🇰🇪 Travel facts Kenya
✓ Last checked:The most important practical answers for your trip to Kenya — entry, tipping, plug, customs and more. Compactly verified, with source references.
| Capital | Nairobi |
|---|---|
| Language | Swahili, English |
| Currency | Kenyan Shilling (KES) |
| Timezone | UTC+3 |
| Flight time from Germany | approx. 8–9 hours |
| Emergency number | 999 / 112 |
| Plug | Type G · 240 V / 50 Hz · Adapter needed |
| EU / Schengen | not an EU country · not Schengen |
Do I need a visa for Kenya?
Passport required; electronic entry permit eTA to be applied for in advance (approx. 30 USD).
eTA at etakenya.go.ke, at least 72 hours before departure; passport must be valid for 6 months. Binding information: German Federal Foreign Office.
How much should I tip in Kenya?
10–15 %
Hotel: Safari guide approx. 10–15 USD/day per guest, lodge team approx. 5 USD/day
Taxi: Round up
Which plug adapter do I need in Kenya?
Adapter needed: Plug type G, 240 V / 50 Hz.
British type G — buy a UK adapter in advance.
Can you drink tap water in Kenya?
No, tap water is not recommended for drinking.
Only drink bottled or boiled water.
What can I bring back from Kenya to Germany?
Non-EU country: When returning to Germany, goods up to €430 (by air travel), 200 cigarettes and 1 litre of spirits are duty-free.
Will my mobile phone work in Kenya?
No EU roaming — book eSIM in advance or buy a cheap local SIM on site.
Card or cash — how do you pay in Kenya?
Shilling (KES); M-Pesa (Mobile Money) is ubiquitous, card in hotels, cash for markets.
What should I know about health in Kenya?
Travel health insurance with repatriation recommended; check vaccination/health advice with the German Federal Foreign Office or Tropical Institute. Yellow fever certificate required when arriving from endemic areas.
Sources & Note
Information from the perspective of German citizens, as of August 2026, without guarantee. Entry and security information may change at short notice — the binding source is the German Federal Foreign Office (Kenya travel advice) . Health information does not replace medical travel advice.
