As of 4th January 2024 Kenya is now visa free but visitors need to apply and pay for an electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) in advance of travel - please follow this link to make your online application:

https://www.etakenya.go.ke/en

All passengers in transit through Kenya arriving and leaving by the same aircraft or transferring to another aircraft and who do not leave the precincts of airports in Kenya are exempt from this requirement.

Some other exemptions apply and can be found in full on the website of the Kenyan Civil Aviation Authority.

Travellers who currently hold a valid visa can continue to travel using their visa until its expiry.

Your passport should also be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the date of entry into Kenya. Make sure you have 2 blank pages in your passport on arrival.

Please note:  We do NOT advise getting the East Africa Tourist Visa if your trip also includes Rwanda and/or Uganda as this can cause problems at point of entry.

You are advised to contact your doctor or clinic around 4-8 weeks before your trip to check whether you need any vaccinations and to get their professional medical advice regarding travel to Kenya.

To help prevent diarrhoea, avoid tap water – drink only bottled water and use bottled water for tooth brushing, and avoid ice made with tap water – and only eat fruit or vegetables that are cooked or can be peeled.

To help avoid heatstroke, drink plenty of bottled water/fluids, and keep out of the midday sun.

There is a risk of malaria in all areas of Kenya, except Nairobi and the highlands - check with your doctor about suitable antimalarial tablets. Dengue fever can also be transmitted via mosquito bites. Try to avoid mosquito bites wherever possible - wear loose long-sleeved clothing and trousers, and use a repellent on clothing and exposed skin.

Kenya falls into the yellow fever region in Africa. There is only a low potential for exposure to yellow fever in Nairobi, Mombasa, Lamu, Malindi and Shimba Hills National Park, but in the rest of the country there is a higher risk. It is therefore advisable for all travellers aged 9 months and older to obtain a yellow fever vaccination no less than 10 days prior to travel, but depending on the rest of your travel plans and country of origin, it is not compulsory:

Travellers from the UK who are only travelling directly to and from Kenya are currently not required to produce a vaccination certificate upon their return to the UK but this can change with no notice so do please check with your doctor and take their advice

If you are arriving into Kenya from a country which has any risk of yellow fever transmission you will be required to provide a certificate of your vaccination upon entry into Kenya. Also, certain countries including South Africa and Tanzania will deny entry if you are arriving from Kenya without the vaccination. It is up to the traveller to check the full list of countries here to ensure that you comply with these guidelines: https://nathnacyfzone.org.uk/factsheet/60/yellow-fever-maps

If your doctor advises that it is not safe for you to have the vaccination then you should obtain a medical waiver and travel with this instead.

English is the common commercial language, therefore it is spoken in the major towns and at all lodges and hotels. There are 52 tribes in Kenya, each with their own tribal language. The national language in Kenya is Swahili.

We would ask that all travellers are respectful of the local culture as follows:

Showing anger is not acceptable – Kenyan people pride themselves on their emotional control and expect the same in others. Try to remain patient, polite and friendly, even if the situation is very frustrating. Pointing with your finger at someone is considered very rude and is deemed to be an obscene gesture.

The coastal areas are predominantly Muslim so it is important to dress conservatively out of respect for the Muslim culture. On the beaches and within the confines of hotels, normal swimwear is acceptable but nudity/topless sunbathing is not. Away from beach resorts (especially in Mombasa, during the holy month of Ramadan or if you visit religious areas), women should avoid walking around in public areas displaying their legs and upper arms/shoulders - ‘short’ shorts, mini skirts, vests and tank tops may be frowned upon and viewed as a sign of disrespect. Long, loose hair is also seen as very provocative, so to avoid unwanted attention ladies may wish to tie their hair back or wear a headscarf.

Homosexuality is illegal in Kenya. Whilst everyone is of course entitled to their own sexual preferences and gender identity, we would advise all clients of the LGBT+ community to refrain from public displays of affection (including kissing and holding hands) and to be as discrete as possible about their relationship.

It is against the law for civilians to wear full military style clothing/attire (ie made from camouflage material).

You should always ask permission before taking anyone’s photograph. Taking photographs of official buildings, including Embassies, can lead to detention. If in any doubt, don’t photograph or film around them. Photography is also prohibited at airports.

Smoking in all public places (except in designated areas) is prohibited. Offenders can face a fine or imprisonment.

You must carry a form of ID with you at all times. A copy of your passport is normally acceptable, but recently some police officers have been insisting on the original document.

Normally, holders of the following passports require a visa to enter Tanzania when travelling as a tourist:

United Kingdom; United States of America*; Canada; Australia; New Zealand; Belgium; Netherlands; Italy; France; Germany; Spain; Ireland.

If you are a passport holder from another country, please contact your local Tanzania High Commission or Embassy for up-to-date visa requirements or check this website which lists countries whose nationals are NOT required to apply for a visa to enter Tanzania: http://immigration.go.tz/index.php/countries-which-are-not-required-to-apply-for-visa - so if your nationality is not listed, you will be required to obtain a visa.

Visas are issued online via the Tanzania Immigration website https://visa.immigration.go.tz/ or single entry visas for certain nationalities* can be obtained on arrival. PLEASE NOTE: You cannot get a multiple entry visa on arrival.

