Kenya Travel: Practical Information

Here’s a my overview page about the practical stuff of Kenya travel: visa and passport information, getting there, getting around, money, maps, weather, health, and on. I always like to prepare myself well for trips far from home – it makes me feel less like a tourist and more like a world-wise traveler… Follow the links for detailed information.

Visa and Passport

Most travelers need a visa, which in most cases you can get after arrival at the airport for $50. Details are at my page about Kenya visa requirements. You also need a passport that’s valid for 3 months from the moment of entry. Here’s information about Kenya Customs regulations.

Getting There

Unless you’re coming from Tanzania or Uganda, flying is about the only way to enter Kenya. Most tourists come in through Kenyatta airport in Nairobi, but some international charter companies also use Mombasa’s airport. Here’s a list of airlines that fly to Kenya as well as air connections to Kenya listed by continent Also check the tips how to get the cheapest tickets to Kenya. - The major Kenyan airline is Kenya Airways - It has a good reputation for quality and safety. Here's more about getting to Kenya with other means.

Getting Around

Here’s an overview of the means of transport within Kenya They include a nation-wide network of cheap buses and matatus, taxis and a limited railway (especially Nairobi-Mombasa). Hiring a car in Kenya is expensive with lots of small print, but sometimes the only option.

There are quite some possibilities to fly within Kenya – either on a regular domestic air line or with a chartered flight. Here’s a list of domestic airlines in Kenya - one of them is Air Kenya. Domestic airlines use Wilson Airport in Nairobi or any of the other airports in Kenya.

Hotels

The quality of hotels in Kenya ranges from excellent to bad. To help you avoid the bad ones, here's my introduction page about hotels in Kenya and see my lists of best hotels in Nairobi and best hotels in Mombasa.

Time Zone

Kenya’s time zone is +3 GMT, meaning 3 hours later than London. It doesn't have summer time, so in the summer the time difference is reduced by one hour for those countries that do have summer time.

Maps

Here are all kinds of maps of Kenya, including national parks.

Weather

Kenya is at the equator, and has a tropical climate. Each year, there are two rainy season and two dry seasons. The two main tourists seasons (Jan-Feb and Jul-Aug) are in the dry periods. In the rainy seasons, not all safari parks are easily accessible, but you’ll more of them to yourself and prices are lower. Here’s more about the best season for safaris in Kenya.

Money

Tourist Information

Here’s information about Kenya's Tourist Information offices within the country and abroad.

Health

Traveling to any tropical country requires some preparation. Here’s basic health advice and a list of diseases and precautions, including vaccinations. Also see my page about AIDS & HIV in Kenya.

Embassies

Here’s a list of foreign embassies in Kenya, as well as Kenyan missions abroad.

Crime

Kenya has it’s problems with crime, but if you follow simple rules, your stay should be trouble-free. Here’s information for when you have to deal with Kenyan police

Communications

Here’s information about (cheap) phone calls in Kenya when you’re in Kenya. The country also has a good mobile phone network, and internet access is cheap and pretty wide available. VOIP in Kenya (phone calls over the internet) is on the rise as well.

Food and Groceries

Most cities, and towns frequented by tourists, have good supermarkets They aren’t terribly cheap, but their quality is good with Western, Kenyan and other brands available. Here’s more information about food and food safety in general.

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