Hofmann's recommendations

Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport

700394

700394

Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is the largest airport in East Africa and one of the most important on the black continent. Traveling through the airport still requires patience.

For example, the arrival of the Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt, operated by Privat Air, which lands on time. But there is a traffic jam at passport control. The traveler is well advised to apply for his visa for Kenya online at home (51 USD), which saves him having to queue at the visa counter.

Passport control itself takes place in a makeshift facility, a former equipment hall. This is because the actual arrivals hall fell victim to a major fire and is currently being rebuilt. While the female official sends the passenger back to fill out another blue slip of paper, her colleague, who is sitting shoulder to shoulder next to her, doesn't need it again. It's logical to change positions. After about 20 minutes, the immigration procedure is over.

Kenya is a corrupt country. This is immediately apparent when our transfer bus driver has to pay a fine when picking us up because he parked in the second lane for too long. One hour of lost time.

The departure also requires patience. It's a good idea not to depart at a rush hour. Up to 20,000 passengers use the airport every day, and you have to go through a total of three security checks. The first is right on the access road. All cars have to stop, passengers have to get out, go through this questionable check and then get back in to continue to the terminal. There is also a check when entering the terminal. The approach terminal, narrow and outdated, nevertheless meets the requirements.

In the meantime, the part of the terminal where Kenya Airways and its partner airlines depart has been renovated. The terminal has a total of three units: Units 1 and 2 serve all international departures, while domestic flights and international arrivals are handled in Unit 3.

The paths to the gate are narrow and date back to a time when the volume of traffic was much lower, so there are often traffic jams even today. Once you have reached the gate, there is another security check - whatever it is. One thing helps in any case: approach the airport with relaxed African composure and get through the check-in with the friendly Kenyans.

Kurt Hofmann