DISCOVER KENYA TRAVEL INFORMATIONS
Our travel informations are carefully researched and selected to help you prepare your journey to Kenya.
TRAVEL PREPARATIONS
ETA VISA APPLICATION ONLINE
As of January 2024, Kenya has replaced its visa system with the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA). This means visas are no longer available on arrival. All international visitors, except those from East African Community (EAC) nations (like Uganda and Tanzania) or holders of diplomatic status, are required to apply for an ETA before traveling.
- Apply for your ETA online via the official website www.etakenya.go.ke.
- It is recommended to apply at least 3 days before travel and up to 3 months in advance. The ETA costs USD 30 and is valid for a single entry and stays up to 90 days.
- Make sure to have a valid passport with at least six months of validity from your arrival date, along with accommodation booking and travel itinerary details.
If you’re from a visa-exempt country, it’s still essential to check updates regularly as policies might change. Always verify with official sources before your trip
COVID-19 & MALARIA
COVID-19 REQUIREMENTS
As of January 2024, travelers arriving in Kenya are no longer required to present proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative PCR test. This applies to all entry points into the country. However, if you show flu-like symptoms upon arrival, you will be required to fill out a passenger locator form on the “Jitenge” platform and undergo a COVID-19 antigen test at your own expense. Should the antigen test return positive, you’ll be required to take a PCR test and self-isolate based on the Ministry of Health’s guidance.
- No proof of vaccination or PCR test is required for entry into Kenya for any traveler, regardless of vaccination status.
- Travelers with symptoms will need to undergo antigen and, if necessary, PCR testing.
- Mask-wearing remains optional but is recommended in enclosed spaces.
- Make sure to check your airline and onward destination requirements, as they may differ from Kenya’s entry regulations.
MALARIA IN KENYA
We recommend that travelers going to Kenya take prescription medicine to prevent malaria. Depending on the medicine you take, you will need to start taking this medicine multiple days before your trip, as well as during and after your trip. Talk to your doctor about which malaria medication you should take.
TRAVELING TO KENYA
LUGGAGE
When traveling on safari, baggage should be kept to a minimum of 15kg inclusive of hand baggage since you will be using a small aircraft from Nairobi or Mombasa to Masai Mara.
Airlines require your luggage to be packed in soft duffle bags as opposed to hard suitcases in order to fit in the baggage compartment on the small airplane. Most internal flights allow a limit of up to 15Kg (33-lbs) of luggage per person including hand luggage. If you travel with more luggage (as you may travel to the coast or to a further destination) it is possible that you book in advance for safekeeping at a complimentary secure store at Wilson Airport or ask at your hotel, most of them will store your luggage safely while you are away on safari. If you travel by road, the weight and size allowance is not strictly limited but you should still try to travel light.
PACK YOUR SAFARI ESSENTIALS
– BINOCULARS
– CAMERA
– SWEATER/FLEECE JACKET
– WIND JACKET/RAINCOAT
– COMFORTABLE SAFARI CLOTHES
– GYM OR TREKKING SHOES FOR THE SAFARI
– A PAIR OF LIGHT SHOES WHILE AT CAMP
– SUNSCREEN
– MOSQUITO REPELLENT
– SUN HAT & SUNGLASSES
– TRAVEL ADAPTER
– PACK IN A SOLID, SOFT BAG
This article from Condé Nast Traveler is a good read for your safari preparations: READ HERE
TRAVELING TO THE MARA
FROM NAIROBI TO THE MARA
The easiest way to travel from Nairobi or Mombasa to the Maasai Mara is to take a domestic flight from Wilson Airport (Nairobi), Mombasa our the beach destination you are coming from. All of our safari packages include the domestic flights from and to Nairobi. Flight time from Nairobi to the Mara is around 1h, whereby you will fly over the great rift valley. Our nearest airstrip is Keekorok, then Ol Kiombo (Mara Intrepids).
Kindly contact us, if you wish to have different flight connections within your package.
Once you arrive at the airstrip in the Mara, your Maasai guide will welcome you and help you with your luggage, you to settle in the car and to get the park entry tickets. He will then transfer you to Olimba as you enjoy a leisurely 40min game drive to the camp. Once on the road, be ready to spot the first animals!
If you wish to travel to the Mara by road, we will suggest that you start very early in the morning, to avoid traffic at the escarpment and to reach the camp by lunch time. If needed, someone from the camp will meet you at Sekenani, to show you the way to the camp. The drive from Nairobi to Sekenani ( via Narok) will take you around 4,5 to 5 hours (250 km).
MOBILE CONNECTION ON SAFARI
Our Wifi at camp is free for all guests and available at the main tent. If you wish to buy a local SIM card, there is a Safaricom shop right at the arrival zone at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
INSURANCES AND MEDICAL EMERGENCIES ON SAFARI
THE INSURANCE IS ALWAYS THE GUEST'S RESPONSIBILITY
Make sure that you have a valid travel insurance before traveling to Kenya. The AMREF flying doctors are offering great travel insurance services within Kenya: READ HERE
At Olimba, the closest medical facility is located 5 driving minutes away from the camp at Mara Simba Lodge. Narok general Hospital can be reached within 2 hours by road.
SAFETY ON SAFARI
GENERAL ADVICES
Kenya is generally safe for tourists; however, there is a few tips we would like to share with you here. As everywhere while you are abroad, avoid traveling alone or without any local guide in dark in isolated places. Keep valuables safe at all times and we advice you not to carry large sums of cash or wear expensive-looking jewelry or watches in the streets.
