![\"afoma](\"https:\/\/www.afomastravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/afoma-inside-kenya-national-museum-768x1024.jpeg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nGetting to Kenya<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
These are some of the most frequently asked questions about getting to Kenya:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Which airlines fly to Kenya?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi is our preferred port of entry. Many major airlines fly to Nairobi from the US, but if you prefer direct flights, Kenya Airways works. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
From Nigeria, you can fly Kenya Airways or RwandAir. We always fly RwandAir because there\u2019s a direct flight from our city to Rwanda, which is only an hour away from Kenya. Kenya Airways flies from Lagos, Nigeria, and after one chaotic Lagos airport experience, we avoid flying to Lagos as much as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Travel requirements<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
As of January 2024, travelers no longer need to apply for an e-visa to visit Kenya. However, you do need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) on the ETA Kenya website<\/a>. Once you provide all the necessary information, you should be authorized to travel in three days or less.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are from a region where the virus is endemic, you\u2019ll need to have a yellow fever card before you can enter Kenya. <\/p>\n\n\n\n During our first visit, we didn\u2019t encounter Port Health at the airport, but the second time around, they even scanned our QR code to confirm our card\u2019s validity. So, better safe than sorry. Pregnant women and infants under 9 months are exempted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The best time to visit Kenya will depend on what you\u2019re visiting for. If you\u2019d like to do an African safari in Kenya<\/a>,<\/strong> I recommend visiting between July and September. The weather is colder\u2013especially in Nairobi\u2013during this period, with temperature lows of about 15 degrees Celsius. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re visiting the coast and looking for a warm, lively escape<\/strong>, then go between November and January. The weather is warmer, the city is livelier and if you go to the coast in mid-late January, stays are cheaper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n YES! I typically avoid the hassle of long SIM card purchasing queues at the airport, but I regretted not getting one during my first visit to Kenya. So the second time around, we both got SIM cards and it was so helpful. Particularly if you\u2019re staying more than five days, you\u2019ll need to call taxis, coordinate food deliveries, and use M-PESA for maximum convenience (more on M-PESA later).<\/p>\n\n\n\n These are some of the most common health and safety questions about visiting Kenya:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Absolutely. After Rwanda, Kenya is one of the safest cities we\u2019ve visited. I\u2019ve gone alone to pick up takeout after dark, used Ubers on my own, and taken a long road trip with a driver we just met. We\u2019re always careful when we travel, but we’ve never experienced any thefts or scary situations while visiting Kenya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the contrary, Kenyans are used to hosting tourists and can be super helpful with directions or anything else you might need. There\u2019s also a solid law enforcement presence all around Nairobi so we felt pretty safe throughout our visit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yep! We saw lots of Americans in Nairobi and even in the coastal cities of Diani and Lamu. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Malaria is uncommon in Kenya because the presence of the malaria-causing mosquito species is low, especially in the cities. But if you\u2019d like to play it safe, you can take malaria pills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As I mentioned before, Nairobi is super safe. The city has a vibrant nightlife, and there are always helpful locals around. During our visits, we went out several times for late dinners and never experienced aggression, violence, or anything unsafe. Still, practice basic safety precautions, and you should be good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n People have many questions about money and spending while traveling in Kenya:<\/p>\n\n\n\n This depends heavily on where you\u2019re traveling from and what you want to do in Kenya. Flights from the US can set you back almost $1000, and a safari will cost at least $1500 per person. You can cut costs on food if you eat at inexpensive restaurants (my favorite Nairobi restaurants are here<\/a>) and use public transportation instead of Uber.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udcb0 Takeaway: In our experience, though, Kenya is much cheaper overall than most US cities but more expensive than most cities in Asia, where food is ridiculously affordable. So plan accordingly.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n One thing I wish we knew before our first visit to Kenya is how much of a cashless society the country is. Most locals use M-PESA<\/a> (a finance app akin to Venmo) so even our Uber drivers didn\u2019t have change in cash for us most times. M-PESA is widely accepted so you can use it in malls, restaurants\u2013everywhere. Credit cards are also widely accepted. However, many stores and businesses do not accept cash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using M-PESA is pretty easy. You\u2019ll need a Safaricom SIM card which you can get at the airport. Tell them you also want to use M-PESA and they\u2019ll set up an account linked to your number. You can pay cash in Kenyan Shillings into your M-PESA account right at the airport and at any other M-PESA agent\u2019s stall or at a Safaricom shop. You can also withdraw cash from your M-PESA wallet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udcdd Take Note: You\u2019ll need an ID (like your passport to deposit and withdraw cash from your M-PESA wallet).<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Kenya is an easy country to navigate\u2013especially Nairobi. Here are some common questions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Uber! There\u2019s also a solid public transportation system, but it\u2019s not the most walkable city, so I always prefer to use Uber.<\/p>\n\n\n No visit to Kenya is complete without a trip to the coast. You can use Safarilink<\/a>, Jambojet<\/a>, or Skyward Express<\/a> airlines to get around. For domestic trips, you\u2019ll be flying out of the Wilson Airport. I\u2019ve written guides with more information on traveling to Diani<\/a> and visiting Lamu, Kenya<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes, they do! Most Kenyans also speak Kiswahili and they love it when tourists speak the language too. Our favorite Swahili words\/phrases are Jambo<\/em> (hello) and Asante sana<\/em> (thank you very much).<\/p>\n\n\n\n We loved staying in hotels and Airbnbs in the Westlands and Karen area in Nairobi. I also have recommendations on where to stay in Diani and Lamu. See our full post on where to stay in Kenya<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nDo you need a yellow fever vaccine to visit Kenya?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
When is the best time to visit Kenya?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"selfie](\"https:\/\/www.afomastravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/couple-on-african-safari-1024x768.jpg\")
Should you buy a SIM card in Kenya?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Health and Safety<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Is it safe to go to Kenya?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"a](\"https:\/\/www.afomastravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/what-to-do-in-kenya-tea-farm-tour-1024x768.jpeg\")
Can US citizens go to Kenya?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Should I take malaria pills for Kenya?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How safe is Nairobi for tourists?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Budget & Spending<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How much does it cost to travel to Kenya?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What to know about paying for goods in Kenya<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How to use M-PESA in Kenya<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Getting Around<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How do you get around in Nairobi?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"afoma](\"https:\/\/www.afomastravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/afoma-in-nairobi-768x1024.jpeg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nTraveling to the Kenyan Coast: What to know<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Do Kenyans speak English?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Where to stay<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What to do in Kenya<\/h3>\n\n\n\n