Do I need yellow fever vaccination if I'm only in the city?

Yes. Immigration requires yellow fever certificate for entry regardless of where you're going in the country. No exceptions.

Is it safe to drink tap water?

No. Drink bottled water only. Most hotels provide complimentary bottles. A liter costs about $1 at shops.

Can I use my credit card everywhere?

Major hotels and upscale restaurants take cards, but many businesses are cash-only. Carry local currency. ATMs are widely available in business districts.

How do I handle bribery requests?

Politely decline and ask for official paperwork or receipts. Rwanda has zero tolerance. Kenya and Tanzania still have issues but asking for receipts usually ends requests. Never hand over your passport.

What if my meeting location keeps changing?

Normal. Confirm via WhatsApp the morning of your meeting. Have your driver's number handy and allow extra time. Traffic is unpredictable.

Should I exchange money at the airport?

Only enough for immediate transport. Airport rates are 10-15% worse. Use forex bureaus in the city for better rates. US dollars exchange easily.

How to Plan a Business Trip to East Africa

Business travel in East Africa requires advance visa planning, yellow fever vaccination proof, and understanding local business culture. Book flights 3-4 weeks ahead, arrange reliable ground transport, and budget $150-250 per day for mid-range business accommodation and meals. Most business hubs require formal dress and punctuality despite traffic challenges.

Get your visa and vaccination documents in order. Apply for business visas 4-6 weeks before departure. Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda offer e-visas (7-10 days processing). Uganda still requires embassy application in most cases. Yellow fever vaccination certificate is mandatory for entry to all East African countries. Carry invitation letters from host companies — immigration may ask for them.
Book flights and arrange airport transfers. Fly into Nairobi (JKIA), Kigali (KGL), Dar es Salaam (DAR), or Entebbe (EBB) depending on your business location. Book 3-4 weeks ahead for better rates. Arrange airport pickup through your hotel or a reputable transfer service — negotiating with airport taxis while jet-lagged is not how you want to start. Traffic from airports can take 1-2 hours in Nairobi and Dar during rush hour.
Choose accommodation near your business district. Book hotels in Westlands or Upper Hill (Nairobi), Masaki or Oyster Bay (Dar es Salaam), Kigali Heights area (Kigali), or Kololo (Kampala). Mid-range business hotels run $100-180 per night with reliable WiFi and backup generators. Confirm power backup — outages happen. Many hotels offer day conference rooms if you need meeting space.
Arrange reliable ground transport. Pre-book a driver for your stay or use apps like Uber (Nairobi, Kampala), Yango (Dar es Salaam), or SafeMotos (Kigali for short trips). Daily driver hire costs $60-100. Traffic is severe in Nairobi and Dar — allow 90 minutes for cross-city meetings. In Kigali, 30 minutes gets you almost anywhere. Motorcycle taxis (boda bodas) are common but not recommended for business attire.
Understand local business culture and timing. Dress formally — suits are standard for first meetings. Handshakes and business cards are expected. Start with relationship building before jumping to business. Meetings often start 15-30 minutes late despite your punctuality — traffic is a universal excuse. Friday afternoons are slow. Confirm meetings the morning of. WhatsApp is the primary business communication tool across the region.
Set up money and connectivity. Bring US dollars (newer bills, $50-100 denominations) for easy exchange. Use forex bureaus, not airport counters. Local SIM cards with data are essential — buy at the airport (Safaricom in Kenya, Airtel or MTN in Uganda/Tanzania, MTN in Rwanda). 5GB data costs $10-15. Mobile money (M-Pesa, Airtel Money) is widely used for payments. International roaming is expensive and unreliable.
Plan for power and internet backup. Power cuts are common except in Rwanda. Carry a power bank and international adapter (UK-style 3-pin). Hotel WiFi is generally adequate for video calls in business hotels. Have a local SIM with data as backup. Download offline maps. Save important documents locally, not just in cloud.

Do I need yellow fever vaccination if I'm only in the city?: Yes. Immigration requires yellow fever certificate for entry regardless of where you're going in the country. No exceptions.
Is it safe to drink tap water?: No. Drink bottled water only. Most hotels provide complimentary bottles. A liter costs about $1 at shops.
Can I use my credit card everywhere?: Major hotels and upscale restaurants take cards, but many businesses are cash-only. Carry local currency. ATMs are widely available in business districts.
How do I handle bribery requests?: Politely decline and ask for official paperwork or receipts. Rwanda has zero tolerance. Kenya and Tanzania still have issues but asking for receipts usually ends requests. Never hand over your passport.
What if my meeting location keeps changing?: Normal. Confirm via WhatsApp the morning of your meeting. Have your driver's number handy and allow extra time. Traffic is unpredictable.
Should I exchange money at the airport?: Only enough for immediate transport. Airport rates are 10-15% worse. Use forex bureaus in the city for better rates. US dollars exchange easily.