In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · Kenya
Moyale
Stop in Moyale for a border crossing or a quick trade visit: 1 night, 2–3 h walk to the market and border office.
Moyale is a small border town on the Ethiopia‑Kenya frontier. It serves as a key overland stop on the Addis Ababa‑Nairobi highway. Facilities are basic; most travellers spend a night to cross the border, rest, and arrange transport onward.
- Country
- Kenya
- Best months
- Oct–Mar (dry season, cooler nights)
- Avoid
- Apr–Sep (higher heat, occasional rains)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- KES
- Money
- Currency is the Kenyan shilling (KES). Cards work in hotels, lodges and malls; markets, small shops and tips are cash or M-Pesa.
- Daily spend
- Budget Ksh 1,200–2,000 excl. bed · Mid Ksh 2,500–4,000 excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Safaricom (best park coverage) and Airtel sell SIMs at JKIA arrivals; registration needs your passport.
- Emergency
- Police 999 · Fire and ambulance 999
- Plugs
- Types G · 240 V · 50 Hz · UK-style three-pin sockets; lodges on solar may switch power off at night.
- Tipping
- Safari guide: About US$10–20 per guest per day — check with your operator.; Camp staff tip box: About US$10–15 per guest per day.; Restaurant: 10% if no service charge.; Porters: KES 100–200 a bag.; Mount Kenya or Kilimanjaro crew: Agree the tip scale before the climb.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Lodges give filtered water; bring a refillable bottle.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels and lodges; long-drop toilets at some park gates and bush stops. Carry tissue and sanitiser on game-drive days.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Meal at guest house restaurant | Ksh 300–600 |
| Bajaj ride (short trip) | Ksh 150–300 |
| ATM withdrawal (Equity Bank) | Ksh 500 fee |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- WJR · Wajir Airport
- Domestic flights; about 200 km (124 mi) south of MoyaleDomestic flights; about 124 mi (200 km) south of Moyale
Typical fares
- Selam bus Addis Ababa → Moyale
- ≈3,800 ETB, cash/QR only (check)
- Bajaj within town
- ≈Ksh 150–300 per short ride
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Bajaj three‑wheelers, taxis and minibuses operate in town; central area is walkable.
See and do
Known for
- border crossing
- livestock trade
- open‑air market
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Marsabit | Minibus from Moyale southbound, about 2 h | ≈2 h |
| Isiolo | Long‑distance bus via Marsabit, about 5 h | ≈5 h |
Sleep
- The Haven Luxury Guest House
- Kenyan side, single rooms Ksh 1,500; breakfast extra Ksh 800
- Local budget hotels
- Both sides have cheap options; basic rooms Ksh 800–1,200
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| How much does it cost? | Ni kiasi?nee kee-ah-see? |
| I need a taxi, please | Nataka teksi tafadhalinah-tah-kah tek-see tah-fah-dha-lee |
| Where is the border office? | Ofisi ya mpaka iko wapi?oh-fee-see ya m-pah-ka ee-ko wa-pee? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'habari?' (how are you?); take time before business; avoid: Skipping greetings to ask a question
- Elders: Use 'mzee' for older men and 'mama' for older women; avoid: Calling elders by first name
- Hands: Give and receive with the right hand or both hands; avoid: Passing things with the left hand
- Photos: Ask first and accept a no; agree fees in villages; avoid: Shooting people from the safari vehicle without asking
- Time: Allow for 'Kenyan time' socially; safari departures are punctual; avoid: Showing irritation at delays
- Dress: Smart-casual in cities, covered on the coast; avoid: Swimwear off the beach
Scams and watch-outs
- Occasional ethnic clashes between Gabra and Borana; check news before travel
- Money changers give rates at least 10 % worse than official; use bank ATMs if possible
Border area is generally safe for day visits; stay informed about local tensions and avoid night travel outside town.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Moyale yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- border crossing
- livestock trade
- open‑air market
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Moyale: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123456
- Wikivoyage: Moyale, revision 5333926 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5333926
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/moyale). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.