Kenya Travel Vaccinations
What vaccinations do I need for Kenya?
It depends on where you’re going, for how long, and what you’ll be doing. As a guide, UK travel health guidance groups the vaccinations for Kenya like this — your pharmacist will confirm exactly what you need at your consultation:
| Protects against | Who should consider it | Doses & schedule |
|---|---|---|
| Most travellers Hepatitis A | All travellers — spread through contaminated food and water, including at lodges and resorts. | 1 dose, ideally 2 weeks before travel. Booster at 6–12 months gives ~25 years’ protection. |
| Most travellers Tetanus, diphtheria & polio | All travellers whose last booster was more than 10 years ago. | Single combined booster injection. |
| Most travellers Typhoid | Most travellers — especially for longer trips, rural travel or visiting friends and family. | 1 injection, ideally 2 weeks before travel. Protects ~3 years. |
| Certificate Yellow fever | Recommended for most travellers to Kenya — and a certificate is required if you arrive from another yellow fever risk country. | Single injection at least 10 days before travel. Certificate now valid for life. |
| Some trips Rabies | Safari trips, longer stays, cave visits (bats), cycling or running — or anyone likely to be around dogs, cats, monkeys or wildlife. Treatment after a bite is hard to obtain outside Nairobi. | Course of 3 injections over 21–28 days — book early. |
| Some trips Hepatitis B | Longer stays, healthcare or volunteer work, new tattoos or piercings, or activities with a risk of blood contact. | 3 injections — an accelerated course over 21 days is available. |
| Some trips Cholera | Aid and humanitarian workers or travel to areas with very limited sanitation. Not needed for typical safaris or beach holidays. | Oral vaccine: 2 doses, 1–6 weeks apart, completed at least 1 week before travel. |
| Some trips Dengue fever | Travellers to coastal Kenya (Mombasa, Diani, Malindi), where dengue occurs — available at our clinic to all eligible travellers, whether or not you’ve had dengue before. | 2 doses, 3 months apart — start early if your trip qualifies. |
Yellow fever vaccination is recommended for most travellers to Kenya, and an International Certificate of Vaccination is required if you arrive from — or transit through — another yellow fever risk country. See our yellow fever page for details. Vaccine prices are kept up to date on our travel clinic price list. Vaccine prices are kept up to date on our travel clinic price list.
Do I need malaria tablets for Kenya?
Yes — for most itineraries. Malaria risk is high across most of Kenya, including the main safari parks (Maasai Mara, Amboseli, Tsavo) and the entire coast — Mombasa, Diani and Malindi included. Antimalarial tablets are advised for the vast majority of trips, even short ones.
Nairobi and the central highlands are the exception. The capital and areas above about 2,500 m are considered low risk, so a city-only stay may not need tablets — but most travellers combine Nairobi with safari or coast, which puts them back in the risk zone.
Bring your itinerary to your consultation: we check it against current UK risk maps, explain the options and can supply your antimalarial tablets in the same visit. And because dengue also occurs on the coast — spread by day-biting mosquitoes — bite prevention (50% DEET repellent, covering up, sleeping under nets) matters for every traveller. Ask us about dengue vaccination if you’re heading to coastal Kenya.
How our travel clinic works
Book online in 2 minutes
Choose a time that suits you — same-week appointments are usually available, and families can be seen together in one visit.
Personalised risk assessment
Your pharmacist reviews your itinerary, health history and previous vaccinations against current UK travel health guidance, and agrees a plan with you.
Vaccinated the same visit
Most vaccinations — and antimalarial tablets, if you need them — are given there and then. You only pay for what you actually need.
The diseases explained
More detail on each illness you can be protected against before travelling to Kenya:
Hepatitis A
A viral liver infection spread through contaminated food and water — risk exists even for careful eaters staying in good hotels, which is why vaccination is advised for virtually all travellers to Kenya. Illness causes weeks of fatigue, nausea and jaundice. A single injection before travel protects, and a booster 6–12 months later extends protection for around 25 years.
Typhoid
A bacterial infection from contaminated food and water causing prolonged fever, headache and abdominal illness. Risk is highest for adventurous eaters and travellers staying with friends and relatives. One injection gives around three years’ protection.
Tetanus, diphtheria & polio
These are covered by the UK childhood programme, but protection fades. Tetanus enters through cuts and animal scratches; diphtheria spreads person-to-person. Travellers whose last dose was over ten years ago need a single combined booster.
Yellow fever
A serious mosquito-borne viral infection of Africa and South America. One dose at least 10 days before travel gives long-lasting protection, and comes with the International Certificate of Vaccination (ICVP) that border officials can demand. We are a registered yellow fever vaccination centre — see our yellow fever page.
