KENYA

CASH NEEDS

While not the official currency, USD was widely accepted and sometimes even listed as the price. ATMs are not available at all once you leave the city, and having cash on hand is important. We were warned by our travel agent to have a good amount in case of surprise fees at our border crossing. You will also want to have plenty ready for tips and small purchases.

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TIPPING CUSTOMS

Getting the tips right for our trip was something we really struggled with. Everyone, and I truly mean everyone, bent over backward to make our stay beyond excellent, and we wanted to make sure to reward them and show our appreciation.

That said, the economy in Kenya is very different than in the US. For reference, the average Kenyan income is about ~10% of that in the US (when looking at the median Kenyan income is ~30% of the US). It felt very difficult to get a feel for what was "typical" or "expected," and a percentage-based tip didn't make sense given the all-inclusive structure of our camps.

We certainly did not want to undertip, but we had also been cautioned about overtipping. We didn't want to be insulting with a tip that could come off as patronizing, and we had also been told about how overtipping can discourage people from going through the process of becoming park rangers.

We talked extensively with our travel agent and did our homework (check out this expert advice on tipping in Kenya), and this was how we handled our tips:

• We tipped once per lodge, as we were leaving and saying goodbyes

• We had both a dedicated guide and server at all of our camps, so we tipped them specifically. Then we also gave a tip that was for all of the other staff who helped make our experience so great.

• Our lodges had envelopes available, so we prepared 3 envelopes with cash (we used USD) and a thank you note in our tent before we said our goodbyes.

General tip amounts:

• For our guides: $30-40 per day (for two of us on two daily drives in a private vehicle)

• For our server: $20-30 per day (for two of us with two to three daily meals)

• For the rest of the staff: $10-15 per day per guest

The official languages of Kenya are Swahili and English. Swahili is more predominant, but as an English speaker, it is incredibly easy to converse. Almost everyone we encountered spoke excellent English.

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Of course, it's always fun and can be a sign of respect to try a few local phrases - our hosts were more than happy to teach us some basics! In addition to Swahili, you might also try your hand at learning a phrase or two from one of the 68 other languages spoken in Kenya!

Officially, the State Dept. has given Kenya a level 2 travel advisory (out of 4), which advises to exercise increased caution. This status is given due to crime, civil unrest, kidnapping, and a risk of terrorism.

Note: Kenya has some regions with higher advisories, including level 3 (Reconsider Travel) as well as level 4 (Do Not Travel). Most of these areas are border regions near Somalia or Ethiopia and are unlikely to be visited by tourists. See the bullets below for more info, and read the full travel advisory from the U.S. State Dept. here: Kenya Travel Advisory

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Level 4 (Do Not Travel) Areas:

• The northeastern Kenyan counties of Mandera, Wajir, Garissa, and the northeastern area of Marsabit (including the cities of El Wak, Wajir, Garissa, Mandera, Moyale, and Liboi). These areas near the Somali & Ethiopian borders pose kidnapping & terrorism risks.

• All parts of the coastal counties of Tana River and Lamu, and all areas of Kilifi County north of Malindi due to kidnapping and terrorism risks.

• The road between Kainuk and Lodwar in Turkana County due to banditry.

Level 3 (Reconsider Travel) Areas:

• The Nairobi neighborhoods of Eastleigh and Kibera due to potential for violent street crime.

• Certain areas of Laikipia County including Nyahururu, Laikipia West, and Laikipia North Sub-counties due to criminal incursions and security operations.

• Avoid using the Likoni ferry (in Mombasa) due to safety and security concerns.

All that said, staying at a safari lodge feels incredibly low-risk. It's just the guests and the hotel staff isolated in the bush, so there really aren't any people around to cause any problems. There are of course animals, including predators and the unsuspecting but dangerous hippo, which present some risk, but the risk is very minimal as long as you follow the lodge rules. After dark, you'll be escorted by a staff member between your tent and the communal tent just in case of a surprise animal encounter.

Overall, Kenya felt rather familiar as a US traveler. That said, Kenya has a few cultural norms to keep in mind when traveling:

• Do your homework before traveling as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. Same-sex relationships are illegal in Kenya. While tourists don't typically feel the impact of these laws directly, they are still a factor to consider when planning travel to the country.

• Keep PDA and revealing clothing to a minimum. This is less of a concern on safari where essentially everyone there is a tourist, but some regions of the country are predominantly Muslim, and cultural norms follow. This also applies if visiting any place of worship in Kenya.

• Ask before you photograph anyone in Kenya. They will likely say yes, but not only is it a sign of respect to ask, some locals hold beliefs about camera flashes, and it would be damaging to them to use a flash without their permission.

• Culturally, make sure to greet others with your right hand, as the left hand is typically reserved for "unclean" purposes. Also, avoid pointing as it can be interpreted as an obscene gesture.

Yes, a visa is needed for entry. You can either apply for a Kenyan eVisa or an East African eVisa, which also applies to Rwanda and Uganda. For the East African option, you can travel between the three countries, but your visit must start in Kenya, and you cannot travel outside of these countries. Either visa is valid for 90 days. Visit this site to start the process: Kenya eVisa. I also like Sherpa, which has a handy travel advisory map, to know what visa & health requirements exist for everywhere you are going in Africa.

Make sure you have a valid passport that has at least 6 months left before its expiration date and two blank pages.

In addition, we had another interesting request in Kenya. We were asked to show proof of our planned return to the US. This went a step beyond the requirements for proof of onward travel that I had encountered before, where I would just expect to show our plans to exit Kenya. Another passenger couldn't produce this and he was escorted away by a guard. Interestingly enough, I never could find anything that officially stated this was required (even actively looking for it after the fact).

Yes, you will need to prep with your doctor before going to Kenya.

Start by checking online at the US Embassy. I also like Sherpa, which has a handy travel advisory map, to know what visa & health requirements exist for everywhere you are going in Africa. Then schedule an appointment with your doctor. You may want to consider a travel health specialist since not all practices are versed in the latest requirements and carry all the relevant vaccines.

Most likely you'll need a yellow fever vaccine, which is good for life, and your doctor will prescribe malaria pills and potentially some emergency antibiotics for travel diarrhea. Some other vaccines may be recommended but depend on the nature of your visit. If you're working in healthcare or will be in close contact with animals, it will be recommended you receive more vaccines.

Regarding COVID, the requirements are constantly changing, be sure to check all official government requirements. Again, Sherpa is a helpful place to start, but I would triple-check against both Tanzania's official site and the US Embassy. Since traveling post-COVID, I've experienced a case or two where even official sources have had conflicting info as requirements evolved. Better to be safe than sorry!

Country code: (+254)

U.S. Embassy: +(254) (20) 363-6451
U.S. Embassy Emergency Line: +(255) (20) 363-6170

Type G (240V / 50Hz)

For reference: 

• US uses 110V / 60Hz and plug types A (2-prong) and B (3-prong)

• UK uses 230V / 50Hz and plug type G

• Most of continental Europe uses 230V / 50Hz and plug types C, E, & F

Note: Nearby Tanzania uses 230V / 50Hz - you may still need a converter

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If your device is not dual-voltage (usually phones & laptops are - but hair tools are problematic), make sure to use a converter / transformer, NOT just an adapter. AND make sure your converter has a high enough power rating for your device. An adapter just makes the plug fit in the wall, but doesn't change the voltage.