For most Kenya safaris, this is where it all starts. Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) is East Africa’s busiest hub and, for the great majority of visitors, the first piece of Kenyan soil they touch down on.
Where it is
JKIA sits in Embakasi, roughly 18km southeast of Nairobi’s city centre: allow 30 to 60 minutes for the transfer depending on traffic, which can be heavy at peak times. Most safari travellers heading straight into the bush never actually go into the city: your onward connection is more likely to be a short hop across the airfield to Wilson Airport, Nairobi’s dedicated light-aircraft hub.
Terminals and what to expect
JKIA operates two main terminal complexes: Terminal 1 (built up from five linked units after a 2013 fire destroyed the original international building) and Terminal 2. It’s East Africa’s sixth-busiest airport by passenger traffic, handling over 9 million passengers a year, and a major upgrade is currently underway: a design-and-build contract signed in 2026 is set to lift capacity toward 22 million passengers annually in the years ahead, so expect construction activity around parts of the airport for some time.
Airlines and routes
JKIA is the home hub of Kenya Airways, East Africa’s largest airline, along with its low-cost arm Jambojet and African Express Airways. Kenya Airways’ network and Nairobi’s position as a regional crossroads mean JKIA has direct flights from Europe, the Middle East, Asia and across Africa: for many long-haul travellers, it’s a genuinely convenient single-stop route into the safari circuit.
Entry requirements
Most visiting nationalities need an eTA (Electronic Travel Authorisation), applied for online before you fly. Kenya moved to this system in 2024, replacing the previous visa-on-arrival process. If your safari also includes Uganda and/or Rwanda, the East Africa Tourist Visa can cover all three countries on one application. See our Visa & Entry Requirements page for the full picture, and always confirm current requirements for your own nationality before booking.
Getting onward to your safari
From JKIA, most safari connections run through Wilson Airport, a separate airfield across Nairobi used for scheduled and chartered flights to the Maasai Mara, Amboseli, Samburu and Laikipia. If your safari starts with a night in Nairobi, allow time for the transfer between the two airports. See our National Parks of Kenya guide for how the parks connect, and our Great Migration in Kenya page if the Mara is your first stop.
Plan your arrival into Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO): Nairobi's Safari Gateway
Tell us your flight details and where your safari starts, and we’ll make sure your arrival connects smoothly into the rest of your itinerary. Talk to us, or browse our safari packages to see how it all fits together.
