Travel vaccinations for Kenya: yellow fever, recommended vaccines and malaria

Kenya requires no vaccinations if you travel directly from Germany. The German Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt) recommends hepatitis A and polio for all travellers and yellow fever vaccination for most of the country. Below 2,500 metres there is a high malaria risk all year round. Which other vaccinations make sense depends on your route, the length of your stay and how you travel.

Entry rules: when proof of yellow fever vaccination is needed

If you fly straight from Germany to Kenya, the Foreign Office says no proof of vaccination is required. The situation changes if you arrive from a yellow fever country: Kenya then requires valid yellow fever vaccination for everyone aged 12 months and over. This applies, for example, if you have spent time in another country with risk of yellow fever transmission beforehand.

The reverse case matters just as much. The WHO lists Kenya itself as a country with risk of transmission. If you travel on after your safari, for instance to Tanzania, South Africa or Egypt, you may be asked for proof there. Give your doctor the full list of countries in the right order. In Germany, yellow fever vaccination is only available at approved yellow fever vaccination centres; our guide to yellow fever vaccination explains the background.

Recommended vaccinations according to the Foreign Office

The Foreign Office distinguishes between vaccinations for all travellers and those based on individual assessment. The table at the top of this page summarises them; here is the context:

• All travellers: hepatitis A and polio. The Foreign Office reports that polio (cVDPV2) has been detected in Kenya, so complete protection matters. Your doctor will check your vaccination record to see whether a booster is due.
• Yellow fever: generally recommended for most of the country. It is not generally recommended for trips limited to Nairobi, Mombasa, North Eastern Province and the coastal districts of Kilifi, Kwale, Lamu, Malindi and Tana River, although it may still be advisable.
• Based on individual risk: hepatitis B, meningococcal ACWY, rabies and typhoid, as well as dengue and chikungunya. According to the Foreign Office, cholera vaccination is usually not necessary.
• Routine vaccinations: check that you are up to date with the STIKO schedule, the official German vaccination calendar. Because of repeated outbreaks, the Foreign Office specifically highlights protection against measles.

For meningococcal disease, the Foreign Office names the dry seasons from December to March and from June to October as the periods with most cases. For rabies, it points out that vaccines and especially immunoglobulins are scarcely available in the country. If you expect contact with animals, read our guide to rabies when travelling.

Malaria, dengue and other insect-borne risks

According to the Foreign Office and the DTG, there is a high malaria risk all year round throughout the country below 2,500 metres. More than 99 per cent of cases are falciparum malaria. The risk is low in central Nairobi and at higher altitudes. In high-risk areas the Foreign Office considers preventive medication useful in addition to mosquito protection; which option suits you is a decision for you and your doctor. Our guide to malaria prevention covers mosquito protection and the concept of prophylaxis.

Dengue, chikungunya, West Nile fever and other mosquito-borne diseases occur all year round, with minimal risk in Nairobi according to the Foreign Office. Ticks can transmit African tick bite fever. Protect yourself during the day, at dusk and at night: wear long clothing, use repellent, sleep under a bed net and check your body after time outdoors.

Take any fever after your return seriously, even months later. The DTG stresses that malaria must then be ruled out without delay. Tell your doctor about your trip.

What depends on your type of trip

Many itineraries combine several of these elements. The part of your route with the highest risk is what counts.

Hygiene, water and animals

According to the Foreign Office, travellers’ diarrhoea, hepatitis A and E, shigellosis and typhoid also affect visitors. Drink only water from a safe source and take care with food and hand hygiene. Do not swim in lakes or rivers: schistosomiasis can be transmitted through even brief contact with fresh water, including flowing water.

Rabies is mainly transmitted by dogs. Avoid contact with dogs, wild animals and other animals. After a bite or scratch, wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water and seek medical help straight away. Kenya is also home to venomous snakes, scorpions and spiders, and the Foreign Office notes that antivenoms are only available to a limited extent.

Current notices in October 2026

The Foreign Office reports an Ebola case imported from the DR Congo into Kenya in early October 2026. Further infections have so far been limited to close contacts. Body temperature is screened on arrival at Nairobi and Mombasa airports. Since early October 2026, a paid Kenyan travel health insurance policy must also be taken out when applying for the electronic travel authorisation (eTA). This situation can change quickly, so check the Foreign Office notices shortly before you leave.

Medical care in Kenya

The Foreign Office describes medical care as not comparable with Germany. Outside Nairobi, qualified staff are often lacking, and planned procedures should be carried out in Europe. Counterfeit medicines occur. Take a travel health kit and your regular medication with you, and make sure your travel health insurance covers medical evacuation.

Timing: when to see a travel health specialist

Allow several weeks for your consultation. Following the STIKO and DTG recommendations, travel vaccinations should be completed at least two weeks before departure. The travel vaccine check gives you a first overview, and our directory of travel clinics helps you find a practice or yellow fever centre in Germany. Statutory health insurance in Germany does not have to cover vaccinations for private holidays, but some insurers pay for them voluntarily.