Kenya
Travel Destination – Kenya
Kenya is famous for its wildlife-rich savannahs, scenic highlands, and warm Indian Ocean coastline. Travellers can witness the Great Migration in the Maasai Mara, explore Nairobi’s mix of modern city life and national parks, or relax on white-sand beaches in destinations such as Diani and Watamu. Kenya also offers rich cultural diversity, with traditional communities, historic Swahili towns, and varied natural environments ranging from deserts to forests.
To ensure a safe and enjoyable journey to Kenya, travel health planning and safety awareness is essential. While Kenya provides unforgettable travel experiences, infrastructure and access to healthcare can vary widely between major cities and rural regions, requiring careful preparation.
Health Risks
Pre-travel preparation
Before travelling to Kenya, booking an appointment with a travel doctor is strongly recommended. A travel health consultation allows your doctor to review your vaccination history, recommend destination-specific immunisations, and prescribe any medications you may need for your trip.
Your travel doctor can provide personalised advice based on your itinerary, whether you are visiting safari parks, travelling to coastal regions, or spending time in rural communities. Ideally, schedule your appointment six to eight weeks before departure to allow time for multi-dose vaccines. If travel is soon, a last-minute consultation remains valuable for essential health advice and accelerated vaccination schedules.
Insect avoidance
In Kenya, mosquitoes are common and can transmit diseases such as malaria, dengue, chikungunya, and zika virus. Sand flies can carry leishmaniasis and ticks can carry African tick bite fever. Preventing insect bites is one of the most important health measures for travellers.
Wear long-sleeved shirts, long trousers, and closed footwear, when outdoors. Apply insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon or eucalyptus to exposed skin. Stay in accommodation with screened windows or air-conditioning where possible, and use a permethrin-treated mosquito net if these are unavailable. Treating clothing with permethrin adds an extra layer of protection.
Food and water hygiene
Kenyan cuisine includes maize-based dishes, meats, vegetables, and seafood along the coast. To enjoy the Kenyan cuisine whilst reducing the risk gastroenteritis and other gastrointestinal infections, maintain good food and water hygiene.
Before eating, make sure your hands are cleaned with soap and water, or alcohol-based sanitiser. Choose food that is freshly prepared, fully cooked, and served hot. Avoid raw or undercooked foods and reheated meals. Fruits and vegetables are safer when they can be peeled before eating. Drink only bottled, boiled, or filtered water, and avoid untreated tap water and ice.
Rabies prevention
Unlike Australia, the rabies virus is carried by dogs and other mammals in Kenya.
Travellers should avoid contact with animals, including stray dogs, cats, monkeys, and wildlife. A travel doctor can advise whether pre-exposure rabies vaccination is recommended, particularly for travellers spending time in rural areas, visiting national parks, or travelling far from medical facilities. Any bite, scratch, or saliva exposure requires immediate medical assessment, as rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms develop.
Our Travel Doctors
Our fully qualified doctors have an interest in travel medicine and immunisations. And they know travel. Their expert advice will be tailored for you, your travel companions and your trip.
Which shots do I need for Kenya?
Yellow Fever
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Yellow Fever is a mosquito-borne viral disease that can be transmitted in Kenya. It can cause fever, headache, and muscle In severe cases, there can be liver and kidney failure with a fatality rate of up to 30–60%. Vaccination is recommended travellers aged nine months and older who are visiting certain regions of Kenya. Please discuss your itinerary with a travel doctor. Proof of yellow fever vaccination may be required for entry, particularly when arriving from or transiting through other African countries, although entry requirements can change.
Hepatitis A
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Hepatitis A is a viral liver infection spread through contaminated food and water. Symptoms range from mild illness to severe disease with yellow skin and prolonged fatigue. Hepatitis A is common in Kenya, and many Australians are not routinely immunised. Travellers who have not completed a two-dose course of Hepatitis A vaccination are strongly advised to be vaccinated before travel.
Typhoid
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Typhoid is an infection caused by the bacteria Salmonella Typhi and Paratyphi. It is contracted through ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacteria, causing high fevers, fatigue, headaches, abdominal pain and gastrointestinal upset. Typhoid vaccine is generally recommended for travellers to Kenya. The vaccine provides three years of protection. Food and water hygiene remain important preventative measures.
Hepatitis B
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The hepatitis B virus can cause long-term infection of the liver. It is spread through contact with infected blood or bodily fluids. Transmission can occur through unprotected sex, unsterile medical or dental procedures, tattooing or piercing, or sharing personal items such as razors. While many younger Australians are vaccinated, some adults remain unprotected. Hepatitis B vaccination may be recommended for travellers to Kenya who are not immune, depending on their length of stay and other risk factors. A travel doctor can review your vaccination history and provide personalised advice.
Polio
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Polio is a highly contagious viral infection spread through contaminated food or water. While many infections cause no symptoms or only mild illness, polio can sometimes lead to muscle weakness, paralysis, or permanent disability. Vaccination provides effective protection and is part of routine childhood immunisation, and a booster is available for adults who have already completed the course as children. Children who have not completed the full course may be considered for accelerated vaccination schedules.
Mpox
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Mpox (formerly called monkeypox) is a virus that can be transmitted through close contact with infected people or animals, including body fluids, sores, or contaminated materials. Symptoms typically include fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes. Vaccination or preventive measures may be advised for travellers at higher risk. A travel doctor can provide personalised advice based on your circumstances.
Cholera
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Cholera is a bacteria that causes sudden, severe diarrhoea and dehydration, and is spread through contaminated food. Outbreaks occur in some parts of Kenya, particularly where sanitation is limited. Discuss with your travel doctor whether vaccination should be considered depending on your itinerary, activities and underlying health issues. Avoiding unsafe food and water and washing your hands helps prevent cholera.
