Planning a trip to Kenya? Here’s your complete guide to staying healthy, managing your visa, handling money, and packing smart. Before you go it’s worth preparing a few things in advance to make your stay safe and stress-free. In this guide I share my personal experiences and useful tips about visas, currency, health precaution, rules and essential items to bring along for your adventure to Kenya.
Visa
When going to Kenya, you may need a Visa. I got mine on evisa.go.ke and I found this website quite useful to find out if I need a Visa and what is required to apply for one. I have a Swiss citizenship and I needed a Visa to stay in Kenya for those six weeks. As for most Visa, you need a valid passport, a photo of yourself, contact details, an arrival and departure date, an accommodation confirmation and a payment method to apply for a Visa. Try to do it as soon as you booked the flights, because it may take some time to process it.
Currency
The official currency is the Kenyan Shilling (KES). I highly recommend you to either order some KES in your country or change it as soon as you arrive in Kenya. You can also take some US-Dollars with you and change it there. Some bigger places even accept the payment with USD.
Health
Medical care is limited outside Nairobi and Mombasa, so use private hospitals if needed. Remember that they usually require upfront payment. Check with your doctor for recommended vaccines; I had yellow fever, rabies, and typhoid, plus malaria prophylaxis for high-risk areas. Bring personal supplies like painkillers, band-aids, wound disinfectant, anti-diarrhea meds, electrolytes, and protein bars.
Important to know
- Plastic bags are banned: use alternatives for toiletries.
- Same-sex acts are illegal.
- Don’t photograph military sites, airports, or government buildings.
- Insulting the President or destroying banknotes is prohibited.
Packing essentials
Apart from medications and personal items, here are my top 5 must-bring essentials for a trip to Kenya:
- rain boots and raincoat – useful during the rainy season or in tall grass
- sunhat and sunscreen – remember that Kenya is on the equator
- torch and power-bank – electricity is not always reliable
- plenty of napkins – toilet paper is not always available
- extra pens – schoolkids may ask for them, as some can’t afford their own