Guide to Visiting Kenya.
Kenya is top safari destination in the world famous for the big 5 and the great wildebeest migration which is the biggest wildlife migration ever witnessed on earth, Kenya is one the world’s most pristine safari destinations in the world with exciting destinations such as Maasai Mara national reserve, Amboseli national reserve and the fourth largest city in Africa.
Kenya is an ultimate African safari destination with many Kenya holiday destinations such as pristine coastlines with tropical beaches, intriguing cultures such as the beautiful maasai, wildlife safari destinations such as Maasai Mara national reserve, Amboseli national park, Lake Nakuru national park and many other historical sites such as National Museum, Karen Blixen Museum and many more you can explore while a Kenya safari.
While travelling to Kenya, here is your travel advice for travelers to Kenya
Passport and Visa requirement
All tourists visiting Kenya on a Kenya safari regardless of the origin (home country) must present a passport upon arrival at entry point such as an airport, the passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the end of your intended stay and it must have two blank pages for stamps (entry and exit stamps).
Tourists to Kenya also must have a return or onward ticket and should be able to demonstrate access to sufficient funds to cover their stay while on a safari in Kenya and the expenses.
A Visa is a must have while travelling to Kenya, travelers from European countries, Asian countries, middle Eastern, South American countries, Australia and New Zealand. There are kinds of Visas for tourists (tourists Visa) and these include
- Single entry Visa – single entry visa are for a duration of 90 days
- Multiple entry Visa – this type of Visa allows multiple entries into Kenya for a safari and it is valid for either 6 months or 1 year.
- East Africa Tourist Visa – this type of Visa allows multiple entry to multiple East Africa countries such as Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda.
Visas in Kenya are applied for through the Kenyan embassy or high commission in your home country, eVisa can be bought online and is supposed to be done at least two days prior to departure for your safari and it is got upon your arrival.
Medical requirements for Kenya
Malaria is a big health concern in Kenya and a threat to tourists visiting Kenya, Malaria is present in most regions of Kenya and the malaria transmission risk is high during the wet season (rainy season) and low altitude areas. Malaria has no specific vaccine but several medications (oral prophylactics) are available, it is advisable to visit a travel clinic or a suitable qualified medical personal for an up-date advice about the best option to suite your travel requirements.
No medical if 100% effective to malaria which is why you are advised to take all necessary precautions against mosquito (nocturnal Anopheles) bits which transmit malaria, these precautions include
- Wear long-sleeved shirts
- Trousers and socks in the evening
- Use DEET-based insect repellents on clothes and exposed skin
- Sleep under the mosquito net
- Use a mosquito coil if necessary
Note: Tourists travelling with kids and those who don’t prefer to take medication should travel to malaria free safari destinations in Africa.
Other vaccinations required while travelling to Kenya on a Kenya safari include Hepatitis A and B, Measles, Yellow Fever, Typhoid, cholera and Flue
Health care in Kenya
When travelling to Kenya for a safari, tourists are advised to acquire comprehensive medical travel insurance inclusive of air evacuation from remote areas of Kenya, medical travel insurance may not cover scuba diving or any other Kenya safari activity which deemed to be hazardous.
Health care in Kenya is offered in various heath establishments spread across Kenya.
Medical emergencies in Kenya
In case of a medical emergency while on a Kenya safari with no assistance at hand, the best option is to call the emergency number 999 or 020-2222181/182 for fire ambulance services. Superior private hospitals in Nairobi also handle emergency cases while in Kenya such as
- Aga Khan University Hospital (tel: 020-3662000)
- MP Shah Hospital (tel: 020-3746177)
- Nairobi Hospital (020-2845000). In more remote areas, Flying Doctors (
- In remote areas of Kenya, the best option to use in case of emergencies is the fly doctors contacted on tel: 020-6992299
Lodges Kenya (dos and don’ts)
Kenya has number accommodation establishments offering accommodation and other necessary facilities and services needed while on a Kenya safari, accommodation in Kenya is categorized as luxury, midrange and budget. Kinds of accommodation in Kenya include hotels, safari lodges, tented camps and camping sites.
There are a set of rules and regulations (dos and don’ts) to follow during your stay at lodges in Kenya as follows
- Never take a walk in the bush or unfenced camp or lodge after dark unaccompanied by a safari guide or ranger
- Don’t feed the animals (feeding animals discourages a dependency of animals on handouts to survive and also foster problem animals).
- Don’t leave your precious valuables and cash lying around openly in your room
- In the evening, use/spray exposed skin with repellent to avoid mosquito bites and sleep under a net or a fan to discourage mosquito bites and other biting insects.
- Don’t make unnecessary noise in the vicinity of wild animals as the noise scares them off
- If your lodge offers a guided bush walk, engage in this amazing activity as it offers an excellent interaction with plants, insects, birds and other creatures in the wilderness of Kenya.
- Respect the animals if they enter the vicinity of your camp, give the animal space rather than walking to it or chasing it which may provoke an attack from it.
Food and tipping in Kenya
Tipping of ranger, waiters and waitress and other service provider while on a Kenya safari is highly recommended
- Tipping in local currencies is highly recommended as it is sometimes difficult to exchange small amounts of currencies into Kenya shillings.
- In Tourist-oriented restaurants, the standard tip procedure similar to th0ose of Europe and North America is followed, a tip of 10-15% to the waiters and waitress is the standard tip depending on the quality of service.
- While signing rinks and meals to your rooms than to pay cash, leave a tip for an individual waiter or bar tender or add one to the bill before signing it.
- A tip of US$1 per luggage is the standard tip for hotel porters
- While on an organized Kenya safari, it is a custom to tip a guide, driver or cook at the end of the safari, it is better to tip them as a group rather than individuals.
- In Up market lodges and camps there is a full board with a tip box at reception, tips are usually distributed between all the stuff.
