First-Time Kenya Safari: Everything You Need to Know

Your first safari is one of those rare travel experiences that genuinely changes how you see the world. The Maasai Mara at sunrise, a herd of elephants crossing the road in Amboseli, the sound of a lion calling in the dark — these are not things you forget.

But first-time safari visitors always have questions. Lots of them. That is completely normal. We have been guiding first-timers from our Diani Beach base for years, and we hear the same concerns over and over. This guide answers all of them.

Visas and Entry Requirements

Kenya has made entry straightforward for most nationalities. You need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), which you apply for online at etakenya.go.ke before you travel.

• Cost: $35 USD
• Processing time: Usually 24-72 hours, but apply at least a week before departure
• Passport requirement: Valid for at least six months beyond your arrival date, with at least two blank pages
• Children: Each child needs their own eTA, even if on a parent's passport

The eTA replaced the old visa-on-arrival system in 2024. It is a simple online process and you will receive your authorization by email. Print a copy and keep the digital version on your phone.

Vaccinations and Health

Visit your doctor or a travel clinic at least four to six weeks before travel. This gives time for vaccinations to take effect and for you to start malaria prophylaxis if needed.

Required

• Yellow fever certificate — required if you are arriving from or transiting through a yellow fever endemic country. Even if not technically required for your route, we recommend getting vaccinated. Some airlines and border officials check regardless

Recommended

• Malaria prophylaxis — Kenya is a malaria zone. Malarone (atovaquone/proguanil) and doxycycline are the most commonly prescribed options. Take it seriously. Use the tablets as directed, use insect repellent in the evenings, and sleep under a mosquito net (all our lodges provide them)
• Hepatitis A and B
• Typhoid
• Routine boosters — tetanus, polio, measles

Kenya's medical facilities in Nairobi are good, and all our safari lodges have first aid provisions. But comprehensive travel insurance with medical evacuation cover is essential. The flying doctor services in Kenya are excellent, but they are not cheap without insurance.

Money: What to Bring and How to Pay

Kenya's currency is the Kenyan Shilling (KES), but US dollars are widely accepted in the tourism industry. Most safari lodges, camps, and tour operators quote prices in USD.

• Carry some USD cash — for tips, small purchases, and park fees that are sometimes paid at the gate. Bring newer bills (post-2006) as older notes are sometimes refused
• Credit and debit cards — Visa and Mastercard are accepted at hotels, larger restaurants, and supermarkets. Less useful in remote areas
• M-PESA — Kenya's mobile money system is everywhere. You can get a Safaricom SIM at the airport and load M-PESA for local payments. It is how Kenyans pay for almost everything
• ATMs — available in Nairobi, Mombasa, and larger towns. Barclays (now ABSA), Equity, and KCB are the most reliable for international cards

Budget tip: withdraw Kenyan Shillings for local restaurants, markets, and transport. Use USD for safari-related expenses and tips.

Is Kenya Safe?

Yes. Kenya is safe for tourists. We understand the concern — it is one of the most common questions we get — but the reality is that millions of tourists visit Kenya every year without incident.

On safari, you are always with your guide. In the national parks and conservancies, security is taken very seriously. The Kenya Wildlife Service and private conservancy rangers patrol the areas constantly. At lodges and camps, you are in managed, secure environments.

The coastal areas around Diani Beach and Mombasa are well-established tourist zones with good security infrastructure. Common-sense precautions apply, just as they would in any destination: do not flash expensive items, use hotel safes, and follow your guide's advice.

We have been operating for years and our guests consistently tell us they felt safer in Kenya than they expected.

Tipping Etiquette

Tipping is appreciated in Kenya and forms an important part of income for many people in the tourism industry. It is not mandatory, but it is customary. Here are the standard guidelines.

• Safari guide/driver: $15-20 USD per day. If your guide is exceptional — and ours usually are — tip at the higher end
• Transfer driver: $10 USD per day
• Lodge/hotel staff: $1-2 USD per service, or $5-10 per day left in a communal tip box
• Restaurant servers: 10% of the bill if service charge is not included
• Porter/bellhop: $1-2 USD per bag

Tips are best given in USD cash directly to the person at the end of the trip or service. Some lodges have a staff tip box at reception. Your guide can advise you on the local custom at each stop.

What to Expect on a Game Drive

A game drive is the heart of any safari. Here is what a typical one looks like.

Early starts. Most morning game drives leave between 6:00 and 6:30 AM. This is when animals are most active — predators are finishing their night hunts, herbivores are grazing, and the light is magical. Yes, it means early alarms. It is worth it every single time.

Duration. A morning drive typically lasts three to four hours. You return to the lodge for brunch and a rest during the hottest part of the day. The afternoon drive heads out around 3:30 PM and returns at sunset, around 6:30 PM.

The vehicle. We use custom 4x4 Land Cruisers and safari vans with pop-up roofs. You will have a window seat and can stand through the roof for unobstructed views and photography. Each vehicle seats six to eight guests maximum.

Your guide knows everything. Our guides have grown up in these ecosystems. They can spot a leopard sleeping in a tree from 200 metres. They track animals by reading footprints, dung, and alarm calls from birds. Listen to them. Ask questions. The more you engage, the richer your experience.

Patience is part of it. Wildlife is wild. Some drives will have non-stop action; others will be quieter. The quiet moments — watching a sunset over the savannah, listening to the bush come alive — are part of what makes safari so special. Do not spend the entire drive looking through a camera screen.

How Many Days Do You Need?

This depends on what you want to see, but here is our honest advice.

Minimum three nights per major destination. One night at the Maasai Mara is not enough. You need at least two full days of game drives to have a genuine safari experience. Three nights gives you three morning and two afternoon drives, which is where the magic happens.

Our most popular itineraries:

• 3 nights Maasai Mara — the classic Kenya safari
• 3 nights Mara + 2 nights Amboseli — big cats and Kilimanjaro elephants
• 3 nights Mara + 3 nights Diani Beach — bush and beach, the perfect combination
• 7-10 days multi-destination — Mara, Amboseli, Tsavo, and Diani for the full Kenya experience

Common First-Timer Mistakes

We see these regularly. Avoid them and your trip will be significantly better.

1. Booking too few days. A two-day safari sounds efficient, but you will spend most of it driving to and from the park. Three nights minimum gives you real time in the bush
2. Packing too heavy. You do not need a different outfit for every day. Lodges have laundry. And if you are flying on a bush plane, there is a strict 15 kg soft bag limit
3. Not bringing binoculars. This is the number one regret we hear. Binoculars transform a game drive. Borrow a pair if you do not own them
4. Skipping travel insurance. Medical evacuation from a remote camp can cost thousands. Insurance is not optional for a safari
5. Expecting a zoo. Wildlife is unpredictable. You might see a leopard hunt on day one or spend a morning watching zebras graze. Both are part of the experience. Trust your guide and enjoy whatever the bush offers
6. Not protecting cameras from dust. The Mara dust is fine, red, and relentless. Keep gear in bags when not in use and bring lens cleaning supplies
7. Wearing bright colours. White shirts glow in the bush and can startle animals. Stick to neutral earth tones

Every guest who has been on safari with us says the same thing: I should have come sooner, and I should have stayed longer.

Written by the Almond Safaris team from our headquarters in Diani Beach, Kenya. We run safaris to the Maasai Mara, Amboseli, Tsavo, Samburu, and across Kenya's coast every week of the year. Ask us anything.