Leaving Masai Mara: Nairobi Airport Layover with Our Baby

After our Masai Mara safari, we faced a long layover at Nairobi Airport with our baby. Here’s how we managed the wait and what to expect.

Main Journey
Events
Tips for Traveling with a Baby
Local Travel Tips
Travel Reflections

Main Journey

After our final game drive in the Masai Mara, it was time to head back to Nairobi. Saying goodbye to the animals and wide open plains was harder than expected. But Sweetie was in good spirits, and her energy made the long journey feel a little lighter.

The drive from the Masai Mara to Nairobi is no joke. Hours on bumpy roads, endless views of dry landscape, and not many stops in between. Up until now, Sweetie didn’t have her own seat—she sat on our laps throughout all the safari rides. But halfway through the drive back, a few people got off, and finally she had her own seat. You should’ve seen her face—pure joy. And honestly, we were just as relieved.

Events

We arrived in Nairobi a little after 3:30pm. The city was surprisingly modern—tall buildings, crowded roads, and a downtown that looked very different from the quiet safari lodges we had gotten used to. Compared to where we stayed before, this part of Nairobi even felt safe.

Since we had pre-booked our airport drop-off with the safari tour company, we didn’t waste any time. Straight from the city to the airport. But here’s where things started getting… complicated.

Our flight from Nairobi to Egypt wasn’t until 5:50am the next day. We had originally expected a 4:30am flight, and even that felt like a long wait. But now we were staring at over 12 hours of airport time.

And let me tell you—Nairobi Airport is small. Much smaller than we imagined.

The airport is split into several small terminals. When we first tried to enter the EgyptAir terminal (1C), a staff member actually stopped us. He told us it was too small inside, there weren’t enough chairs, and no real facilities—so we should just wait outside until closer to boarding.

Curious (and a little stubborn), we managed to slip inside briefly just to check. And he was right. It was tiny. No seats. No shops. Nothing but silence and empty walls. We looked at each other like, “Why did we come in?” and politely told the security guard we needed dinner. Back out we went.

We walked over to another terminal where at least there were a few restaurants open 24/7. Not the best food—we joked that even the airport steak in Harare, Zimbabwe, had been a hundred times better—but it was warm, and it gave us something to do.

We set up camp for the long night ahead. We fed Sweetie, gave her some screen time with her favorite videos, and tried to keep her entertained as much as we could. I felt guilty not being able to play with her more, but these kinds of waits are just part of world travel with a baby.

As Julie rested, I took the chance to catch up on our travel journal. Writing helped pass the time. Still, every few minutes I kept glancing at the clock, hoping the hours would fly.

Tips for Traveling with a Baby

Spending 12+ hours in a small airport with a toddler isn’t easy. Here are the big lessons from that night:

Don’t count on airport facilities
Nairobi Airport is small and lacks comfortable seating, especially before check-in opens. Be ready to wait outside or in another terminal.
Bring food and snacks
There are restaurants, but food quality is low and overpriced. Pack snacks for your baby and yourselves.
Prepare for long waits with entertainment
Download videos, games, or picture books in advance. Sweetie’s favorite videos saved us more than once.
Use this time for quiet activities
Coloring books, stickers, or simple puzzles can help pass time in a calm way while waiting for a red-eye flight.

Local Travel Tips

If your Kenya trip ends in Nairobi, here’s what to keep in mind:

Plan ahead for long layovers
If your flight is very late, consider booking a day-use hotel or lounge access if available. Nairobi Airport isn’t designed for long layovers.
Security checks are frequent
At one point on the way to the airport, we were all asked to exit the car and pass through a security checkpoint on foot while the car was inspected.
Don’t expect full airport access early
Terminal staff may restrict entry to your gate area until shortly before departure. Confirm timing with your airline.
Be flexible and patient
Travel in Kenya often means long drives and longer waits. Things don’t always move fast, but they do move eventually.

Travel Reflections

This day marked the end of our Kenya adventure, and it left us with a strange mix of emotions. We’d seen incredible wildlife, experienced raw landscapes, and pushed ourselves through rough roads, sleepless nights, and unpredictable schedules—all with Sweetie by our side.

Looking back, we barely scratched the surface of Kenya outside the Masai Mara. And yet, we were okay with that. We had designed this trip around our baby’s comfort, with short drives, limited transfers, and guided tours instead of intense overland travel.

Next time we come to Africa, maybe it’ll just be Julie and me. We’ll go deeper, wider, and rougher. But for now, this was our family’s first African chapter—and we’ll never forget it.

Even the tiniest airport, the worst food, or the longest night feels worth it when you’re writing your story together.