Before you travel.

Proof of yellow fever vaccination is required when entering Kenya or Tanzania if you are arriving from, or transiting through, a country listed as yellow fever endemic. Travellers arriving from Europe and North America are generally not affected, but Tanzania is considered an endemic country, meaning the certificate is required when travelling overland or by air between Kenya and Tanzania.

Travellers transiting through an airport for fewer than six hours and remaining airside are typically exempt. As plans can change, carrying the certificate is always advisable if you have had the vaccination. If your doctor has advised against it, a signed medical letter is generally accepted in lieu of the certificate.

Malaria is present in Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda, particularly in lower-altitude areas and near lakes and rivers. Consult your doctor or a travel health clinic before departure for current advice on prophylaxis. Anti-malarial medication, insect repellent, and appropriate clothing for evenings are all advisable.

We recommend consulting a travel health professional at least six weeks before departure. They will advise on any vaccinations relevant to your specific itinerary, destinations, and medical history.

Travellers to East Africa are required to hold a passport valid for at least six months from the date of arrival, with a minimum of three blank pages available for entry stamps and visas.

Kenya operates an e-Visa system. Most nationalities can apply in advance at evisa.go.ke, which is the recommended approach as it saves time on arrival. Confirm current visa requirements with your country’s travel authority before departure, as requirements and processes are subject to change.

Each country has its own entry requirements. Tanzania visas are available on arrival for many nationalities and also online in advance. Rwanda operates its own e-Visa system. We will advise on current entry requirements as part of your itinerary planning process.

If your itinerary crosses between countries and returns to the first country, a single-entry visa may allow re-entry depending on the specific circumstances. Travellers staying fewer than two days in a country in transit may qualify for a transit visa. We recommend confirming this with the relevant embassy or consulate for your nationality before travel.

Each traveller on a safari circuit is recommended to bring one soft-sided bag and one day pack. The soft bag should not exceed 15 kilograms. On itineraries that include domestic flights, weight limits are strictly enforced by smaller aircraft operators.

If you are arriving and departing from the same city, most hotels and lodges in Nairobi, Mombasa, Arusha, and Zanzibar can arrange secure luggage storage for bags you do not need on the safari circuit.

Lightweight, neutral-coloured clothing is best for game drives, khaki, olive, beige, and brown tones are ideal. Avoid bright colours and white, which stand out in the bush and can disturb wildlife. Layers are important: early morning game drives in higher-altitude locations, particularly the Aberdare, the crater rim at Ngorongoro, and Samburu in the north, can be cold before the sun rises.

East Africa’s climate is shaped more by altitude than by latitude. Some of the coldest temperatures on the continent are found on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater and on the slopes of Mount Kenya, while the coast and the lower-lying savanna parks are warm year-round.

January to March and July to October are East Africa’s main dry seasons, when vegetation is lower, waterholes are fewer, and wildlife concentrates for easier observation. These are generally the best months for game viewing.

November brings short rains across much of Kenya and Tanzania. Showers are frequent but typically brief, and game viewing remains good. This is a quieter period with good lodge availability.

April and May bring heavier rains, generally at night with some daytime showers. Some camps close during this period. Prices are lower and the landscape is green and dramatic.

The wildebeest migration is active in the Maasai Mara between July and October, when the herds cross the Mara River from the Serengeti in Tanzania. The calving season on the southern Serengeti plains runs from January to March. If either is a priority for your itinerary, tell us when you enquire and we will advise on exact timing.

The Kenya coast, including Mombasa, Diani Beach, Malindi, Watamu, and Lamu, is warm throughout the year. Rain is more common in April, May, and November but rarely disrupts beach or coastal activities for extended periods.

Kenya and Tanzania operate a mix of government-managed national parks and privately managed conservancies and concessions. The safari experience in each is different, and it is worth understanding the distinction before choosing where to stay.

National parks are government-owned and open to all visitors who pay the entrance fee. Vehicles must remain on designated roads. Game viewing can be busier at peak times, particularly in the Maasai Mara, though the wildlife density is exceptional regardless.

Private conservancies are either privately owned or managed under concession. Access is restricted to guests of the lodges within the conservancy, which means far fewer vehicles and a more exclusive experience. Off-road driving is permitted, so guides can follow wildlife into terrain that park vehicles cannot reach. Night game drives, walking safaris, and other activities prohibited in national parks are available in many conservancies. Lodges tend to be smaller, more intimate, and at a higher price point.

We work with both types of area and will advise on which suits your itinerary and budget when you plan with us.