Safari Planning

Kenya Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA)

All visitors to Kenya (except certain East African Community nationals) must obtain a Kenya Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) before travel. The eTA replaces the former visa-on-arrival system and must be approved prior to departure. Airlines may deny boarding without proof of approval.

The eTA is generally valid for single entry and permits stays of up to 90 days for tourism. Travellers are advised to apply 7–14 days before departure, although approvals are often issued within a few working days.

How to Apply

Applications are completed online via the official Kenyan Government eTA portal. Applicants must:

• Go to the official government eTA portal- https://etakenya.go.ke/
• Create an account
• Complete personal and passport details
• Upload required supporting documents
• Pay the processing fee online
• Download the approved eTA (issued by email as a PDF)

Travellers should print a copy or keep a digital version accessible for arrival in Kenya.

Required Documents

Clear digital copies (PDF or JPEG) of:

• Passport bio page (valid for at least 6 months from arrival, with one blank page)
• Recent passport-style photograph (colour, white background, JPEG preferred)
• Return or onward flight confirmation
• Accommodation confirmation (hotel or safari booking)
• Yellow Fever certificate (if applicable)

Files must be clear, upright and within the size limits specified on the portal.

Payment

The eTA fee (approximately USD 30–35, subject to change) is paid securely online by credit or internationally enabled debit card. A small transaction fee may apply.

Important Notes

• Approval must be received before boarding.
• Each traveller, including children, requires an individual eTA.
• Processing times may vary during peak periods.
• Final entry is at the discretion of Kenyan immigration authorities.

Effective 5 October 2026, the Kenyan Government introduced a mandatory Inbound Travel Health Insurance requirement for most foreign visitors entering Kenya for stays of less than 12 months.

The requirement forms part of Kenya’s Social Health Insurance Act, 2023, and is intended to ensure that visitors have access to essential medical care in the event of illness, injury or a medical emergency during their stay.

The insurance provides medical and emergency assistance cover of up to USD 50,000 and is valid for 90 days, including multiple entries into Kenya within that period.

This is a separate requirement from the Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) and applies even to travellers who already hold comprehensive international travel insurance. Foreign insurance policies cannot be used in place of the mandatory Kenyan policy.

Who Requires Insurance?

The requirement applies to most non-Kenyan travellers visiting Kenya for less than 12 months, including children and travellers who are exempt from obtaining an eTA.

Exemptions include:

• Kenyan citizens and holders of valid Kenyan residence status.
• Citizens of East African Community (EAC) Partner States.
• Holders of diplomatic, official and service passports.
• Persons seeking asylum.
• Transit passengers who do not enter Kenya through immigration.
• Certain transport crew members meeting the prescribed exemption conditions.

Each non-exempt traveller, including children, must have their own individual policy.

What Does the Insurance Cover?

The mandatory policy provides a cumulative benefit limit of up to USD 50,000 per person, with the following benefits:

Coverage is subject to the policy’s terms, conditions and exclusions.

Important: This policy is designed to provide essential medical cover and does not replace comprehensive travel insurance. We strongly recommend that all guests maintain their own travel insurance covering the full duration of their journey, including trip cancellation, curtailment, lost luggage and emergency medical evacuation, particularly when travelling to remote safari destinations. More information on this can be found in the section below.

How to Apply

The insurance can be purchased online through the official Kenyan Government eCitizen platform.

For travellers applying for a new eTA: All eTA applicants will be prompted to purchase cover during their eTA application. Visitors who are exempt from eTA applications but still require the insurance can also purchase the insurance through the following link – www.https://insurance.ecitizen.go.ke/dashboard/travel

To apply:

1. Visit the official insurance portal and select Get Cover / Apply.
2. Enter your nationality, passport information, contact details and intended travel dates.
3. Upload the required photograph and complete any additional information requested.
4. Review your application and pay the insurance premium online (approximately USD 44 per person, plus any applicable transaction charges).
5. Once payment is successful, your insurance reference number and policy status should appear on screen as Valid.

