Malaria · Kenya
For most Kenya trips, yes, you need malaria pills, especially for a safari. The Maasai Mara, Amboseli, Tsavo, and the coast around Mombasa and Diani all have malaria risk, so the CDC recommends antimalarials. The main low-or-no-risk exceptions are Nairobi city and the high central highlands above about 2,500 meters. If your trip is a safari or the coast, plan on malaria pills.
| Destination | Malaria risk | Pills recommended? |
|---|---|---|
| Maasai Mara, Amboseli, Tsavo (safari) | Present | Yes |
| Coast: Mombasa, Diani, Watamu | Present | Yes |
| Lake Victoria / Kisumu | Present (higher) | Yes |
| Nairobi (city) | Low to none | Generally no for a city-only stay |
| High central highlands (above ~2,500 m) | Low to none | Generally no |
Since almost every classic Kenya itinerary includes a lowland safari or the coast, the practical answer for most travelers is yes.
Kenya is a chloroquine-resistant area, so doxycycline or atovaquone-proguanil (Malarone) are the right choices, you take one. Malarone has a shorter course after you leave (7 days vs 4 weeks for doxycycline); doxycycline is cheaper. See doxycycline vs. Malarone to choose. Pair the pills with insect repellent and a treated bed net, and never ignore a fever after returning.
Kenya also has yellow fever risk, and the vaccine may be recommended or required depending on your itinerary and onward travel. We do not give vaccines, this is something to arrange with a travel clinic before you go. We can handle your malaria pills online and point you to a clinic for the shots.
I am an avid traveler across 26 countries, and I built this to do the honest version of travel medicine. We handle your Kenya malaria pills online, and when your safari also needs the yellow fever shot, we point you to a travel clinic instead of pretending we can do everything. That is the call I would want made for my own trip.
Bidwell Health can review your Kenya itinerary and prescribe doxycycline or Malarone online when it is clinically appropriate, sent to your pharmacy before you fly.
For most Kenya trips, yes. The safari areas most visitors go to, including the Maasai Mara, Amboseli, Tsavo, and the coast around Mombasa and Diani, have malaria risk, so the CDC recommends malaria pills. The main exceptions with little or no risk are Nairobi city and the high central highlands above about 2,500 meters.
Yes. The Maasai Mara and other lowland safari areas have malaria risk, so antimalarial pills are recommended for a typical safari. Use insect repellent and sleep under treated nets as well.
Doxycycline or atovaquone-proguanil (Malarone) are both good choices for Kenya, which is a chloroquine-resistant area. Malarone has a shorter course after the trip; doxycycline is cheaper. We help you pick based on your trip and budget.
Possibly. Kenya has yellow fever risk and the vaccine may be recommended or required depending on your itinerary and onward travel. We do not give vaccines; this is something to arrange with a travel clinic before you go.