Money and tipping

Facts last reviewed September 2026.

Kenya's currency is the Kenyan Shilling, KES. US Dollars are widely accepted at safari properties; bring clean, recent series notes in smaller denominations, since older or damaged notes are sometimes refused. Cards, including Visa and Mastercard, work at most lodges and hotels. ATMs are plentiful in Nairobi and Mombasa but scarce once you are in the bush, so plan ahead.

M-Pesa mobile money is used everywhere in Kenya, including for small purchases and, increasingly, tips. Visitors with a Kenyan SIM can register for it if they expect to use it regularly.

Tipping is customary but always at your discretion, and the ranges below are a guide rather than a rule. A driver-guide is typically tipped approx. KES 1,500 to 3,000, roughly USD 10 to 20, per guest per day. Camp or lodge staff are usually tipped through a shared tip box, approx. KES 1,000 to 3,000 per guest per night depending on the property level. Porters are typically tipped approx. KES 200 to 300 per bag, and restaurants where service is not already included appreciate approx. 10 percent.

KES is usually the most useful currency for tipping staff directly; USD works well at higher end properties.

Your Bushking estimate and invoice currency follow our residency rules; this page is about the cash you carry while travelling, not how your trip is priced.