Kenya 2026

A valid passport and onward airline ticket are required for travel to Kenya. Your passport must remain valid for at least six (6) months from the date of departure. The passport must be signed and must have at least two blank pages left in it after your visas for the trip have been secured.

You are required to obtain a Kenyan Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) ahead of time. The only place to apply online is with the following link: www.etakenya.go.ke/en

Please avoid using any other website.

The expected processing and issuance time for the ETAs is between 48 to 72 hours but we advise applying at least two weeks ahead of time. Sometimes it takes a few hours, sometimes it is still pending a week later…

Do let us know if you need assistance with that.

Prior to travelling, please ensure that you have adequate medical and travel insurance coverage. This is a requirement of travel. Insurance is useful in case you have unanticipated medical expenses along the way, need emergency evacuation, your luggage is lost or delayed, your trip is canceled or portions of your trip are interrupted in any way. We recommend that you add any nonrefundable travel to your plan, especially airline tickets. We will check that you are covered for this specific journey.

Arrival in Nairobi from outside of Kenya is generally into “Jomo Kenyatta International Airport” (NBO), which is located just 10 miles from Nairobi’s city centre. We will come pick you up upon arrival. Please share with us your flight details as soon as they are booked.

Extremely important!!

Baggage will be restricted to one (1) checked SOFT bag plus one (1) carry-on bag with a maximum total weight of 33 pounds (15kg). This special weight restriction applies to all domestic flights in Kenya and are for safety reasons. It is therefore crucial to respect it. We will send you a packing list shortly to help you with this often overwhelming task (we know…).

The maximum dimensions of the soft bags are as follows: 25 cm / 9.8 inches wide x 30 cm / 11.8 inches high and 62 cm long / 24.4 inches long. Luggages with wheels also add to your total dimensions and weight. So the rule is: soft, non-rigid bags without wheels, following the dimensions and weight above.

For safety purposes passengers themselves weighing 100kg / 220lbs or more must advise us in advance. These restrictions are solely to ensure your safety.

And don’t worry, we will send a detailed packing list separately a few weeks before departure.

Laundry services are included at our 3 different locations, so that should help you pack light!

Please note that for cultural reasons, underwear are the only items that won’t be washed.

Always consult a medical professional about what vaccinations and medications you’ll need or can bring along with you on your trip.

VACCINATIONS

We recommend having been vaccinated for HEPATATIS A, HEPATATIS B, TYPHOID.

Please carry your YELLOW FEVER vaccination, required for travellers arriving from countries considered “at risk” - see list here: https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/countries-with-risk-of-yellow-fever-transmission-and-countries-requiring-yellow-fever-vaccination-(november-2022)

Existing and new yellow fever vaccination certificates are now valid for life.

Please note: guests travelling from Tanzania to Kenya or South Africa require a valid yellow fever certificate. However, transit passengers (less than 12 hours) shall not be checked for compliance with the certification.

MALARIA

Malaria is a serious parasitic disease, which is common in Africa, Asia, and South America. It is spread by mosquito bites and may, after an incubation period of 1-3 weeks, rapidly lead to life-threatening complications, particularly in individuals with little or no immunity.

Avoiding mosquito bites is the cornerstone of protection. The malaria-carrying Anopheles mosquito usually feeds after dark, from about 21:00 until 06:00 hours. Avoid the mosquito by:

• Wearing long clothing after dark

• Applying repellents/ spraying insecticides after dark

• Take Prophylaxis for malaria, if prescribed by your doctor.

You don't need to bring huge amounts of currency. You may need some cash for optional tips & gratuities or any extras & gifts that you might wish to purchase. It's a good idea to carry some USD in cash to cover this, in small denomination notes is best. Cash may also be useful to buy local crafts in smaller shops or villages. Card payments are also widely accepted. A good baseline is 500 USD, more or less depending on your shopping appetite or generosity.

We recommend to keep all of your travel documents and valuables with you at all times. This applies to all cash, passports, cameras, etc. We recommend leaving all valuable jewellery at home.

While we will be in Nairobi, we advise travelers not to walk around the city at night. Taking a taxi is much safer than venturing out on foot.

Kenya lies on the Equator, therefore the dry and wet seasons have relatively stable and pleasant temperatures.

From late May into early June, we’ll be in Kenya’s green ‘shoulder season’, just as the long rains are easing off and the dry season begins. In the Masai Mara and Tsavo, you can expect warm days (around mid‑20s to high‑20s °C / mid‑70s to low‑80s °F) and cooler, fresh mornings and evenings, so a light jacket is useful on early game drives. There may still be the odd passing shower, but it rarely rains all day and the air is clear, making for beautiful light and lush landscapes.

Lamu, on the coast, will be warm and tropical (roughly high‑20s to low‑30s °C / low‑80s to high‑80s °F), with sea breezes.

Overall, it’s a comfortable time to travel: not too hot inland, fewer crowds than peak season, vivid green scenery, and excellent conditions for photography and wildlife viewing.

