Heading to Kenya? Most UK travellers are advised to be up to date with hepatitis A, typhoid and their tetanus, diphtheria and polio booster, with malaria prevention and yellow fever vaccination important for many itineraries. Crewe Travel Clinic can confirm your personal list at a consultation.
For Kenya, most UK travellers are advised to be up to date with hepatitis A, typhoid and a tetanus, diphtheria and polio booster, while yellow fever, hepatitis B, rabies and meningitis ACWY may be recommended depending on your trip. Malaria prevention is important for most of the country, including the safari areas and the coast, though Nairobi and the high highlands are very low risk. Yellow fever vaccination is recommended for health in risk areas such as the Masai Mara, Tsavo and Lake Nakuru. Crewe Travel Clinic can review your itinerary and confirm exactly which vaccines and malaria tablets you need.
Kenya is a classic East African destination, drawing UK travellers to the Masai Mara, Amboseli, Tsavo and Lake Nakuru on safari, the Indian Ocean beaches around Mombasa and Diani, and city stops in Nairobi. Many visitors arrive by direct flight into Nairobi or Mombasa, often combining a Big Five safari with coastal relaxation, a Kilimanjaro view from across the border, or onward travel to Tanzania, Uganda or Zanzibar. Whether you are on a lodge-based game drive, a beach break or a longer overland trip, a little planning helps keep your holiday healthy.
We recommend booking a travel health appointment 6 to 8 weeks before you fly, as some vaccines need more than one dose or take time to become fully effective, and yellow fever vaccination must be given at a registered centre at least 10 days before travel. That said, it is always worth coming in even at short notice. At Crewe Travel Clinic we review your itinerary, planned activities, medical history and vaccination record, then give you a tailored plan. The recommendations below are general guidance based on NaTHNaC (TravelHealthPro) and NHS Fit for Travel advice, and your final list is always confirmed at your consultation.
Spread through contaminated food and water, hepatitis A is recommended for most previously unvaccinated travellers to Kenya.
A combined booster is advised if your last dose was more than ten years ago or your UK course is incomplete.
Recommended where food and water hygiene may be variable, particularly for longer stays and those visiting friends or relatives.
Recommended for health for travellers aged 9 months and over visiting yellow-fever-risk areas such as the Masai Mara, Tsavo East and West and Lake Nakuru; it may also be needed to meet entry rules for onward travel.
Considered for longer trips, possible medical or dental treatment abroad, adventure activities or other exposure to blood and body fluids.
Worth discussing for stays of a month or more, remote areas with limited medical care, or activities such as cycling, running and working with animals.
Considered for long-stay travellers, backpackers, those visiting friends and relatives and healthcare workers with close, prolonged local contact.
Usually only for aid and relief workers or those heading to areas with poor sanitation, limited safe water or active outbreaks.
May be considered for unvaccinated under-16s staying over three months, or healthcare and laboratory workers with likely TB exposure.
Malaria is present in Kenya and is a serious risk in most of the country, so antimalarial tablets (atovaquone/proguanil, doxycycline or mefloquine) are recommended for the great majority of travellers, alongside strict bite avoidance. Most safari areas, the Lake Victoria region, the western highlands below around 2,500 metres and the whole Indian Ocean coast, including Mombasa and Diani, carry a year-round risk. Risk is very low in the city of Nairobi and in the highlands above about 2,500 metres, where awareness and bite avoidance are the main measures. We will help you choose the right tablets for your dates, route, altitude and medical history, and advise on covering up, using DEET-based repellent and sleeping under a treated net.
Kenya has both a certificate requirement and areas of genuine yellow fever risk. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for entry from travellers aged over 1 year arriving from, or who have transited through, a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. Travelling directly from the UK you will not normally need a certificate to enter, but you may need one for onward travel. Separately, the vaccine is recommended for your own health for most travellers aged 9 months and over visiting risk areas, including the popular game reserves of the Masai Mara, Tsavo East and Tsavo West and Lake Nakuru national park. Yellow fever vaccine is only available at registered centres and is not suitable for everyone, so we will assess your route, age and medical history carefully and issue your certificate where appropriate.
Check yellow fever certificate requirementsStick to safe food and water practices: drink bottled or treated water, avoid ice of uncertain origin, and choose food that is freshly and thoroughly cooked. Insect-bite avoidance protects against malaria and other mosquito-borne illnesses such as dengue and chikungunya, especially on the coast, so use a DEET-based repellent, cover up and use a net where needed. Avoid swimming or paddling in fresh water like lakes and rivers to reduce the risk of schistosomiasis (bilharzia). Rabies is present, so do not approach dogs, cats, monkeys or bats, and seek urgent medical advice after any bite or scratch even if you have been vaccinated. If you plan to climb Mount Kenya or trek at altitude, ascend gradually and know the signs of altitude sickness. Take out comprehensive travel insurance covering safari and any adventure activities and medical evacuation, pack regular medication in your hand luggage, and protect yourself from the strong equatorial sun.