←Kenya travel guide
Nairobi County, Kenya
Nairobi
Safari capital with a skyline where wildlife meets cosmopolitan energy.
CultureNightlifeWildlife
Nairobi is Kenya's sprawling, fast-paced capital, where glass towers share the horizon with the only national park in the world sitting inside a major city. The city pulses with a vibrant food scene, thriving arts quarter, and a confident modernity that makes it the cultural and commercial gateway to East Africa.
Check Kenya visa requirements →
Best time to visit
June to October (dry season)
Region
Nairobi County
Main airport
Nairobi (NBO)
Beyond the City
Day Trips from Nairobi
Nature
Maasai Mara National Reserve
The Maasai Mara is Kenya's most celebrated wildlife reserve, stretching across 1,510 square kilometres of open savannah on the northern edge of the Serengeti ecosystem. It is the stage for the Great Wildebeest Migration, when roughly two million wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles cross into the reserve between July and October in one of nature's most dramatic spectacles. Year-round, the Mara supports exceptional concentrations of lions, leopards, cheetahs, and elephants.
Nature
Amboseli National Park
Amboseli offers one of Africa's most iconic vistas: vast elephant herds moving across open plains with the snow-capped summit of Mount Kilimanjaro rising beyond the Tanzanian border. The park's swamps, fed by meltwater from the mountain, attract hippos and over 600 bird species alongside resident lions, cheetahs, and buffaloes. It is widely regarded as the best place in Africa to observe and photograph free-ranging elephants at close range.
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Plan Your Trip
Getting Around Nairobi
Tours, stays, transfers, and flights — curated partner options are on the way.
Tours & Activities
Skip-the-line tickets, guided tours, and day experiences — curated partner options are on the way.
Coming soonWhere to Stay
Hotels, apartments, and guesthouses across every neighbourhood — booking options are on the way.
Coming soonAirport Transfers
Private and shared rides between the airport and the city centre — partner options are on the way.
Coming soonFlights
Compare fares from hundreds of airlines to find the best route in — search options are on the way.
Coming soonTravel Guide
Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting Kenya
Entry requirements vary by passport; check your specific requirements on the Kenya destination page at Yoogo.
Kenya uses the Kenyan Shilling (KES). Currency exchange is available at airports and major banks on arrival. Credit cards are accepted at hotels and larger restaurants in cities, but carrying local cash is essential for smaller towns, markets, and rural areas. US Dollar notes printed before 2006 are widely refused, so bring newer bills if exchanging USD.
Kenya is a popular destination, though travellers should exercise increased caution. Violent crime, including carjacking and mugging, can occur, particularly after dark. Avoid travelling at night where possible, stay alert in crowded areas, and keep valuables out of sight. The Kenya-Somalia border counties and parts of the northern coast carry higher risk and are best avoided. Most tourist areas, including Nairobi, Mombasa, and the safari reserves, are visited safely with sensible precautions.
Domestic flights connect Nairobi to major reserves and coastal towns and are the most efficient option for longer distances. Matatus (minibuses) are the main form of local public transport and are cheap but can be crowded. Long-distance buses and shared taxis cover routes between cities. Car hire with a driver is recommended for safari trips and rural areas. Ride-hailing apps such as Bolt and Uber operate in Nairobi and Mombasa.
The dry seasons, from late June to October and from January to February, are generally considered the best times to visit. Wildlife viewing is at its peak during the dry months when animals congregate around water sources. The Great Wildebeest Migration through the Maasai Mara typically runs from July to October. Kenya has two rainy seasons: the long rains from March to May and the short rains from October to December.
Kenya's two official languages are Swahili (Kiswahili) and English. English is widely spoken in cities, tourist areas, hotels, and government offices. Swahili is the national lingua franca used across the country. Learning a few basic Swahili phrases, such as 'Jambo' (hello) and 'Asante' (thank you), is warmly appreciated by locals.
A valid Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is required for entry into Kenya. Additional vaccinations strongly recommended by travel health specialists include hepatitis A and B, typhoid, and tetanus. Kenya is a malaria-endemic country, so antimalarial medication is advisable; consult your doctor before travelling. Carry mosquito repellent and consider a mosquito net for stays in rural or coastal areas. Access to medical care outside major cities is limited, so comprehensive travel and medical evacuation insurance is strongly advised.