{"id":1310585,"date":"2026-10-22T14:02:51","date_gmt":"2026-10-22T14:02:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/?page_id=1310585"},"modified":"2026-10-23T12:51:57","modified_gmt":"2026-10-23T12:51:57","slug":"kenya","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/africa\/kenya\/","title":{"rendered":"Kenya"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":200,"featured_media":0,"parent":1302039,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"hw-hub-country","meta":{"footnotes":"","hw_hub_hero_eyebrow":"","hw_hub_hero_h1":"","hw_hub_hero_intro":"","hw_hub_hero_image":"","hw_hub_hero_overlay":"","hw_hub_hero_cta":"","hw_hub_why_title":"","hw_hub_why_body":"","hw_hub_why_link_label":"","hw_hub_why_link_url":"","hw_hub_why_cards":"","hw_hub_stats":"","hw_hub_countries_title":"","hw_hub_countries_intro":"","hw_hub_featured":"","hw_hub_regions":"","hw_hub_hostels_title":"","hw_hub_hostels_intro":"","hw_hub_hostels_cta_label":"","hw_hub_hostels_cta_url":"","hw_hub_hostels_source":"","hw_hub_hostels_location_type":"","hw_hub_hostels_location_id":"","hw_hub_hostels_currency":"","hw_hub_hostels_count":"","hw_hub_hostels_cache":"","hw_hub_hostels":"","hw_hub_when_title":"","hw_hub_when_intro":"","hw_hub_seasons":"","hw_hub_costs_title":"","hw_hub_costs_body":"","hw_hub_cost_rows":"","hw_hub_cost_note":"","hw_hub_money_reads":"","hw_hub_rail_title":"","hw_hub_rail_body":"","hw_hub_rail_link_label":"","hw_hub_rail_link_url":"","hw_hub_rail_image":"","hw_hub_routes":"","hw_hub_events_title":"","hw_hub_events_intro":"","hw_hub_events_source":"","hw_hub_events_continent":"","hw_hub_events_count":"","hw_hub_events_cache":"","hw_hub_events_cta_label":"","hw_hub_events_cta_url":"","hw_hub_events":"","hw_hub_events_pills":"","hw_hub_reads_intro":"","hw_hub_article_rows":"","hw_hub_show_read_time":"","hw_hub_all_title":"","hw_hub_all_body":"","hw_hub_all_cta":"","hw_hub_trips_title":"","hw_hub_trips_note":"","hw_hub_trips":"","hw_hub_faq_title":"","hw_hub_faq_note":"","hw_hub_faqs":"","hw_hub_cta_title":"","hw_hub_cta_body":"","hw_hub_cta_buttons":"","hw_hub_newsletter_title":"","hw_hub_newsletter_body":"","hw_hub_newsletter_shortcode":"","hw_hub_hub_term":"","hw_hub_scope_rows":"","hw_hub_country_hero_eyebrow":"Kenya country guide","hw_hub_country_hero_h1":"Kenya Travel Guide","hw_hub_country_hero_intro":"The wildebeest crossings in the Maasai Mara, elephants under Kilimanjaro in Amboseli, and a Swahili coast of coral beaches and old stone towns, joined by an overnight-friendly railway. Most backpackers base themselves in Nairobi, join a group safari, then ride the SGR train to Mombasa and the beaches of Diani or Watamu. Two to three weeks is a good first trip, and safari park fees will be your biggest single cost.","hw_hub_country_hero_image":"1310657","hw_hub_country_hero_overlay":"medium","hw_hub_country_hero_cta":"Where to go | #cities\r\nWhat it costs | #costs","hw_hub_country_stats":"US$30 | eTA fee for most visitors, applied for online before you fly\r\n\u20ac1 \u2248 KSh145 | Rough exchange rate, October 2026\r\nJul\u2013Oct | Migration river crossings in the Maasai Mara\r\n8 | UNESCO World Heritage Sites","hw_hub_country_intro_title":"What travelling Kenya is actually like","hw_hub_country_intro_body":"Kenya is East Africa's easiest country to travel on a budget, as long as you accept one thing up front: the wildlife is the reason most people come, and wildlife here is expensive. A day in the Maasai Mara costs US$200 in park fees alone in high season, before you've paid for a vehicle or a bed. Everything else, from matatus and street food to a dorm in Nairobi or a beach hut in Diani, is good value by European standards.\r\n\r\nNairobi is where almost every trip starts. It's a big, busy, sometimes chaotic capital with a national park on its southern edge, a strong food and music scene in Westlands and Kilimani, and the safari operators who run group trips to the Mara, Amboseli and Lake Nakuru. Two or three days is enough for most people before heading out.\r\n\r\nWest and north of the city, the Great Rift Valley drops away in a series of lakes and volcanoes. Lake Naivasha and Hell's Gate, where you can cycle past zebras and giraffes, are the cheapest wildlife experience in the country. Further on are Lake Nakuru, the Maasai Mara on the Tanzanian border and, near Nanyuki, the slopes of Mount Kenya, Africa's second-highest mountain.