Arriving in Nairobi
Nairobi Airports Guide
JKIA for international flights, Wilson for safari flights: what each is, how to move between them and how to reach town.
Last checked November 2026
Nairobi has two airports that matter to travellers. Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA, code NBO) is where international flights land. Wilson Airport (code WIL) is where most scheduled safari flights to the Maasai Mara and other parks depart. No flights link them, and the road between them can take an hour or more.
Understanding the difference saves a lot of stress. If you fly into JKIA and out to the Mara from Wilson, you cross the city in between, so we plan the timing, the transfer and, when needed, a night in Nairobi around your flights.
This guide covers the terminals, what happens when you land, how long the drive into town takes, how to get between the airports, and how everything connects to your safari. When you book a safari with us your driver meets you at the airport and the transfer is complimentary.
Two airports
Nairobi’s two airports compared
| Jomo Kenyatta International (JKIA) | Wilson Airport | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Jomo Kenyatta International Airport | Wilson Airport |
| Code | NBO | WIL |
| Used for | International flights and many domestic flights | Scheduled and charter flights to the Maasai Mara and other parks |
| Where | Southeast of the city, off Mombasa Road | South-west of the centre, off Langata Road |
| Distance to the city centre | About 15 km | About 6 to 8 km |
| Hotels nearby | Airport hotels on Mombasa Road | The Boma Nairobi, Ole Sereni, Karen |
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport
JKIA: what happens when you land
- Before you fly: get your Kenya eTA online (etakenya.go.ke). You cannot get it on arrival, and rules differ by passport.
- Immigration: at busy times allow anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes.
- Baggage hall: collect your bags.
- Arrivals: if you booked with us, your driver is waiting. Otherwise use the official taxi or ride-hailing pick-up areas and avoid touts.
- The drive: see the times opposite, and allow more at rush hour.
JKIA has two terminal buildings. Terminal 1 is one long building divided into concourses 1A to 1E, and Terminal 2 is separate. Airlines are sometimes moved between them, so check your ticket and the airport screens. Concourse 1A is the main international concourse and 1D is usually used for domestic flights.
When you leave Kenya, there is a security check on the airport access road, so allow extra time, and arrive about three hours before an international flight.
Into town
How long from JKIA to your hotel?
| From JKIA to | Typical drive |
|---|---|
| Airport hotels on Mombasa Road | 5 to 25 minutes |
| City centre | 15 to 20 minutes on the Expressway outside jams; 30 to 60 normally; 90 or more at rush hour |
| Upper Hill | 30 to 60 minutes |
| Westlands and Gigiri | 45 to 70 minutes |
| Karen and Langata | About an hour or more |
| Wilson Airport | 30 to 60 minutes, and an hour or more in traffic |
| Nairobi National Park main gate | About 10 km, a short drive |
| SGR Nairobi Terminus (Syokimau) | A short drive from the airport |
Drive times are typical figures without heavy traffic. At rush hour (roughly 7 to 9 am and 4 to 8 pm) allow much longer. We check the road with our drivers for your dates.
Getting there
Getting from JKIA into Nairobi
A pre-booked transfer
Your driver is waiting when you land and takes you straight to your hotel. It is complimentary when you book a safari with us. Ask us about a transfer without a safari.
Taxi or ride-hailing app
Both work. Travellers report rough fares of about KSh 1,200 to 2,500 to the city centre and more to Westlands or Karen, with the Expressway toll extra. Check the fare first and use the official pick-up areas.
The Nairobi Expressway
The raised toll road is the fastest way into the centre outside the busiest hours. Ask your driver or taxi whether the toll is included.
Bus or train
Buses are cheap but slow. The SGR train to Mombasa leaves from the Nairobi Terminus at Syokimau, near the airport.
Wilson Airport
Wilson: the airport for safari flights
Wilson Airport is Nairobi’s domestic and light-aircraft airport. Scheduled and charter flights to the Maasai Mara and other parks leave from here, with airlines such as Safarilink, Air Kenya and Mombasa Air Safari. A flight to the Mara takes roughly 45 to 60 minutes.
No flights link JKIA and Wilson, and the road between them can take an hour or more, so we build in plenty of time. Plan to be at Wilson 60 to 90 minutes before departure. Bush flights have strict luggage limits and soft bags are best: ask us before you pack.
Most bush flights leave in daylight, so a late landing at JKIA usually means a night in Nairobi first. On our fly-in safaris we plan the timing around your landing time, and our Nairobi hotels guide shows where to sleep.
A long wait between flights?
With seven hours or more, you can leave the airport and see Nairobi: a city walk, a game drive in Nairobi National Park, or a full day with giraffes and baby elephants. Read about our Nairobi layover tours, or see where to stay near the airport if you would rather rest.
From our trips
Flying to your safari
Questions
Nairobi airports: your questions
Which Nairobi airport do I fly into?
International flights land at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA, code NBO). Wilson Airport (code WIL) handles scheduled and charter safari flights.
Which airport is used for flights to the Masai Mara?
Most scheduled flights to the Maasai Mara leave from Wilson Airport. See our fly-in safaris.
How far is JKIA from the city centre?
About 15 km. Outside the traffic the Nairobi Expressway can cover it in 15 to 20 minutes; allow 30 to 60 minutes normally and 90 minutes or more at rush hour.
How long does it take to get from JKIA to Wilson Airport?
Allow 30 to 60 minutes, and an hour or more in traffic. No flights link the two airports, so never plan a tight connection.
Do I need a visa or an eTA for Kenya?
Most visitors need a Kenya eTA before they travel, and you cannot get it on arrival. Rules differ by passport and some nationalities are exempt, so check the official site, etakenya.go.ke, before you fly.
How early should I arrive at JKIA for my flight home?
We suggest about three hours before an international flight. There is a security check on the airport access road, so allow extra time.
Is there a hotel at the airport?
Yes. Crowne Plaza Nairobi Airport is inside the airport perimeter and Four Points by Sheraton Nairobi Airport is close by. See our hotels near JKIA.
What is the best way to get from JKIA to my hotel?
A pre-booked transfer is the least stressful, because your driver is waiting when you land. With us it is complimentary on safari. Taxis and ride-hailing apps also work: use the official pick-up areas and check the fare first.
Can I see Nairobi during a long layover?
Yes. You need about seven hours or more between landing and your next flight. See our Nairobi layover tours.
Let us plan your arrival in Nairobi
Send us your flights and we will arrange your driver, your hotel and your safari. Call +254 775 522 067 or message us.
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