Jomo Kenyatta International (NBO)
Nairobi Airport Transfer Guide
Pre-book a private transfer from NBO: your driver tracks your flight and meets you in arrivals with a name sign, at a fare fixed when you book.
- Driver tracks your flight
- Fare fixed when you book
- ✍ Name sign in arrivals
Pre-book your pickup
From
Jomo Kenyatta International (NBO)
Where are you going?
Prices are shown when you choose your car and time.
Photo: DEMOSH, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Jomo Kenyatta International (NBO) is 18 km southeast of Nairobi CBD. Traffic is notorious — a 20-minute journey in open road becomes 60-90 minutes in rush hour (07:00-09:30 + 17:00-20:00). Pre-booked airport transfers are the standard for safari-bound tourists because arrival is often at 06:00-07:00 (peak morning traffic) and connecting safari flights to Maasai Mara depart from Wilson Airport (WIL), 12 km northwest — requiring a cross-Nairobi transfer with tight timing. Compared to: KES 800-1,800 for Uber/Bolt (app-based, safe pickup zone, cheaper), KES 1,500-3,000 for the official yellow taxi rank (safe but pricier), or KES 150 for public matatu (extremely cheap, extremely crowded, not practical with luggage or unfamiliar routes). Skip unmarked drivers in arrivals — always use the official rank, app, or pre-book.
- Airport
- Jomo Kenyatta International (NBO)
- Country
- 🇰🇪 Kenya
- Distance
- 18 km from CBD (Kenyatta Avenue)
Photo: Atlantic Ambience on Pexels.
Where can your driver take you from NBO?
Transfers you can pre-book from Nairobi airport. Tap one to see cars and prices.
Nairobi airport transfer options compared
Journey times from the table below; traffic and time of day change them.
| Option | Cost | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welcome Pickups (pre-booked) | Fixed fare when you book | 30–90 min | Meet-and-greet, English driver, includes 60 min wait. |
| Kiwitaxi (pre-booked) | Fixed fare when you book | 30–90 min | Marketplace — instant quote. |
| Uber / Bolt | KES 800–1,800 | 30–90 min | App-based, safest street option. |
| Yellow taxi (official rank) | KES 1,500–3,000 | 30–90 min | Trustworthy fixed rank rate. |
| Safari operator transfer | KES 2,500–5,000 | 30–90 min | Included in many safari packages. |
| Wilson Airport transfer (safari flight) | KES 2,000–3,500 | 45–90 min | Cross-Nairobi for safari air. |
Skip the taxi queue in Nairobi
Your driver tracks your flight and meets you in arrivals in Nairobi.
Top destinations from NBO
Nairobi CBD (Kenyatta Avenue)
Business + government, 30-90 min depending on traffic.
Westlands (Sarova Stanley area)
Expat + business hotels, 45-100 min.
Karen / Langata (Giraffe Manor area)
Southern suburbs, 45-90 min.
Wilson Airport (WIL — safari flights)
Cross-Nairobi to safari terminal, 45-90 min.
Nairobi National Park entrance
Only city in the world with a national park — 45-70 min.
From landing to the door
How your Nairobi pickup works
1
2
3Ride straight there
No taxi queue and no haggling: the fare was fixed when you booked.
Photo: Artem Yellow on Pexels.
One driver, door to door
From NBO your driver takes you straight to Nairobi's centre, the station or out to nearby towns in the region, with no changes on the way.
- Your driver tracks your flight and waits if you land late
- Fare fixed when you book
- Met in arrivals with a name sign
Sketch, not to scale.
Booking tips for Nairobi
- → Morning arrivals (05:00-08:00): build 90 min buffer for CBD transfer due to Nairobi traffic
- → Safari flight connections to Wilson Airport: pre-book combined NBO→WIL transfer (allow 90 min)
- → Add flight tracking — even 30 min delay can push you into a 60 min traffic penalty
- → Kenyan shillings cash useful for tips (KES 200-500 per driver)
Complete your trip
Photo: Engin Akyurt on Pexels.
Bags before check-in?
Leave your luggage in Nairobi and explore hands-free.
Luggage storage in Nairobi
Photo: Gustavo Fring on Pexels.
Data when you land
An eSIM gets you online to message your driver without roaming charges.
Airalo eSIMsNairobi airport transfer FAQ
NBO airport arrival at 06:00 — what to expect?+
Nairobi peak morning traffic is 07:00-09:30. A 06:00 arrival gets you through immigration + luggage by 07:00 — right into peak. Plan for 60-90 minutes to CBD (not 30). Pre-booked transfer with confirmed driver + fixed price is worth it — Uber pickup + surge pricing at peak can nearly match transfer cost anyway.
How do I get to Wilson Airport for a safari flight?+
Wilson Airport (WIL) is 12 km from NBO but 40-90 minutes across Nairobi depending on traffic. Most safari flights depart 09:00-11:00, so a same-morning NBO arrival is tight. Pre-book a combined NBO→WIL transfer with luggage transfer coordination + 60 min buffer for check-in at WIL. Cost KES 2,000-3,500. Skip Uber if your bag is heavy — luggage limits on safari flights are tight (15kg).
Welcome Pickups or Uber for NBO?+
Welcome Pickups: pre-booked, name-sign in arrivals, English driver, includes 60 min free wait for immigration delays. Uber: app-based, KES 800-1,800, fine for confident returning visitors. For first-time Africa arrivals + safari connections, Welcome Pickups is worth the premium for the safety + coordination.
Is it safe to take Uber from NBO?+
Yes if you meet the driver at the marked ride-hail pickup zone (outside Terminal 1B, well-signed). Confirm the driver + plate matches the app before boarding. Do NOT accept "Uber" from someone who approaches you inside the terminal — those are unlicensed drivers using the brand name. Bolt is equally safe + slightly cheaper.
Ready for Nairobi?
Your driver tracks your flight and meets you in arrivals in Nairobi.
Mobile data for Kenya
Get mobile data for Kenya set up before you land.
Airport lounges at Jomo Kenyatta Airport
Wait for your flight in a lounge — one membership covers lounges at airports across the country and worldwide.
Airport transfers in other cities: