Travel advisory · KenyaNairobi is in or near an area where governments advise against all but essential travel: Eastleigh (Nairobi), Kibera (Nairobi), Mathare (Nairobi), Pangani (Nairobi).Advice depends on your passport. Read your own government's advice before you book.Official advice
- Border with Ethiopia · avoid all travel · Spain, France, New Zealand
- Border with South Sudan · avoid all travel · Spain, France, New Zealand
- Coastal areas north of Malindi · avoid all travel · Canada, France, New Zealand, US
- Garissa county · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, Spain, Italy, New Zealand, US
- Lamu county · avoid all travel · Spain, New Zealand, US
- Lamu county excluding Lamu Island and Manda Island · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, France, UK
- Mandera county · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, Spain, Italy, New Zealand, UK, US
- Tana River county (except Tsavo National Park) · avoid all travel · Italy, US
- Wajir county · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, Spain, Italy, New Zealand, US
- Baringo county · avoid non-essential travel · Germany, Italy
- Coast between Tana River and Galana River · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, UK
- Coastal areas of Tana River county · avoid non-essential travel · Canada, New Zealand
- Eastleigh (Nairobi) · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, France, Italy, New Zealand, US
- Kibera (Nairobi) · avoid non-essential travel · Canada, Spain, France, New Zealand, US
- Mathare (Nairobi) · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, France
- Northern Tana River county · avoid non-essential travel · Germany, UK
- Pangani (Nairobi) · avoid non-essential travel · France, Italy
- Turkana county · avoid non-essential travel · Germany, Spain
- West Pokot county · avoid non-essential travel · Germany, Italy, US
Also named by one government: Areas bordering Somalia (New Zealand), Garissa county excluding Garissa Town, Lagdera and parts of Balambala (UK), Kilifi county north of highway C103 (US), Maritime zone up to 72E and 15S (France), Marsabit county within 110 km of South Sudan and Ethiopia borders (Canada), Marsabit county within 50 km of Ethiopia border (US), Somalia border strip up to 100 km inside Kenya (France), Tarbaj and Wajir East constituencies (UK), Turkana county within 110 km of South Sudan and Ethiopia borders (Canada), Turkana county within 50 km of Ethiopia border (US), Wajir county within 60 km of Somalia border (UK), Western Turkana county (US), Arid and remote regions of northern Kenya (Italy), Baringo sub-counties Mukutani, Muchongoi, Bartabwa, Tiaty East and Tiaty West (Spain), Elgeyo Marakwet county (Italy), Elgeyo Marakwet sub-counties Marakwet East and Marakwet West (Spain), Garissa Town (UK), Laikipia county (Italy), Laikipia sub-counties Olmoran, Ng'arua and Mukogodo (Spain), Lamu Island (Germany), Manda Island (Germany), Marsabit county (Spain), Mombasa (Italy), Outlying areas of Isiolo county (France), Outlying areas of Turkana county (France), Outlying areas of West Pokot county (France), Outlying regions of Marsabit county (France), Overland routes between Lamu and Malindi (Italy), Samburu county areas of Loroki and Kirisia (Spain), Turkana sub-counties Turkana South, Turkana East and Loima (Spain), West of Garissa county (France), West of Mandera county (France), West of Wajir county (France), West Pokot sub-counties Pokot North and Sigor (Spain), Within 75 km of Kenya-Somalia border (Ireland)
| Government | Advice | Updated | Read the advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (FCDO) | No advice against the whole country (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
| United States (State Dept) | Reconsider travel | Oct 19, 2026 | Read the advice |
| Canada (Global Affairs) | Exercise a high degree of caution (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
| Germany (Auswärtiges Amt) | Increased caution nationwide; partial travel warnings for specific areas (regional advisories) | Oct 19, 2026 | Read the advice |
| New Zealand (SafeTravel) | Exercise increased caution (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
| Ireland (Department of Foreign Affairs) | High Degree of Caution (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
| France (Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs) | Vigilance renforcée (reste du territoire) (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
Checked daily from the governments' published advice; last checked Nov 2, 2026. RoamLedger summarises official advice; it is not advice from any government.
Nairobi
Kenya's capital, with a national park on the edge of town and flights to the Masai Mara.
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya, in the south-central part of the country. Flights to the Masai Mara leave from Wilson Airport, and international flights land at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). Nairobi National Park lies at the edge of the city, so wildlife is within a short drive of town. The elephant orphanage, where orphaned elephants are raised, is the other main stop in the city.
Plan one or two days for the park, the orphanage and a night's rest before an early flight or drive. Longer stays suit travelers who want more time in the city itself. The drier months, roughly June to October and January to February, are the common pick for game viewing in Kenya.
Nairobi in five
- Get your eTA before you flyKenya requires an Electronic Travel Authorization for most visitors, applied for online before departure.Kenya eTA guide
- Pay park fees online, not in cashKenya Wildlife Service gates are cashless. Nairobi National Park charges a non-resident adult fee in US dollars, paid through eCitizen before or at the gate.KWS payments
- Book the elephant orphanage aheadVisits to the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust nursery are short and timed around the feeding. Book online before you arrive.
