Most trips to Kenya pass without any trouble, but the places travellers go, from Masai Mara to the Diani coast, can be hours from a hospital. Saving the right numbers before you land takes five minutes and removes a lot of stress if something goes wrong. This page covers who to call, what to say, how medical care works outside Nairobi and how your travel insurance fits in.
Numbers in Kenya change from time to time and published lists often disagree, so treat everything below as a starting point and confirm key lines with your hotel, lodge or insurer on arrival.
The numbers to save before you fly
| Service | Number | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Police, ambulance, fire | 999 or 112 | General emergency lines, usable from any mobile |
| Kenya Red Cross | 1199 | Emergency and ambulance line, widely listed |
| AMREF Flying Doctors | +254 20 699 2299 | Air ambulance from Wilson Airport, Nairobi |
| St John Ambulance Kenya | +254 721 225 285 | Nairobi ambulance service |
| AAR Healthcare radio room | 0725 225 225 | Private 24-hour ambulance dispatch |
| Aga Khan University Hospital, adult casualty | +254 20 366 2025 | Nairobi, 24-hour emergency department |
| Aga Khan University Hospital, paediatric casualty | +254 20 366 2031 | Nairobi, children’s emergencies |
Save them in your phone under names you will recognise in a panic, such as “KENYA POLICE 999”. Also write the main ones on paper in your day bag, because phones run flat on long game drives.
Police, ambulance and fire: 999 and 112
Kenya’s general emergency numbers are 999 and 112. In Nairobi and Mombasa a call usually reaches a dispatcher, but response times vary widely, and in rural areas a public ambulance may not be available at all. Be realistic: in a serious emergency, the fastest help is often a private ambulance, your lodge’s own vehicle or an air evacuation arranged through your insurer.
When you call, give these details in this order:
- Your exact location, using a landmark, road name or GPS pin. On safari, give the lodge or camp name and the nearest gate.
- What happened and how many people are hurt.
- Your name and a callback number.
- Stay on the line until the dispatcher ends the call.
If you are at a lodge, camp or hotel, tell reception first. Staff know the local police post, the nearest clinic and which road is passable after rain, which a distant call centre may not.
Tourist police and reporting a crime
The Kenya Police Service has a Tourism Police Unit that works in parks, beaches and major resort areas. We could not verify a dedicated public hotline for it, so use 999 or 112, or ask your hotel to contact the local post.
If you are robbed or your belongings are stolen:
- Go to the nearest police station and ask for an occurrence book (OB) number. Your insurer will want it for any claim.
- Ask for a written report on paper, not only an OB number spoken aloud.
- Photograph your passport and keep copies separately. If the passport is gone, our guide to embassies and consulates in Kenya explains how to get an emergency document.
- Do not hand over cash to settle matters informally. If an officer asks for a payment, ask politely for the receipt and the station name, and call your embassy if you feel pressured.
For where incidents are most likely and how to avoid them, read is Kenya safe to visit.
Hospitals and clinics
Care is best in the big cities.
Nairobi. Aga Khan University Hospital in Parklands and The Nairobi Hospital on Argwings Kodhek Road are the two private hospitals most expatriates and insurers use. The Aga Khan official site lists casualty lines for adults (+254 20 366 2025) and children (+254 20 366 2031). Third-party sources disagree on The Nairobi Hospital’s phone numbers, so get its current line from the hospital website or your insurer rather than a blog.
Mombasa and the coast. Private hospitals serve Mombasa, with clinics in Diani, Watamu and Malindi that can stabilise you before a transfer. For anything serious, expect a road or air transfer to Mombasa or Nairobi.
Safari areas. Lodges in Masai Mara, Amboseli, Tsavo and Samburu are far from hospitals. Most keep a first-aid kit and a vehicle for transport, and the larger camps work with the flying doctor service. Ask on arrival what the medical plan is, and tell your guide about allergies, medication and heart or breathing conditions at the start of the stay.
Private hospitals often ask for a deposit or insurance guarantee before non-urgent care. Keep your policy number, your insurer’s 24-hour helpline and your card limit in mind.
Air evacuation and medical emergencies on safari
If you are hurt or seriously ill in a park, the sequence matters:
- Tell your guide or camp manager immediately.
- Call your insurer’s 24-hour assistance line. Many will approve and arrange an evacuation only if they are called first.
- AMREF Flying Doctors, based at Wilson Airport in Nairobi, operates air ambulance and evacuation flights and lists +254 20 699 2299 as its emergency line. Confirm the line on flydoc.org before you travel.
- Do not move a person with a suspected neck, back or head injury unless there is immediate danger.
Flights to remote airstrips can only land in daylight, so call early rather than waiting to see if things improve overnight.
Insurance: the part you cannot improvise
An air evacuation or a few nights in a private ICU can cost thousands of dollars. Before you go, check that your policy covers medical treatment in Kenya, emergency evacuation and repatriation, and any activities you plan, such as hot air balloon rides, walking safaris or diving. As of 2026, Kenya has also introduced a mandatory travel health insurance requirement for visitors, which we cover in our Kenya travel insurance guide. Compare cover through EKTA travel insurance before you book, and keep the policy number plus the insurer’s 24-hour number in the same note as the emergency numbers above.
For vaccines, malaria tablets and food safety, see our Kenya health and vaccinations guide.
Quick checklist before you leave home
- Save 999, 112, 1199 and your insurer’s helpline in your phone.
- Screenshot your policy, passport and visa.
- Note your embassy’s after-hours emergency number.
- Carry a printed copy of your allergies and medication.
- Buy a local SIM or eSIM so you can call from day one.
- Tell someone at home your itinerary.
Stay calm, call early and give clear location details. In almost every case, that is what gets help moving fastest.