Trip readiness checklist for Kenya
Kenya moves 'pole pole' — slowly, slowly — except its greetings, which come first, always. Here's the trip-readiness checklist for Kenya: what to pack, when to go, entry rules for your passport, and the official sources to confirm before you fly.
Build my checklistEntry rules for a US passport
eTA required before travel
Source: U.S. Department of State, checked September 14, 2026. Other passports get their own answer in the app. Confirm at the official source before you book.
What to pack
Kenya is safari country plus coast. Pack neutral layers for game drives, strong sun protection, and good shoes — and remember the early mornings are cold. Yes, in Africa.
Neutral-coloured layers
Muted greens/browns/khaki suit safari; avoid bright colours (and blue/black in tsetse areas). Dawn drives are cold, midday hot.
Strong sun protection
Equatorial high-altitude sun is intense; hat, sunglasses, high-SPF.
Binoculars and a zoom camera
Binoculars transform a safari; a zoom lens earns its place.
Insect repellent and meds
Malaria is a risk in many areas — repellent plus a doctor's advice on prophylaxis.
When to go
The Great Migration hits the Maasai Mara roughly Jul–Oct (peak and priciest). The dry seasons (Jun–Oct, Jan–Feb) are best for game viewing. The 'long rains' (Mar–May) are quiet and green but some camps close.
Money & getting around
Kenya uses the shilling (KES). Mobile money (M-Pesa) is everywhere, and cards work in cities and lodges; carry cash for markets, tips, and rural areas. Tipping is expected on safari (guides, camp staff) — budget for it. Use apps or arranged transport.
Local quirks worth knowing
Kenya moves 'pole pole' — slowly, slowly — except its greetings, which come first, always. A little Swahili buys a lot of warmth.
Greet before anything
'Habari?' (how are things) opens every exchange; 'asante' (thanks) and 'jambo' cover most of the rest. Business before greetings is genuinely rude.
Ask before photographing people
Always — and expect Maasai portrait subjects to name a fair price; that's the arrangement, not a scam. Never shoot military or border posts.
Safari vehicle etiquette
Quiet voices at sightings, stay seated and inside the vehicle, never pressure your driver to off-road or crowd an animal — the good guides refuse anyway.
Pole pole is a lifestyle
Things take the time they take, and impatience buys nothing. It's also official advice for climbing Kilimanjaro's little sister, Mount Kenya.
A week in Kenya, the list starts here
Quantities scale with your dates, the weather groups arrive once we have your travel days, and your own plans add their gear on Trip Pass.
- Passport & travel documents1
- Phone charger & adapter1
- Wallet, cards & some local cash1
- Toiletries bag1
- Any daily medicationsenough for the trip
- Underwear7
- Socks7
- T-shirts / tops5
What am I forgetting?
A real answer from Trip Happens for a sample week in Kenya, departing in five weeks with a checked bag and nothing packed yet. Yours is built from your own trip.
A week in Kenya, five weeks out. Three gaps.
- 1.
Kenya health and entry checks
You're five weeks from a Kenya trip on a US passport, and vaccination and entry paperwork often have lead times. Open the entry and health guidance for Kenya and work from the official source rather than a forum.
- 2.
Cash and safari tipping budget
Kenya runs on shillings, M-Pesa and cash for markets and rural stops, and tips for guides and camp staff are expected. Decide the amount now so it isn't a scramble on the last morning of a game drive.
- 3.
A proper warm layer
Late October sits in the dry season, prime game-viewing time, and dawn drives are genuinely cold in an open vehicle. Add a fleece or jacket plus neutral layers and strong sun protection to the twelve items still unpacked.
Entry, advisories & health
These change. Confirm at the official source before you book.
Entry and visa requirements depend on your nationality. Confirm the current rules for Kenya with the official source below before you book.
U.S. State Department travel advisory for Kenya — check the current level and any alerts before you go.
CDC traveler health page for Kenya — recommended vaccines, health notices, and a packing checklist.
Get the full Kenya checklist
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