\r\n\r\nThe coast feels like another country. The SGR train runs from Nairobi to Mombasa, a Swahili port city with Fort Jesus and an Old Town of carved doors and mosques. South of it, Diani has a long white beach, kitesurfing and the reef. North, Watamu has marine parks and the ruins of Gede, while Lamu is a car-free island town reached by plane, where donkeys and dhows still do most of the work.\r\n\r\nA typical first trip runs Nairobi, a three-day group safari to the Mara, a day or two at Naivasha, then the train to the coast for a week on the beach. Two weeks covers that comfortably. Three lets you add Amboseli, Mount Kenya or Lamu. Be aware of a few things before you go: you need an eTA and, since October 2026, a government travel health policy before you fly, and the far north-east near Somalia is off-limits on UK government advice.","hw_hub_country_facts":"Capital | Nairobi\r\nCurrency | Kenyan shilling (KES, KSh). Around KSh145 to \u20ac1 (October 2026). Park fees are charged in US dollars\r\nLanguages | Swahili and English are official. English works in tourism, Sheng is the Nairobi street slang\r\nVisa | UK, EU, US and Australian passports need an eTA (from US$30) from etakenya.go.ke before flying. Most African and EAC nationals are exempt\r\nHealth insurance | Compulsory Kenyan government inbound policy since October 2026, US$44 base price, valid 90 days\r\nPassport | Valid 6 months from arrival, with 2 blank pages on UK advice\r\nTime zone | EAT (UTC+3), no daylight saving\r\nPlugs and voltage | Type G (three square pins, as in the UK), 240V\r\nEmergency number | 999 for police, fire and ambulance\r\nTipping | Around 10% in sit-down restaurants if service isn't included. Tip safari guides and cooks at the end of a trip\r\nTap water | Not safe to drink. Use bottled or filtered water\r\nSIM\/eSIM | Safaricom has the best coverage. Tourist SIM about KSh100 at JKIA with your passport, plus data. eSIMs are data only and can't run M-Pesa\r\nRide-hailing apps | Uber and Bolt in Nairobi and Mombasa\r\nBest time to go | Late June to October for safaris and the migration. January and February are dry and quieter","hw_hub_country_cities_title":"Where to go in Kenya","hw_hub_country_cities_intro":"Most routes run Nairobi to the parks of the Rift Valley and the Mara, then down the railway to Mombasa and the beaches either side of it. Lamu, Amboseli and Mount Kenya are the add-ons for a third week.","hw_hub_country_cities_live":"1","hw_hub_country_cities":"Nairobi | The starting point for almost every trip, with rhinos and lions in Nairobi National Park against the skyline, the best food and nightlife in East Africa, and the safari operators for the Mara and Amboseli. |  | 1310678 | As usual, Nairobi is a nice town. I will also love it in all aspects | \nDiani | A long white beach south of Mombasa with a coral reef, kitesurfing, colobus monkeys in the roadside trees and the strongest backpacker scene on the coast. |  | 1314853 | Diani is so chilled, the people are wonderful, and the wildlife is unbelievable | ","hw_hub_country_trips_title":"Pick your kind of Kenya trip","hw_hub_country_trips_intro":"A safari is the reason most people book, but plenty of travellers end up remembering the coast or the Rift Valley lakes just as fondly. Decide how many park days you can afford and build the rest of the trip around them.","hw_hub_country_trip_types":"Safari and wildlife | green | camera | The Mara's migration and big cats, elephants in Amboseli, rhinos at Lake Nakuru and Ol Pejeta, and cheap walking safaris at Hell's Gate. | Group camping safaris; game drives; walking and cycling safaris; balloon flights over the Mara | Maasai Mara; Amboseli; Lake Nakuru; Tsavo; Hell's Gate; Nairobi National Park | Nairobi | wildlife\nBeaches and the reef | blue | beach | Indian Ocean beaches with a coral reef just offshore, warm water all year and marine parks for snorkelling and diving. | Snorkelling; diving; kitesurfing; dhow trips; dolphin spotting near Shimoni | Diani Beach; Watamu Marine Park; Kisite-Mpunguti; Malindi Marine Park | Diani | beach\nSwahili history | orange | compass | A thousand years of trading towns, coral-stone mosques and carved doors along the coast, three of them UNESCO-listed. | Old Town walks; Fort Jesus; Gedi ruins; dhow sailing; Swahili food | Lamu Old Town; Fort Jesus; Gedi Ruins; Shela village |  | culture\nMountains and hiking | teal | mountain | Treks on Africa's second-highest mountain, crater-rim walks on Rift Valley volcanoes and forest hikes in the west. | Point Lenana trek; Mount Longonot crater rim; Hell's Gate gorge; Kakamega Forest walks | Mount Kenya; Mount Longonot; Hell's Gate; Kakamega Forest |  | hiking\nRail and road trip | purple | train | The SGR train from