Kenya Travel Forum

Hi have just been given a surpise 1 week holiday to Mombassa.We depart on Jan 29th and my question is what vacinations do I require or am I now too late to get them.We are not going on Safari and I have Deet spray and a supply of Malaria tablets.
Any help would be appreciated.
Kind Regards
Noel

You´ll need a yellow fever jab if you pass through an infected country on the way to Kenya.
Seagull.

I'm off to Nairobi soon and have been speaking with my doctor. I have been advised to have vaccinations for typhoid, hep A, tetanus, polio and diptheria. They also advised that it is necessary to have a jab for Yellow Fever - I understand from friends that have been there recently that you are asked to produce your Yellow Fever certificate at immigration. Malaria is a must also. Speak to your doctor asap. Mine is concerned that I've left it so late.

Thanks for your help looks like a trip to the Doctor is on tomorrow.
Regards
Noel

You are not required to have a yellow fever certificate upon entering Kenya unless, as first poster mentions, you've first traveled through or, are arriving from a yellow fever area.
hep A & B shots are recomended but, you need to start these at least 1 month before travel and preferably, 2 in a series of shots, 3 weeks apart for them to be effective.
Tetanus is always recomended, regardless of where you travel.
We have a direct link to the CDC as well as the vaccination requirements when entering Kenya.
NOTE: Tanzania WILL require you to show a yellow fever certificate as will Egypt if you're traveling in from Kenya or Tanzania. No, it is not too late for you to receive a yellow fever jab and to get the certificate.

Yellow fever is a must when you are travelling from or to to any country in Africa. It is better to take this vaccinations as you may be asked for the certificate at the immigration.

Ajay, I hate to differ with you but, is is not a "must" nor mandatory. Only if you're traveling to or from an ifected area, such as India.
In order to enter from India into Kenya, you MUST have a yellow fever Jab.
If you enter from US (providing you haven't visited India first in the last year) you do not need a yellow fever jab. Same applies to UK and most of Europe.
However, it is highly recomended.
I was unable to get a yellow fever jab because of low immunity problems with my cancer treatment. I simply got a doctor's note on my health ticket and truth be told, we were not once asked for it.
For more precise health requirements you may visit our Kenya page and go to travel logue: Vaccinations and health requirements on bottom of page or, visit this link:
http://www.uyaphi.com/kenya/health.htm

or:
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/82d9e/#TL

Dear Noel,
I was never asked for yellow fever certificate in any of the African countries that I travelled to except Ivory Coast. But then when I travelled from Kenya to Amsterdam, the authorities at amsterdam asked me to show my yellow fever card as I was travelling from Kenya. It is not mandatory at all in India, and I think it is mandatory when you are travelling from or to to any African country except South Africa. In the 24 years I stayed and travelled from India I never had a yellow fever certificate. But my first travel to Africa and my company made it mandatory to sent a copy of my Yellow Fever certificate to their HQ. That was just my experience, dont know the actual rule though...

Find attached below an excerpt from the US Department of State, you can check the same at the following site

http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/brochures/brochures_1229.html

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KENYA - *Passport, visa, and onward/return ticket required. Visas should be obtained in advance. Airport visas are available for those traveling from a country where there is no Kenyan Embassy/High Commission. Travelers who opt to obtain an airport visa should expect delays upon arrival. Evidence of yellow fever immunization may be requested. Tourist visas require 1 application form, 2 photos, onward/return ticket, and $50 fee (money order or cashier’s check only). Multiple-entry visas require payment of a $100 fee (money order or cashier’s check only). Expedited visa service is available for an additional $10. Airport departure tax is $40. For additional information, consult the Embassy of Kenya, 2249 R St., NW, Washington, DC 20008 (202/387-6101). Internet: www.kenyaembassy.com

Ajay, you seem to be making it a mission to prove someone wrong. I apologize if I contradicted you and, merely giving facts was not an attempt at undermining you.
Here, however are up to date US and Europe requirements to enter Kenya:

No immunizations are required by law to enter Kenya if you are travelling directly from Europe or the US. If you are travelling from a country where Yellow Fever is present you will need to prove you have had the innoculation.

Several vaccinations are highly recommended, they include:

Yellow Fever
Typhoid
Hepatitis A
Diptheria
It is also recommended that you are up to date with your polio and tetanus vaccinations. Contact a travel clinic at least 3 months before you plan to travel. Here's a list of travel clinics for US residents.

Now, trust me, we did ALOT of research regarding entry requirements. Let me explain: If you are traveling into Kenya and, say, live in US but, your passport indicates you've traveled to South America where Yellow fever is prevalant then yes, we would've been required a jab.
If you are entering back into another country, such as you did and, you've traveled to Kenya (which also has Yellow fever) your NEW entry point may require (as they did you) proof of vaccine. Yellow fever vaccine is not required INTO Kenya unless you've been in/out of yellow fever prone area(s) within a specific time.
Yellow fever proof may/may NOT be required as proof entering into another country after you've BEEN to Kenya.
Personally, I believe that, if you're able to get the jab (and can afford it as it is expensive) you should. If not, taking the necessary precautions such as 100% DEET, proper coverage and avoiding exposure early am or late pm is also a must.

I was there last August, you have to start taking anti-malaria pils a week before departure and two weeks after you alreday back home.
People there is very friendly and you wont have any problem. Keep away from the slums which are situated in approaching to Mombasa from the direction of Shanzu and Bamburi (Heller Park) coz there are hungry and angry people and you may have alot of problems with them.
In case you have expensive camera do not show it in approaching to Fort Jesus (immediate area around fort is safe) coz there are Somali people who might caused problems.
as for the rest, am sure you'll enjoy alot.

Dear Homanded,
I did not want to prove anyone wrong. I just had this experience, and yesterday after seeing your msg I was wondering why they asked me to produce the Yellow Fever Vaccination at Amsterdam when travelling from Kenya. Thats when I searched the internet and got to the US State department site. I regret that I may be wrong, as I was never asked for the vaccination certificate at Kenya or Mombasa.

I respect whatever you have written here and you may be right. I just talked about my experience and what I saw on the Internet. As I told you earlier, in Africa all the countries that I visited only in Ivory Coast they aske me to produce the same.

Any Error is regreted, and it was all in the right spirit only.

Best Wishes
Ajay

To all of the people who have taken the time and effort to respond to my question,I am truly grateful.It is nice to know that the world is still populated by very nice concerned people who wish to help rather than hinder.To you all thank you and my time in Kenya will be more enjoyed because of your contribution.
Will post how it went when I return.
Kindest regards
Noel