Kenya
Phone Code
+254
Capital
Nairobi
Population
54 Million
Native Name
Kenya
Region
Africa
Eastern Africa
Timezone
East Africa Time
UTC+03:00
On This Page
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.
Common 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.
Essential Information for Kenya Travellers
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.
Discover Kenya
The Maasai Mara is Kenya's most famous reserve and for many visitors the primary reason for the journey. The density of wildlife, the Big Five, and above all the Great Migration make it world-renowned. The annual spectacle of over a million wildebeest and hundreds of thousands of zebra crossing the Mara River — pursued by crocodiles and big cats — ranks among nature's greatest events (July-October for river crossings). The Mara is no secret: season, lodge choice and budget heavily shape the quality of the experience.
Ways to Experience This Destination
Maasai Mara (Great Migration, Big Five, July-October peak), Amboseli (elephants, Kilimanjaro views), Tsavo (vast red-earth savannah), Lake Nakuru (flamingos), Samburu (unique northern species), and Nairobi National Park (the only capital city with a national park). Kenya is where the modern safari was born.
Diani Beach (white sand, voted Africa's best beach), Lamu Island (UNESCO, Swahili culture, dhow sailing), Watamu (marine reserve, turtle conservation), Malindi, and Mombasa's Fort Jesus. The combination of safari and Indian Ocean beach is one of Kenya's greatest strengths.
Maasai cultural encounters (villages, traditions, beadwork), Lamu's Swahili heritage (stone houses, carved doors, dhow building), Nairobi's art galleries and music scene, Samburu traditions, and Kenya's role as the economic and cultural hub of East Africa.
Mount Kenya (5,199 m, Africa's second-highest peak, technical and trekking routes), Hell's Gate National Park (cycling, rock climbing, hot springs), Great Rift Valley hiking, white-water rafting on the Tana River, and deep-sea fishing off the coast.
Over 1,100 bird species — Lake Nakuru's flamingos, Lake Baringo's fish eagles, Kakamega Forest's tropical species, Arabuko-Sokoke Forest's coastal endemics. Kenya is one of the world's top birding destinations, with species diversity rivalling much larger countries.
The East Africa Tourist Visa (90 days, three countries) covers Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda — making combined itineraries easy: Kenya safari + Uganda gorilla trekking + Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park. Nairobi is the regional hub with flights to Entebbe, Kigali, Dar es Salaam and Kilimanjaro.
Money & Currency
Kenyan Shilling (KES)
Currency code: KES
Practical Money Tips
M-Pesa Is Kenya's Payment Revolution — You Can Use It Too
M-Pesa (Safaricom's mobile money platform) is used by virtually every Kenyan — from safari lodges to vegetable vendors. Foreign visitors can set up M-Pesa by purchasing a Safaricom SIM card (available at the airport and in towns, passport required, around KES 100) and loading money at any M-Pesa agent (green kiosks everywhere). Once active, you can pay for taxis, restaurants, small shops and even safari tips directly from your phone. It's faster, safer and more convenient than carrying large amounts of cash.
ATMs Work Well in Cities — Less So in Safari Country
ATMs from Equity Bank, KCB, Standard Chartered and Barclays (now Absa) are found throughout Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu and major towns. Most accept Visa and Mastercard. Outside cities and in safari areas, ATMs are scarce or non-existent — withdraw enough cash before heading to national parks. Withdrawal limits are typically KES 40,000-100,000 per transaction. Always decline dynamic currency conversion and withdraw in KES.
Cards Work at Hotels and Lodges — Cash for Everything Else
Visa and Mastercard are accepted at tourist hotels, safari lodges, upmarket restaurants, supermarkets and shopping malls in Nairobi and Mombasa. Contactless payments (Apple Pay, Google Pay) work at modern terminals in Nairobi's malls and international hotel chains. Most everyday transactions — markets, local restaurants, matatus (minibuses), tuk-tuks, park entry fees and small shops — are cash or M-Pesa only. Always carry Kenyan Shillings.
Safari Costs Are Higher Than Many Expect
Kenya's safari infrastructure is excellent but prices reflect this. National park entry fees alone are USD 50-80 per person per day at the major reserves. A mid-range safari costs USD 150-300+ per person per day including park fees, accommodation, vehicle, fuel and guide. Budget safaris exist but quality varies. The Maasai Mara is the most expensive park. Luxury camps can exceed USD 500-1,000 per person per night. Budget carefully and book in advance for the best rates.
Note: Always check current exchange rates before traveling. Currency exchange is available at airports, banks, and authorized money changers.
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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.
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.
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.
Planning a trip to Kenya? Whether you need the eTA for a safari, the East Africa Tourist Visa for a multi-country trip, or help with the application — get step-by-step guidance for your entry authorisation.
Get your travel authorisationTreat this Visaja page as your starting point: verify the current rules directly with the official source before you submit an application.