TRAVEL

1. Visas

Unless you hold an African passport, you’ll need to apply for Kenya’s electronic travel authorisation (eTA) before travelling. Visa on arrival is no longer available, so please complete this in advance.

It’s quick — about 10 minutes to fill out — and approval typically arrives within 3 working days. You can apply up to 3 months before travel, but we recommend doing it at least 2–3 weeks before your trip for peace of mind.

Apply here: https://www.etakenya.go.ke/en
Check eligibility: https://www.etakenya.go.ke/en/eta-eligibility

You’ll need:

  • Passport valid for at least 6 months

  • Recent passport photo (digital upload)

  • Flight and accommodation details

  • Reason for travel: Tourism (keep it simple)

Keep a printed or digital copy of your eTA approval to show on arrival in Nairobi.

2. Health & Vaccinations

Kenya is straightforward to travel to.

  • Yellow Fever: Only required if you’re arriving from or transiting through a YF-risk country — but it’s advisable to carry your Yellow Fever certificate regardless. Some neighbouring destinations (for example, South Africa) may require it when travelling onward from Kenya.

  • Malaria: Recommended for Amboseli — speak with your doctor about prophylaxis.

  • Routine boosters: Make sure your standard travel vaccinations are up to date.

A quick call to your travel clinic will cover it all.
And bring sunscreen — Amboseli sun doesn’t take breaks.

3. Arriving in Nairobi

Fly into Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO).

  • We recommend arriving Wednesday 27 or Thursday 28 May 2026.

  • You can land Friday morning and go straight to Amboseli, but it’ll be tight.

  • For early arrivals, there may be a casual dinner at the family home on Wednesday evening (details TBC).

4. Nairobi Hotels

Nairobi has plenty of good options, but if you’d like a few we know and trust:

  • Tribe Hotel (Gigiri): Modern, calm, close to our neighbourhood.

  • Sankara (Westlands): Central, lively, close to nightlife.

  • Nairobi Serena: Classic and dependable. Sister hotel to Amboseli Serena.

Stay where you prefer — these are just easy, reliable bases.

5. Ol Tukai Lodge, Amboseli

Amboseli National Park — where elephants wander past Mount Kilimanjaro, and where the wedding weekend unfolds.

5a. Booking Your Stay

Once you confirmed attendance with your RSVP, you should have been connected directly with Ol Tukai’s reservations team to book and pay for your room.
If you haven’t yet been contacted or are unsure, please reach out to the S&A Wedding Hotline (details below). They’ll assist you right away.

5b. Getting There

Reaching Amboseli is simple — and beautiful either way.

Option 1: Drive
We’ll be providing safari vehicles & large vans to take guests from Nairobi to Ol Tukai on Friday 29 May, coordinated by our planners.
The drive takes between 4-5 hours, with changing scenery the whole way — city, highlands, open plains.

Option 2: Fly
We’re coordinating charter flights from Wilson Airport in Nairobi directly to Amboseli.

  • Flight time: about 40 minutes

  • Cost: USD $350–400 return (user-pay)
    Indicate interest on your RSVP or contact Aura Weddings (details below).

If you choose to make your own way there, please let us know.

5c. Extending Your Stay at Ol Tukai

If you’d like to arrive before or stay on after the wedding, Ol Tukai is happy to host extended stays.
Let Aura Weddings know when you RSVP — they’ll connect you with the lodge to book directly.

Travel outside the main wedding weekend is at your own arrangement. We’re focused on group transport to and from Ol Tukai for the wedding days, but if enough people travel earlier or later, we can help coordinate vehicles between Amboseli and Nairobi.

6. Wedding & Guest Coordination

If you have any questions about the wedding plans, travel, or bookings, please contact the Aura team below:

S&A Wedding Hotline:
WhatsApp: +254 790 649 795 | Email: wedding@sylviaandadarsh.com

In case you need to get hold of the team directly, Tatiana & Valentine are your go to people at Aura:

  • Tatiana: WhatsApp +254 727 685 027

  • Valentine: WhatsApp +254 703 994 284

Late May to early June brings warm days (25–30°C) and cooler evenings under Kilimanjaro — pack a sweater or light jacket.
Early morning game drives start crisp, so a layer helps.

7. Weather & Packing

You’ll want:

  • Light, breathable clothes for the day

  • Elevated outfits for the events

  • Comfortable shoes (you’ll move between lawns, decks, and dust)

  • Swimwear

  • A hat and sunglasses

We’ll share wedding event dress themes separately.
You can bet your ass there will be themes — and we’ll be in Africa, so you don’t need to be Captain Obvious to guess the general direction. For now, think African safari summer wedding “wibes”.

8. Currency & Connectivity

Currency: Kenyan Shilling (KES)
Approximate rate: 1 USD ≈ 130–140 KES

Cards work almost everywhere; cash helps for tips and markets.
Safaricom eSIM is recommended — good data, simple setup, and works for M-Pesa (mobile money).

9. Kenya 101

Kenya is a country of about 50 million people with a deep mix of cultures, landscapes, and history. It was a British colony until 1963 and is now part of the Commonwealth, which is why English is spoken everywhere — airports, hotels, drivers, shops, parks. Swahili (Kiswahili) is the national language, and most Kenyans switch between English and Swahili without thinking.

People here are warm, direct, and helpful. Use normal common sense the way you would in any major city and you’ll find Kenya easy to move through. Nairobi runs on a modern backbone: Uber works, Bolt works, Uber Eats works, cards work, M-PESA mobile payments are universal, and logistics move faster than most visitors expect.

Amboseli runs at a different rhythm — quieter, wide-open, built around nature. Big skies, long horizons, and slow, soft evenings looking onto the plains. It’s the kind of place that doesn’t perform for you; it settles into you and stays there.

10. Language & Lingo

A few useful words go a long way. English will cover everything, but using a bit of Swahili — and a touch of Sheng (Kenyan street slang) — earns instant goodwill.

Swahili essentials

Jambo — Hello
Habari? — How are you?
Mzuri — Good
Mzuri sana — Very good
Asante — Thank you
Asante sana — Thank you very much
Tafadhali — Please
Pole pole — Slowly / gently
Karibu — Welcome / you’re welcome
Kwaheri — Goodbye
Niko sawa — I’m okay / I’m good
Sasa? — Hey / you good? → Poa / Poa sana — Cool / Very cool
Mambo? — What’s happening? → Poa — Cool / Fine
Safi sana — Nice / perfect
Twende — Let’s go
Twende kazi — Let’s get moving
Hakuna shida — No problem
Hakuna matata — No worries (yes, people genuinely still say it)
Naweza pata maji? — Can I get some water?

Sheng (Kenyan slang) + useful phrases

Vipi — What’s up
Vipi bro / Vipi manze — What’s up bro / dude
Freshi — Fresh / good vibes
Fiti / Niko fiti — Good / I’m good
Shwari — Calm / all good
Noma — Serious / intense (tone decides good/bad)
Deadly — Awesome / next-level
Sasa boss? — Hey boss (friendly)
Eish! — Expression of surprise / emphasis
Bwawa iko wapi? — Where’s the pool?
Bar iko wapi? — Where’s the bar?
Naweza pata bia nyingine? — Can I have another beer?
Harusi iko wapi? — Where’s the wedding?
Wapi rave? — Where’s the rave?
Mpesa iko? — Can I pay by M-PESA?
Tuko pamoja — We’re together / aligned
Twende kuona ndovu — Let’s go see the elephants

For anything else, please see our FAQ — it covers everything you didn’t know you needed to ask.

Still have questions?

VIEW FAQ