Traveling to Kenya? Stay Healthy with Expert Guidance

Kenya Travel Requirements and Vaccinations

Kenya is a country on the east coast of Africa. Officially known as the Republic of Kenya, it is named for Mount Kenya, the second-highest peak on the continent at 17,057 feet. Swahili and English are the two official languages of Kenya.

The landscape in Kenya is diverse, ranging from low plains and highlands to plateaus and valleys. The climate varies depending on location with tropical conditions prevailing along the coastline and dry, desert-like heat in the northern parts of the country. Daytime temperatures are warm year-round with significant cooling at night, especially inland and at higher elevations. The hottest months are February and March and the coolest days are July and August. There are two rainy seasons in Kenya, which occur from March to June, and then again from October to December. The rainfall can be heavy so travelers should be prepared if they visit the country during these months.

Kenya offers a vast selection of attractions and sightseeing opportunities, including:

• Safaris through national parks and game reserves.
• The Serengeti Migration of the wildebeest, which is listed among the seven natural wonders of Africa.
• Historical mosques and colonial-era forts.
• Tea and coffee plantations.
• Beaches along the Swahili Coast of the Indian Ocean.
• Diverse populations of wildlife, reptiles and birds.

Recommended Vaccines for Travel to Kenya

• Hepatitis A
• Malaria (pill form)
• Meningitis
• Rabies*
• Typhoid
• Yellow Fever

*Rabies vaccination is typically only recommended for very high-risk travelers because it is preventable if medical attention is received within 7 – 10 days of an animal bite.

Travelers may also be advised to ensure they have received the routine vaccinations, including:

• Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR)
• Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis)
• Chickenpox
• Polio
• Influenza

Some adults may need to receive a booster for some of these diseases. Testing for antibody levels should be done well in advance of a planned trip to identify any boosters that are needed.

Older adults or those with certain medical conditions may also want to ask about being vaccinated for shingles and/or pneumonia.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a travel medicine professional. Not all of the vaccines listed here will be necessary for every individual.

Talk to the experts at UH Roe Green Center for Travel Medicine & Global Health to determine how you can obtain maximum protection against illness, disease and injury while traveling, based on age, health, medical history and travel itinerary.