Once you arrive on your flight to Kenya, which is how most people get here, you’ll then possibly need to depend on Kenyan transportation to get you to your featured destinations. For many, a stay at one of the Nairobi hotels is in order after the flight, as resting up before you kick things off is always a good idea. Some charter flights to Kenya from Europe land directly in Mombasa, however, and if you are coming to enjoy the Kenya beaches you might end up there instead. At both the Nairobi and Mombasa airports, there will be plenty of taxis outside waiting to bring visitors either into town or to their hotels, and it’s common practice in Kenya to bargain the price of your taxi ride before you go anywhere. Once you’ve spent your allotted time in either Nairobi or Mombasa, you might be headed off to other Kenyan destinations, so it’s good to know what your transportation options are.
Some travelers to Kenya won’t have to worry about their Kenyan transportation at all since plenty of Kenya vacation packages arrange it for their guests. Some of the hotels in Nairobi, and nearly all of the resorts on the coast, will send coaches to transport their guests to the property, and it’s not uncommon for some of the top safari lodges to arrange your transfer. Many of the Kenya vacation packages not only take care of all your Kenya transportation needs, but they also arrange your accommodations, your meals, and your activities, so you can simply worry about enjoying yourself. If your transportation is not supplied by your hotel or travel package, fret not, because there are plenty of ways in Kenya to get from point A to point B.
There are more than 200 airports and airstrips found
spread about Kenya, and though they vary in quality, they
all serve a purpose. Flying around Kenya is not the most
affordable way to go, but it is the quickest and most
convenient. Connecting flights from both Nairobi and Mombasa
can get you all over the place, including other cities
like Kisumu and Malindi.
You might be surprised at how affordable some of these
flights can be, and if you’ve arranged a package
deal, connecting flights might already be part of the
plan. Kenya car rentals are another convenient way to
get around, provided that you have good directions and
a mind to stick to the better roads. A car hire Kenya
experience isn’t for the faint of heart, however,
as drivers here can be rather brazen. The roads in Kenya
vary in quality like the airports and airstrips, so those
depending on Kenya car rentals might want to get a 4x4
just in case. Kenya car rentals do provide quite a bit
of freedom, though they can be relatively expensive. It
is nice to have more control over your travel times when
renting a car in Kenya, so for some, paying a bit extra
and keeping an eye out for potholes is worth it. Some
of the more identifiable international rental car companies
have a presence in both Nairobi and Mombasa, including
Budget, Avis, and Hertz.
The Matatus are quite renowned in Kenya, not exactly for their safety or comfort, but instead for their abundance. Matatus are basically mini-buses, and there are larger Kenya bus options available for longer trips. In the past, many a Kenya bus would be a risk to ride, as drivers tended to be a bit chaotic. Nowadays, however, things like speed governors and government legislation have led to a safer Kenya bus experience. Many buses in Kenya are more comfortable than their ancestors were, not to mention more efficient, so everybody wins in the end. You can hop on a Kenya bust to get from Nairobi to the coast (Mombasa), and there are also routes to other major cities and towns. The buses in Kenya are generally the most affordable way to go, but it’s advised that you avoid the matatus at night due to petty theft concerns.
For those who like train travel, the Nairobi to Mombasa trip is the most popular Kenya train trip. Actually, this king of the Kenya railways is famous worldwide, partly because of its historical significance. First class doesn’t cost all that much, and besides getting a bed, you’ll also enjoy better cars and a complimentary dinner and breakfast. If you are really tight on money, or just want to save for savings sake, you can ride second or third class, but since it’s partly about the experience on this trip, try to go first class if you can. There isn’t really another Kenya train route to recommend, as the other Kenya railways are reserved for freight trains. As a side note, those looking to cover short distances when vacationing on the Kenyan coast will benefit from the “tuk-tuks”, which are 3-wheeled taxis of a sort. You might also hitch a ride on a “boda-boda”, which is even more basic than a tuk-tuk. A boda-boda is really nothing more than a bicycle with a single seat set over the rear tire. Hang on for dear life, and you should be good to go.
