By Plane
Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) is the main point of arrival for most visitors; Mombasa's Moi International Airport (MBA), on the coast, also sees some international arrivals, although this is generally restricted to package tour groups on charter flights from Europe aiming for a beach vacation. Both airports have banks with ATMs and exchange facilities, car-hire desks, duty-free shops, and restaurants. For more information about the airports, visit www.kenyaairports.com. Nairobi is East Africa's air travel hub and is served by several international airlines. It's also served by just about all of the African airlines and so is a good destination to move on to other countries in Africa.
By Road
Kenya's busiest border crossing is with Tanzania at Namanga. Arusha is the nearest large town on the Tanzanian side and is the springboard for the Northern Circuit parks. It is 270km (167 miles) south of Nairobi. Moshi is 80km (50 miles) to the east of Arusha and is the base for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. Regular daily shuttle buses run between Arusha and Moshi and Nairobi, which take 6 or 8 hours via the Namanga border crossing; drivers assist passengers with border formalities. Timetables and prices can be found on the following websites: AA Shuttles (www.aashuttles.com), Impala Shuttles (www.impalashuttle.com), and Riverside Shuttles (www.riverside-shuttle.com).
There are other border crossings with Tanzania at Taveta near Voi, which is served by local buses. Lunga Lunga, south of Mombasa, and Isebania, on the Lake Victoria side of the country, are served by cross-border buses that link Nairobi with cities in Tanzania. The best bus company to use these routes is the Tanzanian company Scandinavian Express (www.scandinaviagroup.com).
Kenya has two border crossings with Uganda at Malaba and Busia, and there are regular cross-border bus services between Kampala and Nairobi. Kenya has one border crossing with Ethiopia at Moyale in the extreme north of the country, but there is no public transport.
If you are crossing any of these borders in your own vehicle, you must have vehicle registration and a Carnet de Passage issued from your own country, and will need to take out third-party insurance at the border.
By Boat
Though cruise ships do dock in Mombasa Harbor, there are no other passenger ferry services to Kenya. Except for short excursions for snorkeling or sightseeing, it is illegal for foreigners to travel by dhow along the East African coast.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
