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Nairobi eSIM

72 Kenya plans · from $9.88

Nairobi is where every Kenyan safari begins, and the city itself has a national park on its doorstep with rhino and lion inside the city limits. A travel eSIM covers the capital and the Mara on one plan — useful, because the difference between coverage in camp and coverage on a game drive is significant.

Landing at Jomo Kenyatta International (NBO)

The airport is 30–60 minutes from the centre depending on traffic on Mombasa Road, which can be severe. Uber and Bolt both operate from designated pickup areas and are the usual choice over the taxi rank.

eSIM plans that cover Nairobi

Nairobi is covered by every Kenya plan below — there is no separate city-only eSIM to buy.

Choose a data plan

1 GB

7 days· 0.1 GB per $1

$9.88

★ BEST VALUE

Unlimited

1 days· ∞ GB per $1

$10.73

2 GB

15 days· 0.1 GB per $1

$16.73

Unlimited

3 days· ∞ GB per $1

$19.31

3 GB

30 days· 0.2 GB per $1

$22.73

Unlimited

5 days· ∞ GB per $1

$27.88

5 GB

30 days· 0.2 GB per $1

$34.29

Unlimited

7 days· ∞ GB per $1

$45.01

10 GB

30 days· 0.2 GB per $1

$53.58

20 GB

30 days· 0.3 GB per $1

$87.86

Unlimited

10 days· ∞ GB per $1

$87.86

20 GB

Global - Max only

60 days· 0.2 GB per $1

$126.65

Unlimited

15 days· ∞ GB per $1

$173.55

50 GB

30 days· 0.3 GB per $1

$194.98

50 GB

Global - Max only

90 days· 0.2 GB per $1

$299.22

100 GB

30 days· 0.3 GB per $1

$344.93

Unlimited

30 days· ∞ GB per $1

$430.63

Which networks you'll be on in Nairobi

Siima eSIMs for Kenya ride Safaricom and Airtel. Safaricom has by far the widest national coverage, including most safari regions; Airtel is competitive in Nairobi itself.

Coverage around Nairobi

Central Nairobi and Westlands

Strong 4G with 5G across much of the centre, Westlands and Kilimani. Traffic is the constraint here, not signal.

Nairobi National Park

The park inside the city has coverage across most of it — one of the few places in the world you can get a giraffe photo uploaded in real time.

Maasai Mara and Amboseli

Camps and lodges generally have signal, often boosted, and the airstrips are covered. Game drives away from the main tracks routinely lose it for hours at a time.

The SGR to Mombasa

The Madaraka Express holds signal for most of the route through Tsavo, with gaps in the emptier stretches.

How much data you need

Nairobi plus a safari week is 3–5 GB. You use far less on safari than expected — much of the day has no signal, and camps ration Wi-Fi anyway.

Work it out with our data usage calculator →

Frequently asked questions

Can I use M-Pesa with a travel eSIM?
No. M-Pesa is tied to a Kenyan mobile number, and a data-only travel eSIM does not give you one. Cards are widely accepted in Nairobi hotels, restaurants and supermarkets, but carry some cash for smaller vendors and tips — this is the one genuine limitation of an eSIM in Kenya.
Will I have signal on safari in the Maasai Mara?
In camp, usually yes — most lodges have coverage or their own boosted connection. Out on game drives, expect to be offline for hours, particularly in the conservancies and the western Mara.
How do I set up an eSIM before arriving in Nairobi?
Install it at home while you still have Wi-Fi: open Settings → Cellular → Add eSIM and scan the QR code from your Siima confirmation email. Leave the line switched off until you land — the plan starts counting from first use in Kenya, not from purchase.
How much data do I need for a trip to Nairobi?
Nairobi plus a safari week is 3–5 GB. You use far less on safari than expected — much of the day has no signal, and camps ration Wi-Fi anyway.
Is an eSIM cheaper than roaming in Nairobi?
Almost always. Daily roaming passes from most home carriers run $10–15 per day, while Siima plans covering Nairobi start from $9.88 for the whole trip. You also avoid per-megabyte charges if you exceed a roaming pass allowance.
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