Nairobi to the coast, with stops for Tsavo, followed by matatus and buses along the shore. | SGR Madaraka Express; Tsavo via Voi; coast road by matatu and bus | Nairobi Terminus; Voi; Mombasa Terminus; Likoni | Nairobi;Diani | road-trips\nFood and nightlife | pink | food | Nyama choma and Westlands nights in Nairobi, then Swahili seafood and beach bars on the coast. | Nyama choma joints; Westlands bars; Old Town street food; beach sundowners | Westlands; Kilimani; Mombasa Old Town; Diani beach bars | Nairobi;Diani | food","hw_hub_country_do_title":"Big cats, coral reefs and Rift Valley volcanoes","hw_hub_country_do_body":"The Maasai Mara is Kenya's headline act. From around July the wildebeest and zebra herds of the Serengeti-Mara migration move north into Kenya, and the famous Mara River crossings usually happen between July and October, before the herds head south again. Outside migration season the Mara still has some of the best big-cat viewing in Africa, and park fees halve from January to June. Most backpackers go on a three-day group safari from Nairobi, which is five to six hours each way by road.\r\n\r\nAmboseli is the classic photo of elephants with Kilimanjaro behind them (the mountain is in Tanzania, and often hidden in cloud by late morning). Lake Nakuru is good for rhinos and flamingos, and Tsavo East and West are huge, empty and easy to combine with the train, since the SGR stops at Voi. Nairobi National Park, on the edge of the capital, lets you see rhinos and lions with the city skyline behind them.\r\n\r\nFor a cheap wildlife day, Hell's Gate near Naivasha is one of the few parks where you can walk or cycle among zebras, giraffes and buffalo, and its gorge is a popular hike. Mount Longonot, a volcano next door, is a steep half-day climb around the crater rim. Both cost US$50 in conservation fees, a quarter of the Mara's peak price.\r\n\r\nMount Kenya is a serious multi-day trek, usually to Point Lenana (4,985 m) via the Sirimon, Chogoria or Naro Moru routes from Nanyuki, and you need a guide. On the coast, snorkel the marine parks at Watamu, Malindi or Kisite-Mpunguti near Shimoni, learn to kitesurf in Diani, and walk the Old Towns of Mombasa and Lamu. Kenya now has eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Fort Jesus, Lamu Old Town and, since 2024, the Swahili ruins of Gedi near Watamu.","hw_hub_country_do_points":"Maasai Mara | US$200 a day July to December, US$100 January to June. River crossings usually July to October\r\nAmboseli | US$90 a day. Elephants with Kilimanjaro views on clear mornings\r\nHell's Gate | US$50 a day. Cycle or walk among zebras and giraffes near Naivasha\r\nMount Kenya | Point Lenana (4,985 m) on a guided trek of three to five days. Park fee US$70 a day\r\nMarine parks | US$25 a day at Watamu, Malindi and Kisite-Mpunguti\r\nUNESCO sites | Eight, including Fort Jesus, Lamu Old Town and the Gedi ruins","hw_hub_country_do_tag":"things-to-do","hw_hub_country_do_more":"All things to do guides for Kenya","hw_hub_country_food_title":"Nyama choma, chapati and Swahili spice","hw_hub_country_food_body":"Kenyan food is filling, cheap and built around a few staples. Ugali, a stiff maize porridge you tear and scoop with your right hand, comes with almost everything, along with sukuma wiki (braised kale) and a stew of beef, chicken or beans. Chapati, the soft, flaky flatbread brought over by Indian railway workers, is everyone's favourite side, and githeri (maize and beans) is the budget lunch of students and office workers.\r\n\r\nNyama choma, grilled goat or beef sold by the kilo and chopped at your table, is the social meal. It comes with kachumbari (tomato and onion salad) and a cold Tusker, and a weekend nyama choma joint is the easiest way to see Nairobi relax. Street food covers the gaps: roasted maize, mutura (a spiced sausage), samosas, mandazi (lightly sweet fried dough) and smokie pasua, a hot sausage split and stuffed with kachumbari.\r\n\r\nThe coast is where the food gets interesting. Swahili cooking mixes African, Arab, Indian and Persian flavours, so expect coconut fish curry, pilau rice heavy with cardamom and cloves, biryani, grilled octopus and mahamri (cardamom doughnuts) with chai in the morning. Mombasa's Old Town and Lamu are the places to eat it, and viazi karai (battered spiced potatoes) and mishkaki (meat skewers) are the evening street snacks.