Our Nairobi Airport Transfer Services

Not every option is available on every date, so ask early for peak periods, late nights, and large groups.

Airport to Hotel: How Your JKIA Pick-Up Works

Before you fly

• Send us your flight details: airline, flight number, arrival date, and scheduled time, so we can track delays.
• Tell us your terminal if you know it, and we will confirm it before you land. Airlines move between terminals, so always check your airline confirmation.
• Give us the hotel name and address and a contact number that works on arrival.
• Share your group size and luggage, including bulky items, such as camping gear, golf bags, or photography cases.
• Note child seats, accessibility needs, or special requests so the right vehicle is sent.

From landing to the car

1. Land and walk to immigration. Most visitors need a Kenya eTA, and many must also show proof of Kenya’s mandatory inbound health insurance. Have both ready on your phone and in print.
2. Complete any health forms. Screening linked to the regional Ebola outbreak can include temperature checks and forms at the airport.
3. Collect your bags and clear customs. Use a luggage trolley, and keep your passport and boarding pass handy.
4. Exit into the public arrivals area. Your driver waits there with a name board and ID, and we send you the driver’s name and number in advance.
5. Walk to the vehicle together. The driver helps with luggage, confirms your hotel, and explains the route.
6. If you cannot find the driver, call the number on your confirmation. Do not accept rides from people who approach you in the hall.

Waiting time and delays

• Flight tracking: we monitor your flight, so a delay does not cost you your ride.
• Waiting time: a standard waiting window after landing is typically about an hour or more, and it is confirmed in your quote. Longer waits may carry a charge.
• Missed or cancelled connections: tell us as soon as you can so we can reschedule.
• Late-night arrivals: transfers run around the clock by arrangement, which is useful for red-eye flights.

Nairobi Airport Terminals Explained

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (airport code NBO) has several terminals and concourses, and allocations change from time to time, so always confirm yours with your airline. These descriptions come from published airport guides, and they are a starting point only.

Ride-hailing apps use a separate pick-up zone away from the arrivals door, but a pre-booked transfer meets you in the arrivals area.

Hotel to Airport: Planning Your Departure Transfer

Allow more time than you think you need. Nairobi’s traffic can change quickly, particularly around Mombasa Road and the city center in the morning and evening. As a rule, aim to arrive at the airport three hours before an international flight and at least 90 minutes before a domestic one, and follow your airline’s own guidance.

• Peak traffic: weekday mornings and evenings, Friday afternoons, and public holidays can double a journey time.
• The Expressway: the elevated toll road can cut the trip substantially when the ground roads are slow. See the next section.
• Early morning flights: transfers run around the clock, and a pre-booked driver removes the stress of finding a taxi at 3 am.
• Check-out and luggage: settle your hotel bill the evening before, and keep passports and eTA documents in your hand luggage.
• Confirm the day before: we send a reminder with the driver’s name, number, and pick-up time.
• Know your terminal: tell the driver the airline and terminal, because drop-off points differ.

Airport to Airport: JKIA to Wilson and Back

Many safari travelers land at JKIA and fly on to the Maasai Mara, Amboseli, or other airstrips from Wilson Airport. The two airports are about 15 to 17 km apart, and the journey typically takes 20 to 45 minutes depending on traffic and the route.

• Allow generous connection time: after clearing immigration, baggage, and customs, you need a transfer and check-in at Wilson. Most operators advise a gap of at least three to four hours between an international arrival and a domestic safari flight.
• Check baggage limits: safari flights on light aircraft usually set tight weight limits and ask for soft bags, so confirm the allowance with your operator before you pack.
• Book as one journey: if you arrive at JKIA and depart from Wilson on the same day, we plan the transfer so that your driver meets you at arrivals and delivers you to the right check-in point.
• The reverse works too: Wilson to JKIA for international departures, with a buffer for traffic.
• Overnight option: if your timing is tight, an overnight stay in Nairobi avoids the risk of a missed connection.

If you are heading to a park, our guides to the Maasai Mara National Reserve travel guide and the Amboseli National Park travel guide explain how flights and road routes fit together.

Distances and Transfer Times from JKIA

JKIA is about 15 to 18 km from the city centre, and most places in Nairobi are within an hour in normal traffic. These figures are approximate, and they change with the time of day, weather, roadworks, and whether the expressway is used.

The Nairobi Expressway and Tolls

The Nairobi Expressway is an elevated toll road that runs from Mlolongo, past the JKIA area and across the city to Westlands. It bypasses the busiest junctions on Mombasa Road and can cut the journey into town to roughly 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the hour and the exit you use. The toll depends on how far you travel, and some operators require an electronic card or mobile payment.

• When it helps most: peak hours and trips to Westlands or the city center.
• When it helps less: trips to Karen, Langata, or parts of the south, where the ground roads may be quick.
• Tolls and our quotes: we tell you in your quote whether the toll is included or charged at cost, so you know before you ride.
• Alternative routes: drivers choose between the Expressway and the ground roads based on traffic that day.

Choosing the Right Transfer Vehicle

• Luggage: tell us if you carry bulky items such as camping gear, golf clubs, bicycles or large camera cases. We choose a vehicle that fits, and we can supply a rooftop tent and camping kit through camping gear and rooftop tent rental.
• Child seats: available on request. Please tell us the child’s age and weight.
• Accessibility: tell us if a passenger has limited mobility, and we will discuss what we can provide, since not every vehicle suits every need.
• Chauffeur or self-drive: if you want to drive yourself from the airport, ask about airport delivery with our car rental Nairobi service, and consider a driver-guide if you prefer not to navigate Nairobi traffic.

For most visitors landing at night, travelling with family or carrying safari luggage, a pre-booked transfer is the least stressful. If you are travelling alone with a small bag, ride-hailing can work well.

