Travel guide
Know before you go: timing, entry, health, and logistics for Kenya.
- When to go
- The best time to visit is during the dry season from June to October. This coincides with the Great Migration in the Maasai Mara (typically July to September) and offers the best wildlife viewing as animals congregate around water sources. January and February are also excellent for bird watching and beach trips.
- Visa and entry
- As of January 2024, Kenya is visa-free but requires a mandatory Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) for all foreign nationals, including US and EU citizens. The eTA costs approximately $30–$34 USD and should be applied for at least two weeks before travel via the official government portal. It typically grants a stay of up to 90 days. US citizens may be eligible for a 5-year multiple-entry eTA.
- Health
- Yellow Fever vaccination is mandatory if arriving from a country with risk of transmission. Recommended vaccinations include Hepatitis A, Typhoid, and Polio. Travelers should also be up-to-date on routine vaccines (MMR, DTP). Malaria prophylaxis is strongly advised for most regions, including safari parks and the coast.
- Currency
- Kenyan Shilling (KES)
- Language
- Swahili and English
- Getting around
- Internal travel is arranged for you: private guided road transfers and light-aircraft hops between parks and regions, with airport meet-and-greet throughout.
