Kenya travel guide for U.S. travelers

Facts last checked October 27, 2026 against the official sources listed at the end of this page. Rules, fees and advisories change; confirm with the official source before you book. Not a government website.

Kenya is one of Africa's best-known safari destinations, home to the Maasai Mara and national parks such as Amboseli, Tsavo and Lake Nakuru, with Nairobi as a major air hub. It also currently carries a higher U.S. travel advisory than its neighbors, so this guide starts with the warnings, then covers entry, health, parks and getting around.

Safety: what the advisory says

The State Department's advisory for Kenya lists crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping and health as risks. Some areas carry the highest level, Do Not Travel:

• The Kenya-Somalia border counties of Mandera, Wajir and Garissa.
• Tana River County (the State Department makes an exception for Tsavo National Park), Lamu County, and areas of Kilifi County north of Malindi.
• West Pokot and western Turkana County, due to banditry.
• Parts of Marsabit and Turkana counties within 50 kilometers (30 miles) of the Ethiopian border.

The advisory also singles out the Nairobi neighborhoods of Eastleigh and Kibera for crime and kidnapping.

What this means for a typical safari: the main safari areas, such as the Maasai Mara, Amboseli and Lake Nakuru, are not on the Do Not Travel list, but the country-wide Level 3 applies. Read the full advisory, including its recommended precautions, and check how your insurance treats travel to an area under an advisory.

Crime. The State Department reports violent crime, including armed carjacking and mugging, in seemingly safe areas of Nairobi, sometimes in daylight, and robbery and kidnapping of people using off-the-street taxis. Practical steps:

• Arrange airport transfers through your hotel or operator, or use a reputable app-based service.
• Do not walk around Nairobi after dark, and keep phones out of sight in traffic.
• Avoid demonstrations, which can turn violent.
• Be wary of romance and online scams, which the State Department says are prevalent.

Entry requirements

• Passport: at least six months' validity and two blank pages, according to the State Department.
• Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA): all visitors need an eTA before travel. Apply only on the official site, etakenya.go.ke. Lookalike sites charge extra.

Kenya says to apply at least three days before travel; processing can take up to three business days, and an approved eTA must be used within 90 days. Apply earlier than the minimum, in case the system asks for more documents.

• Yellow fever: carry proof of vaccination if arriving from a country where yellow fever is endemic, or you may be denied entry.
• Currency: the State Department lists no limit on bringing money in, and a maximum of 100,000 Kenyan shillings to take out.

Health

• See a travel-medicine provider at least a month before departure, as CDC advises.
• Yellow fever: CDC recommends the vaccine for most travelers age 9 months and older, except for travel limited to Nairobi, the former North Eastern Province and most of the coast.
• Malaria: CDC lists risk in all areas of Kenya below 2,500 meters (8,200 feet), including game parks, with rare cases in central Nairobi. Ask your doctor about preventive medication.
• Other diseases the State Department lists as prevalent include dengue, schistosomiasis, cholera, rabies, measles and hepatitis A and B. Avoid swimming in fresh water and keep away from animals, including dogs and monkeys.
• Medical care: the State Department says adequate care is available in Nairobi for most conditions, but treatment for serious injuries is typically available only in or near Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu, and first responders generally cannot reach areas outside major cities. Hospitals usually require payment before treatment, and medical evacuation insurance is strongly recommended.
• Medicines: carry prescriptions in original packaging with a copy of your prescription, and check that each medicine is legal in Kenya.

Safaris and parks

Who runs what. The Kenya Wildlife Service manages national parks such as Amboseli, Tsavo and Lake Nakuru. The Maasai Mara National Reserve is run by Narok County, which sets its own fees.

Maasai Mara fees (Narok County, 2025/26):

Our safari planning guide explains how to compare seasons and operators. For Kenya specifically:

• Check your operator's insurance and licensing. The State Department notes that the Kenya Wildlife Service requires tour operators and safari lodges to carry nationally mandated insurance, and recommends asking whether they comply. Kenya's Tourism Regulatory Authority oversees the sector, but the State Department describes regulation as uneven.
• Do not buy wildlife products. Kenya's Wildlife Act carries large fines and penalties up to life imprisonment for possessing banned wildlife items, and customs rules restrict ivory, rhino horn, skins, teeth and antiquities.
• Ammunition: possessing any amount can bring a minimum seven-year sentence, according to the State Department. Do not pack any.

Getting around

• Roads: the State Department calls road accidents a major threat. Traffic drives on the left, and roads are often potholed or unpaved.
• Avoid driving between cities at night, because of poor roads and lighting and the risk of banditry.
• Matatus and boda bodas (minibuses and motorcycle taxis) are involved in many accidents. U.S. government personnel are prohibited from using matatus.
• Rail: the only route approved for U.S. government personnel is the Nairobi-Mombasa Standard Gauge Railway, in first class.
• Likoni ferry in Mombasa: the State Department advises avoiding it.
• Domestic flights link Nairobi with safari airstrips. Ask about baggage weight limits for small planes.

Money and practical tips

• Cash: bring some U.S. dollars, as the State Department notes that newer bills are preferred. Destroying Kenyan currency is illegal.
• Cards: ask your lodges and operator in advance which payment methods they accept, and tell your bank you are traveling.
• Plugs: check plug type and voltage on the IEC World Plugs site and pack an adapter.
• Laws: consensual same-sex relations are criminalized in Kenya, according to the State Department.

Emergency contacts

The U.S. Embassy is on United Nations Avenue, Gigiri, Nairobi. Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) before you leave to receive embassy alerts.