Best eSIM for Kenya

Activate dual SIM mode on your phone before landing in Nairobi to keep your home number active for banking verification codes and two-factor authentication. Assign your eSIM as the primary line for mobile data, and reserve your physical SIM for incoming SMS only — this avoids roaming charges while ensuring you never miss a security alert from your bank.

Kenya operates on UTC+03:00 with no daylight saving changes, meaning it runs 2 hours ahead of Paris in summer and 8 hours ahead of New York. Use the country code +254 when saving local contacts, including safari guides or hotel desks. Since both English and Swahili are widely spoken, a translation app is rarely essential, but downloading a basic Swahili phrasebook offline can enrich interactions in rural areas around Lake Nakuru or the Maasai Mara.

Kenyans drive on the left, which can disorient visitors navigating Nairobi's busy roundabouts. Download offline maps covering your route before heading to remote parks like Amboseli or Tsavo, where cell coverage thins out considerably. M-Pesa, the mobile payment system built by Safaricom, is used nearly everywhere — having data on your eSIM lets you explore digital payments firsthand. If you're planning a broader trip, consider browsing eSIM Africa options to stay connected across multiple destinations.

Buying a physical SIM card at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi or Moi International Airport in Mombasa is a popular choice. Safaricom and Airtel both operate kiosks in arrival halls, but expect queues of 20 to 40 minutes during peak hours when multiple international flights land simultaneously. Kenyan regulations require passport registration for every new SIM activation, and staff must verify your identity on the spot — a process that occasionally causes delays when systems go offline.

Free Wi-Fi exists in upscale hotels across Nairobi and along the Diani Beach coast, but speeds rarely exceed 2–3 Mbps and connections drop frequently. Major malls like Two Rivers and The Hub in Karen offer hotspots, though they typically cap sessions at 30 minutes. Pocket Wi-Fi rental remains uncommon in Kenya compared to destinations in East Asia, with very few providers operating at airports or in the capital's business district.

International roaming from your home carrier works across Kenya's networks but often costs Sh800–Sh1,500 per day equivalent. An eSIM sidesteps every friction point: no passport checks at a counter, no airport queues after a long-haul flight, and activation before you even board your plane — ideal when your safari transfer is already waiting at arrivals.