How to Get to Kenya?
Nairobi City is one of the most well-connected African cities, and a number of international carriers run flights into the city from all over the world. Once in Kenya, getting around is easy thanks to a good domestic flight network.
Visitors travelling to Kenya should be aware of the major airport, airlines and land borders that allow access to the magical Kenya, as well as how much they should budget for these expenses. Nairobi is one of the best connected cities in Africa, served by numerous international airlines offering flights into the city from locations around the globe. Traveling around Kenya is simple and easy, once you have arrived you can choose between air and road transport as a way of getting to your safari destinations.
Getting To Kenya By Flight
International Flights to Kenya
Most international flights to Kenya will arrive at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi. The airport is situated on the outskirts of the capital – Nairobi.
From here, the nearby Wilson Airport is the main airport for domestic flights, very convenient if you are heading straight into the countryside.
The other international airport is Moi International Airport in Mombasa on the Kenyan Coast. The airport is primarily used for domestic flight, but international routes do arrive here for travelers going to Mombasa or Zanzibar.
Malindi Airport is another entry point to the country. Few international flights arrive here as it is primarily used as domestic airport.
Kenya’s national carrier – Kenya Airways (KQ) offers numerous regional flights with departures from Johannesburg in South Africa, Harare in Zimbabwe, Cairo in Egypt, Entebbe in Uganda, and Accra in Ghana, as well as more international connections (Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, London in the United Kingdom with British Airways, Amsterdam in the Netherlands and Mumbai in India).
For visitors flying into Kenya, the main airport is Nairobi (NBO). Kenya Airways offers fantastic flight connections to popular tourist destinations like Mombasa, Kisumu, and Malindi. Kenya is now served by more airlines, and Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport has developed into an important hub for East and Central Africa.
Domestic Flights within Kenya
The easiest way of traveling around Kenya is by domestic flights.
Wilson Airport to the south-west of Nairobi is the hub for domestic flight connections. Airkenya or SafariLink are the primary domestic flight carriers in Kenya. SafariLink donates a portion of their profits to the conservancies they worth with.
Many parks and conservancies in Kenya have purpose-built airstrips allowing easy access for safaris.
Masai Mara Flights
It is possible to fly to the iconic Masai Mara National Reserve as well as other national parks such as Lake Nakuru National Park and Amboseli National Park from Eldoret and Nairobi. With a one – hour flight from Wilson Airport in Nairobi to a number of different airstrips in Mara, flying to the Masai Mara from Nairobi is an available easy option too.
Visa and Entry Requirements
To visit Kenya you will need a visa. There are some specific exceptions to this, the majority of the Caribbean and a few African nations don’t require a visa, but most travelers will require one, and you will need at least two pages free in your passport for this.
You can apply for a visa in advance via online application on the Kenyan Department of Immigration Services website. Also, you can apply for a visa at the Kenyan Embassy at your home country.
Also, it is possible to obtain a visa on arrival at the airport. This will be paid for in cash. Our team can help you with visa arrangements.
Getting to Kenya by Road
Visitors traveling to Kenya by road need to have a 4×4 vehicle to navigate some of the challenging road conditions.
Crossing from Tanzania into Kenya
From Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park, it is a distance of 168 miles (a drive of approximately 6 hours). The road connecting Nairobi to Arusha via the Namanga border is the primary route for entering Tanzania from Kenya.
Visitors can rent a jeep and drive through Kenya, but the drivers must be conscious as there are few sign posts along the roads and visitors who are not familiar with the road can easily get lost.
Frequently asked questions about how to get to Kenya
How Do I Get to Kenya?
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport serves as the primary point of entry for visitors in Kenya. Kenya’s national carrier Kenya Airways (KQ) offers excellent flights connecting to major cities and tourist destinations including Mombasa, Kisumu and Malindi.
How Do I Get to Masai Mara?
Flights to the iconic Masai Mara are available from Nairobi as well as Eldoret. From Nairobi’s Wilson Airport, it is a flight of 1 hour, landing at one of the numerous airstrips in serving this iconic reserve such as Kichwa Tembo Airstrip, Keekorok Airstrip, Serena Airstrip, Mara North Conservancy Airstrip among others.
Can I Drive from Tanzania to Kenya
It is possible to drive from Tanzania to Kenya by car. Nairobi is relatively long drive from Serengeti National Park via Isebania border. The journey is approximately 168 miles (a drive of about 6 hours. )
