KenyA Pre-Travel information

This information is intended as a guideline only. It is accurate to the best of our knowledge. Please note that we are providing links to external websites as guidelines only, Karell Travel is not responsible for the content thereof.

Visa Information
As of January 2024, Kenya has waived visa requirements for all international visitors. HOWEVER, all travelers must obtain a Kenya Travel Authorization prior to travel.
Online applications: https://www.etakenya.go.ke/en
 
Travel Authorizations are valid for a period not exceeding 3 months. Passports must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the travel date and must have a clean and full visa page for endorsement.
 
Requirements:
  • Valid passport for at least six (6) month after your planned date of arrival into Kenya with at least one blank page 
  • Selfie or passport-type photo
  • Contact information, email address and phone number
  • Details of your arrival and departure itinerary 
  • Accommodation booking confirmation(s)
  • Credit card, debit card, Apple pay or other means of payment ($30.00 per person)
    Note: The above-quoted fees are subject to change.
    Entry & Pre-Departure Requirements
    BEFORE ARRIVAL
    Fully Covid-19 Vaccinated Travelers Aged 12 Years and Older
    (Fully vaccinated means having received the prescribed doses of the specific vaccine, with the latest vaccination received at least 14 days prior to arrival in Kenya (not including the day of vaccination)
     
    • All fully vaccinated travelers are exempt from presenting a negative COVID-19 PCR test result on arrival.
    • The following categories of travelers are exempt from the COVID-19 vaccination certificate requirement:
      • Children below the age of 12 years.
      • Travelers with medical conditions precluding vaccination. These travelers are required to provide a letter from a recognized medical practitioner detailing the medical reason preluding vaccination.
      • Travelers who have recovered from an active COVID-19 infection or received convalescent plasma in the preceding 90 days. These travelers are required to provide a letter from a recognized medical practitioner showing that the traveller has recovered from an active infection in the preceding 90 days.
      BEFORE ARRIVAL
      Unvaccinated Travelers Aged 12 Years and Older
      • All arriving unvaccinated travelers, must be in possession of a valid COVID-19 negative PCR test result conducted within 72 hours prior to departure for Kenya regardless of the route of entry.
      • All travelers with flu-like symptoms will be required to complete the International Traveller Health Surveillance form 24 hours before arrival to Kenya via http://bit.ly/covid19moh
      • Online visa application via https://evisa.go.ke/evisa.html
       
      ON ARRIVAL
      Fully Vaccinated Travelers Aged 12 Years and Older
      • Presentation of a valid COVID-19 vaccination certificate
      • All travelers with flu-like symptoms will be required to present the QR Code from the International Traveller Health Surveillance form and undergo a Rapid Antigen test, at a cost of USD 30 per person per test
      • Test results are available approximately 15 minutes after sample collection. Travelers who receive a positive result on their Rapid Antigen test will be required to undergo a mandatory RT-PCR test, at a cost of USD 50 per person per test. In the event of a positive RT-PCR test result:
      • Asymptomatic & symptomatic travelers will be required to self-isolate for 5 -7 days. Masks should be worn at all times, and social distancing will be required.
           
          ON ARRIVAL
          Unvaccinated Travelers Aged 12 Years and Above
          • Presentation of a valid RT-PCR test result
          • Travelers without an RT-PCR test result must undergo a Rapid Antigen test on arrival, at a cost of USD 30 per person per test.
          • All travelers with flu-like symptoms will be required to present the QR Code from the International Traveller Health Surveillance form and undergo a Rapid Antigen test, at a cost of USD 30 per person per test
          • Test results are available approximately 15 minutes after sample collection. Travelers who receive a positive result on their Rapid Antigen test will be required to undergo a mandatory RT-PCR test, at a cost of USD 50 per person per test. In the event of a positive RT-PCR test result:
          • Asymptomatic & symptomatic travelers will be required to self-isolate for 5 -7 days. Masks should be worn at all times, and social distancing will be required.
           
          BEFORE DEPARTURE FROM KENYA
          • All departing passengers whose destination country requires a Rapid Antigen Test hours before travel will be required to undertake a pre-travel Rapid Antigen Test at the Ministry of Health testing facility at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and upload the results to the Trusted Travel website trustedtravel.panabios.org
          • Departing passengers whose airline or destination country requires a negative RT-PCR COVID-19 test certificate, require testing prior to departure. This can be facilitated by our laboratory partners in Nairobi and in various safari destinations.
          • Pre-departure testing may be considered at the discretion of any of the airlines departing from or terminating in Kenya.
          • Passengers transiting through Kenya will only be required to adhere to their airline or destination country’s Covid-19 requirements.
          • Passengers whose airline or destination country does not require a negative COVID-19 test certificate are able to leave Kenya without testing.
          Medical Suggestions
          Kenya
          Passengers arriving from Yellow Fever endemic countries (listed below) are required to present a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate.
           
          While official advice states that yellow fever vaccinations are not required when travelling from Tanzania to Kenya, we can confirm that on occasion, travellers arriving to Kenya from Tanzania are checked for Yellow Fever vaccinations.
           