\r\n\r\nChai is drunk everywhere, boiled with milk, sugar and often ginger, and Kenyan coffee is excellent, though most of the best is exported. Tusker, White Cap and Guinness are the standard beers. Don't drink the tap water: buy bottled or bring a filter bottle. In local caf\u00e9s (called hotelis), a plate of ugali or rice with stew and greens costs a couple of euros, and even mid-range restaurants in Nairobi rarely go far above Western European caf\u00e9 prices.","hw_hub_country_food_points":"Ugali | Stiff maize porridge, eaten by hand with stew and sukuma wiki\r\nNyama choma | Grilled goat or beef by the kilo, with kachumbari\r\nChapati | Flaky flatbread, the side everyone orders\r\nSwahili coast | Coconut fish curry, pilau, biryani and mahamri with chai\r\nStreet food | Roasted maize, samosas, mandazi, smokie pasua\r\nWater | Don't drink the tap water. Bottled or filtered only","hw_hub_country_food_tag":"food","hw_hub_country_food_more":"All food guides for Kenya","hw_hub_country_nightlife_title":"Westlands nights and Diani beach bars","hw_hub_country_nightlife_body":"Nairobi has the best nightlife in East Africa and it's very much a local scene, not a tourist one. Westlands is the main strip of bars, clubs and rooftop lounges, and it's busiest from Thursday to Saturday. Kilimani and the area around Ngong Road have quieter bars and live music, while Karen and the suburbs are about long weekend afternoons in gardens. Expect Afrobeats, amapiano, bongo flava from Tanzania and gengetone, Nairobi's own fast, Sheng-language take on hip hop.\r\n\r\nThings start late and end later, and plenty of Nairobi's social life happens over nyama choma and beer on a Sunday afternoon rather than in clubs. Ask at your hostel which places are popular that week, since the best spots change fast.\r\n\r\nOn the coast, Diani's beach bars and hostel bars are the backpacker scene, with full-moon parties and sundowners on the sand, and Watamu and Malindi have a few late beach clubs. Mombasa's nightlife is mostly along the north coast around Nyali and Bamburi. Lamu is quiet, conservative and mostly dry outside a few hotels and Shela village, which suits most people who go there.\r\n\r\nKeep a few rules. Take Uber or Bolt door to door at night, even for a few hundred metres, and agree a plan for getting home before you go out. The FCDO warns about drinks and food being spiked, so never accept them from strangers and watch your glass. Smoking is banned in public places outside designated areas, and drug penalties are heavy. Dating apps have been used to set up robberies, so meet new people in busy public places.","hw_hub_country_nightlife_points":"Nairobi | Westlands for clubs and rooftops, Kilimani for bars and live music\r\nSound | Afrobeats, amapiano, bongo flava and Nairobi's own gengetone\r\nDiani | Beach and hostel bars, the coast's backpacker scene\r\nLamu | Quiet and conservative, with drinks mostly in hotels and Shela\r\nGetting home | Uber or Bolt door to door, even for short distances\r\nSmoking | Banned in public places outside designated areas","hw_hub_country_nightlife_tag":"nightlife","hw_hub_country_nightlife_more":"All nightlife guides for Kenya","hw_hub_country_transport_title":"The SGR train, matatus and the odd small plane","hw_hub_country_transport_body":"The Madaraka Express, usually just called the SGR, is the best way between Nairobi and Mombasa. Three trains leave each end daily: the 8am Inter-County stops at every station, while the 3pm express and the 10pm night train stop only at Voi. The express takes about six hours. Economy costs KSh1,500 (about \u20ac10) and first class KSh4,500 (about \u20ac31). Book on metickets.krc.co.ke and pay by M-Pesa. Both termini are out of town, at Syokimau in Nairobi and Miritini in Mombasa, so allow time for the link train or a taxi, and arrive 60 minutes early for security checks, since gates close 10 minutes before departure.\r\n\r\nMatatus are the minibuses that move most Kenyans, often painted with murals and playing music loud enough to feel. In Nairobi, short rides cost roughly KSh20 to KSh100 (under \u20ac1), paid to the conductor, and many now take M-Pesa. Fares rise at rush hour and in the rain. They're cheap and a real experience, but the FCDO warns of serious accidents and occasional hijackings, so avoid long-distance matatus and night rides.\r\n\r\nFor longer trips, coach companies such as Tahmeed, Ena Coach and Coast Bus run Nairobi to Mombasa in around eight hours from about US$20, and buses also connect Nairobi with Nakuru, Kisumu and Nanyuki. Uber and Bolt work in Nairobi and Mombasa and are the standard way around at night. Boda bodas (motorbike taxis) are quick for short hops, but insist on a helmet.