Airports in Kenya: which one to fly into

Kenya has two airports that matter for international arrivals. Jomo Kenyatta International (NBO) sits about 15–20 km southeast of central Nairobi and takes the long-haul flights from Europe, the Gulf, Asia and, via connections, North America. Moi International (MBA) serves Mombasa and the coast, mostly with regional, charter and seasonal flights. If your plan is beach only, MBA saves you the Nairobi stop; if you want the Masai Mara, Amboseli, Samburu or Lamu, start at NBO.

The trap is Wilson Airport. Safari and bush flights on Safarilink and AirKenya leave from Wilson, a small field on the other side of Nairobi from JKIA. A same-day international arrival plus a Mara flight is possible but tight: immigration, baggage and the cross-city transfer can take three hours or more in rush hour. Most operators want you in Nairobi the night before. Domestic jets such as Kenya Airways and Jambojet use JKIA, so check which airport your ticket names before booking a transfer.

Onward travel from NBO is by taxi, ride-hailing app or pre-booked hotel shuttle. Uber and Bolt work in Nairobi and Mombasa and are cheaper than street taxis; a cross-town ride runs KES 400–1,500 depending on distance and traffic. Nairobi rush hour can turn 10 km into 90 minutes, so leave a wide margin for a flight. From MBA, the drive to Mombasa island and the south-coast ferry is short; Diani and the north-coast resorts are further and usually reached by pre-arranged transfer.

For the coast, flying Nairobi – Mombasa takes about an hour and costs roughly US$60–150 one way (2026 estimate), against 5–6 hours on the SGR train from Syokimau. The train is the cheaper, slower option and stops at Voi for Tsavo. Light aircraft to the Mara airstrips take 45–60 minutes from Wilson and cost about US$250–400 one way (2026 estimate), with a hard 15 kg soft-bag limit including hand luggage.