Kenya visa requirements for South Africans

Travel and visa requirements

Kenyan Visa is not required for South Africans

Stay Duration: 30 days

Entry Requirements

  • South Africans visiting Kenya can stay for a period of 30 days visa-free.
  • South Africans visiting Kenya must have a passport valid for six months after arrival in Kenya with sufficient blank pages for entry and exit stamps.
  • South Africans visiting Kenya must show proof of sufficient funds to cover their stay in Kenya such as credit cards. 
  • South Africans visiting Kenya can extend their stay for a duration of 90 days at the immigration office. South Africans should note that the maximum time they can extend their stay in Kenya is six months. 
  • South Africans visiting Kenya with pets must have a certificate of vaccination and must obtain an import license from the embassy or high commission. 
  • South Africans visiting on a single-entry visa can stay up to three months while visits on a multiple entry visa allow for a one-year visiting period. 
  • South Africans can visit Kenya visa-free for a period of 30 days but a visa will be required if the intended stay will exceed 40 days either on arrival or before arrival. It is always advisable to apply for a visa before arriving in Kenya. 
  • South Africans visiting Kenya must check for yellow fever, mumps, hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, cholera, rabies and influenza vaccination.  
  • Direct flight options are available from Cape Town and Johannesburg to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, offered by Kenya Airways and South African Airlines.
  • Direct flights between Johannesburg and Nairobi typically lasts for about 4 hours and 7 minutes, while connecting flights between other parts of South Africa and Nairobi can take up to 8 to 12 hours.
  • While Kenya is home to a diverse religious demography, Christianity is currently the religion practised by a vast majority of Kenya’s population.
  • The exchange rate between the South African Rand and the Kenyan Shilling is currently at R1=/-7.38(KES).
  • Because the time zone currently in use in Kenya is the Eastern Africa Time ( EAT ), Kenya is an hour ahead of South Africa.
  • Getting around in Kenya is possible with the various public means of transportation available, this includes minibuses -which is popularly used as they are cheap (40 to 100 KES depending on the distance) and work for both long and short distance trips in all Kenyan towns and cities-, trains, domestic flights, car rentals, and Uber Nairobi.
  • Kenya uses a type G adapter for visitors travelling with chargeable devices.
  • Kenya has a humid tropical climate that explains the mostly windy temperatures in the two rainy seasons, which run from March to June and November to December.
  • The dry season from June to October is best for visiting as it is a good time to explore and participate in tourism-related activities.
  • While Swahili is Kenya’s official language, English is also widely spoken and visitors should have very little difficulty with communication when relating with Kenyans.
  • Visitors might want to pick up some basic Swahili phrases to help them navigate communications in rural spaces.
  • Visitors are advised to be careful when carrying out monetary transactions in Kenya, from currency changes to relatively expensive purchases.
  • Visitors taking pictures are advised to be respectful and conscious of their environment while at it. Photo subjects or their guardians might need to be tipped in some cases.

Frequently Asked Questions


What is the language spoke in Kenya??
  • The official language spoken in Kenya is Swahili, other languages spoken are: English, Kikuyu, Luhya, Dholuo and Sheng.

What does Kenya's climate looks like??
  • The climate in Kenya is humid and tropical and it is dominated by onshore monsoon winds.The country has two rainy season: 
  • March to June is the long rainy season while November to December is the short rainy season. 

When is the best time to visit Kenya??

  • The suitable time to visit Kenya is June through October and January through February

Is it safe to visit Kenya??

Kenya is a safe country for travellers to visit. 


What currency is used in Kenya??

The Kenyan shilling is the currency used in Kenya. 


I just need a visa Iam booked to fly to Nairobi on the 3rd December and staying for 90 days?