AT CAMP
Your safety is our highest priority, and upon arrival Olimba you will be briefed on do’s and don’ts by your guide and the camp manager.
If you follow the instructions given by your guide or the camp management, you don’t need to worry about your security. Note that the camp at Olimba is unfenced and wild animals roam within the area at all times. To ensure your security at camp, we have our security guards who monitor the camp area and the movement of the animals day and night. The guards will also escort you to and from the tent to the main area in the morning and evening when it’s dark, as you are not allowed to walk alone by night. Incidents with wild animals are very rare but once again, as we are in the wild they can’t be categorically excluded anywhere in the Mara.
While on safari, we urge you to never leave the car without your guide’s knowledge and to stay inside the car at all times unless advised otherwise. For your own safety, never hang your hands or legs outside the window during the game drive. It is strictly prohibited to sit or stand on the roof of the car at any time. If guests are not willing to follow the safety rules, the guide can decide to end the safari at any time and drive back to the camp.
To avoid an unhappy ending of your game drive, we advice you to read the park rules carefully.
MAASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE PARK RULES
Before you go on safari, it is very important that you get familiar with the park rules of the Maasai Mara National Reserve. This will allow you to have the best possible experience, without impact on the animal’s behavior and their ecosystem. While on safari, your guide will once again give you a short briefing on the rules and regulation and will answer all your possible questions. Read the official park rules HERE.
TRAVEL SEASONS
Read about the different seasons in the Maasai Mara HERE.
THE MAASAI AND THEIR CULTURE
The Maasai people are a nomadic ethnic group who migrated to Kenya and Tanzania from the Nile region of Northern Africa in the fifteenth century. They are one of the most well-known tribes in Africa, often recognized by their distinctive red shukas (clothing) and elaborate beaded ornaments, which have become symbolic of “tribal” Kenya. Despite the pressures of modernization, many Maasai communities continue to live in traditional ways, remaining largely independent of mainstream development in Kenya.
The Maasai people’s livelihood revolves around their livestock, including cows, sheep, and goats. These animals are essential to their way of life, providing food, wealth, and social status. According to Maasai belief, Enkai, their God, once lowered cattle from the sky via a bark rope (or a leather strap, depending on the story). However, the Dorobo, a closely related group of hunters and gatherers, cut the rope, severing the connection between heaven and earth and preventing further cattle from descending. As a result, the Maasai believe that all cattle on earth belong to them, which underscores their deep spiritual connection to their livestock.
The Maasai live in traditional villages called Bomas, which are fenced to protect them from wildlife. Within these fenced areas, the Maasai build small, flat-roofed houses from sticks, mud, and cow dung. Daily life in the village revolves around tending to the livestock. Men are responsible for taking the animals out to graze, while women take charge of fetching water, gathering firewood, cooking, and maintaining the homes. Women also care for children and play an important role in sustaining the family’s well-being.
Maasai society is structured into age sets, a system that organizes men into groups based on age, which dictates their roles and responsibilities. At the top of the Maasai hierarchy is the Laibon, a spiritual leader who oversees religious and social ceremonies. The most elite members of the society are the Ilmorran (warriors), young Maasai men who protect the community, defend their cattle, and uphold the honor of the tribe. These warriors undergo several initiation ceremonies before advancing to higher societal ranks.
The Maasai have preserved many of their customs despite outside influence, continuing to live in harmony with nature and their livestock, which remains central to their spiritual and economic lives.
SWAHILI & MAA
Swahili is the official language of Kenya, while Maa is the dialect spoken by the local Maasai community. You are curious to learn a few words? Ask your guide or any employee at camp and they will happily teach you some Swahili or Maa!
SOUVENIRS
In our litte shop at Olimba Mara Camp you will find a variety of local crafted souvenirs, but most of all traditional beaded jewelry.
WATER SAFETY AT CAMP
At Olimba Mara Camp, the water used for the washrooms, tabs and showers, is water from the river, which is then pumped into our water filtration system and treated as required by NEMA (National Environment Management Authority). To drink and to brush your teeth, you will always find clean and safe bottled water in your tent. All vegetables and fruits are cleaned with bottled water and not with water running through the filtration system.
TRAVELING WITH CHILDREN
We are always specially excited to welcome children at camp, however, due to the camp’s design and wild nature we recommend a minimum age of 6 years. All children staying at Olimba must be accompanied and supervised by an adult at all times. If you wish to get a childminder at camp, kindly inform us while we are planing your safari.
TIPPING
As it is part of the safari culture here in Kenya , tips at the end of your safari are always welcomed with enthusiasm and a lot of gratitude.
Your are absolutely free to tip whatever amount you wish and what suits your travel budget. A general guideline is between 5 to 15 USD per guest per day, which is shared among all staff members in the camp, excluding your guide. Your personal guide may be tipped directly at the end of your stay. The guideline here is around 10 to 15 USD per guest per day or around 30 USD per group per day in an exclusive vehicle.
If you feel insecure on how to tip the staff, please reach out to our camp manager, he will gladly assist and advice you.
BEACH DESTINATIONS
You wish to relax at the before or after your safari? The kenyan coast is magical beach destination and offers a great variety of activities such as watersports, golf, or cultural tours. Mombasa, Diani Beach, Lamu, Watamu or Malindi? Discover more informations on the offical Kenya toursim board page HERE.