- Check which airport your safari flight usesInternational flights land at JKIA. Most light aircraft to the Mara and Amboseli leave from Wilson Airport, across town.
- Use ride-hailing after darkTake app taxis rather than walking at night, and keep phones out of sight in the CBD.Getting around Kenya
Things to do in Nairobi
See all attractions in Nairobi
Need to know
- Airport
- Jomo Kenyatta International (NBO); Wilson for safari flights
- Getting there
- International flights; SGR train from Mombasa
- Getting around
- Ride-hailing apps and taxis; traffic is heavy
- Best base
- Westlands for the city, Karen for the park and quiet
- Time needed
- 1–2 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryClear9 rainy daysHigh26°Low15°Dry, sunnyJanuaryClear
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 56 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, sunny
- FebruaryClear8 rainy daysHigh28°Low15°Dry, warmFebruaryClear
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 47 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, warm
- MarchRain14 rainy daysHigh28°Low16°Rains startMarchRain
Good
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 95 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rains start
- AprilRain26 rainy daysHigh25°Low16°Long rainsAprilRain
Mixed
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 204 mm
- Rainy days
- 26
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Long rains
- MayRain19 rainy daysHigh24°Low15°Long rainsMayRain
Good
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 112 mm
- Rainy days
- 19
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Long rains
- JunePartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh23°Low13°Cool, dryJunePartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 36 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, dry
- JulyPartly cloudy5 rainy daysHigh23°Low13°CoolestJulyPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 18 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Coolest
- AugustPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh24°Low14°Cool, dryAugustPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 27 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, dry
- SeptemberPartly cloudy6 rainy daysHigh26°Low14°Dry, sunnySeptemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 32 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, sunny
- OctoberRain13 rainy daysHigh27°Low15°WarmOctoberRain
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 93 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm
- NovemberRain21 rainy daysHigh25°Low16°Short rainsNovemberRain
Good
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 159 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Short rains
- DecemberRain15 rainy daysHigh25°Low15°MixedDecemberRain
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 89 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mixed
Average daily high and low in Nairobi, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Nairobi
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
20
- Feels like
- 20°
- Humidity
- 67%
- Wind
- 12 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 59%
Nairobi
11:06 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today25°16°59%Monday: Drizzle. High 25°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 59%.
- Tue26°16°80%Tuesday: Rain. High 26°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 80%.
- Wed26°17°75%Wednesday: Rain. High 26°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 75%.
- Thu24°16°86%Thursday: Drizzle. High 24°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 86%.
- Fri23°16°82%Friday: Drizzle. High 23°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 82%.
- Sat25°15°92%Saturday: Drizzle. High 25°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 92%.
- Sun25°16°93%Sunday: Drizzle. High 25°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 93%.
Updated 06:53 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 129.9 KES
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Lake Naivasha and Hell's Gatea long day on the A104; a night at the lake is easierBoat trips on the lake and cycling in Hell's Gate National Park.Read the guide
- Amboselia long road day; better as an overnight tripElephants below Kilimanjaro; better as an overnight trip.Read the guide
- Maasai Maraby light aircraft from Wilson AirportFly from Wilson for a two- or three-night safari.Read the guide
Before you go to Nairobi
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Nairobi, checked
- Many travelers need an eTA or visa before arriving in Kenya. Check your passport's requirement on the official eTA site before you book.Source
- Dial 999 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in Kenya.
- Kenya bans single-use plastic bags. Check the current rules with the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) before you pack.
- Carry a yellow fever certificate if you arrive from a country where yellow fever is present. Check current rules with your health provider before you fly.
Plan around Nairobi
Parks, the coast, entry rules and money
Read the guideMaasai MaraA flight from Wilson Airport
Read the guideAmboseliKilimanjaro views, 4 to 5 hours by road
Read the guideLake NaivashaHell's Gate and Longonot on the Rift Valley road
Read the guideLamuSwahili island by flight from Nairobi
Read the guideKenya eTA guideApply online before you fly
Read the guideGetting around KenyaDomestic flights, the SGR train and roads
Read the guideNairobi FAQ
How many days do I need in Nairobi?
One or two days. That covers Nairobi National Park at dawn, the elephant orphanage and the Giraffe Centre before a safari flight.
Is Nairobi National Park worth it?
Yes, for a first game drive. Lions, rhinos and giraffes live a short drive from the city, with the skyline behind them.
How long from JKIA to the city?
Usually 30–60 minutes to Westlands or Kilimani. The Nairobi Expressway cuts time at busy hours for a toll.
Where should I stay before a Mara flight?
Karen or Langata, near Wilson Airport, if your light aircraft leaves early. Westlands if you have a day in the city first.
Is Nairobi worth a stop or should I go straight on safari?
Give it a night or two if you can. A dawn drive in Nairobi National Park, the elephant nursery and the Giraffe Centre are quick wins, and an overnight absorbs jet lag before an early flight to the Mara.