\r\n\r\nSome places are worth flying to. Lamu must be reached by air on FCDO advice, with daily Jambojet flights from Jomo Kenyatta International (about 1 hour 20 minutes) and small planes from Nairobi's Wilson Airport. Safari airlines also fly into airstrips in the Mara and Amboseli, at a price. From JKIA into Nairobi, use the Expressway or Mombasa Road, not the old airport road. Kenya drives on the left, and driving after dark outside cities is best avoided.","hw_hub_country_transport_points":"SGR train | Nairobi to Mombasa daily at 8am, 3pm and 10pm. Economy KSh1,500 (about \u20ac10)\r\nSGR tips | Book on metickets.krc.co.ke. Arrive 60 minutes early, gates close 10 minutes before\r\nMatatus | KSh20 to KSh100 for city rides. Avoid long-distance matatus and night rides\r\nCoaches | Nairobi to Mombasa in about 8 hours from around US$20\r\nLamu | Fly only, on FCDO advice. Jambojet daily from JKIA, about 1 hour 20 minutes\r\nRide-hailing | Uber and Bolt in Nairobi and Mombasa, the standard choice after dark","hw_hub_country_transport_tag":"transport","hw_hub_country_transport_more":"All transport guides for Kenya","hw_hub_country_money_title":"Cheap days, expensive park gates","hw_hub_country_money_body":"Kenya is two budgets in one. A day in Nairobi or on the coast, sleeping in a dorm, eating at local caf\u00e9s and riding matatus, can come in around \u20ac25 to \u20ac35. A day inside a national park can cost five or ten times that, because conservation fees are charged per person per day in US dollars and you also need a vehicle, a driver and somewhere to sleep. Plan your park days first and fit the rest around them. The rate is around KSh145 to \u20ac1 (October 2026).\r\n\r\nThe Maasai Mara National Reserve charges non-residents US$200 (about \u20ac179) a day from July to December and US$100 (about \u20ac89) from January to June. The Mara Triangle, run separately by the Mara Conservancy, uses the same seasonal split, takes no cash, and its tickets run 6am to 6pm. Private conservancies bordering the reserve add their own nightly fees, often built into lodge rates. Kenya Wildlife Service parks cost US$90 for Amboseli and Lake Nakuru, US$80 for Nairobi National Park and Tsavo, US$70 for Mount Kenya, US$50 for Hell's Gate and Longonot, and US$25 for the marine parks.\r\n\r\nA budget three-day group camping safari to the Mara from Nairobi starts at around US$300 to US$400 before park fees in 2026, so in peak season expect a real total of about \u20ac450 to \u20ac650 once two days of fees are added. Always check in writing whether fees are included, because a quote without them looks several hundred dollars cheaper. Low season, from January to June, is the easiest way to cut the bill.\r\n\r\nM-Pesa runs the economy. Buy a Safaricom SIM at the airport with your passport and you can register for M-Pesa at a Safaricom shop, then pay for train tickets, matatus, park fees and market stalls by phone. Cards work in malls, hotels and bigger restaurants, and ATMs are common in towns. Carry small notes for tips, matatus and rural areas.","hw_hub_country_money_points":"Exchange rate | Around KSh145 to \u20ac1 (October 2026)\r\nMara fees | US$200 (about \u20ac179) a day July to December, US$100 January to June\r\nKWS parks | Amboseli and Nakuru US$90, Nairobi and Tsavo US$80, Hell's Gate US$50\r\nBudget safari | Three days in the Mara, about \u20ac450 to \u20ac650 including peak-season fees\r\nM-Pesa | Register with your passport at a Safaricom shop, then pay by phone\r\nCash | Small notes for matatus, tips, markets and rural areas","hw_hub_country_money_tag":"budget","hw_hub_country_money_more":"All budget guides for Kenya","hw_hub_country_safety_title":"Know the red zones, then relax","hw_hub_country_safety_body":"Most of the places travellers go in Kenya, including Nairobi, the Rift Valley, the Mara, Amboseli and the coast from Diani to Watamu, are outside the areas where the UK Foreign Office advises against travel. The restricted areas are in the north-east, near the Somalia border, and they are serious: the FCDO advises against all travel to Mandera County, to parts of Wajir County (including anywhere within 60 km of the border), to most of Garissa County, and to Lamu County except Lamu Island and Manda Island.\r\n\r\nLamu needs particular care. The islands themselves are fine to visit, but the FCDO says not to travel there by road: fly into Manda airport and take the short boat across. It also advises against all but essential travel to Garissa Town, to Tana River County north of the river as far as Saka, and to the coastal strip within 15 km of the sea between the Tana and Galana rivers. The FCDO rates the terrorism threat across Kenya as high, and travel against its advice can invalidate your insurance.