Travel Advice and Planning for Kenya
Before travel, please refer to the Government of Kenya website and/or that of your country of residence in order to confirm the latest international travel advice and requirements
- Government of Kenya https://www.etakenya.go.ke/
- USA https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel.html
- UK https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
Getting to Kenya
Nairobi enjoys excellent international connections, including daily direct flights to and from the UK on British Airways and Kenya Airways which also flies direct to New York and other international destinations. Other carriers serving Kenya daily include Air France, KLM, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways and Emirates – their flights arrive and depart from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) which is 30 minutes from central Nairobi.
Nairobi has numerous daily domestic flights to and from the Kenya Coast, the Masai Mara and other local and regional airports – many depart from Wilson Airport which is close to Nairobi National Park and just 20 minutes from JKIA. Our travel team will be pleased to advise and organise air and road transfers which best suit your travel plans.
Electronic Travel Authorisation
Before your visit to Kenya, you will need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation. Please apply only on the official Kenyan Government website www.etakenya.go.ke rather than via any online agencies or facilitators. Please see below for further information
On the 1st January 2024, Kenya replaced its eVisa system with an Electronic Travel Authorization system (eTA), which is now operational. Apart from holders of valid Kenya Passports, holders of Kenya Permanent Residence, valid Work Permits and Passes and Citizens of the East African Partner States, all visitors including infants and children who intend to travel to the Republic of Kenya, must have an approved eTA before the start of their journey.
Visitors must apply for the eTA via and pay a processing fee of USD $34. All eTA applications for Kenya should be submitted at least 3 days prior to travel to ensure adequate time for authorisation. Applications may be submitted up to 3 months prior to travel. Please have the following documents ready before starting your application.
Requirements for all travellers:
- Passport valid for at least six months after your date of arrival into Kenya with at least one blank page
- Selfie or passport-type photo
- Contact information, email address and phone number
- Details of your arrival and departure itinerary
- Accommodation booking confirmation(s)
- Credit card, debit card, Apple pay or other means of payment
Depending upon your circumstances or country of residence the Kenyan authorities may ask for further information or documentation.
Please note that the eTA is for a single entry into Kenya as well as being airline / flight specific and date specific.
Once submitted, please allow for three working days for your approval to come through. You can check the status of your existing application via www.etakenya.go.ke using your unique reference number.
Health
No immunisations or vaccinations are mandatory for entry into Kenya, but certain innoculations and/or malaria prophylaxis may be recommended by your doctor. Please consult and take the advice of your medical practitioner before travel.
For further information, please consult the latest recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention https://www.cdc.gov the UK Government https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice or the health authority in your country of residence.
Yellow Fever vaccinations (supported by a valid certificate) are required for travel if you are traveling from or between a country or countries in which Yellow Fever is endemic. We recommend seeking information on this from the health authority in your country of residence well before your travel dates.
We recommend guests take out comprehensive travel insurance, including health cover, prior to travelling.
Luggage Allowances
Most scheduled domestic flights on light aircraft have a strict baggage allowance of 15 kg (34 lbs) per passenger, inclusive of hand baggage, with only soft-sided bags permitted.
Some scheduled flights to coastal destinations have a slightly higher baggage allowance of 20 kg (44 lbs) per passenger. Private charter flights may have different luggage allowances.
Please contact us for confirmation of your baggage allowances, and for options and charges for excess baggage. The acceptance of excess baggage is at the sole discretion of the airline.
Most holiday accommodations provide a 24-hour (or less) laundry service – enabling guests to cut down on their packing.
Please note that plastic bags (such as duty-free bags) are strictly banned in Kenya and you should not bring these into the country. Zip-lock pouches are permitted.
What to Pack and Wear
On safari we recommend ‘layering’ with comfortable cotton clothing. Pack a light jacket, fleece or cardigan – evenings and early mornings on safari can be chilly – plus comfortable walking shoes and / or trainers. The dress code in the bush is informal and safari casual.
Most holiday accommodations provide a 24-hour (or less) laundry service – enabling guests to cut down on their packing.
Don’t forget your sun hat, sunglasses, sun block, insect repellent and bathing suit. Not to mention camera, binoculars, extra memory cards and charging equipment. You may wish to bring a travel adapter – voltage in Kenya is 220/240 volts AC, 50Hz and plugs are usually type G (three rectangular pins).
Water bottles and drinking water are provided for game drives and other safari activities – plus warm blankets for dawn and dusk adventures.
The climate at the East African coast is sunny, warm and humid year-round – we recommend wearing loose and comfortable cotton and linen garments and not forgetting your sunscreen.
Cosmopolitan, tolerant and welcoming, the East African coast is home to historic Muslim communities such as Lamu and Zanzibar. Visitors should dress with reasonable modesty – in particular in towns and villages – and wearing of swimsuits should be confined to resorts, beaches and pools.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you need any kind of further information and for travel advice specific to Tanzania, Zanzibar and other East African countries.