Rabies
Kenya has rabies in its animal population, and a lick, scratch or bite from a dog, cat, monkey or bat can transmit it. Once symptoms appear rabies is almost always fatal — and treatment after a bite can be expensive and hard to obtain quickly. Pre-travel vaccination is a course of three injections over 3–4 weeks, so it rewards booking early. Particularly advised for longer stays, rural travel, children and anyone likely to be around animals.
Hepatitis B
A blood-borne viral liver infection transmitted through unprotected sex, tattoos, piercings, medical procedures and injuries. Advised for longer stays, healthcare workers and anyone whose plans carry a risk of blood contact. The standard course is three injections; an accelerated 21-day schedule suits imminent departures.
Cholera
A severe diarrhoeal illness from heavily contaminated water. Risk to conventional tourists is very low; the oral vaccine is reserved for aid workers and travel to areas with very poor sanitation.
Dengue fever
Dengue is a common mosquito-borne infection in Kenya and, unlike malaria, the mosquitoes that carry it bite during the day and thrive in towns. A second infection can be more severe than the first. A dengue vaccination is available at our travel clinic — open to all eligible travellers, whether or not you’ve had dengue before — given as two doses three months apart, so it rewards booking early. Bite avoidance remains important even when vaccinated. Read more on our dengue fever page.
Where in Kenya are you going?
Maasai Mara & the safari circuit
High malaria risk in most parks — tablets are usually essential alongside yellow fever and hepatitis A cover. Rabies awareness matters around camps and wildlife, and multi-dose courses need 3–4 weeks, so book as soon as your safari is confirmed.
The coast: Mombasa, Diani & Malindi
Malaria tablets are advised for the coast, and dengue occurs here too — ask about dengue vaccination and pack strong repellent. Food and water precautions cover the rest.
Nairobi
The highland capital is low risk for malaria, so hepatitis A, typhoid and up-to-date boosters cover most city stays — but almost every itinerary continues on to higher-risk areas, so plan for the whole trip.
Rift Valley & rural Kenya
Malaria cover, rabies (including bats in caves) and hepatitis B for longer stays. Avoid swimming in lakes and slow-moving fresh water — bilharzia (schistosomiasis) is widespread.
Planning your timing
Most UK travellers visit Kenya in the dry seasons — June to October (the great migration) and January to February. Safaris are usually booked 3–6 months ahead, so the ideal time to sort vaccinations is as soon as your trip is confirmed — and no later than 6–8 weeks before you fly, because yellow fever needs 10 days to become valid and the rabies course takes 3–4 weeks to complete.
Everyday health essentials for Kenya
Food & water: drink bottled or boiled water, avoid ice of unknown origin, choose freshly cooked food served hot, and peel fruit yourself. Bites: 50% DEET repellent, cover arms and legs at dawn and dusk, sleep under nets or in screened rooms. Sun & heat: high-SPF sunscreen, hydration, and shade in the middle of the day. If you're unwell after you return — especially with fever — see a doctor promptly and mention your travel history. Our pharmacists can advise on travel first-aid kits, oral rehydration and stomach remedies at your appointment.
Frequently asked questions
How far in advance should I book my Kenya vaccinations?
Ideally 6–8 weeks before travel — multi-dose courses such as rabies take 3–4 weeks to complete. Flying sooner? Single-dose protection against hepatitis A and typhoid works at shorter notice — book the earliest appointment you can and we’ll prioritise.
Do I need malaria tablets for a safari in Kenya?
Yes — malaria risk is high in most safari areas and along the coast, so tablets are advised for most itineraries. Only Nairobi and the highlands are low risk. We match the right antimalarial to your route and supply it at your appointment.
Do I need a yellow fever certificate for Kenya?
Yellow fever vaccination is recommended for most travellers to Kenya, and a certificate is required if you arrive from another yellow fever risk country. It is a single dose given at least 10 days before travel, and certificates are now valid for life.
How much do travel vaccinations cost?
You only pay for the vaccinations you actually need, agreed at your consultation. Current prices are on our travel clinic price list.
Can my family be vaccinated at the same appointment?
Yes — we routinely see couples and families together. Book one slot and mention the number of travellers, or call us on 01276 21002 and we’ll arrange it.
What should I bring to my appointment?
Your itinerary (destinations, dates, rural stops), your vaccination history if you have it, and a note of any medicines you take or allergies.
Rated by 330+ patients of our Camberley pharmacy and clinics.
GPhC registered pharmacy 1105418 · Superintendent pharmacist Jirina Thielens (GPhC 2069634).
This guide follows UK national travel health guidance (TravelHealthPro / NHS) and was last reviewed in August 2026. Recommendations can change — your consultation always reflects the latest advice.
Flying to Kenya? Get protected in one visit.
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