Kenya is a multilingual country. The two official languages are Kiswahili and English.

A few useful Kiswahili words and phrases go a long way if you feel like challenging your brain:

Hello - Jambo

Welcome - Karibu

How are you? - Habari?

Good, fine - Mzuri

Please - Tafadhali

Thank you (very much) - Asante (sana)

Sorry - Pole

Slowly - Pole pole

Friend - Rafiki

Food - Chakula

Water - Maji

Yes - Ndio

No - Hapana

What time is it? - Ni saa ngapi?

Lion - Simba

Elephant - Tembo / Ndovu

Buffalo - Nyati

Rhino - Kifaru

Leopard - Chui

Cheetah - Duma

Giraffe - Twiga

Hippo - Kiboko

Wildebeest - Nyumbu

Zebra - Punda milia

By and large the people of Kenya are easy-going, amiable, humorous and helpful, making travelling and interacting with them a real pleasure.

General Safari Rules:

• Listen to the the guides and the camp staff at all times

• Do not walk out of the camp unaccompanied at anytime of the night or day

• Do not throw any litter at all in the open, even if is biodegradable as some animals eat whatever they come across

• Always keep your windows, doors/mesh doors and any entry access to your tent or room closed - this will prevent any animals and insects from entering

• Do not feed the wild animals

• Keep your distance from wild animals

• Do not make noise and sudden movement in your safari vehicle when you are close to wild animals

• Do not exit your vehicle unless advised by your guide

• Smoking is not allowed on safari activities

• Ask the guides and staff any questions you may have

Tipping is customary on safari and forms an important part of the hospitality culture across East Africa. It is always a personal gesture, and the amount can reflect the level of service and overall experience you feel you have received. It is very much appreciated by the teams who work hard behind the scenes to make your stay memorable.

Below are some suggested guidelines, which many guests find helpful as a reference point:

• General Camp / Lodge Staff (Shared Tip Pool)

  $10 – $20 per guest, per day.

  This typically includes housekeeping, waitstaff, kitchen team, porters, maintenance, and other behind-the-scenes staff who support your stay. This is usually placed in a communal staff tip box at the lodge. Your host or manager will be happy to show you where this is located

• Safari Guide / Driver-Guide

  $10 – $20 per guest, per day.

  Your main host in the bush, responsible for driving, wildlife tracking, safety, and shaping your overall safari experience. This is typically given directly to your guide at the end of your stay.

• Spotters

  $5 – $15 per guest, per day.

Please note that tipping amounts are given in US dollars to provide easy reference for our clients, but do remember that it is entirely optional and if you do tip you can do so in any currency. It is preferable that tips are given in cash at the properties because credit card payments have tax implications. If tips are paid for by card, the intended recipients will also get 30% less of the amount.

Electricity in Kenya runs on 240 volts. The most common sockets used are those with three rectangular prongs (British system). We highly recommend bringing your own travel adaptors for your own appliances.

When you are photographing, people always ask their permission first. The only exception to this is when you are photographing a public scene with a lot of people in it, aiming at no one in particular. Always be considerate of anyone’s desire not to be photographed. Remember to always respect the wildlife and the fragility of the ecosystem you have entered and remember it is our duty to ensure these remain undisturbed by our presence.

Under no circumstances should you take photos of any airports, government buildings and installations or of military or police personnel. This may result in the confiscation of your camera.

WHAT CAMERA TO BRING ON SAFARI

You don’t need a huge kit to take great photos on safari. Some of the best images come from being in the right place at the right time, not from having the biggest lens. Here are a few suggestions to help you get the most out of your trip:

1. Smartphones: The latest iPhone Pro models and similar high-end Android phones are now excellent for photography. They work brilliantly for landscapes, people, and wildlife that’s close to the vehicle. Their only real limitation is when animals are further away.

2. All-in-one cameras: Compact cameras with powerful zooms, like the Sony RX10 IV, are ideal for safari. They’re lightweight, easy to use, and have a very versatile zoom range. Other good options include the Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 II and Canon PowerShot G3 X. These are just a few examples, and there are many other models that work well, including older versions that are often more affordable.

3. Mirrorless or DSLR setups: If you're into photography or want to go a bit more advanced, any recent mirrorless camera from Sony (such as the A7 IV), Canon (such as the R6 II) or Nikon (such as the Z6 II) will deliver excellent image quality. Again there are older and more affordable options which are also excellent. If you're bringing interchangeable lenses, we suggest bringing two: A mid-range zoom lens, something around 24–70mm, which is great for landscapes, people, and wildlife that’s close by a telephoto zoom lens, something in the range of 100–400mm (or similar), for animals that are further away

The most important thing is to bring gear you're comfortable using. Also pack spare batteries, memory cards, and a soft cloth to wipe away dust. Tripods are generally impractical, because your shots are taken from inside your safari vehicle.

If you plan to document your trip on social media, please remember to tag us!

Instagram: @sometime_never_club