Africa
Kenya
KCAA — UAS Regulations 2020
Kenya regulates all drones through the KCAA regardless of weight or purpose: registration is always required. The most relevant constraint for tourists concerns the Kenya Wildlife Service: drones are banned inside national parks and reserves even with a valid KCAA permit.
400 feet, reported by several secondary sources but not confirmed by a primary KCAA document in this research.
Mandatory for all drones, regardless of weight or use (confirmed by a KCAA notice).
Depends on the risk category based on weight and type of operation.
Zones to avoid
No-fly zones usually follow the same recurring categories (airports, military sites, protected areas, historic centers). For this country: Forbidden in all KWS national parks/reserves (Maasai Mara, Amboseli, Tsavo) and in most private conservancies, even with a KCAA permit. Special permits for protected areas take 6-8 weeks.
What isn't 100% confirmed yet
Exact maximum altitude and permit timelines not confirmed by a primary source in this research.
Last checked: 2026-08
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Why registration exists
Operator registration exists for accountability: if a drone causes an incident or enters a restricted zone, the authority needs to be able to trace it back to whoever was flying it. You usually get an identification number (operator ID) to physically attach to the drone, valid for every drone the same person owns. The cost is often minimal or free, and it applies to visiting tourists too, not just residents. For Kenya, the official reference remains Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA). Mandatory for all drones, regardless of weight or use (confirmed by a KCAA notice).
How this usually works
Here the requirement depends on factors like the drone's weight, distance from people, or use case (recreational vs. commercial). The note above describes the most common case: if your situation is different, check the official source to see exactly which scenario applies to you before flying. The exam and certificate are handled by Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA). Depends on the risk category based on weight and type of operation.
Informational content, not legal advice. Zones and rules change constantly: always check the country's official website before every flight.