Traveling Kenya
Kenya covers an area of 580,367 sq km, with a population of over 47.6 million people — roughly 81 people per sq km. The capital and largest city is Nairobi, while the oldest city and former first capital is the coastal city of Mombasa, home to Kenya’s international port. Kisumu, the third-largest city, sits on Lake Victoria as an inland port, alongside other key urban centres such as Nakuru and Eldoret. Kenya is bordered by South Sudan to the northwest, Ethiopia to the north, Somalia to the east, Uganda to the west, Tanzania to the south, and the Indian Ocean to the southeast. The country was first colonised by the Portuguese, and later by the British from 1888 until independence in 1962.
Swahili vocabulary
Most young people and city residents speak good English, as primary schools teach in English. Children under six and the older generation tend to speak mostly Swahili. Here’s a small vocabulary list to help you connect:
Friend: rafiki
Hello: jambo/ hujambo/ salama
How are you?: habari gani
Fine (response): nzuri
Goodbye: kwaheri
See you later: tutaonana
Nice to meet you: nafurahi kukuona
Goodnight: lala salama
Yes: ndiyo
No: hapana
Thank you: asante
Thank you very much: asante sana
Please: tafadhali
OK: sawa
Later: baadaye
Water: maji
Traveltips Kenya
Visa
To enter Kenya, you’ll need a visa, which costs $50 USD. The only way to apply is online via the official eVisa portal.
Language
English and Swahili are the official languages, alongside various tribal languages. Most young people and city residents speak good English, as it’s the language of instruction in primary schools.
Phone and internet
Several providers operate in Kenya, the most common being Airtel and Safaricom. A SIM card costs around €5, with a €10 top-up enough to call, be reached, and use the internet when needed.
Transport
Traffic in Kenya drives on the left. Public transport includes taxis, motorbikes (known as boda boda or piki piki), and small vans called matatus. Matatus and boda bodas are very affordable, a 100km matatu journey can cost as little as €5.
Charity
Many websites suggest bringing sweets or small gifts like pens for local communities, we’re a little hesitant about this. While kind-hearted, it’s worth assessing the situation first: a handful of sweets can quickly turn into a crowd of children following you. In our view, it’s often better to support someone directly, buying a meal, a bag of rice, or flour, depending on the situation.
Food
Kenyan cuisine reflects the country’s ethnic diversity. Popular dishes include ugali (a thick maize-flour porridge), rice, bread, chapati, beef, chicken, goat, and tilapia, alongside a wide variety of fresh vegetables and fruits. Tea is a common beverage, often served sweet and with milk.
Accomodation
Accommodation in Kenya ranges from wilderness camping and youth hostels to five-star hotels in cities and game reserves. European-style accommodation tends to come with European prices, while local guesthouses offer good value from around €10 per night, always check the bed and bathroom before paying.
Currency
The Kenyan Shilling (KES) is the local currency. A popular way to pay is M-Pesa, a simple mobile payment system. Most cities and larger towns have ATMs, with withdrawals of up to KES 40,000 per day.
Tipping
Tipping in Kenya depends on the type of service. In restaurants, around 10% is standard; for hotel cleaning staff and porters, a one-off tip of 100 shillings is appreciated. Taxi drivers generally don’t expect a tip, though rounding up the fare is a nice gesture. Bargaining is common in local markets.
