Travel with confidence
Safety and health on a Kenya safari
A well-run safari is a comfortable, safe way to experience wild Africa, especially with people who know the land. Here is what we do, and what we ask of you, so that you can relax and enjoy the trip.
Local drivers and guides
Your trip is led by an experienced driver-guide who knows the parks, reads animal behaviour and keeps you at a safe distance from wildlife.
Well-kept vehicles
Safari vehicles are 4x4s suited to park roads, with pop-up roofs for viewing. Tell us about any mobility or accessibility needs so we can plan around them.
Clear briefings
Before each activity, your guide explains the rules for that place, whether it is a game drive, a walk, a boat ride or a visit to a community.
Health
Before you travel
Speak to your doctor or a travel clinic 6 to 8 weeks before departure. This page is general guidance, not medical advice.
Vaccinations
Routine vaccines are usually recommended, along with others such as hepatitis A and typhoid. A yellow fever certificate may be required if you arrive from a country with yellow fever risk. Check current rules with a travel clinic and the official Kenyan and Tanzanian authorities.
Malaria
Most safari, coast and lake areas are malaria-risk areas. Nairobi and the high-altitude areas carry lower risk. Take the prophylaxis your doctor recommends, use repellent, cover up at dusk and sleep under a net where provided.
Altitude and cold
Nairobi, Mount Kenya, the Aberdares and the Ngorongoro rim are high and cool. If you plan to hike Mount Kenya, allow acclimatisation days and tell us about heart, lung or blood-pressure conditions.
Sun, heat and water
Wear a hat, sunscreen and sunglasses, drink plenty of water and avoid drinking tap water. Lodges and camps provide bottled or treated water.
In the field
Being safe around wildlife
- Stay inside the vehicle on game drives unless your guide says it is safe to get out.
- Keep your voice low and your movements calm. Animals tolerate vehicles but not sudden noise.
- Never feed wildlife, including monkeys and baboons, and keep food out of sight.
- Do not walk around camp at night alone. Ask staff to escort you to your tent or room.
- Do not swim in lakes or rivers. Hippos and crocodiles are present in many of them.
- Use only guided walks and licensed boat operators.
Park rules
Park rules that protect you and the animals
Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) sets the rules for national parks and reserves. Your guide follows them on every drive, and they are the reason sightings stay calm and safe.
Keep your distance
KWS asks visitors to stay at least 20 metres from animals, pull to the side of the road so others can pass, and never crowd an animal or make sudden noises or movements.
Slow and on the track
The speed limit in KWS parks is 40 km/h, and driving off the road is not allowed because it badly damages the habitat. Over-speeding can lead to bans from future visits.
Daylight hours
Visitors leave the park by 6 pm unless staying overnight, and night game drives need approval and a fee. Plan your day with your guide so you are never rushing.
Quiet and no hooting
Keep voices low and do not hoot at animals. Noise disturbs wildlife and other visitors.
Never feed wildlife
Feeding upsets an animal diet and makes it dependent on people.
Leave no trace
KWS parks, reserves and sanctuaries are plastic-free zones, and littering is strictly prohibited, cigarette butts included. Never leave a fire unattended.
Respect people too: ask permission before photographing local people or their homes, and dress modestly in villages and towns. Rules can change, so your guide will brief you on the day.
Community and conservation
Where your safari money goes
Wildlife only survives where people benefit from it living alongside them. Around the Maasai Mara, that is how it works in practice.
- Landowners are paid directly. In the Mara conservancies, Maasai landowners lease their land to tourism operators for wildlife. An IUCN policy brief reports that more than 800 families receive these payments, together earning over US$3.6 million a year.
- Fewer vehicles, quieter sightings. Conservancy camps are small, and conservancies such as Mara Naboisho keep strict controls on vehicle numbers, so you share a sighting with one or two vehicles rather than a crowd.
- Local jobs and skills. Most conservancy camp staff come from nearby Maasai communities, and the Koiyaki Guiding School in Naboisho trains local Maasai guides.
Want to travel in a way that gives back? Read our responsible travel guide or ask us to plan it with you.
Personal safety
Cities, beaches and money
Nairobi and Mombasa
Keep phones and cameras out of sight on the street, use trusted taxis or our transfers after dark and leave passports in the hotel safe, carrying a copy.
Beaches
Use licensed beach operators and agree prices beforehand. Respect tides and warning flags, and be careful of sea urchins and strong sun.
Money
Cards are accepted at most lodges and hotels. Carry some Kenyan shillings for small purchases and tips, and use ATMs inside banks or hotels.
Questions
Safety and health FAQ
Is Kenya safe for tourists?
Millions of people visit Kenya safely every year, and safari areas are among the best-managed tourism zones in the country. Most problems are avoidable with simple precautions in cities, on beaches and around wildlife, and our team briefs you on all of them before you travel.
Do I need malaria tablets for a Kenya safari?
Most safari areas, the coast and the lake regions are malaria-risk areas, so many travellers take prophylaxis. Nairobi and the high-altitude areas carry lower risk. Speak to a doctor or travel clinic about the right option for you, ideally 6 to 8 weeks before you travel.
Which vaccinations do I need?
Requirements depend on your nationality and where you travel from. Routine vaccines are usually recommended, along with others such as hepatitis A and typhoid, and a yellow fever certificate may be required if you arrive from a country with yellow fever risk. Check with a travel clinic and official sources.
Is the water safe to drink?
Drink bottled or treated water. Lodges and camps provide it, and our vehicles carry drinking water on drives.
What happens if I get sick on safari?
Tell your guide straight away. We can arrange a doctor or a hospital in the nearest town, and for serious cases an air evacuation if your insurance covers it. This is why travel insurance with medical and evacuation cover matters.
Is it safe to walk around Nairobi?
In daytime, stay in busy areas and keep valuables out of sight. At night use a trusted taxi or our transfer rather than walking. We will advise you on specific areas for your hotel.
Are the animals dangerous?
Wild animals are unpredictable, so we follow strict rules: stay in the vehicle on game drives, keep voices low, never feed or approach animals and follow your guide’s instructions at all times.