Nairobi Int'l Airport to Arusha by bus

1. The shuttles (Impala, Riverside, Davanu) all stop at the airport so no need to go into town to catch them. Scandinavia I'm not sure about.

2. A transit visa for $20 will do. Just make sure that you tell the person at the visa counter that you are headed straight for Arusha to make sure that they grant you the transit visa. If you are sure that you will re-enter Kenya within the validity period of an original visa (not sure if that is 1 or 3 moths for Kenya), you could also get the full visa for $50 - $10 more than the transit visas but gives you some more flexibility in case you decide you do want to spend some time in Kanya after all.

3. Think there is an ATM, but not sure. There is definetely a place where you can change money. For the shuttles they will actually ask you to pay in $, though.

4. The shuttles leave at around 8 am and 2 pm from town, about half an hour later they pass the airport. If you are lucky you will catch the morning one. Trip to Arusha takes about 5 hours, depending on how quick everything goes at the border.

Thank you Stefo! :)

There is a Barclay's 24 hour bank with ATM at the International Arrivals Hall in Nairobi Airport, just in case you need local currency - also a bureau de change.

Dear Linda,

Scandinavia Express is out of business - for good, I think. Davanu and Riverside Shuttle Service are leaving from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at 8 AM and 2 PM. Please check the Riverside time table and you can even book and pay online via the Riverside website. Don't forget to print a receipt and bring it with you.

A transit visa for Kenya (US$ 20) will be ok for you, but note - Tanzanian visa fee for American citizen is now US$ 100. The visa (valid for three months) is issued at the Namanga Border without problems.

Regards

Hans Kristoffersen
Editor
Mwanza Guide 'online'

Hello Hans,

Thanks for your tip. Is Scandinavia bus out of business entirely for all of East Africa? Or only from Nairobi to Arusha?

I made an inquiry to Impala and they charge $25US pp one way, Nairobi-Arusha. Is that the going rate? LP guide says locals pay $10US, is there any way foreigners can pay local rate, or are we obliged to obey the two-cost-system in East Africa (such as in many other parts of the world)??

Yes unfortunately I was made aware of the increase visa fee for US citizens... sigh. Times like these I wish I were European or Canadian! (and don't even get me started on our president....!) I think I will pay full Kenya visa for $50US instead of $20US transit visa because I will definitely spend several weeks in Kenya after TZ during my trip.

Anyway, thanks all for your help! :)

Linda

{quote:title=mindylepooh wrote:}{quote}
I made an inquiry to Impala and they charge $25US pp one way, Nairobi-Arusha. Is that the going rate? LP guide says locals pay $10US, is there any way foreigners can pay local rate, or are we obliged to obey the two-cost-system in East Africa (such as in many other parts of the world)??

$25 is the going rate, and I am afraid someone who has just arrived at Nairobi airport is not in the best position to try and bargain a resident rate... A few years ago when I bought my ticket in Arusha (different company), the guy just asked for Tsh 10000, and when I said something, he just smiled and said he was happy today so he gave me the resident rate. I didn't feel guilty, because I hadn't asked for it, and if it made him happy... But generally, you will have to (and should) pay the tourist rates. On local transport there are no different rates anyway, only on the "tourist" shuttles and for the ferries to Zanzibar etc. And of course for the National Parks, but there not even being a resident helps you much, you have to be an East African citizen for the cheap park entries...
So basically just pay it and hope that at least some of the money will not disappear in some rich man's pocket but will actually help the local economy...

Hi Stefo, you're absolutely right, I would be in no position to haggle for the local rate, having just stepped out of the international arrival hall. I was just hoping against hope... sigh. Like you, I would hope the money stays local and not end up lining some rich man's pocket somewhere else.

btw, Riverside Shuttle's rate for Nairobi-Arusha is now $35US one way, not $25US. Impala is still $25US. I was able to get email confirmation from Impala for my arrival date for $25US. Sweet!

Cheers,
Linda

So to get the transit visa, how long is it good for?

I think it's valid for 7 days. However, officially it's only for transit and they will ask you at the visa desk what you are intending to do, and if you give them the impression that you are planning to do anything touristy, even if it just means waiting in Nairobi for a couple of days to wait for friends to arrive etc., they will not give you the transit visa. So you must say that you will go straight to wherever you are planning to go from Kenya and hope that they will give you a 7-day visa.