Best coverage nationwide and required to use M-Pesa. Buy at the airport with your passport.

Cheaper data bundles — a good second option in cities.

Set up data before you arrive (no M-Pesa though). Handy for the first hours.

Mobile money is king in Kenya — pay shops, taxis, even rent. Register with a Safaricom SIM (passport needed).

Carry some cash (KES)

Small vendors, matatus and markets are often cash-only. Keep small Kenyan shilling notes.

Cards (Visa / Mastercard)

Accepted in hotels, malls and bigger restaurants. Amex is rare. Notify your bank before travel.

Not mandatory but appreciated in restaurants if a service charge isn’t already added.

Kenya uses the UK-style 3-pin plug. Bring an adapter.

Languages: Swahili & English

English is widely spoken; a few Swahili words (“Jambo”, “Asante”) go a long way.

Kenya travel guide — visa, safety & best places

Best to know · 33 tips

Before you go, when you land, once there

Reviewed by Corners on 9 Yuli, 2026. Sources named on each.

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4 required things left to sort

Tick as you go — your progress is kept on this device. The rest is comfort.

required only

eTA — required before travelWajibi📄 Shiga & takarduKenya replaced visas with an Electronic Travel Authorization (since Jan 2024). EVERY visitor must apply online before departure. EAC citizens are exempt.Source · etakenya.go.ke (official)official site

Passport valid 6+ monthsWajibi📄 Shiga & takarduYour passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your arrival date.

Yellow fever certificateWajibi💉 LafiyaRequired if you’re arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission; recommended otherwise. Carry the certificate.Source · WHO / consult a travel clinic

Health notices, live

Level 2 — Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya and Nigeria · Level 1 — Ebola Bundibugyo Virus Disease in Kenya

CDC Travel Health Notices + WHO Disease Outbreak News — consult a travel clinic; the official sources prevail

Google Maps (offline)An ba da shawara Manhajoji masu muhimmanciDownload Nairobi/your regions offline — data can drop outside cities.

WhatsAppAn ba da shawara Manhajoji masu muhimmanciThe default way businesses, guides and hosts communicate in Kenya.

Proof of onward travelAn ba da shawara📄 Shiga & takarduA return/onward ticket is sometimes requested on arrival.

Malaria preventionAn ba da shawara💉 LafiyaRisk at the coast and around Lake Victoria (low in Nairobi’s highlands). Ask a doctor about prophylaxis + use repellent.

Routine + Hep A / TyphoidAn ba da shawara💉 LafiyaBe up to date on routine vaccines; Hepatitis A and Typhoid are commonly advised for Kenya.

Travel insuranceAn ba da shawara💉 LafiyaCover medical care and evacuation (useful for safaris and remote areas).

GlovoYana da kyau a sani Manhajoji masu muhimmanciFood and grocery delivery in Nairobi and other big towns.official site

Drink bottled / filtered waterYana da kyau a sani💉 LafiyaTap water isn’t reliably potable — stick to sealed or filtered water.

An bita a 2026-07-09. Dokokin shiga, lafiya da tsaro suna canzawa — koyaushe ka tabbatar daga hukumomi (da asibitin tafiya don rigakafi) kafin tafiya.

Plan a trip here

Shiga — fasfo ɗinka

Zaɓi fasfo ɗinka a sama don ganin ko kana bukatar biza ko eTA don Kenya.

Kana tafiya daga

Keep in your plans

Kenya, as a local

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Before you go, when you land, once there

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3 shows & festivals

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