Kenya is one of Africa’s top destinations for wildlife, and the landscapes are equally enthralling. Make sure that your trip runs without any hitches by organising your travel insurance policy with Holiday Extras. We provide medical cover for declared pre-existing conditions and unforeseen medical expenses – a necessity for a country as unique as Kenya – and if you run into difficulties our cancellation cover could prove invaluable.
Why choose Holiday Extras for your Kenya travel insurance?
Booking with Holiday Extras offers numerous benefits, like an exceptionally quick service and cover that you can rely on.
Medical – Forward-planning is important. Get a check-up with your GP to identify any pre-existing medical conditions and be sure to declare these to us. Also, ensure that you have all necessary vaccinations well in advance, as if you do not get the required immunisations our medical cover will not protect you.
Costs – Change your British pounds to Kenyan shillings in advance to get the best possible rate. Travel in Kenya can be cheap, but if you want to visit a national park, particularly on safari, be prepared to pay considerably more.
Visa – British citizens can obtain a three-month visa from the airport upon arrival.
You can rely on the comprehensive cover provided by Holiday Extras’ single trip policies, even on long-planned and long-stay trips. Our single trip policies offer cover for up to 365 days, and you can add increased cancellation cover for extra peace of mind when booking in far in advance.
Policy Excess
Most insurers require a certain amount to be paid for a claim to be considered: this is called the policy excess. If you would prefer to avoid paying the excess for all of the sections of cover, we suggest adding the excess waiver to your policy.
You can book online to compare competitive prices, choose a policy that suits you and complete your payment through an easy process. Should you require further assistance during the booking process.
Policies for travellers aged under 18 are also available, and they can benefit from free single trip cover when accompanied by an adult.
Private Healthcare in Kenya
In the largest cities, Nairobi and Mombasa, there are well respected, reputable private hospitals and practitioners who provide a high standard of care in most medical cases. However, for complex cases or sometimes just as a personal preference, many expats from the west choose to be evacuated to South Africa or even to the UK.
Paying for private treatment or evacuation out of pocket is prohibitively expensive, and for this reason, selecting a global travel health insurance plan that includes emergency evacuation coverage is a must.
Even before you arrive in Kenya, it is a good idea to use the internet to locate the closest hospital to your home and place of work. Keep their emergency phone numbers and ambulance service number (if it is different) in a safe and obvious place. While there is a public emergency number (999), it will connect you with government run hospital ambulance services – which are certainly better than not having a number at all, and there will almost always be someone who speaks English.
Vaccinations and Health Risks Specific to Kenya
As before any travel abroad, it is important to ensure that your regular common immunizations are up-to-date before your trip. These vaccines, as recommended by the CDC, include MMR, tetanus, diphtheria and polio as well as an annual influenza (flu) vaccine. Most travel physicians and clinics also recommend hepatitis A and B, typhoid and yellow fever vaccines for travel to this area of the world.
The risk of malaria in Kenya exists, but the size of the risk will depend on where you plan to be. See the CDC’s Kenya recommendations. In addition, other insect-borne diseases such as dengue fever and chikungunya can be avoided by wearing insect repellent with DEET.
A note about Travelers’ Diarrhea: Diseases that come from food and water are still the number one cause of illness in travelers. Travelers’ Diarrhea can come from viruses, bacteria, or parasites, all of which are found in Kenya (and most of the world) and can contaminate food or water. Do your best to consume food from places that serve other westerners.
Common Sense Tips for Staying Healthy and Safe While in Kenya
- Eat and drink food from known sources
- Prevent insect bites by wearing repellent containing DEET
- Avoid animals that are not known to you
- Wash hands frequently and avoid touching your eyes, mouth and nose whenever possible
Personal and Public Safety in Kenya
The US, Canadian and UK governments all recommend that their citizens travelling to Kenya be vigilant in this country. This is a result of a rise in the number and frequency of terrorist attacks and crime occurring in the country. Areas that require an especially high degree of caution include the cities of Nairobi and Mombasa, as well as the regions bordering Somalia, Ethiopia and South Sudan.
Tips for Staying Safe and Healthy in Kenya
- Make a copy of your passport and keep it in your luggage; keep a password-protected electronic copy stored online
- Don’t walk on your own at night in the major cities or on empty beaches
- Do not wear jewelry
- Do not carry too much cash with you
Wear a money belt that fits under your clothes - Don’t carry a lot of camera equipment especially in the major cities
- Beware of thieves posing as police officers or other conmen
- Choose recommended transportation options
- Plan your route ahead of time and avoid unknown or dangerous neighborhoods
Kenya Travel Insurance
Finding the Right Global Health Insurance for Travel in Kenya
For individuals planning a move or extended travel to Kenya, there are two important things to keep in mind:
There is likely to be a lack of access to public medical care for foreigners.
The public healthcare options, if accessible, will most likely be below the standard of care that you expect or feel comfortable using.
Finding the global health insurance plan is a critical part of planning your travel. If you are moving for a job, most employers will provide healthcare insurance as part of a benefits package. Even so, consider a global medical plan if you are working in Kenya, self-employed or staying longer term.
Health, Safety and Travel Insurance in Kenya
Kenya, a former British colony, is an attractive country for travel and expatriation because of its warm climate and relatively low cost of living. While thousands of US citizens travel to or live in Kenya each year without incident, the US Dept. of State, Kenya continues to warn visitors to the African nation of risk of their travel. These risks to personal and public safety, in addition to health risks particular to the region, make private global travel insurance a must for expats and other visitors.
The Health System in Kenya
Kenya, in theory, provides public healthcare to its population. Basic primary care is provided to the Kenyans at primary healthcare centres and dispensaries. Dispensaries are what Americans would call clinics; they are run and managed by registered nurses who are supervised by the nursing officer. These dispensaries provide outpatient services for simple concerns like a cold or flu, common rashes or skin conditions, and other uncomplicated problems. In more complicated cases, patients are referred on to physician care.
Community hospitals are able to provide routine surgical and maternity care, while the most complicated cases are handled at the large public hospitals in Nairobi.
While this public system does exist, Kenyans and expats alike tend to use the private system whenever they can afford it.
Some of the Top Hospitals in Kenya
- The Aga Khan Hospital, Mombasa
- Aga Khan Hospitals
- Nairobi Women Hospital
- Gertrude Gardens Children’s Hospital
- Kenyatta National Hospital
- Kijabe Mission Hospital
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