Kenya
Kenya is the birthplace of the modern safari — and still the standard against which all African wildlife destinations are measured. The Maasai Mara delivers the Great Migration river crossings (July-October), Amboseli frames elephant herds against Mount Kilimanjaro, Tsavo sprawls across red-earth savannah, and Samburu reveals species found nowhere else in Kenya. But reducing Kenya to safari misses the point. Nairobi is East Africa's economic powerhouse — the only capital city with a national park where lions roam against a skyline backdrop. The coast opens up entirely different worlds: Diani Beach for Indian Ocean swimming, Lamu Island (UNESCO) for Swahili culture and dhow sailing, and Watamu for marine reserves. Mount Kenya (5,199 m, Africa's second-highest peak) offers serious mountaineering. The Great Rift Valley holds flamingo-ringed lakes. And Maasai cultural encounters — genuine, not staged — add depth that pure wildlife viewing cannot. Kenya has replaced its visa system with an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA): all visitors apply online through the official eTA portal before travel — there is no visa on arrival. The East Africa Tourist Visa remains a separate multi-country instrument covering Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda — check its current terms when planning a combined trip. Yellow fever certificate required if arriving from endemic countries.
Kenya Entry & the eTA System
Kenya has replaced its visa regime with an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA): every visitor — including infants and children — must hold an approved eTA before starting their journey, applied for through the official government eTA portal or its mobile application. There is no visa on arrival. The fee and the processing window are set by the current official schedule — check them when you apply, and lodge the application well before departure since processing can run longer than the stated window. The East Africa Tourist Visa remains a separate multi-country instrument covering Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda — verify its current terms and how it interacts with the eTA when planning a combined itinerary. Citizens of East African Community member states (Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan) are exempt and can enter visa-free for up to 6 months. Passport must be valid at least 6 months with 2 blank pages. Yellow fever vaccination certificate required if arriving from endemic countries. Carry the eTA approval (printed or on your phone) and present it at immigration. Extensions go through the Immigration Department in Nairobi and are difficult to obtain.
Visa types
eTA (Electronic Travel Authorisation)
For tourism, safari, beach holidays and short visits — the standard entry route for all visitors. Apply through the official eTA portal before travel; fee and processing time per the current official schedule. Requires passport scan, photo, yellow fever certificate (if from endemic area), return flight booking. Carry the approval. No visa on arrival available.
East Africa Tourist Visa
For tourists visiting Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda in a single trip. A separate multi-country instrument — check its current fee, application channel and how it interacts with Kenya's eTA before relying on it. Can enter through any of the three countries; must stay within the Kenya-Uganda-Rwanda region. Excellent value for multi-country East African safari itineraries.
EAC Visa-Free Entry
For citizens of East African Community member states (Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan). No visa required, no fee. Part of the regional integration initiative.
Stay Extension
For visitors wishing to stay beyond the initial 90 days. Apply through the Immigration Department in Nairobi before current visa expires. Requires compelling reason, fees and proof of funds. Not guaranteed — exiting and re-entering on a new visa is often the simpler option.
Guides
Kenya is one of the world's best-developed safari destinations, but the biggest mistake would be reducing it to the Maasai Mara alone. The Mara delivers the Great Migration — over a million wildebeest crossing the Mara River in a spectacle that ranks among nature's greatest events (July-October for river crossings). Amboseli National Park offers elephant herds with Mount Kilimanjaro as a backdrop — one of Africa's most iconic images. Tsavo's twin parks (East and West) cover a landscape the size of Wales with red-earth plains, lava flows and the famous man-eating lions. Samburu's dry northern savannah reveals species unique to Kenya's arid north. Nairobi itself is more than a transit hub: Nairobi National Park puts lions and giraffes against a city skyline, the Giraffe Centre lets you hand-feed Rothschild's giraffes, and the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust nurtures orphaned elephants. The Rift Valley lakes — Nakuru, Naivasha, Bogoria — attract flamingos, hippos and pelicans. The coast transforms Kenya entirely: Diani Beach (voted Africa's best beach multiple times), Lamu Island (UNESCO, Swahili architecture, dhow culture), and Watamu Marine National Park for snorkelling and turtle conservation. Mount Kenya (5,199 m) offers Africa's most accessible high-altitude mountaineering. And the food — nyama choma (grilled meat), ugali, pilau, fresh fish on the coast, Tusker beer — rounds out a country that delivers far more than wildlife alone.
Kenya travel guide →
The full guide — the mara's mechanics, amboseli and tsavo, the swahili coast and the moving-target plan.
Money in Kenya →
Shillings, M-Pesa you can actually use and honest safari costs — the practical money guide.
Eating in Kenya →
Ugali, nyama choma and chai — the table as Kenyans actually set it.
Getting around Kenya →
The SGR railway, matatus as the real network, the 4x4 reality and reaching the coast.
Health & safety in Kenya →
Yellow fever and malaria by zone, Nairobi's everyday precautions, the coastal exception and why insurance matters.
Cities & planning
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Regions
Embassies & missions
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa for Kenya?
Yes — Kenya now runs an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) instead of visas: every visitor applies online through the official eTA portal before travel, and visa on arrival is not available. Fee and processing time follow the current official schedule — apply well before departure since processing can run longer than stated. Citizens of East African Community states (Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan) are exempt and enter visa-free for up to 6 months.
What's the East Africa Tourist Visa?
It's a combined instrument covering Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda for 90 days with multiple entries — you can enter through any of the three countries. It's excellent value for combined itineraries like a Kenya safari plus Uganda gorilla trekking or Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park. Check its current fee and application channel, and how it interacts with Kenya's eTA, when you plan.
When is the best time to see the Great Migration?
July through October, when the Great Migration's river crossings happen in the Maasai Mara — over a million wildebeest and hundreds of thousands of zebra crossing the Mara River pursued by crocodiles and big cats. The migration cycles between Tanzania's Serengeti and Kenya's Mara, so exact timing shifts year to year.
Is Kenya expensive to visit?
Yes, more than many visitors expect. A mid-range safari — park fees, accommodation, transport and guide together — costs several times a comparable beach holiday per day, and park entry alone is a substantial daily line item at the major reserves, with the Maasai Mara commanding the highest prices. Check the reserves' current fee schedules when budgeting.
Do I need a yellow fever certificate?
Only if you're arriving from a country where yellow fever is endemic (most African and some South American countries) — not required if arriving directly from Europe, the US, or Asia. Bring the physical certificate, since it's strictly checked on arrival.
Is Kenya safe?
Tourist safari areas are very safe. Nairobi has significant crime, so avoid walking at night and use trusted taxis or Uber/Bolt rather than wandering with valuables on display. Coastal areas near the Somali border and northern regions carry elevated terrorism risk — check current travel advisories before planning a trip there.
Planning a trip to Kenya? Check what you need to enter and apply online in minutes.
Treat this Visaja page as your starting point: verify the current rules directly with the official source before you submit an application.