What Is Included and What to Confirm

Arrival Essentials: What to Know Before You Land

• Kenya eTA: most overseas visitors need an electronic travel authorisation before they fly, and you should carry a printed copy and a digital copy.
• Mandatory health insurance: Kenya now requires many visitors on an eTA to hold a Kenyan inbound health-insurance policy, arranged during the eTA application or through eCitizen. Rules and premiums have changed since launch, so check the official portal on the day you apply.
• Passport and vaccination papers: your passport should be valid for at least six months, and some travellers need a yellow fever certificate.
• Health screening: forms and temperature checks linked to the regional Ebola outbreak operate at some airports and borders, so keep copies of your documents, and check current Ministry of Health and embassy advice before you travel.
• Money: ATMs and currency exchange desks are available at the airport, but rates are usually better in the city, so change only what you need. Mobile money is widely used in Kenya.
• SIM cards and data: local SIM cards can be bought on arrival, and your driver can advise you.
• Time zone and weather: Kenya is on East Africa Time, three hours ahead of GMT, and Nairobi is cool in the mornings and evenings because of its altitude.
• Onward travel: if you will continue to Tanzania, Uganda or Rwanda, you will need further visas and insurance. See our cross-border car rental from Kenya

Safety Tips for Airport Transfers in Nairobi

• Use pre-booked or registered transport only, and ignore touts who approach you in the arrivals hall or outside.
• Check the details: confirm the driver’s name, the vehicle and the number plate against your booking before you get in.
• Keep valuables close: keep passports, phones and cameras in your hand luggage, and out of sight in the vehicle.
• Lock the doors and keep windows up in traffic, particularly at night and at junctions.
• Do not share your hotel or itinerary details with strangers.
• Plan late arrivals carefully: if you land after midnight, a pre-booked driver and a confirmed hotel check-in are the safest combination.
• Tell someone your plan, and share your driver’s details with a friend or relative.

Special Situations

• Late-night and early-morning flights: transfers run 6:00 am to 8:00pm by arrangement, and your driver adjusts for late landings.
• Delayed or cancelled flights: tell us as soon as you know, and we reschedule, subject to the waiting terms.
• Large groups and conferences: we can arrange several vehicles at once, with a coordinator at arrivals.
• Families with children: ask for child seats and extra luggage space, and allow extra time for passport control.
• Business travellers: a fixed pick-up and a quiet vehicle can save time, and invoices can be arranged on request.
• Honeymoons and special occasions: ask about premium vehicles.
• Transit stays: if you have a long layover, ask about a short city tour or a game drive in Nairobi National Park. See our Nairobi National Park travel guide.

Combine Your Airport Transfer With a Safari

A transfer can be the first leg of a longer trip. Many travellers use it as the start of a self-drive, a guided safari, or a one-way journey to the coast or across the border.

How to Book Your Nairobi Airport Transfer

1. Choose your transfer type: airport to hotel, hotel to airport, or airport to airport.
2. Send us the key details: flight number, terminal, date and time, hotel address, group size, luggage and any special requests.
3. Pick the vehicle: sedan, SUV, minivan, safari 4×4 or a pop-up roof vehicle.
4. Receive your confirmation, with the driver’s name, number and meeting point.
5. Pay as agreed: we confirm the accepted payment methods and deposit rules.
6. Check the reminder we send the day before, and keep our 24-hour contact handy.
7. Meet your driver at the agreed point, and tell us if anything changes.

Nairobi Airport Transfer FAQs

How far is Nairobi airport from the city centre?

JKIA is about 15 to 18 km from the city centre, and most hotel transfers take 20 to 45 minutes depending on traffic.

How long does the transfer from JKIA to Westlands take?

About 20 to 30 minutes in light traffic, and 40 to 70 minutes in heavy traffic.

Where will my driver meet me?

In the public arrivals area, after you clear immigration, baggage and customs, with a name board. We send the driver’s details before you land.

Which terminal does my flight use?

It depends on your airline and can change. Check your confirmation, and tell us so we can confirm the meeting point.

Do you track my flight?

Yes, so delays and early arrivals do not affect your pick-up.

How long will the driver wait?

A standard waiting window after landing is confirmed in your quote, and longer waits may carry a charge.

Can you take me from JKIA to Wilson Airport?

Yes. The airports are about 15 to 17 km apart, and the transfer usually takes 20 to 45 minutes. Allow generous time for connections.

What is the best time to leave for the airport?

Aim to reach JKIA about three hours before an international flight, and leave your hotel earlier in the morning and evening peaks.

Do you use the Nairobi Expressway?

When it saves time. We tell you in your quote whether the toll is included.

Can you arrange a child seat?

Yes, on request. Tell us the child’s age and weight.

Do you operate at night?

Yes, by arrangement, for late and early flights.

Can I pay by card or mobile money?

We confirm the accepted payment methods when we send your quote.

Is a private transfer better than Uber or Bolt?

It depends. Ride-hailing can be good for a single traveller with light luggage, while a private transfer is easier for families, groups, late arrivals and safari luggage.

Can I rent a car at the airport instead?

Yes. Ask about airport delivery of a rental vehicle, and see our car rental Nairobi page.

Do I need an eTA and health insurance for Kenya?

Most overseas visitors need an eTA, and many must also hold Kenya’s mandatory inbound health insurance. Check the official portal before you travel.

Get a Quote for Your Nairobi Airport Transfer

Send us your flight number, arrival terminal, hotel or destination, travel date, group size and luggage, and any special needs. We will confirm the vehicle, the meeting point, the waiting terms and an itemised price before you commit, so you step out of arrivals knowing exactly who is waiting for you.

Request a quote from Car Rental 4×4: