Transportation in Kenya

How to Get to Kenya

Africa

Kenya has two international airports. First, im. Jomo Kenyatta, located in Nairobi, 15 km southeast of the capital city, is on the list of the largest in East Africa. There are no direct flights from Russia here, you can fly with transfers. Etihad Airways has the cheapest tickets from Moscow: 285 USD one way, departure from Domodedovo, docking in Abu Dhabi, exactly one day on the way. The same carrier, in tandem with Kenya Airways, travels through Abu Dhabi and Dar es Salaam in 30 hours. Kenya Airways and Flydubai have routes through Dubai: departure from Vnukovo, from 16 hours 15 minutes. See Countryaah.com for other countries starting with K.

The fastest and most convenient way to fly is with Turkish Airlines (11.5 hours, connecting in Istanbul) or Egyptian Airlines (similar duration, connecting in Cairo

Connecting flights from St. Petersburg to Nairobi are launched several times a month. It is cheaper to get with two transfers: Etihad Airways and Pobeda deliver from Pulkovo via Moscow and Abu Dhabi, the trip lasts 62 hours. For Etihad Airways and Es Seven, the route with the same connections takes from 28.5 hours. With one change, they carry Emirates (14 hours 20 minutes via Dubai), Lufthansa (14 hours 15 minutes via Frankfurt am Main), Kenya Airways and KL Am (13 hours via Amsterdam).

Mombasa Airport is 13 km from the resort. There are no direct flights from Russia either, from Moscow you can fly, for example, from Flydubai and Rwandair with a transfer in Dubai, the travel time is from 13 hours 40 minutes one way. Kenya Airways and Air France have routes with two connections (from 18 hours from Sheremetyevo via Paris and Nairobi). It is more profitable to get from St. Petersburg with Turkish Airlines from 20.5 hours, transfers in Moscow and Istanbul. Kenya Airways and KLM will help save time: a flight via Amsterdam and Nairobi lasts from 16.5 hours.

Search for flights to Kenya at the lowest prices

Transport

Nairobi, Malindi, Mombasa, Lamu and Kisumu are connected by flights of the national airline Kenya Airways and the low-cost airline Fly 540.

The railway network (off. site in English) connects Nairobi and Mombasa, passing through Mtito-Andey, Voi, Emali and other cities. Regular trains and express trains with economy seats and 1st class sleeping cars run along the route. Electric trains run between the capital and the suburbs. Most trains are comfortable, clean, depart in the evening or at night and arrive at their destination in the morning. Tickets can be bought at the stations and online, the cost of a trip from Nairobi to Mombasa is from 1000 KES in economy class and from 3000 KES in 1st class, the journey takes 5 hours.

Children under 3 years old travel free of charge, from 3 to 11 years old – with a 50% discount.

Alternatives to trains are matatas minibuses (old, shabby, but fast and maneuverable) and classic buses for short and long distances. Between major cities, both modern comfortable express trains and ordinary buses that require repair, are overcrowded and make many stops along the way, run. The journey from the capital to Mombasa takes about 7 hours and costs from 1000 KES, to Malindi – from 9.5 hours and 1200 KES, the rest of the prices are at the office. Bus Kenya website (in English).

Ferries run regularly between Mombasa, Malindi and Lamu and on the country’s major lakes. The schedule can be found at carrier’s website (in English). Traditional sailing boats “dhow” are rented in the ports, it is better to stock up on food and drinking water before the trip.

On a safari, you can hire a charter from the capital to Masai Mara, Amboseli, Samburu, Tsavo, Lamu and other amazing places, schedule and tickets – at the office. airline website.

Public transport within cities

Domestic bus service is developed only in Nairobi and Mombasa. The key metropolitan carriers are KBS (off. site in English) and Citi Hoppa, buses depart as they fill up. Tickets for one trip can be bought in the cabin from the conductor, the cost is 20-80 KES, depending on the distance. You can take a chance and take a ride on minibuses “matatu” for 12-25 seats, but they are packed to capacity and drive like crazy, so this is a dubious pleasure.

Taxis are owned by both large (Kenatco, Dial a Cab and Jatco) and small transport companies or private carriers. The fare must be agreed before getting into the car, the standard fare is 300 KES plus 185 KES for each subsequent km. Many drivers also expect a tip of 10%. Catching a taxi on the street is not recommended, as there is a high risk of fraud – it is better to order a car by phone from the hotel.

Car rental in Kenya

It is better for foreigners to rent a car with a local driver: it will be about twice as expensive, but it will remove a lot of problems. At major airports, there are offices of Sixt and other famous offices where you can rent a car on general terms: a credit card, an international driver’s license and an age of 21.

Renting a standard model costs from 8800 KES, a large car – from 10,600 KES, an SUV – from 18,500 KES per day. It is wiser to fork out for the latter: the quality of Kenyan roads leaves much to be desired, out of 64 thousand km only about 8 thousand are asphalted. The cost of gasoline is 115 KES per 1 liter.

You can also rent a car in local offices, but it will be more expensive, in addition, many companies limit the mileage or charge an additional fee for it.

Traffic in Kenya is left-handed, there are no toll roads, the maximum speed limit on asphalt is 100 km/h, in populated areas 55 km/h, in national parks 25 km/h, so you won’t really accelerate. Traffic jams are a frequent phenomenon: in the morning and evening in the center of Nairobi there is a risk of getting stuck for an hour or more. Parking is allowed in any place where there are no prohibition signs, for greater safety, you can leave the car in a paid parking lot (from 200 KES per hour). To pay, you need special discs sold in shops and tobacconists. It is not recommended to leave valuables in the cabin.

Transportation in Kenya