Travel Essentials › Kenya
Travel Essentials
Plugs: Type G (UK-style three-pin), 240 V. Emergency: One number for everything 999 or 112. Tipping: Tip about 10% in restaurants if no service charge, and budget roughly 10-20 USD per day for safari guides and drivers. Tap water: Drink bottled or treated water.
Type G (UK-style three-pin), 240 V
| One number for everything | 999 or 112 |
Tip about 10% in restaurants if no service charge, and budget roughly 10-20 USD per day for safari guides and drivers.
Greetings matter. Take time for a proper greeting and handshake before starting business or a request; rushing straight to the point can seem rude.
Modest dress. Dress modestly, especially outside Nairobi's business districts and on the predominantly Muslim coast (Mombasa, Lamu), where covering shoulders and knees is respectful.
Right hand for eating/giving. Use the right hand (or both hands) to give, receive or eat food; the left hand alone is considered impolite for these purposes.
Kenya is generally safe for tourists in established safari and coastal areas, but petty theft and occasional violent crime occur in parts of Nairobi and some urban centers, especially after dark.
Fake safari operators/accommodation. Booking a safari or hotel through an unverified website or agent can result in no booking existing on arrival; book through reputable, well-reviewed operators.
Currency exchange fraud. Street money changers may shortchange or use sleight of hand; exchange money at banks or licensed forex bureaus.
Dating-app targeting of LGBTQ+ travelers. There are reports of people using dating apps to lure LGBTQ+ travelers into meetings that end in robbery or blackmail; exercise caution with app-based meetups.
Women travelers. Solo women travelers can visit safely with normal precautions; catcalling and more aggressive bargaining or attention can occur, so dressing modestly and staying assertive helps.
Criminalized
Same-sex sexual activity is criminalized under the Penal Code, with penalties of up to 14 years in prison, and the law has been upheld in recent rulings; LGBTQ+ travelers should be very discreet, as public affection carries real legal and social risk.
| Coffee (café) | KES 300 | $2.30 |
| Local bus or metro ride | KES 80 (matatu) | $0.60 |
| Mid-range restaurant meal | KES 1,200 | $9 |
| Hostel bed / budget room (night) | KES 2,000 | $15 |
| Mid-range hotel (night) | KES 9,000 | $68 |
| Daily budget, mid-range traveler | KES 13,000 | $100 |
2026-09
June-October (dry season) is best overall, with peak wildlife viewing and the Great Migration reaching the Masai Mara around July-September; the long rains (March-May) bring lower prices and lush scenery but muddy roads, while short rains (October-November) are lighter and more localized.
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