          We are in regular communication with Kenyan Port Health authorities and are working with them to receive clarification on this matter, however, for the time being our advice remains unchanged and we request that guests be vaccinated for Yellow Fever when travelling from Tanzania to Kenya.
          Electricity & Plugs
          All electrical appliances in East Africa run on between 220V – 240v (in the U.S. we run on 110v). Although adapters are generally available at hotels, we highly recommend taking your own adapter. Most modern electronics (smartphones, tablets, laptops etc) have dual voltage capability and can be safely used with a plug adapter. Any devices that do not support dual voltage should only be used with a voltage converter adapter.
          For Kenya you need Type G Adapters
          Packing Suggestions
          As a general guideline, comfortable, casual wash-and-wear clothes are recommended. If you are going on safari, the less you take the better as most lodges and hotels do offer laundry service if you are staying at least two days. Muted colors such as stone, khaki, beige or brown are recommended when you are on safari. Darker colors and colors that are very bright tend to attract unwanted insects such as mosquitoes and other bug types. Game drives in the early morning and evenings can be quite cold, especially in winter, so you should pack accordingly. The key is to dress in layers in the early morning and strip down layer by layer as it gets warmer as the sun rises. Vice versa for evening game drives.
          You should bring a comfortable pair of walking shoes for use during bush walks or when off the game drive vehicle.

           Meal times are generally informal so it is not necessary to dress in formal attire.

           You should bring a video or normal camera, a good pair of binoculars, enough memory cards and the relevant plug and charger for the equipment. Cellular phones are also suitable during game drives for the purpose of taking photos.

          General Clothing
          • Light-weight shirts/blouses with long sleeves as protection from the sun and mosquitoes
          • T-shirts
          • Shorts
          • Jeans or safari trousers
          • Pajamas
          • Socks
          • Underwear
          • Light-weight waterproof jacket
          • Comfortable walking shoes/sneakers
          • Comfortable walking sandals or flip flops for warmer days
          • Wide-brimmed hat with under-chin tie to prevent it from flying away
          • Swimsuit
          • Warm windproof jacket (winter)
          • Fleece (winter)
          • Warm turtle neck shirt (winter)
          • Beanie (winter)
 Gloves (winter) Warm scarf (winter)

            General Equipment & Accessories

            • Sunglasses
            • Spare prescription eye glasses/contact lenses
            • Binoculars
            • Cameras and related paraphernalia, like lenses, etc and plenty of memory cards and spare batteries
            • Small powerful flashlight and extra batteries

            • Light pack-able backpack or tote to carry equipment and stuff on game vehicles
            • Chargers for cell phones, iPad, cameras, computers and you may want to invest in a mini travel charger
            • First aid kit (Band-aids, pain relievers, eye drops, sunscreen, hand sanitizer, tissues, chapstick, any prescription medications etc)
            Gratuities

            Tipping is completely discretionary. If you have received good service, and would like to show your appreciation by tipping, we have enclosed a brief guideline to assist you.

            Transfer Driver: $5 US per person

            City Touring Guide: $10-$15.00 US per person for half day tours / $20-$25 US per person for full day tours

            General Lodge  Staff: $25 US per person per day

            Safari Guide: $20-25 US per person per day

            Restaurants: 10-15% is customary on meal accounts if you are satisfied with the service

             

            Travel Insurance
            Travel insurance is strongly recommended.
             
            A travel insurance quote can only be provided once your initial deposit has been made.
             
            Cost of coverage depends on the cost of your trip, your state of residence and age. It is normally about 10% of the cost of your trip, although it is higher for older passengers.
             
            We recommend that you purchase a travel protection plan to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected. These plans predominantly provide cover related to medical issues. It is not ‘cancel for any reason’ coverage. Travel protection plans usually include coverage for Trip Cancellation, Trip Interruption, Emergency Medical and Emergency Evacuation/Repatriation, Trip Delay, Baggage Delay and more.
             
            Please Note: To be eligible for the waiver of pre-existing medical condition exclusion, the protection plan must be purchased within 14 days from the time you make your initial trip deposit. However, the plan can be purchased any time prior to departure.
            Luggage

            Valuables

            Valuable items such as medications, eye glasses, sunglasses, wallets, passports, computers, iPads, cell phones, cameras, binoculars, jewelry etc should be packed in your carry on luggage. We recommend placing a TSA-approved lock on all checked baggage out of an abundance of caution.

             

            Luggage Weight

            Luggage restrictions vary between airlines. Please check with your travel consultant with regard to weight restrictions and quantity / size of bags permitted.

             

            Light Aircraft Flight Restrictions 

            If your journey contains flights on light aircraft you will be subject to restrictions due to the capacity of the aircraft. You must have a soft-sided duffel bag in order for it to fit in the luggage pod. Hard suitcases are strictly prohibited.

            Light aircraft baggage weight allowances typically range from 33 lbs- 44 lbs per person, your consultant will ensure you are notified of the specific requirements of your itinerary. Additional luggage weight allowance can be purchased at a surcharge, subject to availability.

             

            Passenger Weight

            For safety reasons, all light aircraft passengers must provide their personal weight prior to travel to ensure the aircraft is safely loaded within its weight restrictions.