How long to drive from Jomo Kenyatta Airport to Ugandan border?

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How long to drive from Jomo Kenyatta Airport to Ugandan border?

by Zarin
(Cotswolds, UK)

Hi we are thinking of hiring a safari car and driving with driver from the airport to Ugandan border and on to Jinja.

Has anyone any idea of how long it will take to get out of Nairobi, the best route out of Nairobi, what the roads are like, how long from Nairobi outskirts to the border and which border is a better crossing.

We are weighing this up against the flight where we have to wait 11 hrs in the airport.

Thanks a million.

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How long to drive from Jomo Kenyatta Airport to Ugandan border?

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Jun 14, 2010

Jinja??
by: Archie Melrose

Thanks for your supplementary question and please note that my 6 hours was from Nairobi Airport to the Ugandan Border.

Happy Travels

Archie

Jun 06, 2010

Nairobi - Jinja
by: Zarin's son

Hi Archie and Peter,

Many thanks for your assistance - it is much appreciated!

Peter estimates a travel time of 11 hours by bus.

Archie - are you suggesting it takes only 6 hours to drive from Nairobi Airport to Jinja?

many thanks for your help.

Jun 04, 2010

How long to drive from Jomo Kenyatta Airport to Ugandan border?
by: Tropic Tours & Travel

Dear Zarin,

Thanks for your quesstion regarding your planned trip.

This is a whole day travel as follows

Nairobi - Kisumu approximately 4 hours

Kisumu - Busia approximately 3 hours

Busia - Jinja approximately 4 hours

This totals up to around 11hours and it can be quite cumbersome.

Personally I would recommend the following:

Arrive Nairobi Airport be picked up (we can do it)and spend time sighseeing in Nairobi. There are good touristic places to visit and also have lunch at the famous Carnivore Restuarant. You can spend like 6 hours doing this activity before being dropped back at the airport for your flight to Uganda.

Kind rgds

Peter.

Jun 03, 2010

Your Journey
by: Archie Melrose

Zarin, thanks for your question and let me try to help.

From the airport to the city boundaries is about 30mins. Depending on the time of day it will take another 30mins to get through the traffic and off to Naivasha/Nakuru. All you do is keep the front of the car pointing forward - do not deviate - do not take any turnings - keep in the middle lane where possible - just follow your nose.

Hopefully you will end up heading out of the city past Westlands. If you see a concrete barrier on your right then you know you are going the right way. The inside lane is fraught with bumps, humps and matatus [minibus taxis], I stay in the outside lane.

Once out of the city boundaries its a joy but watch out for previously mentioned matatus and donkeys. If you have time then take a stop at the top of the Rift Valley escarpment but be prepared to have some coins in your pocket. Mount Longonot is the lava flowed mountain to your left and the rest of the Rift Valley is below you. The new highway is tarmac and its a joy but watch out for the speed cops.

When you get to Naivasha take a pit stop at Delamere and grab a cuppa tea or coffee. The rest of the towns such as GilGil are now bypassed.

Nakuru is different and you will go around the town but if you wish you can turn left at the main roundabout and then right at the next one which will take you into the main street. If you carry on down the main street it will take you back to the highway.

I did some research on your question and have come up with this
"Arriving at the Malaba border post was quite an experience: in less time than it takes to write about it we were surrounded by a crowd of people, shouting to us not to speak to anyone, showing us badges and telling us to follow them… We eventually realised that these guys were “facilitating agents” and were there to guide us through the border’s formalities. It was rather amusing/annoying: we had been crossing borders for the past 5 months without any help. Eventually we realised that we wouldn’t have peace less we chose one of them to be our guide. And so, Moses became our “agent”. We weren’t to regret his help in parting the sea"

Zarin, the journey from Nakuru to the Ugandan border is about 3-4hrs. So all told you will be about 6hrs from Nairobi. Hey ho its worth it and you get to see zebra, baboons and Thomson gazelles on the way.

Good Travels and if you have any questions then please post them.

Kind Regards

Archie [Moderator]

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How long to drive from Jomo Kenyatta Airport to Ugandan border?

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How long to drive from Jomo Kenyatta Airport to Ugandan border?