Kenya travel guide

Getting there

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi is a major hub for East Africa, and Moi International Airport in Mombasa also has international flights. Land borders connect Kenya with Tanzania and Uganda, and many travellers combine both countries.

Best time to visit: Jul–Oct for the Great Migration; Jan–Feb for dry, sunny safaris.

Tougher months: April to May – the long rains make some roads muddy and some lodges close, though it is lush and cheaper.

Weather by month in Nairobi

• 25°J●
• 26°F●
• 25°M●●
• 24°A●●●
• 22°M●●
• 21°J
• 21°J
• 21°A
• 24°S
• 25°O●
• 23°N●●
• 23°D●

Average daytime highs in °C; dots show how rainy the month is (one dot dry, three dots wet).

Time zone: Africa/Nairobi. Compare with your local time.

Visas: in our passport dataset, 77 of 198 other passports can enter Kenya without arranging a visa first (visa-free or visa on arrival), 121 need an e-visa or electronic authorisation, and 0 need a visa in advance. Check your passport.

Background: Visa policy of Kenya (Wikipedia).

Official advisory: Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (U.S. Department of State, updated 2026-07-28). Read the advisory.

Source and more: Kenya travel facts on RoamSun

Stay

Most trips to Kenya are based around Maasai Mara National Reserve, Amboseli National Park or Nairobi. Pick a base for your main interest, then add day trips rather than moving hotels every night.

Typical daily budget: about US$35–55 for a backpacker and US$120–250 mid-range, per person.

Source: RoamSun Kenya page · Browse hotel guides

Connect

Plug types: G. Voltage: 240 V. Check your own devices on the plug and currency checker.

Calling code: +254.

Mobile data: read the travel eSIM setup guide before you fly so the plan is installed and ready on landing.

Source: Advinne eSIM guide · RoamSun

Do

• Maasai Mara National Reserve (Southwest · safari): Kenya's most famous reserve, with big cats and the Great Migration from roughly July to October.
• Amboseli National Park (South · elephants): Huge elephant herds and swamps set against views of Kilimanjaro.
• Nairobi (Capital · city & wildlife): A dynamic capital with a national park on its doorstep, museums and a growing food scene.
• Lamu (North coast · Swahili heritage): A UNESCO-listed island town with dhows, donkeys and centuries-old Swahili architecture.
• Diani Beach (South coast · beach): A long white-sand beach with snorkelling, kitesurfing and coastal forest.
• Mount Kenya (Central highlands · trekking): A UNESCO-listed mountain with glaciers, lakes and multi-day hiking routes.
• Samburu National Reserve (North · arid safari): Home to unique northern species such as the reticulated giraffe and Grevy's zebra.
• Lake Naivasha (Rift Valley · lakes): A freshwater lake with hippos, boat trips and nearby Hell's Gate National Park.

Things to do

• Watch the Great Migration. See vast herds of wildebeest and zebra cross the Mara River while predators lie in wait.
• Photograph elephants under Kilimanjaro. Capture big tuskers in Amboseli with Africa's highest mountain rising behind them.
• Meet orphaned elephants in Nairobi. Watch baby elephants being fed and bathed at a wildlife orphanage on the edge of the capital.
• Get lost in Lamu Old Town. Wander car-free alleys of carved doors and coral-stone houses, where donkeys still carry goods.
• Explore Fort Jesus. Walk the ramparts of Mombasa's UNESCO-listed Portuguese fort and the Old Town nearby.
• Trek Mount Kenya. Hike through bamboo forest and alpine moorland to Point Lenana on Africa's second-highest mountain.
• See flamingos at Lake Nakuru. Look for rhinos, lions and flocks of pink flamingos along the shores of a Rift Valley lake.
• Cycle through Hell's Gate. Ride a bike among zebras and giraffes, then hike through dramatic red-rock gorges.

Source: full Kenya guide on RoamSun

Eat and drink

• Nyama choma – grilled meat, often goat
• Ugali – firm maize porridge
• Sukuma wiki – sautéed collard greens
• Pilau – spiced rice from the coast

Source: RoamSun Kenya guide

Money and safety

Currency: Kenyan shilling (KES). Currency and plug checker.

Tipping: About 10% in restaurants; safari guides and drivers expect tips.

Emergency numbers: 999 or 112 all services.

• The currency is the Kenyan shilling (KES); ATMs are common in cities and larger towns.
• Cards are accepted in hotels, lodges and malls, and M-Pesa mobile money is very widely used.
• Take care in Nairobi after dark, avoid walking alone at night and use ride-hailing apps or registered taxis.
• Check your government's latest travel advice, as some regions near the Somali border and parts of the north are advised against.

Source: RoamSun Kenya facts