Essential Guide to Traveling and Staying Healthy in Kenya

Nairobi as the Entry Hub

Nairobi is the common point of entry for a safari in Kenya. It is one of Africa’s biggest transport hubs. Many airlines fly to Kenya; competition is strong, making flights to Nairobi relatively inexpensive.

Airports in Kenya

Kenya’s main airport is Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO), 9 miles southeast of Nairobi. Kenya’s second largest international airport is Moi International Airport (MBA), 6 miles west of Mombasa. Aside from flights to Zanzibar, this airport is primarily used for domestic and charter flights.

From Nairobi to Mombasa, one can fly or drive between reserves or do a bit of both. The road to the Masai Mara is long and bumpy, and the park’s location is remote compared to others, which makes flying the most attractive option. Some private parks in Laikipia are also often traveled to by air. Other parks can easily be reached by road. Domestic flights out of Nairobi depart from Wilson Airport (WIL), 6km/4 mi south of Nairobi.

Getting Around Kenya

Getting around Kenya is relatively easy, whether you crisscross the country by highway or bus, hire a car, or cruise the clear skies and placid seas by light aircraft or dhow.

Most of Kenya’s towns and cities are accessible by local bus, though it’s usually necessary to arrange private transport to reach national parks and lodges. If you’re a seasoned driver in African conditions, hiring a sturdy vehicle can also open up relatively inaccessible corners of the country; if you don’t fancy driving yourself, hiring a vehicle with a driver rarely costs much more.

Weather in Kenya

Kenya lies on the equator and has a pleasant tropical climate, but there are large regional climatic variations influenced by several factors, including altitude. Temperatures drop by about 3.5 degrees per 1000 feet. Kenya’s daytime temperatures average between 68 and 82 degrees, but it is warmer on the coast. The coast is hot and humid all year round, but the heat is pleasant and tempered by the monsoon winds. Kenya is too close to the equator to experience a real winter and summer. There is, however, a dry and wet season.

June to October – Dry Season

  • Wildlife is easier to spot because the bush is less dense, and animals gather around waterholes and rivers.
  • It’s unlikely to rain, but the days are sunny with clear skies and fewer mosquitoes.
  • July to October are the best months to see the wildebeest migration.
  • It gets very busy and crowded in the most popular parks.

November to May – Wet Season

  • The scenery is beautiful and green. Rates are lower because it’s the low season.
  • Newborn animals can be seen, and, in general, plenty of wildlife will still be seen, even though it is easier to spot during the dry season.
  • Migratory birds are present from September to April.
  • Except for March, April, and May, rains are short showers in the afternoon or evening and will rarely compromise your safari.
  • From March to May, the rain can be continuous, and when it does not rain, it is often cloudy. Some lodges and camps close down during part of the wet season.
Malaria Risk & Vaccination

Malaria is a major health scourge in Kenya. Infection rates vary with the season (they are higher in the rainy season) and climate, so check the situation before departure. The incidence of malaria transmission at altitudes higher than 2000m is rare.

Malaria is caused by a parasite in the bloodstream that spreads via the bite of the female anopheles mosquito. There are several types, falciparum malaria being the most dangerous and the predominant form in Kenya. Unlike most other diseases regularly encountered by travelers, there is no vaccination against malaria (yet). However, several drugs are used to prevent malaria, and new ones are in the pipeline. Up-to-date advice from a travel health clinic is essential, as some medications are more suitable for some travelers than others. The pattern of drug-resistant malaria is changing rapidly, so what was advised several years ago might no longer be the case.

The World Health Organization (www.who.int/en/) recommends that all travelers be covered for diphtheria, tetanus, measles, mumps, rubella, polio, and hepatitis B, regardless of their destination.
According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (www.cdc.gov), the following vaccinations are recommended for Kenya: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, meningococcal meningitis, rabies and typhoid, and boosters for tetanus, diphtheria, polio and measles. It is also advisable to be vaccinated against yellow fever.

For more advice on immunizations, follow the links below.
Australia – www.travelclinic.com.au
Canada – www.iamat.org – Vaccinations / Malaria
Ireland – www.tmb.ie
New Zealand – www.iamat.org – Vaccinations / Malaria
United Kingdom – www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk
United States – wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel