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Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) serves Kenya’s capital and largest city Nairobi and processes over seven million passengers annually. Situated seven km southeast of the centre of the capital in the suburb of Embakasi, it’s the largest airport in Kenya and East Africa, is supported by 40 passenger airlines and 25 cargo carriers and connects the nation to 45 countries all around the world.
Although NBO isn’t on the same scale as huge international hubs like London’s Heathrow and Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson, facilities are still fabulous and include ample ATMs, shops and duty free where you can buy everything from newspapers and alcohol to jewellery, conveniently located toilets, luggage wrapping and bars and restaurants to suit all the family. There’s also a medical centre for emergency treatment and a pharmacy which is open 24 hours a day.
Jomo Kenyatta Airport has also been recognised for its high standards internationally ̶ in 2017’s Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Awards, Airports Council International (ACI) named it the best-improved airport in Africa in terms of customer service excellence. Furthermore, at the International Hotel Awards Final in December 2018, the Four Points By Sheraton Nairobi Airport hotel was named best International Five Star Hotel, Best Large Hotel Africa, Best Large Hotel Kenya and Best Airport Hotel Africa.
Embakasi itself isn’t packed with tourist distractions ̶ instead, many factories are located here as well as the plush residences of several A-list Kenyan celebrities and it’s considered part of Nairobi’s Eastlands district, therefore close to locations like Makandara Estate and Tena Estate. However, you’re a short drive from Nairobi proper, a dynamic city which is a melting pot of diverse local cultures, with an amazing live music scene, bars and restaurants aplenty and the Nairobi National Park, where you can see the ‘big five’ of lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo, as well as countless other amazing species. Jomo Kenyatta is also the gateway to other Kenyan attractions like the Great Rift Valley, where some of the oldest human remains ever discovered have been unearthed, leading to Kenya being dubbed ‘the cradle of humanity’.
Once you pick up your hire car at NBO (please remember that you drive on the left-hand side in Kenya) your African adventure can commence and there’s clear signage for Nairobi and all other areas of interest. Enjoy partners with trusted international and local car hire providers at Jomo Kenyatta airport, an excellent example of which is Green Motion Car and Van Rental, a company which (appropriately given Kenya’s dedication to wildlife conservation) is committed to offsetting as much of its carbon footprint as possible and minimising vehicle emissions. You’ll easily find the right type of car to meet your requirements and itinerary ̶ for example a compact Toyota Axio seats four comfortably, has automatic transmission for convenience and air conditioning to keep the heat at bay, while a Toyota Hilux crew cab also seats four, has plenty of space in the tail for large luggage items and is a rugged vehicle that’s perfect for longer road trips. Alternatively, a Toyota Land Cruiser seats seven, is fully air conditioned and is robust enough to take you and your family off the beaten path in order to make the most of this marvellous territory.
Hiring a car at Jomo Kenyatta airport couldn’t be simpler than it is with Enjoy ̶ simply enter your dates and details and in the blink of an eye you’ll have multiple makes and models to choose from.
Read on for more information on NBO and a few fantastic things to see and do nearby.
Driving in and around Jomo Kenyatta Airport
Turning your vehicle radio to an informative local station like KBC English 95.6 FM is a savvy way to keep abreast of traffic news, as well as hearing a local spin on current affairs and hearing the latest Kenyan music hits.
Speed limits are 80km/h (50mph) for the highway, 50km/h (31mph) for urban areas and 40km/h (25mph) when you’re driving off-road.
Rules of the road and driving conventions and etiquette may differ from your home nation, so here are a few tips:
- Roads in and around NBO are tarmac and usually in fairly good condition but be careful in rural areas as roads can be unsurfaced.
- Carry your driver’s license and car rental documentation with you whenever you drive in Kenya.
- Don’t ever drink and drive, remember that all passengers should wear seatbelts and don’t use hand-held mobile phones because only truly hands-free systems are acceptable.
- Kenya is a vast country and some of the roads here are long ̶ avoid driving when drowsy by getting a good night’s rest the night before an excursion and planning your route so that you can take rest stops regularly in safe locations.
- Drive defensively, being courteous with other drivers and staying alert so that you’re ready to react to hazards should they arise suddenly.
A Useful Guide to Nairobi and Kenya for NBO Car Hire Customers
Nairobi is a youthful and dynamic city packed with plentiful attractions like bars, restaurants, museums and live music venues, while Kenya itself has everything from vertiginous mountains to lush palm-lined beaches and romantic savannahs. Here are a few activities you might want to try here:
- If you’re a (pre)history buff, visit the National Museum in Nairobi to view some of the oldest human skeletal remains on the planet and learn all about Kenya’s ground-breaking work in wildlife conservation.
- Nairobi is also a hotspot for contemporary local and international visual arts. There are many brilliant galleries to browse, but the Shifteye Galley is one of the best and serves as an interactive interface between east African artists and their peers from places like Europe and the Americas.
- Leave Kenya without taking a safari and you’ll regret it ̶ this is one of the world’s best places to see amazing animals in their natural environments. The best time to go on safari is the dry season between June and October and there are several parks to choose from, including the iconic Maasai Mara National Reserve, Lake Nakuru National Park, Amboseli National Park, Samburu Game Reserve and Tsavo National Park. Furthermore, don’t forget Nairobi National Park, which is so close to the capital that you can see rhinos wandering wild in the bush with the city skyline in the background!
- Did you know that Kenya is home to some of Africa’s most sublime beaches? If you’re fatigued from exploring towns and cities, and have had your fill of wildlife, you can chill out, sunbathe, splash in the sea and enjoy watersports at resorts like Watamu north of Mombasa, Malindi in the south east, Lamu Island, Diani, Vipingo and Nyali.
- Sampling Kenyan cuisine is a must while you’re in the vicinity and there’s lots of variety on offer. Ugali is a national staple which is a type of maize flour porridge eaten with beef or fish, while mukimo is a tasty treat made from peas, onions, corn and potatoes. However, for many Kenyans, the iconic dish here is nyama choma, which consists of grilled meat of various varieties sizzled to perfection over an open pit. As well as meats like chicken and beef, nyama choma can feature exotic game meats like ostrich and crocodile ̶ obviously this is a national gastronomical obsession for vegetarian or vegan visitors to avoid.
- Nairobi is also famous for live music and at trendy venues dotted around the metropolis you’ll find gigs with talented local bands playing genres like benga and international styles like funk, hip-hop, house and so much more. Plus, one of the best ways to mix and mingle with locals and visitors alike is on the dancefloor.
As you can see, landing at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and getting behind the wheel of your hire car is just the start of an African sojourn that you’ll remember for the rest of your life and you don’t need to stray far from the capital to experience exotic flora and fauna here because it’s literally on your doorstep. With Enjoy, you can hire a comfy saloon for cruising around urban streets or an SUV for rolling out into the tough interior terrain ̶ the choice is yours.
From eye-popping natural scenery to wonderful wild animals and absorbing museums to beguiling bars and restaurants, there are endless reasons you’ll leave a little piece of your heart behind in Kenya.
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