\r\n\r\nIn cities, the main risk is crime. The FCDO lists Nairobi's CBD, Eastleigh and informal settlements such as Kibera and Mathare as higher risk, along with Mombasa's Old Town and the area around the Likoni ferry. Don't walk around with your phone out, use Uber or Bolt after dark, and be wary of anyone claiming to be police or security without ID. Protests are common in Nairobi and can turn violent, so keep away from political gatherings.\r\n\r\nOut in the wild, take the rules seriously. Don't swim in rivers or lakes in parks, follow your guide on walking safaris, and expect altitude problems on Mount Kenya. Same-sex relationships are illegal and public affection can lead to arrest. In October 2026 Kenya confirmed an imported Ebola (Bundibugyo) case linked to the outbreak in DR Congo; authorities say there is no local outbreak, but expect health screening at airports and check the latest advice before you fly. Dial 999 in an emergency.","hw_hub_country_safety_points":"No-go areas | Mandera, most of Garissa, Wajir near the border, Lamu County outside the islands\r\nLamu | Fly to Manda airport. The FCDO says do not travel by road\r\nCities | Use Uber or Bolt after dark. Avoid Nairobi CBD on foot at night\r\nProtests | Common in Nairobi. Keep well away from political gatherings\r\nHealth | Imported Ebola case confirmed October 2026. Expect airport screening\r\nEmergency | 999 for police, fire and ambulance","hw_hub_country_safety_tag":"safety","hw_hub_country_safety_more":"All safety guides for Kenya","hw_hub_country_entry_title":"An eTA, a new insurance policy and six months on your passport","hw_hub_country_entry_body":"Kenya no longer issues visas on arrival to most visitors. Instead, nearly everyone from outside Africa, including UK, EU, US and Australian passport holders, needs an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) before flying. Apply only on the official site, etakenya.go.ke, where the standard fee starts at US$30 (about \u20ac27), with an expedited option for an extra US$100. Processing usually takes about three working days, but the UK government recommends applying at least two weeks ahead. You can't board without approval.\r\n\r\nAn eTA is valid for 90 days from issue and is normally single entry, though Kenya's embassy says you can re-enter on the same eTA after a trip to another East African Community country such as Tanzania or Uganda. Since 2025, citizens of East African Community states and almost all other African countries are exempt from the eTA.\r\n\r\nThe big change for 2026 is compulsory travel health insurance. Since early October 2026, most visitors staying less than 12 months must buy Kenyan government inbound health cover, either during the eTA application or separately through the eCitizen insurance portal. The base price is US$44 (about \u20ac39), and travellers report totals nearer US$52 once fees are added. The FCDO says the policy lasts 90 days and covers multiple entries, and your own travel insurance doesn't replace it. A Kenyan court has dismissed a challenge to the rule, so treat it as permanent, and still bring your own insurance for evacuation and activities.\r\n\r\nYour passport needs at least six months' validity from arrival and, on UK advice, two blank pages. Bring a yellow fever certificate if you're arriving from a country with yellow fever risk, which includes Tanzania and Uganda for overland travellers. Drones need prior approval from the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, and you'll be asked to declare goods that may be restricted.","hw_hub_country_entry_points":"eTA | From US$30 on etakenya.go.ke. Apply at least two weeks ahead\r\nValidity | 90 days from issue, single entry, re-entry allowed after EAC trips\r\nInsurance | Compulsory Kenyan policy since October 2026, US$44 base, 90 days\r\nPassport | Six months' validity from arrival, two blank pages\r\nExempt | East African Community and most African nationals since 2025\r\nYellow fever | Certificate needed if arriving from a risk country","hw_hub_country_entry_tag":"travel-tips","hw_hub_country_entry_more":"All travel tips guides for Kenya","hw_hub_country_season_title":"When to go to Kenya","hw_hub_country_season_intro":"Kenya sits on the equator, so it's warm all year and the seasons are about rain, not temperature. The long dry season from late June to October is peak safari time and brings the migration to the Mara. January and February are also dry and quieter. The long rains (March to May) and short rains (November and December) make some roads muddy but bring green landscapes and lower prices.","hw_hub_country_season_note":"Average highs are Nairobi figures (1991\u20132020 normals at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, 1,615 m, via Wikipedia), rounded. Nairobi is cool for its latitude because of its altitude; the coast at Mombasa and Diani is several degrees warmer and more humid year round. Crowd scores are our own rough guide, driven by migration season and the Christmas holidays.","hw_hub_country_season_rows":"January | 27 | 4 | Dry, warm, good for safaris and beaches\r\nFebruary | 27 | 3 | Dry and quieter, Magical Kenya Open\r\nMarch | 28 | 2 | Long rains begin, Safari Rally in Naivasha\r\nApril | 26 | 1 | Wettest month, low prices\r\nMay | 25 | 1 | Rains ease late in the month\r\nJune | 24 | 2 | Dry season starts, Mara fees still low\r\nJuly | 24 | 5 | Migration arrives in the Mara, peak fees\r\nAugust | 24 | 5 | Peak river crossings, book early\r\nSeptember | 26 | 4 | Crossings continue, fewer families\r\nOctober | 27 | 3 | Herds start south, good value\r\nNovember | 25 | 2 | Short rains, Lamu Cultural Festival\r\nDecember | 26 | 4 | Short rains ease, busy at Christmas","hw_hub_country_budget_title":"What a day in Kenya costs","hw_hub_country_budget_intro":"Pick a travel style and the number of nights for a rough total. Safari park fees, game drives and flights come on top.","hw_hub_country_budget_note":"Our estimates in euros per day for Nairobi and the coast, based on dorm beds, local caf\u00e9s, matatus or ride-hailing and the occasional paid sight, at around KSh145 to \u20ac1. A single day in the Maasai Mara costs US$200 in park fees alone from July to December, and a three-day budget safari is usually \u20ac450 to \u20ac650 in peak season once fees are added.","hw_hub_country_budget_rows":"Shoestring | 12 | 8 | 3 | 5\r\nMiddle of the road | 25 | 18 | 10 | 20\r\nComfortable | 55 | 35 | 25 | 45","hw_hub_country_budget_currency":"\u20ac","hw_hub_country_events_title":"Festivals and events in Kenya","hw_hub_country_events_intro":"Kenya's calendar mixes world-class sport with Swahili festivals on the coast. Hostels in Naivasha fill up for the Safari Rally, and Lamu's guesthouses book out for its cultural festival, so plan ahead if your dates overlap.","hw_hub_country_events_source":"api","hw_hub_country_events_country":"kenya","hw_hub_country_events_count":"8","hw_hub_country_events_cache":"24","hw_hub_country_events_cta_label":"All events in Kenya","hw_hub_country_events_cta_url":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/events\/africa\/kenya\/","hw_hub_country_events":"Magical Kenya Open | February | Karen Country Club, Nairobi | Kenya's DP World Tour golf event, with crowds and parties well beyond the golf fans. |  | \nWRC Safari Rally Kenya | March | Naivasha | A round of the World Rally Championship on rough Rift Valley tracks. Naivasha's beds fill fast. |  | \nRhino Charge | Late May or June | Changes every year | An off-road charity race for conservation, held at a location kept secret until shortly before. |  | \nNairobi City Marathon | June or July | Nairobi | A city marathon and shorter races in the home of distance running. |  | \nWildebeest migration | July to October | Maasai Mara | Not a festival, but the year's main event: the herds cross the Mara River into Kenya. |  | \nMaulidi | Around the Prophet's birthday (mid-August in 2027) | Lamu | Lamu's biggest religious festival, with processions, poetry and pilgrims from across East Africa. |  | \nLamu Cultural Festival | Late November | Lamu | Three days of donkey races, dhow races, Swahili poetry and music in the Old Town. |  | \nJamhuri Day | 12 December | Nationwide | Independence Day, with celebrations and public events across the country. |  | ","hw_hub_country_hostels_title":"Hostels in Kenya","hw_hub_country_hostels_intro":"Kenya's hostels cluster in Nairobi, Diani, Watamu and around Lake Naivasha, and many of them double as safari booking desks. Expect gardens, campsites, bars and the odd pool rather than big city party hostels. Book ahead for July to October and over Christmas.","hw_hub_country_hostels_cta_label":"All hostels in Kenya","hw_hub_country_hostels_cta_url":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/hostels\/africa\/kenya\/","hw_hub_country_hostels_source":"api","hw_hub_country_hostels_location_type":"country","hw_hub_country_hostels_location_id":"196","hw_hub_country_hostels_currency":"EUR","hw_hub_country_hostels_count":"12","hw_hub_country_hostels_cache":"12","hw_hub_country_hostels":"","hw_hub_country_team_title":"","hw_hub_country_team_intro":"","hw_hub_country_team":"","hw_hub_country_faq_title":"Kenya travel FAQs","hw_hub_country_faq_note":"Entry rules, park fees and safety advice change. Check the official sources before you travel.","hw_hub_country_faqs":"Is Kenya safe for backpackers? | Most travellers visit without problems, and the main tourist areas (Nairobi, the Rift Valley, the Mara, Amboseli and the coast from Diani to Watamu) are outside the FCDO's restricted zones. The UK advises against travel to the north-east near Somalia and to Lamu County outside Lamu and Manda islands. In cities, use Uber or Bolt after dark, keep your phone out of sight and avoid protests.\r\nDo I need a visa for Kenya? | UK, EU, US and Australian passport holders need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) from the official site, etakenya.go.ke, before flying. It costs from US$30, usually takes about three working days, and is valid for 90 days from issue. Since October 2026 you also need Kenya's compulsory government travel health insurance, which costs US$44 before fees.\r\nWhat is Kenya's new mandatory travel insurance? | Since early October 2026, most visitors staying under 12 months must buy a Kenyan government inbound health policy, either in the eTA application or separately on the eCitizen insurance portal. The base price is US$44 and the FCDO says it lasts 90 days with multiple entries. Your own travel insurance does not replace it, but you still need your own for evacuation, activities and belongings.\r\nWhen is the best time to see the Great Migration in Kenya? | The herds usually arrive in the Maasai Mara around July, and the Mara River crossings happen mainly between July and October, before the animals head south to Tanzania again. Crossings depend on rain, so nobody can promise one on a particular day. This is also peak season, when Mara fees are US$200 a day.\r\nHow much does a budget safari in Kenya cost? | A three-day group camping safari to the Maasai Mara from Nairobi starts at around US$300 to US$400 per person before park fees in 2026. Add US$200 a day in fees from July to December, or US$100 from January to June, and a realistic peak-season total is about \u20ac450 to \u20ac650. Always confirm in writing that park fees are included.\r\nHow do you get from Nairobi to Mombasa? | Take the SGR Madaraka Express. Trains leave each city at 8am, 3pm and 10pm, the express takes about six hours, and economy costs KSh1,500 (about \u20ac10). Book on metickets.krc.co.ke and arrive an hour early. Coaches take around eight hours, and flights take about an hour.\r\nHow many days do you need in Kenya? | Two weeks covers Nairobi, a three-day Mara safari, Lake Naivasha and a week on the coast at Diani or Watamu. Three weeks lets you add Amboseli, Mount Kenya or Lamu. With only a week, pick either a safari circuit or the coast rather than rushing both.\r\nIs Kenya safe for solo female travellers? | Plenty of women travel Kenya alone, mostly by joining group safaris, staying in hostels and using Uber or Bolt at night. Expect attention on the coast, dress modestly in Mombasa's Old Town and Lamu, and don't accept drinks from strangers. Hostels are the easiest place to find people to share safari costs.\r\nCan I visit Lamu? | Yes. The FCDO excludes Lamu Island and Manda Island from its advice against travel to Lamu County, but says you should fly rather than go by road. Jambojet flies daily from Nairobi's main airport in about 1 hour 20 minutes, and small planes go from Wilson Airport. From Manda airport it's a short boat ride to Lamu town.\r\nCan I use M-Pesa as a tourist? | Yes. Buy a Safaricom SIM with your passport (about KSh100 at the airport), then register for M-Pesa at a Safaricom shop and load cash at any agent. You can then pay for SGR tickets, matatus, park fees and shops by phone. Data-only eSIMs don't support M-Pesa.","hw_hub_country_cta_title":"Say yes to hostels, meet the world","hw_hub_country_cta_body":"Compare Kenya hostels \u2014 live prices, real reviews and free cancellation on most bookings. Then meet the people already there in the app.","hw_hub_country_cta_buttons":"Find a hostel in Kenya | https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/hostels\/africa\/kenya\/\r\nGet the app | https:\/\/hostelworld.onelink.me\/IdiK\/f5a50nhd","hw_hub_country_newsletter_title":"Get the good stuff monthly","hw_hub_country_newsletter_body":"New city guides, deals and route ideas. 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