Frequently Asked Questions

All travelers from India to Kenya require a valid visa that must be valid for at least six months from the date of return ticket. Get your visa from the local Kenya embassy. Following is the list of documents required (till recent notice) to avail a visa for Kenya:

1) A Valid Passport.
2) Duly filled Visa Application forms
3) Two recent photographs
4) Blank pages in passport for visa stamp.
5) Copies of onward ticket/ itinerary (only for Transit Visa)

Above information is as per the latest notification from Kenya Embassy but Visa and Passport requirements may change without any intimation. It is prudent to contact the local Kenya embassy or ‘Kenyan High Commission in India’ website for the latest information on Visa and Passport requirements.

All visitors traveling from India to Kenya are required to possess a valid International Certificate of Vaccination against Yellow Fever. Please note that the certificate must be issued by an approved vaccination centre (minimum ten days prior to the arrival in Kenya). Find out your nearest vaccination centre at www.vaccineindia.com

Kenya is in East Africa time Zone and Standard time is 3 Hours ahead of the Greenwich Median Time (GMT).

Kenya lies astride the equator but the Climate varies according to the topography – it’s a transition from tropical along the coast on west to arid as we move towards North/ North East Kenya. Kenya experiences two rainy seasons and a long dry season from June to October. Days are usually hot and dry and it gets cooler in the night. You should carry your Summer Clothes and a Jacket or two for the cooler nights would be just enough!

Kenya has a lot to offer throughout the year. Your best time for a trip would be collateral to your purpose of traveling to Kenya. You may pick a package of your choice from (here)

Dry Season trip (Peak season) You can plan your trip from July- October. The dry season plays in favor of Wildlife enthusiasts. The skies are clear and vegetation is low making it easier to spot animals. The annual migration of millions of Wildbeest, Zebra and Gnu’s makes July- October the favorite season for Safaris. The herds can be easily located under clear skies around lakes and rivers, permanent water holes in dry season. The lodges are full and it gets very crowded in most of the National Parks.

Wet Season Trip (Off season) The season from November to May is the rainy season. You can feast your eyes upon New Born animals in the plush green fields. If you would want some cost cutting in accommodation and Safari, the rainy season trip is ideal deal for you. One can avail accommodation discounts at lodges and would find lesser crowd at parks.

Kenyan Shilling (KSh) is the official currency of Kenya. Frequently used coins are of denomination 1, 5, 10 and 20 shillings. Frequently used bank notes are of denominations 50, 100, 200, 1000 shillings.

The banks are usually open from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM from Monday to Friday and 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM on Saturday. The banks at airports are open until midnight. Extra charges vary with the mode of withdrawal.
You have following options to withdraw money- ATMs: ATMs are easily available.
Master Card Maestro: You can use your Maestro card. Upper limit of every transaction is 10000KSh.
Banks: You can withdraw money from Banks. Avoid Opening hours, After Lunch hours and Closing hours due to heavy rush at Banks.

Tip is in congruence to the service quality. You can tip up to 10% of the bill at restaurants. Tour Guides, Hotels can be tipped variably between 200 -500 shillings against the quality of the service rendered. You need not tip your taxi driver in Kenya.

Health Safety: Kenya is prone to Malaria, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Polio, Typhoid, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Rabies and Meningitis. It is not mandatory but advisable to get vaccines against any of these infections. Consult your Doctor, 10-15 days before leaving for Kenya.

Travel Safety: Kenya has one of the most developed tourism sectors in Africa. A Safari trip to Kenya can be an unparallel experience if you stick to the rules laid by your Guide and Lodge staff.
The curiosity to explore the cities and dynamic culture is understandable but avoid venturing out alone in the night. Remember, a guide is your knight in an unknown city so always involve him in your exploration spree. Be a smart traveler and follow the basic travel etiquette: always keep a copy of incumbent documents (passports, travel check number, map etc) with you while travelling and one copy permanently in your main luggage. Safari’s are generally very well managed but be smart on your trip to streets of major cities. Nairobi (‘Nairoberry’ a common moniker) has a bad reputation among travelers so displaying your wealth is not a good idea. Carjacking, mugging and banditry are the most common crimes in Kenya so keep your ornaments/ gadgets under covers while using public transport to avoid heavy losses in such a stance.
Kenya is generally a peaceful and friendly country in its political activism, but violence may occur during elections and referendums .Keep yourself updated with local developments by reading newspapers and listening to radio. You must consult your country’s embassy in case of political unrest or breakout. The towns of Lodwar, Lokichokio and Moyale are best avoided by tourists

Kenya’s Country Dialing Code is +254.
Country Exit Code is +000
For International calls from Kenya: Country Exit Code of Kenya(000) followed by Country Dialing Code(91 for India) and Ten digit Mobile number respectively.

The Northern part of the country has no network access; however Southern part where most of the tourists stay has good network access. If your network is compatible with GSM900/1800 system, which is used in most of the world, except North America, you will be able to use your cell phone.
SIM Card: You can buy a cheap local SIM Card (Safaricom or Celtel) to avoid unnecessary high tariffs on calls and data streaming. The SIM will require a SIM-unblocked GSM900/1800 compatible International Cell phone. Please contact your Service Provider for the SIM and network mandates.
Cell Phone: If you will be staying for a longer time or are wary of not using your home number, a cheap Cell Phone at a throw away price is indeed a good option.

All the hotels and lodges provide internet connectivity upon request.

The local electricity supply is 220/240 volts AC, 50HZ and Type G electrical outlet. It is recommended to carry universal adapter and converter kit. If you face any problems the hotel staff will assist you by providing suitable chargers and adapters.

Distance Measuring Unit – Kilometers | Weight Measuring Unit- Kilogram