Kenya

Swahili and English are both official languages, and English is used in business, schools, and almost all tourist-facing services. Swahili is the everyday language across most of the country, alongside dozens of local languages. A few Swahili words go a long way with drivers, guides, and market vendors.

Prepaid SIM cards from Safaricom or Airtel are cheap and give the best coverage, including in most safari areas. Buying one requires your passport, since Kenya requires ID registration for SIM cards. Mobile data coverage is strong in cities and along the coast, and reaches most lodges in the main parks, though it can drop out in remote stretches.

Tap water is not safe to drink; stick to bottled or filtered water, including for ice outside major hotels. Malaria is present across most of the country, especially at the coast and around lakes, though the risk is lower in Nairobi and the highlands. Talk to a travel clinic about antimalarial medication and bring mosquito repellent. Pharmacies are well stocked in Nairobi, Mombasa, and other major towns, but bring a supply of any regular medication before heading into a remote park.

Yellow fever vaccination is required for travelers arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission; carry your certificate if this applies to you.

Most visitors need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) before arrival, including travelers from the United States, the United Kingdom, and the EU. Nationals of most African countries (except Somalia and Libya) and a number of other countries are exempt and can enter visa-free. Apply through the official eTA portal in advance if you need one; processing is usually quick, but leave a few days of buffer before your trip.

Visa and entry requirements change frequently. Verify current requirements with the official immigration authority or your country's embassy before travel.

Dress modestly on the coast and in Lamu's Old Town, where the population is predominantly Muslim; cover shoulders and knees away from resort areas. Ask before photographing people, particularly in Maasai and Samburu communities, where a small payment is often expected in exchange for a photo. Greetings matter: a handshake and a few words of small talk before getting to business is normal and appreciated. Bargaining is expected at curio markets and with street vendors, but not in shops with marked prices.

Public holidays can close banks, government offices, and some shops, though hotels and safari operations generally keep running.

Shops and markets in cities are typically open daily, including Sundays, though hours may be shorter. Banks and government offices close for the day on public holidays and keep standard weekday hours otherwise.

• By air: domestic flights connect Nairobi's Wilson Airport to nearly every safari region and coastal town in an hour or so. This is often worth the cost for reaching Masai Mara, Samburu National Reserve, or Lamu, since the equivalent road trip can take a full day.
• By train: the Standard Gauge Railway links Nairobi and Mombasa in around five and a half hours, a comfortable alternative to the highway.
• By road: shared minibuses called matatus connect towns cheaply but are driven fast; a private transfer, shuttle, or self-drive safari vehicle is more comfortable for longer trips or park visits.

Kenya drives on the left.

Breakfast is often bread, chapati, or porridge with tea; lunch and dinner center on ugali, a stiff maize porridge, served with sukuma wiki (collard greens) or a meat stew. Nyama choma, grilled meat, usually goat or beef, is a Kenyan institution, eaten with friends and a cold Tusker beer. On the coast, Swahili cuisine adds coconut, seafood, and spices, with dishes like biryani and coconut-based fish curries reflecting centuries of Indian Ocean trade.

Chai, brewed strong and boiled with milk and sugar, is drunk throughout the day. Markets and small local eateries, called hotelis, serve inexpensive, home-style meals, while restaurants in Nairobi and coastal resort towns range from casual to upscale.

• Safari circuit: Masai Mara for the wildebeest migration, Amboseli National Park for elephant herds beneath Kilimanjaro's view, Tsavo East National Park and Tsavo West National Park together forming one of Africa's largest protected areas, and Samburu National Reserve in the drier north.
• Near Nairobi: Nairobi National Park for a short safari at the edge of the capital, and a Rift Valley loop through Hell's Gate National Park, Lake Naivasha, and the bird-rich Lake Nakuru National Park.
• Coast: Mombasa, with its historic old town and the beaches of Diani Beach nearby, plus Watamu, Malindi, and the Swahili island town of Lamu further north.
• Elsewhere: Nanyuki, the usual base for visiting Mount Kenya; Kisumu on Lake Victoria in the west; and Eldoret, home to many of the country's champion long-distance runners.