Visitors coming for holiday/tourism purposes are advised to apply online for an Ordinary Visa.

* Holders of American passports who come for holiday/tourism will have to apply for a Multiple Entry Visa online (due to bilateral agreements between Tanzania and America) even if they come for a single entry visit.

Please note that getting a single entry visa on arrival can take a substantial amount of time and if possible, we would advise getting your visa online prior to travel IF YOU ARE ARRIVING INTO TANZANIA via the following international airports/border posts  – Kilimanjaro (JRO), Julius Nyerere/Dar es Salaam (DAR), Zanzibar (ZNZ), Namanga Border Post (road border between Tanzania and Kenya) and Tunduma (road border between Tanzania and Zambia). NOTE: Zanzibar Airport is referred to as Abeid Amani Karume International Airport on the online visa application.

Zanzibar is part of the United Republic of Tanzania, so the same single entry visa can be used upon arrival at Zanzibar.

Single entry visas obtained at port of entry currently cost USD 50 per person (but USD 100 per person for US nationals) - costs all subject to change - and the cost is payable in USD cash only. We recommend small denominations of dollars as officials are not in the position to give change. You must also bring 2 recent passport size photographs of yourself if getting the visa on arrival and you must provide proof of a return ticket.

Online visa applications for minors under 18 years travelling alone or with only one parent/legal guardian must also be accompanied by a consent letter, jointly signed by both parents or legal guardians approving the travel.

Please note that if you are applying online, you need to allow 2-3 weeks to receive your visa.

Your passport should be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the date of entry into Tanzania and have sufficient blank pages for entry/exit stamps (AT LEAST 4 consecutive pages).

You are advised to contact your doctor or clinic around 4-8 weeks before your trip to check whether you need any vaccinations and to get their professional medical advice regarding travel to Tanzania.

To help prevent diarrhoea, avoid tap water – drink only bottled water and use bottled water for tooth brushing, and avoid ice made with tap water – and only eat fruit or vegetables that are cooked or can be peeled. To help avoid heatstroke, drink plenty of bottled water/fluids, and keep out of the midday sun.

There is a risk of malaria in all areas of Tanzania and Zanzibar - check with your doctor about suitable antimalarial tablets. Dengue fever can also be transmitted via mosquito bites. Try to avoid mosquito bites wherever possible - wear loose long-sleeved clothing and trousers, and use a repellent on clothing and exposed skin.

Tsetse flies are found throughout most of Tanzania's Northern and Southern Parks, especially in wooded areas. There have been some cases of sleeping sickness occurring after a tsetse fly bite, although these are mainly amongst farmers/locals who have repeated exposure to bites. However, the fly can still deliver a painful bite, so it is advisable to take necessary precautions - don't wear dark colours, especially black and blue (including denim), wear long-sleeved clothing/trousers, and don't walk through bushes during the hottest part of the day.

Tanzania is not listed as a yellow fever endemic country, however, in accordance with International Health Regulations, Tanzania requires all travellers over one year of age to present a yellow fever vaccination certificate on arrival if:

They are arriving from a yellow fever risk country (including low risk)*

They have been in transit longer than 12 hours at the airport of a yellow fever risk country (including low risk)*

They have left the airport whilst on transit in a yellow fever risk country (including low risk)*

*Yellow fever risk countries include Kenya and Uganda but it is up to the traveller to check the full list (including low risk yellow fever countries) via this website https://nathnacyfzone.org.uk/factsheet/60/yellow-fever-maps

Kiswahili is the official language of Tanzania. However, English, as the second official language, is the spoken commercial language and is widely understood.

We would ask that all travellers are respectful of the local culture as follows:

Loud and aggressive behaviour, drunkenness, foul language and disrespect, especially towards the older generation, is likely to cause offence. Kissing in public or display of affection is not customary to Zanzibar. Drinking alcohol in public places (outside of clubs/restaurants) may offend the residents.

As over a third of the population in Tanzania is Muslim, it is important to dress modestly out of respect for the Muslim culture.

On the beaches and within the confines of hotels/beach resorts, normal swimwear is acceptable but not nudity/topless sunbathing.

Away from beach resorts, women should avoid walking around in public areas (especially in Stone Town) displaying their legs, midriff and shoulders - ‘short’ shorts, miniskirts, vests and tank tops are viewed as a sign of disrespect.

A dress code in public places (such as the airport, Stone Town, markets and shopping centres) has now been introduced and ALL tourists must now cover their bodies from shoulders to knees in public areas. The authorities will penalise visitors for inappropriate appearance and penalties and fines will be given out - the fine could be up to $700 or more.

Homosexuality is illegal on mainland Tanzania and on the island of Zanzibar. Many of the local communities are also very traditional and conservative, and whilst everyone is of course entitled to their own sexual preferences and gender identity, we would advise all clients (and this includes members of the LGBT+ community as well as members of the heterosexual community) to refrain from overtly public displays of affection which may cause offence to some local citizens and in some cases public displays of homosexuality such as kissing in public or holding hands could even lead to an arrest and imprisonment.

You should always ask permission before taking anyone’s photograph. Military and security sensitive areas cannot be photographed.