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Kenya eSIM
6 data plans · from £12.40 · instant QR code 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 £12.40 · instant QR code 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
30 days
Maps, messaging and everyday travel
£17.30
£3.32/GB
Buy →
Connects automatically to the strongest signal across Safaricom.
Setup
It takes about a minute. Tap the install link we email you, leave the line switched off, then switch it on when you land — and you're online.
On iPhone (iOS)
On Android
Kenya: 9 plans, from 3 to 20 GB. Validity runs from 1 day to 30 days. None of these run on 5G — the Kenya networks we resell are LTE only. 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 includes Kenya cover — a single-country plan is the only option here, and it is usually the cheaper one anyway.
A Kenya travel eSIM is a digital SIM that downloads straight to your phone — no plastic card, no queuing at an airport counter. You buy online, tap the install link we email you (the QR code is in there too), and your phone adds a second line alongside your normal SIM. It stays dormant until your trip begins, then connects automatically to Safaricom on LTE. Your normal number carries on working for calls and texts while the eSIM handles the data.
Maps, messaging and taxi apps use very little data — roughly 300–500 MB a day. If you add photos, social media and the occasional video, expect to use closer to 1 GB a day. For a one-week trip, a 5 GB plan is usually plenty; for two weeks, tethering, or heavy use, opt for 10 GB or more, or choose a top-up plan you can reload as you go. Kenya plans start at £12.40 across 6 sizes, with the per-GB price clearly shown so you can easily spot the best value.
Yes. A Kenya travel eSIM is a local data plan rather than international roaming — you pay the price you saw online, and there are no per-megabyte charges from your home network provider. Set the eSIM as your mobile data line, switch data roaming off on your normal SIM, and nothing unexpected turns up on your next bill. Full refund at any time before installation, so buying ahead costs you nothing.
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.