How to Get Around Kenya

Getting in. Jomo Kenyatta International in Nairobi is East Africa’s main hub, with Moi International at Mombasa serving the coast directly.

Flying between parks is how safaris are usually done. Light aircraft services run scheduled circuits to the Mara, Amboseli, Samburu, Tsavo and the coast, with strict baggage limits — usually 15 kilograms in a soft bag.

The SGR railway runs a modern standard-gauge service between Nairobi and Mombasa in around five hours, and is comfortable, cheap and popular. Book ahead.

Matatus — privately run minibuses, often loudly decorated — are how most Kenyans travel. They are cheap, ubiquitous and have a poor safety record. Long-distance coaches between cities are a better option.

Driving. Self-driving is possible but demanding: potholes, unlit vehicles, livestock, and police checkpoints. Most visitors use a driver-guide with a four-wheel-drive, which is also the better safari experience.