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Kenya eSIM
6 data plans · from $14.99 · one-tap install by email
Choose your plan
Travelling as a group? Buy everyone an eSIM in one checkout and the discount is applied automatically — no code needed. See group pricing
6 data plans · from $14.99 · one-tap install by email
Travelling as a group? Buy everyone an eSIM in one checkout and the discount is applied automatically — no code needed. See group pricing
Maps, messaging, everyday travel
$20.99
$4.20/GB
Buy →
Connects automatically to the strongest signal across Safaricom.
Setup
Set up your eSIM before you travel — it takes about a minute. Scan once, switch it on when you arrive, and you’re online.
On iPhone (iOS)
On Android
9 plans for Kenya, from 3 to 20 GB. Validity runs from 1 day to 30 days. None of these run on 5G — Kenya is LTE only on the networks we resell. We would rather say so here than let you find out on arrival.
5 plans can be topped up without installing a second eSIM. Plans run on Safaricom.
Counted from our live catalogue, not a marketing figure — the plan list above this section is the same data.
No regional bundle covers Kenya — a single-country plan is the only option here, which is usually the cheaper one anyway.
A travel eSIM for Kenya is a digital SIM your phone downloads — no plastic card, no airport pickup counter. You buy online, tap the install link we email you (a QR code is included too), and it installs a second line alongside your existing SIM. It stays dormant until you arrive in Kenya, then connects automatically to Safaricom on LTE. Your home number keeps working for calls and texts; the eSIM simply carries your data.
Maps, messaging and rideshare apps are light — roughly 300–500 MB a day. Add photos, social and the occasional video and you’re closer to 1 GB a day. For a one-week trip a 5 GB plan is comfortable; for two weeks, sharing, or heavy use, choose 10 GB or more, or a reloadable plan you can top up on the go. Kenya plans start at $14.99 across 6 sizes, with the per-GB price shown on every one so the right choice is obvious.
No. A travel eSIM for Kenya is a local data plan, not international roaming — you pay the price you see up front, with no per-megabyte bill from your home carrier. Set the eSIM as your data line and switch data roaming off on your home SIM, and there are no surprises when you get home. Full refund any time before you install, so there’s no risk in buying ahead.
Nyama Choma
Roasted meat, typically goat or beef, cooked over an open fire and served with a side of salt and kachumbari.
Local pubs and dedicated 'choma zones' nationwide.
Ugali
A dense, stiff porridge made from maize flour. It is the staple carbohydrate of Kenya, eaten by hand with stews.
Every local restaurant and eatery.
Sukuma Wiki
Collard greens braised with tomatoes, onions, and sometimes a stock cube. The name translates to 'push the week'.
Everywhere; it is the most common vegetable side dish.
Kenya connectivity guide
Connectivity in Kenya is shaped by one network: Safaricom carries around seven in ten of the country's mobile lines and is the operator consistently recommended for the parks and reserves visitors come for. It is also one of Africa's faster mobile markets, with a mobile-money system, M-Pesa, that reaches further into daily life than anywhere else a traveller is likely to have been. The best eSIM for Kenya is one that lands already working, before the safari leaves the tarmac — this guide covers the networks, registration, park coverage, and what a Kenyan trip consumes.
Read the full Kenya guide →Mutura
A Kenyan sausage made from meat, blood, and spices, stuffed into intestines and grilled over charcoal.
Street food vendors, typically sold in the late afternoon and evenings.
Pilau
A fragrant, spiced rice dish cooked in a rich meat or chicken broth, heavily influenced by coastal Swahili culture.
Swahili restaurants in coastal towns and Nairobi.
Kachumbari
A fresh, zesty salad made of diced tomatoes, onions, coriander, and chili.
Served alongside Nyama Choma and Pilau at most local joints.
Chapati
A flaky, layered unleavened flatbread with Indian origins, pan-fried and eaten with stews and curries.
Local cafes and restaurants across the country.
Githeri
A hearty, simple dish of boiled maize and beans stewed together, originating from the Kikuyu community.
Local canteens and informal eateries.
Mandazi
A slightly sweet, deep-fried dough shaped like a triangle, often flavored with cardamom.
Bakeries, cafes, and street corners; best enjoyed with morning chai.
Samosas
Deep-fried triangular pastries filled with heavily spiced minced meat or vegetables.
Street vendors, bakeries, and hotel buffets.
Maasai Mara National ReserveNarok County
World-famous for the Great Migration and unparalleled big cat sightings.
2-4 days · book ahead
Amboseli National ParkKajiado County
Offers iconic views of Mount Kilimanjaro and features massive herds of free-ranging elephants.
1-2 days · book ahead
Nairobi National ParkNairobi
The only national park in the world located within a capital city, offering a quick and accessible safari.
Half day
David Sheldrick Wildlife TrustNairobi
A renowned orphan elephant rescue and rehabilitation program where visitors can watch feeding times.
1-2 hours · book ahead
Diani BeachUkunda
Voted one of Africa's best beaches, offering pristine white sand and turquoise Indian Ocean waters.
3-5 days
Lamu Old TownLamu
A UNESCO World Heritage site and the oldest and best-preserved Swahili settlement in East Africa.
2-3 days · book ahead
Lake Nakuru National ParkNakuru
Famous for its flamingo populations, endangered rhinos, and beautiful rift valley landscapes.
1-2 days · book ahead
Tsavo East and West National ParksTaita-Taveta County
Kenya's largest wildlife stronghold, known for its vast wilderness, red-dust elephants, and the Mzima Springs.
2-3 days · book ahead
Giraffe CentreNairobi
A conservation center where you can get up close and feed endangered Rothschild's giraffes.
1-2 hours
Fort JesusMombasa
A 16th-century Portuguese fort and UNESCO World Heritage site offering insight into the coastal region's turbulent history.
2 hours
Matatu (Minibus)
Privately owned, loudly decorated minibuses that operate on set routes. You pay the conductor in cash.
budget
Boda Boda (Motorcycle Taxi)
Motorcycle taxis found on almost every corner. You negotiate the fare before getting on.
budget
Tuk-Tuk
Three-wheeled auto-rickshaws, most common in coastal towns like Mombasa, Malindi, and Diani.
budget
SGR Train (Madaraka Express)
A modern railway connecting Nairobi and Mombasa. Tickets must be booked in advance.
mid
Domestic Flights
Airlines like Jambojet and SafariLink operate from Nairobi to major towns, the coast, and safari airstrips.
high
Ride-hailing
Uber, Bolt, Little Cab
Widely available in Nairobi and Mombasa. Some drivers may request cash payments instead of in-app card processing, or ask you to cancel and pay offline.
Paying for things
Basics
| New Year's Day | January 1 | Public holiday; banks and offices closed. Transport can be busy. |
| Labour Day | May 1 | Public holiday; businesses closed. |
| Madaraka Day | June 1 | Commemorates internal self-rule. Large public celebrations; banks and businesses closed. |
| Mashujaa Day | October 20 | Heroes' Day. Public holiday; banks and offices closed. |
| Jamhuri Day | December 12 | Republic Day. Major national holiday causing widespread closures. |
| Christmas Day | December 25 | Major holiday; coastal resorts and transport get extremely busy. |
| Boxing Day | December 26 | Public holiday; businesses closed. |
Recurring dates — the day these fall on moves year to year.