We recommend saving your insurance reference number and taking a screenshot of the confirmation screen. Further policy information should be sent by email within 24–48 hours.

If you need to retrieve your details, return to the insurance portal and select Search Status.

Important Notes

• Insurance must be obtained before travelling to Kenya. Airlines may request proof of valid cover at check-in.
• Travellers who received their eTA before the insurance requirement was introduced must still obtain the insurance separately.
• Each traveller, including children, requires an individual policy.
• The policy is valid for multiple entries during its 90-day validity period. A new policy is required for subsequent travel after expiry.
• Travellers should retain their insurance reference number and confirmation throughout their visit.

For medical assistance under the scheme, contact the appointed administrator, Minet, on its 24-hour helpline: +254 719 044 777 or email [email protected].

As entry requirements and application procedures may change, we recommend checking the official Kenyan Government portals before departure.

Comprehensive travel and medical insurance is a condition of booking and is essential for travel in East Africa. Your policy should include cover for cancellation or curtailment, emergency medical treatment, evacuation and repatriation, as well as loss or theft of personal belongings. Many safari destinations are remote, and private hospitals require confirmation of insurance before treatment is provided. We strongly recommend arranging appropriate cover at the time of booking and ensuring that your policy extends for the full duration of your journey.

Malaria

Kenya is categorised as a malaria-risk area. Please consult your physician/health care provider for advice on the best available anti-malarial prophylactic. If you are visiting the coast and intend on diving while at the beach, please let your GP know as you may want to choose a different prophylactic to Larium. Malaria is avoidable if you are sensible and take basic precautions such as wearing long sleeved shirts and trousers at night, using mosquito spray, sleeping under a mosquito net or in a room/tent with mosquito proofing and using anti-malarial medication. If you become ill on your return from safari, while still on prophylactics or even once you have stopped taking them, ensure that your doctor does everything to establish that your illness is not malaria.

Also tell your doctor if you were bitten or scratched by an animal while travelling.

Yellow Fever

An International Certificate of Vaccination for Yellow Fever (ICVP or “yellow card”) may be required when travelling onward from Kenya to certain countries. The vaccine is valid for life but becomes effective 10 days after administration, so travellers are advised to receive it several weeks before departure.  The certificate must be officially validated with the Uniform Stamp of the authorised vaccination centre. Travellers without valid proof of vaccination may be denied entry, quarantined or required to be vaccinated on arrival, in accordance with International Health Regulations (IHR).

If medically unable to receive the vaccine, the ICVP must include a completed Medical Contraindications section, validated with the Uniform Stamp, and accompanied by a signed and dated exemption letter from a medical practitioner clearly stating the contraindication. Non-medical exemptions are not accepted.

As regulations may change at short notice, travellers should consult their nearest Kenyan Embassy or travel health advisor well in advance of departure.

Other Medical Advice

Please seek and obtain professional medical advice from your GP or nearest Travel Clinic regarding vaccination requirements for the countries and/or areas you are visiting. The best choice of vaccines for your trip depends on several factors, including your precise travel plans. Tetanus, Rabies, Polio, Typhoid and the Hepatitis vaccinations are recommended for Kenya but are not mandatory. Your physician may also recommend rabies, cholera and a host of others but these are not mandatory, and it is at your discretion if you decide to take them or not.

Prescription medications should always be carried in your hand luggage (not in checked baggage) in their original, labelled containers only. It is wise to bring with you any medicines which you may require since you will not have access to pharmacies in many of the areas which you may be visiting. Some basic suggestions are included in the packing list below. Medical services within the major towns are good, but outside of these, facilities are scarce, especially at camps and lodges. Most doctors’ surgeries expect cash payments. It is advisable to know your blood group type in case of an emergency.

Dry Season

(January–February & June–October)
Traditionally considered the classic safari months, the dry seasons bring sunny days, cooler mornings and open landscapes that make wildlife easier to spot. From July to October, the plains are at their most dramatic as animals gather around permanent water sources, and conditions are ideal for photography, walking safaris and active adventures.

Wet Season

(March–May & November–December)
The green seasons transform Kenya into a lush and vibrant wilderness. Rains are often short and refreshing rather than constant, and with fewer travellers, this can be a wonderfully private time to explore. Birdlife flourishes, young animals are abundant and the landscapes are at their most photogenic — offering exceptional value and a softer, more intimate safari experience.

Migration

(Typically July–October in the Maasai Mara)
The Great Migration usually reaches the Maasai Mara during the dry season, when vast herds of wildebeest and zebra cross from Tanzania in search of fresh grazing. River crossings along the Mara River can be dramatic and unpredictable, creating one of Africa’s most iconic wildlife spectacles. Exact timing varies each year depending on rainfall patterns.

Kenyan Coast

Warm and tropical year-round, the Kenyan coast offers a beautiful complement to the bush. January to March is hot and sunny with calm seas, ideal for swimming and diving. July to October brings cooler sea breezes and lower humidity. Even during the greener months, showers are often brief, and sea temperatures remain comfortably swimmable throughout the year

Most safari flights in Kenya operate on light aircraft with limited luggage capacity, and baggage is therefore restricted to 15kg (33lbs) per person, including hand luggage. Only soft-sided duffel bags are permitted – hard cases, wheeled suitcases, rigid frames and structured luggage are not allowed. To ensure your bag fits across all aircraft types, we recommend packing to the smallest aircraft dimensions (approximately 76cm × 25cm / 30” × 9.5”). Slightly wider bags (up to 35cm / 14”) may fit on larger aircraft but are not guaranteed on smaller planes. Excess baggage is never assured and should be pre-arranged where possible. For guests combining beach and bush stays, luggage storage can be arranged in Nairobi, allowing for convenient repacking between destinations.

Most safari camps and lodges in Kenya provide daily laundry service as part of the accommodation rate, making it easy for guests to travel light and refresh clothing throughout their stay. However, this is not universal, and a small number of properties may charge an additional fee, so it is always advisable to confirm what is included when organising your safari. In many camps, for cultural and practical reasons, guests are asked to wash their own undergarments; washing powder or detergent is typically provided in the room for this purpose. Laundry is generally returned within 24 hours or less, weather permitting, as most properties rely on natural line drying.

Most safari camps and lodges provide a thoughtful selection of locally made, natural toiletries for guest use, typically including shampoo, conditioner, shower gel and moisturiser. These products are often sustainably sourced and inspired by indigenous botanicals, reflecting the property’s commitment to conservation and community. Guests are therefore welcome to pack lightly, though those with specific personal preferences may wish to bring their own essentials.

On arrival into East Africa, whether in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda or Rwanda, a Meet and Greet representative will be there to welcome you. You will be assisted through arrival formalities and guided seamlessly to meet your driver or onward transfer. Airports can occasionally feel busy, particularly when several international flights arrive at once, but procedures are generally straightforward and our team ensures a smooth and reassuring transition from aircraft to hotel or connecting flight.

From the moment you land, every detail has been carefully coordinated, allowing you to relax and ease into the rhythm of your journey.

East Africa’s gateway cities, whether Nairobi, Arusha, Kigali or Entebbe, offer a wonderful introduction to the region before or after your time in the bush. From meaningful conservation visits and cultural museums to vibrant local markets, contemporary African design studios and excellent restaurants, there is much to explore if time allows.

Guests may enjoy visiting wildlife sanctuaries, historic sites, artisan centres or simply relaxing in one of the region’s leafy suburbs or lakeside settings. Each city has its own unique character and rhythm, and our consultants are always delighted to recommend tailored excursions, dining options and shopping experiences suited to your interests and schedule.

Whether you are seeking a gentle cultural introduction, a conservation-focused visit or a memorable final evening meal, we will ensure your time in East Africa’s cities is thoughtfully curated and seamlessly arranged.