Africa
Kenya
East Africa's hub: the Masai Mara, Amboseli, Diani's beaches and Nairobi's startup and coworking scene, with good English and M-Pesa. City crime and costly park fees are the trade-offs.
- US travel advisoryLevel 2Exercise increased cautionDetails
- Visa7 of 198passports can visit visa-freeDetails
- CurrencyKESUS$1 ≈ KSh129.56Details
- Price level34%of US prices (World Bank PPP)Details
- English4/5Widely spokenDetails
- PlugsType G240 V, 50 HzDetails
- Emergency999All emergencies 999
- Tap waterNo, drink bottledDon't drink tap water; use bottled or filtered.Details
- LGBTQ+CriminalizedConservative society; gangs use dating apps to rob and blackmail gay men.Details
- Internet23 MbpsMedian fixed broadband · mobile 45 MbpsDetails
- DrivingOn the leftForeign licences in English work for up to 3 months; carry an IDP for longer stays or non-English licences.
- Digital nomad visaYesClass N Digital Nomad PermitDetails
Where to go in Kenya
8 places with full guides. Comfortable monthly budget for one person, rent included.
| Place | Safety | Month, comfortable | Best months | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NairobiCapital city | 3/5 | $1,000–1,700 | Jan–Feb, Jul–Sep | 60/100 |
| Maasai MaraRegion | 4/5 | $3,470–6,950 | Jan–Feb, Jul–Oct | 1/100 |
| Diani BeachBeach town | 4/5 | $772–1,310 | Jan–Mar, Aug–Oct | 81/100 |
| MombasaCity | 3/5 | $695–1,160 | Jan–Mar, Aug–Oct | 78/100 |
| LamuIsland | 3/5 | $617–1,080 | Jan–Mar, Aug–Oct | 85/100 |
| WatamuTown | 4/5 | $695–1,160 | Jan–Mar, Aug–Oct | 88/100 |
| NaivashaTown | 3/5 | $540–926 | Jan–Feb, Jun–Sep | 91/100 |
| MalindiTown | 3/5 | $926–1,540 | Jan–Mar, Aug–Oct | 55/100 |
When to visit Kenya
Late June–October is dry and best for safaris, with the Mara migration July–September; January–February is also dry. Long rains April–May, short rains November.
Good to know
Entry
- Everyone except East African and most other African nationals needs an eTA from etakenya.go.ke before flying: US$30, about 3 working days.
- The eTA asks for flight details and an accommodation booking; apply at least 2 weeks ahead and only on the official site.
- Passport must be valid 6 months with 2 blank pages. Single-use plastic bags are banned and confiscated on arrival.
- Yellow fever certificate needed if arriving from a risk country; enhanced Ebola screening applies to arrivals from the DRC region.
Laws visitors break by accident
- Single-use plastic bags are banned; fines are heavy and bags are confiscated at airports.
- Smoking in public outside designated areas can bring fines up to KSh 50,000 or prison.
- Photographing government buildings, embassies or airports can get you arrested.
Etiquette
- Greet properly ('Jambo', 'Habari') before getting to business
- Dress modestly on the Muslim coast, especially Lamu and Mombasa Old Town
- Ask before photographing people; Maasai villages usually charge a fee
- Haggle politely at markets and with souvenir sellers
Tipping
About 10% in restaurants unless service is included; safari guides and camp staff expect tips, and operators suggest daily amounts.
Neighbouring countries
Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- UK FCDO travel advice: Kenya
- Kenya Electronic Travel Authorisation (Directorate of Immigration Services)
- Kenya eFNS: Class N Digital Nomad Permit
- Speedtest Global Index: Kenya
- World Bank open data
Country facts are researched by SoloSquare; advisory levels, crime, health and visa figures come from the sources listed. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.