Routine vaccinations
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In Australia, the widespread immunisation program contributes to low transmission of many common infections such as measles, mumps, rubella, and tetanus. However, these infections circulate more widely in Kenya. Before travelling, ensure your routine vaccinations are up to date. A travel health consultation can identify whether boosters are required for vaccines such as measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), tetanus, influenza, COVID-19, and pertussis.
Vaccination for Meningococcal disease is also recommended for travellers 2 months old or older visiting parts of Kenya on the meningitis belt during December to June (the dry season).
Kenya
Other health risks in Kenya
Malaria
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Malaria is widespread throughout much of Kenya, and is transmitted by mosquitoes, especially at night. Malaria is an infection of the liver and red blood cells by parasites. It causes symptoms such as high fevers, fatigue and muscle aches. Severe malaria can involve severe anaemia and brain infection, which can be life-threatening if not treated promptly. Prevention includes strict mosquito avoidance and taking antimalarial medication. A travel doctor can advise whether malaria tablets are recommended for your itinerary and which option is most suitable.
Gastroenteritis
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Gastroenteritis, or travellers’ diarrhoea, is common in Kenya and is usually caused by bacteria in contaminated food or water. Symptoms include diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps, typically developing within 24–72 hours.
Maintaining hydration is the most important treatment, ideally with oral rehydration solutions. Most cases resolve within a few days. Medical attention is recommended if symptoms are severe, not-typical, persistent, or if fluids are lost faster than they are replenished. Essential preventative measures involve good hand hygiene before eating and avoiding high-risk foods and drinks.
Rabies
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Unlike Australia, the rabies virus is carried by dogs and other mammals in Kenya. Travellers should avoid contact with animals, including stray dogs, cats, monkeys, and wildlife. A travel doctor can advise whether pre-exposure rabies vaccination is recommended, particularly for travellers spending time in rural areas, visiting national parks, or travelling far from medical facilities. Any bite, scratch, or saliva exposure requires immediate medical assessment, as rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms develop.
Dengue
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Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne viral infection that can cause fever, headache, and severe joint and muscle pain. Dengue-carrying mosquitoes tend to bite during the day, especially in urban and coastal areas. Prevention relies on effective mosquito avoidance strategies.
Schistosomiasis
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Schistosomiasis is present in Kenya, particularly in and around Lake Victoria, where the parasite is transmitted through contact with contaminated water. Travellers are at risk when swimming, wading, bathing, or washing in untreated freshwater. To reduce risk, avoid freshwater exposure whenever possible; choose well-maintained swimming pools or the open ocean instead, use safe water for bathing (filtered, heated or treated).
Non-infectious conditions
Crime and unrest
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Petty crime such as pickpocketing, bag snatching, and theft can occur, particularly in urban areas such as Nairobi and Mombasa and in busy tourist locations. Occasional demonstrations or security incidents may take place. Travellers should remain alert, avoid large crowds or protests, and keep valuables secure.
At the time of writing, the Australian government's Smartraveller website advised travellers to exercise a high degree of caution in Kenya overall due to the threat of terrorism and violent crime. They did not recommend travel to the border of Somalia due to increased dangers there. Please refer to Smartraveller for updates.
Altitude sickness
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Altitude sickness can occur in Kenya for travellers visiting high-altitude regions such as the central highlands, Mount Kenya National Park, and areas around the Rift Valley, where elevations exceed 2,400 metres. Acute mountain sickness (AMS) affects approximately 25% of people who ascend rapidly without adequate acclimatisation. Common symptoms include headache, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. Symptoms often improve within 12 to 48 hours if travellers stop ascending and allow time for acclimatisation.
In more severe cases, altitude sickness can progress to high altitude cerebral oedema (HACE), which affects the brain and may cause confusion, disorientation, and altered behaviour, or high altitude pulmonary oedema (HAPE), which affects the lungs and leads to breathlessness, cough, and respiratory distress. These serious conditions are more likely at elevations above 4,300 metres, such as on Mount Kenya, and require immediate descent and urgent medical care, as they can be rapidly fatal if untreated.
To reduce the risk of altitude illness in Kenya, travellers should plan a gradual ascent and avoid rapid elevation gains, particularly when trekking or climbing Mount Kenya. Preventive medications may be prescribed by a travel doctor when appropriate, and treatment medications are recommended for those travelling to very high altitudes. For anyone trekking at altitude, especially those unfamiliar with AMS, HACE, and HAPE, travelling with a qualified and experienced guide is strongly advised. The CDC recommends learning the early warning signs of altitude sickness, avoiding sleeping at higher elevations when symptoms are present, and descending if symptoms worsen while resting at the same altitude.
Deep vein thrombosis
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Long-haul flights to Kenya and extended road travel within the country can increase the risk of deep vein thrombosis. DVT occurs when slowed blood flow allows clots to form in deep veins, usually in the legs.
To reduce risk, stand and move regularly during long journeys, stretch your legs, and stay well hydrated. Travellers with additional risk factors may benefit from wearing below-knee compression stockings.
Safety on the roads and elsewhere
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Travelling in Kenya offers incredible adventure, from wildlife safaris to coastal and highland experiences, but it’s important to be well prepared. Road conditions and driving standards vary, and traffic accidents are a common cause of injury, so choose reputable transport providers and wear seatbelts whenever available. If you plan to ride a motorbike, ensure you are experienced, familiar with local road rules, and always wear a helmet.
When on safari, hiking, or visiting national parks, follow local safety advice, use licensed guides, remain inside vehicles when instructed, and avoid close contact with wildlife. Whatever your itinerary, comprehensive travel insurance covering medical care and emergency evacuation is strongly recommended when travelling in Kenya.