More than 30 million tourists visit the "Jewel of Africa" every year, captivated by the possibility of fulfilling childhood dreams of seeing "The Big 5” roaming across the Kenyan savanna. If adventuring on the wild side is not your thing, you can head to the coast, relax at one of the many spectacular resorts, and enjoy some of the best beaches East Africa offers.
Earlier this year, we travelled to Kenya to fulfil our childhood dreams of visiting this magnificent country. Along the way, we noted everything we wished we had known before we arrived or what could help others when planning their dream vacation to Kenya.
This guide will tell you everything you must know before travelling to Kenya. From how to get around to how to pay for things, this guide will give you peace of mind that you know what to expect before you travel.
Best Time To Visit Kenya
Best Time to Visit for Safari Trips
June to October is widely regarded as the best time to visit Kenya for safari. At this time, there is virtually no rain, daytime temperatures are not too hot, and the great migration usually reaches the Maasai Mara in July. But with such a moderate climate, various safari destinations, and its geographical diversity, it’s hard not to have a great Safari tour experience any time of year.
For a full breakdown of the seasons, the best time for specific wildlife viewings, and the benefits of going off-season, see our guide on the Best Time To Go On Safari in Kenya.
Best Time to Visit Nairobi for a City Break
Nairobi is at an altitude of 5,450 feet above sea level and enjoys mild year-round temperatures. However, the East African country has both wet and dry seasons. The dry seasons are January to February and June to September, and these are the best times to visit. The remaining months are rainy seasons and should be avoided.
January and February will enjoy average daytime temperatures of around 25-28 C (77-82 F), dropping to 13 C (55 F) at night. June to September are the cooler dry months, averaging 70-77 F (21-25 C) during the day and 52 F (11 C) as the sun sets.
Best Time to Visit Mombasa for a Coastal Holiday
Mombasa has the same season cycles as Nairobi, with both wet and dry seasons, but it is hotter and considerably more humid. January to February is the hottest of the two dry seasons, with average temperatures of around 32 C (89 F) during the day and 25 C (77 F) at night. June to September is cooler and more manageable, with highs of 29 C (84 F) during the day and 22 C (72 F) at night.
If you're heading to Diani, why not discover the hidden Africa pools near Tiwi Beach?
Money
The currency in Kenya is Kenyan Shilling (KES). USD 10 will get you roughly KES 1250. There are three primary forms of payment in Kenya, M-Pesa, cash and credit/debit card. See important information about each below.
M-Pesa
Whilst you can use cash (KES) throughout Kenya, the most common form of payment is a mobile phone-based money transfer service called M-Pesa. Moving Kenya towards a cashless society, this payment and micro-financing service is the most common way locals pay for goods and services. Whether paying for groceries at the store, settling your bar tab or tipping your “boda boda” driver, you can rest assured they’ll accept M-Pesa.
You can set up M-Pesa on your phone by visiting a Safaricom or Vodafone store with your passport as identification and some cash to top-up your balance.
Most national parks and tourist attractions won’t accept cash and will only allow M-Pesa or card payments.
Included in: 12 Must Have Apps When Visiting Kenya
Cash
Cash payment in Kenyan Shilling is accepted everywhere except when paying for entrance fees at National Parks, where they only accept credit/debit cards or M-Pesa.
While cash can be used everywhere, not everyone carries it on them and may be unable to give you change. On several occasions, we could not get change from Uber drivers or food deliveries and just had to accept it and move on. This is where M-Pesa comes in handy.
Some accommodations and tour operators will also accept payment in US dollars, but unlike popular belief, which might tell you that it’s cheaper to pay in US dollars, we did not find that to be the case in any instance.
Credit/Debit Card
All major stores, hotels and tourist attractions will accept credit/debit cards.
Languages
Swahili and English are the official languages of Kenya, and both are widely spoken and understood.
Main Airports
Kenya has six international airports, with Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi being the biggest and primary hub for flying into Kenya.
