While JKIA handles the safari circuit, Moi International Airport is Kenya’s other international gateway: built for a different kind of arrival: white sand, warm water, and the Indian Ocean coast.
Where it is
Moi International Airport serves Mombasa, Kenya’s second city, on the coast roughly 425km southeast of Nairobi by air. It is a separate international entry point entirely, not a domestic extension of JKIA; some visitors fly directly into Mombasa for a beach-only stay, while others use it to add a coastal extension onto the end of a safari.
Terminals and reputation
The airport runs three terminals (international, domestic, and a general aviation terminal for charter traffic) and handles around 1.7 million passengers a year. It was named Best Airport in Africa in its size category by Airports Council International in 2020, though by 2025 local tourism voices were calling for the terminal to be modernised, so don’t expect the newest facilities on arrival.
Airlines and routes
Kenya Airways and Jambojet both treat Mombasa as a focus city alongside their Nairobi hub, and Mombasa Air Safari operates scheduled light-aircraft routes linking the coast directly to Kenya’s inland parks; a genuinely useful option for a safari-and-beach combination without routing back through Nairobi.
Entry requirements
The same Kenyan eTA requirement applies here as at JKIA. It is a national entry authorisation, not airport-specific. See our Visa & Entry Requirements page for details and confirm current requirements for your nationality before you fly.
Pairing the coast with a safari
A few unwinding days on the coast after a Maasai Mara safari is one of Kenya’s classic combinations: see our Kenya Safaris page for how a beach extension typically slots in, and our Wellness Safaris page if a slower, restorative pace is what you’re after.
Plan your arrival into Moi International Airport (MBA): Gateway to Mombasa & the Kenyan Coast
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.
