Countries whose nationals require Referred Visas - Applications are sent to Nairobi for approval
Afghanistan, Armania, Iraq, Lebanon, Mali, North Korea, Tadjkistan, Senegal, Somali, Syria, Jordan, Nigeria, Cameroon, Azerbaijan
Countries whose nationals do not require a Visa to come to Kenya :
Antigue And Barbuda, Tonga, The Bahamas, Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados, Tuvalu, Belize, Uganda, Botswana, Gambia, Brunei, Ghana, Darussalum, Grenada, Cyprus Papua, New Guinea, Fiji Islands, Samoa, Jamaica, Seychelles, Kiribati, Tanzania, Lesotho, Vanuatu, Malawi, Zambia, Malaysia( If Less Than 30 Days), Zimbabwe, Maldives, Ethiopia, Mauritus, Uruguay, Namibia, Turkey, Nauru, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, St. Lucia, St. Vincent And The Grenadines, Swaziland, Sa Marino.
Stateless persons not holding valid passports or other travel documents issued by their own country of nationality. This includes recognised refugees - holders of the United Nations refugee travel document.
Nationals of any other country which does not appear above may obtain visa on application either at the mission or any kenya port of entry subject to fulfilment of the normal requirements. If you apply at the port of entry, you will not need a photograph.
Visa Charges : Single entry visa USD 50, Multiple entry visa (1 Year) USD100 , Transit Visa USD20, Referral Visa fee (non refundable) USD 20: If you are planning on visiting Kenya and not going into another country as part of your Kenya trip [eg Tanzania], then you only need a single entry visa.
For nationals of United Kingdom, United States, India, Holland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and all countries not mentioned as requiring Referred Visas, the Visa may be obtained upon arrival at the international airports in Nairobi and Mombasa. However we do suggest that if possible, Visa be applied for in advance from your country of residence via the Kenya embassy, high commission or consulate. For more inforrmation on visas please click on this link.
To download the Kenya Visa Form, Click here
Immigration Requirements : When leaving the country, passengers will be asked to verify the contents of the baggage at the Customs desk. Tourists are cautioned that items made from Ivory, Rhino Horn, or any other wild animal body parts, including Bird feathers, are banned for sale and buying or carrying these in your baggage or exporting these is a criminal offence.
Passports : All visitors are required to carry a valid passport. Note that:
>> The passport should be valid for at least 6 months from date of exit from Kenya.
>> The passport should have at least Two (2) blank pages.
Getting to Kenya
There are several airlines which fly to Kenya. These include Kenya Airways, KLM, British Airways, Virgin, Qatar, Emirates, Air India and South African Airways to name a few. The main international airport in Kenya is the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi. Please see more details on Flights to Kenya
Health
Vaccination: Inoculation against Yellow fever and Cholera may be mandatory depending on the country where the travel originates. Anyone entering Kenya from or through a Yellow Fever infected area, must be in possession of a valid International certificate of Vaccination against Yellow Fever.
Malaria: It is advisable that you take malaria tablets before entering Kenya. Start the course at least one week before entering Kenya. Please consult your physician or General Practitioner.
Drinking water: Bottled mineral water is widely available in Kenya at reasonable prices. Tap water is not recommended for drinking. Shoor Safari vehicles carry a complimentary stock of mineral water. Please refer to the World Health Organisation website for more information, www.who.int/en/
Accomodation
Kenya and East Africa have a fine diversity of accomodation options ranging from camping, at some of the finest campsites, to luxury hotels and lodges spread all over the country. For more details and accomodaion options, please click here for the hotels and lodges main page.
Food and Drink
Kenya offers an impressive range of foods and drinks to suit all visitors needs from vegeterian diets to full course meals. Whether in a luxury city hotel or deep in the bush, a traveller is almost guaranteed to find a mouth watering buffet with a wide variety of meats to fresh salads and drinks. The food is relatively safe to try whilst in a hotel or lodge which caters for international tourists. Soft drinks and alcohol are also readily available, cheap and safe to drink.
Clothing
Kenya has a diverse climatic range form extremely hot and dry regions to cold and wet areas. We have listed below an idea of the various altitudes and how you should dress while there.
In the mountain region (5000ft and above), the climate here is wet and cold. Add gloves, strong foot wear and heavy rain gear.
If you are in the coastal region, where the weather is very tropical and hot, wear comfortable loose cotton and some sun protection.
In the eastern region (below 3000ft), normally hot, dry and dusty, you are advised to carry a hat, cotton pants and long sleeved shirts. Also carry sun protection.
While in the highland areas (3000 - 5000ft), with a climate that ranges from cool / hot days and cold nights in addition to frequent rainfall, you are advised to add a sweater and rain jacket.
Security
Like any other country, Kenya has a few security concerns but the tourism industry and the government are taking every possible step to ensure your safety during your visit to Kenya. Below are a few basic precautionary measures you should take:
Avoid walking outside your hotel/ lodge/ camp after dark. Certain areas of African cities/ towns may be a risk during the day time as well. Such areas are normally not on any travel itinerary in any case.
Keep your valuables in a safe place and when possible, out of view.
Avoid carrying lots of money and any important documents.
When you do book a cab, book through a licensed, reputable company. Avoid taking cabs off the street and book these through your hotel.
Within the parks, please note you are expected to take precautions regarding wildlife - be sure to take note of the guidelines.
Communication
Communication in Kenya is quite reliable owing to the many modes available such as the internet, mobile/cellphone communication, direct land line telephone and telephone booths plus radio call, just to name but a few. Nairobi, Mombasa and the main towns in Kenya and East Africa are well connected for all modes of communications.The most reliable is the mobile phone, which is widely used and cheap to buy.
Out in the national parks, virtually all safari lodges have a fixed line phone link though cell phone coverage in the safari locations is often not present or reliable. Some lodges also offer internet connectivity.
Road Travel
Kenya has an extensive road network. One drives on the left. All major roads are tarred. The state of the road surfaces is variable. The roads in the National Park are generally good gravel surfaces, but may at times be dusty or muddy depending on the wether. Certain roads become impassable in rain, even if you have a 4WD vehicle. However, travel is nonetheless comfortable. For pictures of safari vehicles plus other car options and rates, please see our Car hire page. See estimated road travel durations in Kenya. Some clients who wish to cut travel times may choose to fly between safari locations.