Others are:
- Moi International Airport (MBA), Mombasa
- Kisumu International Airport (KIS), Kisumu
- Eldoret International Airport (EDL), Eldoret
- Malindi International Airport (MYD), Malindi
- Isiolo International Airport (HKIS), Isiolo
Pro Tip: When travelling from Nairobi to Diani, there is a direct flight from Wilson Airport (WIL), Nairobi, to the Ukanda Airstrip (UKA), around a 10-minute drive from Diani Beach. Flights can be found for around 50 USD and save you a 1-hour 40-minute taxi journey from Moi International Airport (MBA) if flying into Mombasa.
Find Flights to Nairobi
Getting to/from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is around 18km from the Central Business District of Nairobi, and there are three ways to get there; Uber, bus or taxi.
Uber (recommended) - An Uber will take around 25 minutes to get into the city centre and will cost you around 1,500 KES (11 USD). This is the quickest and most hassle-free way to get into the city and is our recommended method.
Bus (cheapest) - Getting a bus into the city centre is the most affordable option but does not offer a relaxing or safe journey. Buses run every 20 mins from 6 am - 9:00 pm and will cost around 50 KES (0.36 USD) per person. Pending traffic, the journey should take approximately 60 mins. Buses can be pretty cramped, and you will want to ensure you keep your luggage and valuables close. You can find the bus services at the arrivals level by the roundabout outside the terminals. Look for the “34” service at the “Passenger Boarding” bus stop.
Taxi (most convenient) - You can pre-book a taxi on websites such as Taxi2Airport.com or pick one up directly outside the airport. Booking through Airmudo will cost you around 4,000 KES (30 USD) and is the most expensive way of getting a transfer by car from the airport. Getting a taxi from outside the airport is the easiest option, but it will most likely be the most stressful. Whilst a transfer should cost around 3,000 KES (22 USD), you may only reach this after much haggling. We got a taxi several times in Nairobi and wished we hadn’t. As a foreigner, you will likely get an inflated price before you haggle for something more reasonable.
Vaccinations
Yellow Fever (Required) - Yellow Fever is widespread throughout Kenya and is required if travelling from a country with a risk of yellow fever transmission. For all other countries, it is highly recommended.
Hepititas A/B (Recommended) - Hepititas A and Hepititas B vaccinations are recommended for travellers one year or older.
Malaria (Recommended) - Malaria is widespread except in Nairobi and places above 2500 meters. Consider taking anti-malaria medication and ensure accommodation is insect-proof with mosquito nets over your bed.
Rabies (Recommended) - Rabid dogs are commonly found in Kenya. Depending on where you are, if you are bitten or scratched by a dog, you may have limited access to immediate rabies treatment.
Typhoid (Recommend) - Typoid is recommended for travellers visiting smaller cities or rural areas.
Internet and Mobile
The two leading network providers in Kenya are Safaricom and Airtel. You can get a Pay As You Go sim for either network in-store in the city or at one of the kiosks as you exit the airport.
Safaricom is the most expensive of the two networks but offers unmatched network coverage. We used Safricom for our entire duration in Kenya and had zero complaints. Expect to pay around KSH 1000 (USD 8) for a 7-day, 10GB plan or KSH 1000 for 30 days with 7GB. Prices will be slightly inflated when purchasing sim cards at the airport, but it is worth paying the extra for the convenience.
Check out our 12 must download apps when visiting Kenya; these are the apps that helped us have an easy and great experience in Kenya.
Drinking Water
Whilst you can technically drink tap water in Kenya, we do not suggest it and advise you to stick to bottled or filtered water. Hotels will generally have bottled water in your room, and every Airbnb we stayed in during our trip had a water dispenser in the apartment, which took 10L bottles. These are inexpensive at around KSH 300-400 (USD 3), delivered through Uber Eats or the local food delivery app Glovo.
Travel Safety
Kenya is generally a safe country to visit. However, petty crime can still be abundant. A large percentage of the population is in poverty, and 9 million people live on less than $2 a day.
When visiting major cities such as Nairobi and Mombasa, do not walk alone at night or in isolated areas, as pickpocketing and bag snatching can occur. Places like Eastleigh, Kibera, Central Business District, Pangani, and slum areas in Nairobi have high crime rates and should be avoided without a local guide. If unsure, check with your hotel or host about which areas are safe and which to stay away from.
