Amboseli National Park is a gem located about a four-hour drive (240 km or 150 miles) southeast of Nairobi. The two main ways to get to Amboseli from Nairobi is either by air or by road. The drive from Nairobi to Amboseli National Park takes approximately 3 to 4 hours, using Mombasa Road.
Flying to Amboseli is a more convenient option, being only about a 45 minutes flight from Wilson Airport in Nairobi to Amboseli airstrip.
Listed below is relevant information on how to reach Amboseli by road and air from Nairobi with information also on how to reach Amboseli and Kenya from overseas, such as from USA, UK, Canada, Europe, Australia India and Dubai UAE. You may contact us for international flight options.
By far the most popular mode of transport from Nairobi to Amboseli is by road. The distance varies from 205 kms to 240 kms depending on which gate or entry point of Amboseli you want to access. So how long does it take by road to Amboseli ? Well, in terms of journey time, typically you want to allow for 3-4 hours to Kimana Gate which is the main entry to Amboseli National Park .
Route: Use Mombasa Road heading out from Nairobi city and keep on the Nyeri Karatina highway and turn right at Marwa Town - 12 kms from Karatina town; Head North, out of Nanyuki, via Timau and towards Isiolo, basically staying on the main road. (If leaving from JKIA airport, use the Eastern Bypass to connect to Thika Superhighway at Ruiru Road Junction to cut out the city traffic). Once at Archer's Post, just drive a few kilometres off the highway to Archer's gate.
We often get asked how the road is to Amboseli by prospective clients planning their safari. Well, most of the route is actually a tarred road starting with highway A104, B3 and finally C12, except for the last section of approximately 1 hour. The tarmac portion of the tarmac road is however in sub standard condition in certain places which includes a few stretches with potholes, while the last unpaved portion can be bumpy and dusty, which however for some simply adds to the adventure of getting to the African wilderness.
A road in Amboseli National Park
Mombasa Road heading to Amboseli National Park
So which type of Safari vehicles do you get in Amboseli ? There are two basic types of vehicles commonly used for Safaris in Kenya and generally in East Africa for that matter and these are the Safari Tour Minibuses ( Tour Vans) and the 4x4 Safari Jeeps, typically Toyota Landcruiser or less commonly Landrover vehicles. All types of vehicles have built in, pop-up game viewing roof hatches which the Driver opens once on a game drive in the park or reserve, UHF Radio Calls and Cooler Boxes. The Tour Vans cost much less than the four wheel drive Safari Jeeps. Should be noted that there are some tour vans which also come with 4x4 capability, albeit with the lack of ground clearance or off road ability that comes with a Landcruiser. Both types of vehicles typically seat a maximum of 7 passengers with 6 being ideal and 8 passengers being the upper limit with an extra seat fitted into the vehicle. Luggage restrictions apply.
Typical Safari Tour Van or Minibus
Typical 4x4 Safari Jeep Landcruiser
There are several airlines flying from Nairobi to Amboseli airstrip, and several of these offer only morning return flight to the park, with a one way flight taking approximately 45 minutes. The same plane then usually turns around back to Nairobi after dropping off or collecting passengers from Amboseli airstrip. Almost all these flights take off from Wilson airport in Nairobi ( as opposed to the JKIA international airport) and you need only be at the airport about 45 mins prior to the flight. The two main airlines are Air Kenya and Safarilink. These two airlines have a reliable service and credible safety record.
Amboseli airstrip is the main airstrip serving all the lodges and camps inside the park except for those that own private airstrips for private chartered flights.
The type of aircraft used for flights to Samburu include propellor planes with seating capacities ranging from 40 seaters for DeHavilland Dash 7 and 8 aircraft to 13 seater Cessna Caravans. Passengers are limited to 15 kilos of carry on and check in luggage combined.
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