which offer a great starting point to ensure you stay safe and healthy whilst travelling in Kenya. Still, please seek your doctor’s advice or a specialist travel clinic before travelling.
Travel Insurance is highly recommended. Make sure your insurance covers ‘special activities’ such as safari. I use Visitors Coverage for my travel insurance.
Safety
See my blog on Health and Safety in Kenya.
Useful websites include:
- Foreign & Commonwealth Office (UK)
- Travel.State.Gov (US)
Yellow Fever
- World Health Organisation
Health
- World Health Organisation
- Centres for Disease Control and Prevention
Malaria
- NHS Malaria Prevention and Treatment
Kenya Safari Guides & Travel Companies
GetYourGuide – top choice of tour guides
My preferred choice of Kenya tour company, Get Your Guide is a globally recognised tour company that arranges short / medium tours across Kenya. They do all the biggies: Mount Kenya/ Maasai Mara and Amboseli but a few intruiging and lesser known tours as well. I love that they use local guides and tour companies.
Viator for tours and activities
The greatest collection of tours around the world — food tours, day trips, transfers between cities, anything. Whatever you’re looking for, they’ve got it.
Tour Radar
Tour Radar offers an excellent selection of tours to local and international travellers all over Kenya and Africa
Kenya Visitors Visa
Visitor visas are valid for 3 months with the possibility of extending in country for another 3 months.
The process of getting a visa to visit Kenya is simple with eVisa system. An online portal (www.evisa.co.ke) allows you to apply for and receive approval for your visa in one central place. Visa approval is done in real time.
NOTE: you are no longer able to get your visa on arrival into Kenya, all applications must be done in advance via the eVisa portal.
Visa application process
- Visit www.evisa.co.ke and enter your details. You will need to upload a passport-size photo and a copy of your passport for the online application to be complete.
- The application fee of 50 USD Visa fee is payable only in USD and is non-refundable since the application will be processed for approval or non-approval
- You will be notified if your application has been successful or not via email.
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Kenya Travel Planner exceeded our expectations with personalized recommendations and seamless organization. Their knowledge of Kenya’s best spots made our trip truly special. Highly recommended for any traveler!