JKIA / Nairobi (NBO)
Use Nairobi for city stays, road safaris and connections to Wilson. If you land late, consider staying near your next pickup point.
KENYA TRAVEL GUIDE
Arrive ready for Kenya.
A practical guide to entry requirements, airport transfers and what to pack for your first bush flight.
TRAVEL ESSENTIALS
Planning your trip to Kenya.
Check entry requirements, your domestic connection and baggage before you leave.
Kenya eTA & passportsCheck your passport and entry requirements before you fly.
Check the official Kenya eTA portal for your nationality, passport and travel purpose. Travelers who require an eTA, including children, need approval before starting their journey. Prepare a passport with at least six months of validity and one blank page, a photo, arrival and departure details, and proof of accommodation. Business or conference travelers may need an invitation. A transfer from JKIA to Wilson leaves the international transit area, so check eligibility for entry to Kenya.
Yellow fever & healthUse your full flight route to check health requirements.
Kenya Port Health asks for a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate when arriving from a country with a risk of yellow fever transmission. Check transit stops and any age or medical exceptions with Port Health. Before travel, ask a travel-health clinician about yellow fever vaccination, malaria prevention and advice for your itinerary.
Airports & bush flightsPlan your connection through Nairobi or Mombasa.
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO/JKIA) and Moi International Airport (MBA) are international arrival options. Many safari flights use Nairobi Wilson Airport (WIL), a separate airport reached by road. Build in time for immigration, baggage, Nairobi traffic and the domestic airline’s check-in deadline. Routes and coast connections vary by date.
Packing for light aircraftUse soft bags and check the limit for every flight.
AirKenya lists a 15 kg total allowance per passenger in soft-sided bags, including hand baggage. Safarilink also lists 15 kg on most routes and 20 kg on select routes, including Diani and Mombasa. Check the allowance for each leg, including the smallest aircraft on your route, and ask about storage for large suitcases.
FLIGHTS & TRANSFERS
Choose your arrival point.
Share your inbound and onward flights when you request a quote so the transfers can be planned around them.
Wilson Airport (WIL)
Allow a road transfer across Nairobi before your safari flight. Confirm the airstrip name with your lodge and check baggage for all legs.
Mombasa (MBA)
A coast arrival can suit Diani, Watamu or a road safari via Tsavo. Ask about Ukunda for Diani or Malindi for Watamu when comparing routes.
Put your route together.
Bring your dates or the flights you’re considering. We’ll help you match them to a safari and coast stay.