Travel to Kenya--Getting Started

 

So you have decided to travel to Kenya, and you are wondering where to start with your travel preparations. You have come to the right place. I have traveled to Kenya before and during COVID 19, with a group, and by myself. Here are some things I have learned about preparing to travel.

1) Finding tickets is not to difficult through online flight bookers like Travelocity or Expedia. However, if you are traveling with a large group, you might like the comfort of booking with a travel agent. I have worked with Leslie Chang at USA Gateway Travel in Overland Park, KS in the past with excellent results.

2) After you buy your tickets, you might wonder if that is all you need to do. The short answer is no. One good place to find out about all the other travel requirements for your trip is Passport Health. They can assist with getting any vaccines you will need (like the Yellow Fever vaccine), and providing malaria medicine and traveler's diarrhea kits. They can also direct you to find the documents you will need.

3) The most important document for traveling to Kenya is a passport. If you already have one, make sure that it has blank pages and is not set to expire with in six months of your travel date. If you don't have one yet, you can apply for one at the post office. A complete list of steps for acquiring a U.S. passport can be found here: U.S. Passports. Make sure to plan ahead if you need to get a passport because they can take several months to process.

4) Next you will need to apply for a eVisa to enter Kenya. Here is a link to the eVisa application. More information can be found at the Kenya Embassy in D. C. In the past, the eVisa has cost $50. Applicants need to know their passport information, ticket information, and a phone number for where they plan to stay while in Kenya.

5) COVID 19 restrictions continue to fluctuate. Make sure to check the most current requirements for your trip, and be prepared for them to change during the planning phases. Here is a link to the latest covid guidelines for Kenya. Don't forget that you will be returning to the United States (if that is where you are leaving from), so you will need to check the U.S. Covid travel guidelines as well. That information is here on the CDC website. 

As you can see, you should start working on your travel plans several months in advance. In the end, though, your trip to Kenya will be worth all the red tape. Happy travels!