Blog / 🇰🇪 Kenya Health Guide 📅 April 13, 2026 ⏱ 14 min read 🩺 Health & Safety Kenya attracts millions of visitors each year for Maasai Mara wildebeest migrations, Amboseli elephant herds, and the beaches of Mombasa. But Kenya sits squarely in the tropics — and with that comes malaria, yellow fever requirements, and a range of infectious disease risks that demand careful preparation. This guide covers everything you need to stay healthy from Nairobi to the coast. 📋 Table of Contents Vaccines: Required & Recommended Malaria — Risk Zones & Prevention HIV & AIDS: What Travellers Need to Know Rift Valley Fever & Other Tropical Diseases Dengue, Typhoid & Other Risks Water & Food Safety Medical Facilities & Emergency Contacts Travel Insurance & Evacuation Health Packing Checklist 💉 Vaccines: Required & Recommended ⚠️ Yellow Fever Certificate — Mandatory Kenya requires proof of yellow fever vaccination for travellers arriving from yellow fever-endemic countries (most of sub-Saharan Africa, parts of South America). You must carry your International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP). If you cannot produce it at the border, you may be vaccinated on the spot or refused entry. The WHO recommends all travellers to Kenya get vaccinated regardless of origin due to active transmission risk in western Kenya. Recommended Vaccines for Kenya Vaccine Risk / Reason Notes Yellow Fever Required from endemic countries; recommended for all Mandatory ICVP certificate — get 10+ days before travel Hepatitis A Contaminated food & water common outside Nairobi hotels 2-dose series; single dose gives 1-year protection Hepatitis B Blood/body fluid exposure, medical procedures 3-dose series over 6 months; combined A+B vaccine available Typhoid Contaminated food/water, especially upcountry Oral (4 capsules) or injection; boosters every 2–5 years Rabies (pre-exposure) Dogs, monkeys, bats — common in rural areas 3 doses before travel; simplifies post-exposure treatment Meningococcal (MenACWY) Required for Hajj/Umrah; recommended for long-stay Single dose; booster every 5 years Cholera (Dukoral) Watery diarrhoea risk in outbreak areas, Mombasa coast Oral vaccine; 2 doses 1–6 weeks apart Polio booster Kenya has had poliovirus detections in recent years One adult booster if not vaccinated in last 10 years Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis Wounds, dust, soil exposure on safari Booster if >10 years since last dose MMR (Measles-Mumps-Rubella) Measles circulates in East Africa 2 doses if born after 1957 and not previously vaccinated Tip: Visit a travel medicine clinic at least 6–8 weeks before departure. Many vaccines require multiple doses spread over weeks. The CDC and WHO both have online country-specific vaccine advisories you should check within 4 weeks of your trip date. 🦟 Malaria — Risk Zones & Prevention Malaria is the single biggest infectious disease risk for travellers to Kenya. It is transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes and is present year-round in most of the country. Plasmodium falciparum — the most dangerous and potentially fatal strain — is the dominant species. Risk by Region Region / Area Risk Level Notes Mombasa & Kenyan Coast High Year-round transmission; chloroquine resistance present Lake Victoria basin / Kisumu Very High Highest transmission in Kenya; perennial risk Western Kenya (Nyanza, W. Province) High Year-round; altitude provides little protection below 2,000m Maasai Mara / Rift Valley (below 2,000m) Moderate–High Seasonal peaks April–June, Oct–Nov Amboseli / Tsavo National Parks Moderate Risk lower but still present; take prophylaxis Nairobi (above 1,800m) Very Low City itself is low-risk; no prophylaxis usually needed Naivasha / Nakuru / Nanyuki (highland) Low High altitude reduces mosquito activity significantly Mount Kenya / Aberdares (above 2,500m) Negligible Cold temperature prevents transmission Anti-Malarial Medications Atovaquone-Proguanil (Malarone) Pros: Fewest side effects, start 1–2 days before travel Cons: Most expensive (~£3–5/day); not for long trips (>3 months) Best for: Best for short trips (1–4 weeks) Doxycycline Pros: Cheapest option (~£0.20–0.50/day); also treats other infections Cons: Sun sensitivity, stomach upset, can't take if pregnant Best for: Good budget option for longer trips Mefloquine (Lariam) Pros: Weekly dosing convenient Cons: Neuropsychiatric side effects; start 2.5 weeks early Best for: Last resort — many doctors avoid it now 🛡️ Bite Prevention is Non-Negotiable Use DEET ≥30% repellent on exposed skin (reapply every 3–4 hours) Wear long sleeves and trousers after sunset Sleep under a permethrin-treated bed net (most budget lodges provide them) Stay in screened, air-conditioned rooms where possible If you develop fever within 3 months of returning home, get an immediate blood test 🔴 HIV & AIDS: What Travellers Need to Know Kenya has one of the largest HIV-positive populations in the world — an estimated 1.4 million people living with HIV (2023), representing roughly 4.3%