Kenya
Africa · Nairobi · KE
Kenya is the great safari country of East Africa, the land of the savannah elephants, the Maasai herders and the sweeping plains of the great migration, with an Indian Ocean coast of the Swahili towns and the white beaches that holds an older, gentler history. The reserves of the south, the Maasai Mara with its wildebeest crossings and the Amboseli with its views of the Kilimanjaro, are the classic safaris of the continent, and the mountainous centre of the country, with the valley of the Great Rift, holds the highland lakes and the forests of the interior. Nairobi, the capital, is the great hub city of the region, and the northern plains of the country, with their dry-adapted wildlife and their ancient fossil beds, give the whole journey its wider span. The country's story runs the whole arc of the human tale, from the oldest footprints to the modern capital.
Overview
Kenya is a country in Africa. Its capital is Nairobi and the international dialling code is +254. Languages commonly used in everyday life here include Swahili and English. Local currency is the Kenyan Shilling (KES). Our guide covers 1 airport, including Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. We also list 1 city in Kenya: Nairobi.
The Maasai Mara and the Crossing of the Great Migration
The Maasai Mara, the northern reach of the great savannah that spreads over the border into the Serengeti of the neighbour, is the single most famous wildlife stage of the continent, and its rolling grasslands carry the pride of lions, the cheetahs, the elephants and the enormous herds of the wildebeest and the zebra. Each year the great migration crosses the Mara river, and the dramatic river crossings of the herds, running the gauntlet of the crocodiles and the current, are the spectacle that has made the reserve famous, while the hot-air balloons of the dawn give the whole plain from above. The Maasai villages beside the reserve welcome the visitors with their dances, their markets and their culture. The reserve is the essential safari of the continent, the classic of the classics, and it delivers on every expectation.
The Amboseli and the Elephants of the Kilimanjaro
The Amboseli, at the southern border of the country beneath the great white bulk of the Kilimanjaro, is the classic picture of the African elephant, and the herds of the park, the large, slow-moving family groups with their matriarchs and their calves, wander the dry lake bed and the swamps of the reserve with the snows of the mountain behind them. The park's elephant research, one of the longest running in the world, has made the individuals of the Amboseli famous, and the observation of the herds, the interactions and the daily lives of the great animals is the heart of the visit. The swamps of the reserve hold the hippos, the water birds and the elephants through the dry seasons, and the viewing hill of the park gives the classic panorama. It is small, manageable and endlessly watchable.
The Parks of the North and the Time of the Dry Lands
The north and the far north-eastern plains of the country, the dry country that runs toward the borders of the region, hold a quieter, wilder Kenya of the deserts, the ancient fossil beds and the camel cultures of the area. The Samburu reserve and the springs of the north protect the dry-country specialities of the region, the reticulated giraffes, the Grevy's zebras and the gerenuk antelopes, and the rivers of the region hold the crocodiles and the elephants of the northern herds. The Turkana basin, on the great lake of the desert, has yielded some of the oldest hominid remains ever found, and the small towns of the north, the trading posts of the camels and the local markets, hold the frontier life of the country. The north is an adventure of the dust and the wide horizons.
The Coast and the Towns of the Swahili Culture
The coast of the country, the long Indian Ocean shore that runs from the border of Somalia to the border of Tanzania, holds a separate, ancient world of the Swahili culture, the coral cities and the dhows that have traded across the ocean for a thousand years. The old town of Mombasa and the island towns of Lamu and Malindi carry the mosques, the stone town houses and the carved doors of the Swahili age, and the beaches of the coast, the Diani, the Watamu and the shores of the islands, hold the palms and the reefs of the Indian Ocean. The snorkelling and the diving of the marine parks of the coast meet the turtles, the reef fish and the occasional whale shark of the season. The coast is the soul and the memory of the country, the chapter of the culture the highlands never reach.
The Capital, the Museums and the City of the Highlands
The capital of Nairobi, the great, energetic hub of the region, is the most developed and the most international city of the East African interior, and its museums, its restaurants and its parks give the traveller the modern Kenya. The national museums of the city hold the hominid fossils of the country and the natural history of its wildlife, and the galleries and the cultural centres of the city carry the story of the nation, old and new. The unique park of the city, the Nairobi national park with its lions and its rhinos against the skyline, runs along the very edge of the suburbs. The city is the essential gateway of the country, and its energy, its traffic and its optimism are a real, live part of the modern East Africa that the savannah alone never shows.
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- Capital
- Nairobi
- Currency
- Kenyan Shilling (KES)
- Languages
- Swahili, English
- Calling code
- +254
- Internet TLD
- ke
Entry requirements
Check who can enter →See which passports travel visa-free or need a visa to enter Kenya.
Which nationalities can enter Kenya?
Current visa status for tourism for the origins we cover, with links to the detailed requirements.
Airports (1)
All airports →Cities (1)
All cities →Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa to visit Kenya?
For the origins we track, travellers from Morocco currently enter Kenya visa-free for tourism. Entry rules depend on your passport and the purpose of your trip, so check the current requirements for your own nationality with our entry requirements tool.
What is the capital of Kenya?
Nairobi is the capital of Kenya, and the country sits in Africa.
What currency is used in Kenya?
You pay with Kenyan Shilling (KES) in Kenya. Exchange rates move day to day, so check the current rate before you change money or use your card abroad.
Which languages do people speak in Kenya?
The languages we list for Kenya are Swahili and English. A couple of greetings in the local language go a long way when you travel, even in cities where another language is widely used.
What is the international dialling code for Kenya?
The dialling code for Kenya is +254 — keep the plus sign when you save the number.
Which airports serve Kenya?
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) in Nairobi is the airport we cover for Kenya.
Which cities in Kenya do you cover?
Our guide lists 1 city for Kenya: Nairobi (capital).