Nairobi: What to Know Before You Go

Short answer: apply for your Kenya Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) online before you fly, leave all single-use plastic carrier bags at home, book the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust elephant nursery well in advance, and group your sightseeing by neighbourhood to avoid cross-city rush-hour traffic.

Kenya's strict plastic bag ban and eTA entry

Before you pack your suitcase, check every compartment for single-use plastic carrier bags and duty-free plastic shopping bags: Kenya enforces one of the strictest plastic bag bans in the world, and bags are confiscated at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport arrivals. Equally important, single-use plastic water bottles, disposable plates and straws are prohibited inside all Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) national parks, forests and reserves, including Nairobi National Park and Karura Forest; bring a reusable metal or hard-plastic flask instead. Most international visitors must also complete the online Kenya eTA before boarding their flight.

Cashless park gates, eCitizen and M-Pesa

Government-run attractions across Nairobi, including Nairobi National Park, the Nairobi Safari Walk and the Nairobi National Museum, do not accept paper cash at the gate. Instead, entry tickets are purchased online through Kenya's eCitizen portal (paying by Visa or Mastercard) or by mobile money at the gate. In daily life, Kenyans pay for almost everything via M-Pesa mobile money alongside contactless bank cards; international cards work smoothly at hotels, malls, restaurants and supermarkets, while a small amount of Kenyan shilling (KES) cash is handy for tipping safari drivers and buying craft souvenirs.

Advance bookings and grouping your days by zone

Nairobi is a green, low-density city where the wildlife suburbs of Karen and Langata sit roughly 15 to 20 kilometres south-west of Westlands, Museum Hill and Karura Forest. Plan one full day on the southern side and another on the northern side rather than crisscrossing town at midday, and reserve the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust morning elephant mud-bath viewing online weeks ahead. Compare bases in where to stay in Nairobi.