That being said, with most tourism taking place outside these areas, such as game drives in the national parks, you can easily have a great time in Kenya while being very safe and secure. It took us a little time to feel comfortable in Nairobi, but we ultimately found the people to be friendly and welcoming and fell in love with the city.
Read our article, Diary: The Pulse of Kenya, about our experience in Nairobi.
Plug Type
Kenya uses the Type G plug with three rectangular pins in a triangular pattern, the same as in the UK. The standard voltage operates on a 240V supply voltage and 50Hz. We recommend buying a universal adaptor and getting one with surge protection before your trip.
Recommended Gear: Universal Travel Adapter, Unidapt International Plug Adapter
Getting Around Kenya
Kenya is a rather large country, but most of your travel will be in the southern regions. Exploring the capital, Nairobi, the national parks, and the coastal cities such as Mombasa, with Diani Beach. How to travel around Kenya will depend on your activities, available time and budget. But let's have a look at each of these.
Getting Around Kenya By Plane
You'll most likely only use air travel from Nairobi to the coastal regions, as these are relatively cheap and much quicker than taking a bus, which takes 9 hours. A direct flight from Nairobi to Mombasa takes around 1 hour and usually costs around $60 USD.
It is possible to fly from Nairobi to the Maasai Mara and other reserves on Safarilink, but these can sometimes be quite expensive. Even though the flight only takes 40 minutes, when you consider airport transfers and check-in times, you aren't really saving much time compared to going by bus or car.
Getting Around
Getting Around Kenya By Car Rental/Private Driver
Kenya's road conditions aren't the best, traffic in built-up areas can be a nightmare, and road rules are almost non-existent. It is possible to drive yourself around Kenya, but I can't say I would advise it. If you do, however, decide to take on the challenge, it is recommended that you rent a 4WD.
If you are staying in a Safari lodge in any of the national reserves or booking a multi-day Safari tour, they will have transfer options; some will be included in the price, and others will have a fee attached. These can vary in price but are generally cheaper than booking a multi-day car rental.
Getting Around Kenya By Bus
For long-distance journeys such as Nairobi to Mombasa, there is the option to take a bus (coach). They may take much longer than flying but offer a reasonable level of comfort at a fraction of the price. The trip from Nairobi to Mombasa will take 9 hours and will cost you around KES 2500 ($18.50 USD).
Tickets can be booked using dreamline.co.ke.
Getting Around Nairobi With Uber
Getting around Nairobi is relatively easy and cheap with Uber. We often used it to get around the city and to and from the Giraffe Center, Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Elephant Orphanage, and Nairobi National Park.
Uber is less readily available in Mombasa, and we primarily use tuk-tuks or boda bodas (motorbikes) to get around. For longer trips, such as getting to and from the airport, we used an app called InDrive. However, when using Uber or InDriver in Mombasa, be prepared to be messed around a bit. Several times, we had drivers accept a ride at one price and then try to renegotiate it when they picked us up. If you have offered a fair price in the first instance, stand your ground and as frustrating as it may be, politely get out of the car and book another ride if needed. Keep this in mind when organising transport for the airport or any other instance when you are “time-poor”.
Getting Around Nairobi With Public Transport
If you are on a budget or want a truly local experience, you can also catch a matatu. These privately owned minivans run around town at breakneck speed, picking up and dropping off locals and sometimes their chickens. They are essentially vividly painted shared taxis that only cover short distances and make up the most common way for locals to get around.
Prices can vary based on the driver, the time of day, and even the weather, but they are easily the cheapest way to get around. Just be prepared to be packed in tight and ready to jump out at any time. Personal space is not a luxury here.
Visa Requirements
All nationalities, excluding some Caribbean and African nations and countries such as Cyprus, Fiji and Singapore, must obtain an e-visa before travel. You can purchase single entry visas for stays up to 90 days from the Kenya e-Visa website for $51 (USD).
Find out more: http://evisa.go.ke/evisa.html.