Travel Info & FAQs
Practical answers to the questions we hear most before a Kenya safari. For rates and dates for a specific trip, see that tour's own page - for the best months to travel, see high vs low season on any tour page.
Most visitors need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) to enter
Kenya, applied for online before you travel. Requirements and fees vary
by nationality and do change, so always check the official
Kenya ETA portal
directly rather than relying on general advice - including ours. Apply
at least a few days before departure.
A Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is required if you're arriving
from (or have transited through) a country with risk of yellow fever
transmission. Malaria risk exists in most safari areas, so talk to a
travel health clinic about antimalarial medication well before you
travel. Routine vaccines (MMR, tetanus, etc.) should be up to date, and
we'd recommend travel insurance that covers medical evacuation.
Neutral-colored, lightweight clothing (khaki, olive, brown - avoid
bright white and dark blue/black, which attract insects); a warm layer
for chilly early-morning game drives; a hat and high-SPF sunscreen;
binoculars; a basic first-aid kit with any personal medication; and a
universal or UK-style (Type G) power adapter. Soft-sided luggage packs
better into safari vehicles and light aircraft than hard suitcases.
Kenya's currency is the Kenyan Shilling (KES). US dollars are widely
accepted at hotels and lodges for larger payments (bring newer, unmarked
notes), while M-Pesa mobile money is the everyday standard for small
local purchases. Tipping guides, drivers and camp staff is customary and
appreciated, though never obligatory - your guide can advise on typical
amounts for your trip.
Mobile coverage is generally good in and around Kenya's major parks and
towns, and most lodges and camps offer Wi-Fi in common areas. Coverage
thins out at more remote camps and while out on game drives, so treat a
few offline hours each day as part of the experience.
The dry season (June-October and January-February) gives the clearest
game viewing, with the Masai Mara river crossings peaking July-October -
but it's also the busiest and most expensive time to travel. The
"green season" (March-May and November) brings lush scenery, newborn
wildlife, far fewer visitors and lower rates, at the cost of more rain.
Every tour page has a month-by-month rate table showing high vs low
season for that specific trip.
Submit a booking inquiry from any tour page and we'll follow up with a
confirmed quote and payment link - you can track its status anytime from
your account. See our
Cancellation & Refund Policy for
what happens if plans change.
Still have a question? Reach out via our Contact Us page.