You have been planning to go on a road trip from Nairobi to Nanyuki as you enjoy the beautiful view of Mt. Kenya and the Laikipia plains. So you fuel your car and off you go. Or you have wanted to go to Mombasa by the train as you enjoy the wildlife view at the Tsavo National park. Or you often commute for work between Kisumu and Nakuru by bus. Sometimes you catch a flight from Malindi to Nairobi.

Most people have had to travel from one town to another, or from one county to another within the same country either for business, work, leisure, medical attention, school or to visit friends and relatives. Travelling is what people do to move from one place to another.

This can be done either by a car, bus, train, boat, motorcycle or airplane.

What does domestic travel mean?

Domestic travel means a trip made by a resident of a given country within the residential country but outside the usual environment. That is any journey by a resident that does not cross international borders.

Renting a car for the weekend may be what you need to explore that road trip that’s in your bucket list while still within the comfort of your country.

In Kenya, examples of local travel;

• Flight from Kisumu to Nairobi
• A boat trip from Wasini Island to Shimoni
• A bus trip from Nairobi to Moyale
• A car trip from Nairobi to Magadi

Domestic travel is commonly referred to as domestic flights in air travel.

What to know about domestic flights

Domestic flight involves travelling within the same country borders via air travel.

Domestics flights are usually cheaper than international flight because of taxes levied by other countries as well as airspace usage known as ‘transit fees’. They are also generally shorter. Compared to what you might pay for international flight, domestic flights usually cost less. How less cost depends on the time of the year (flights are costlier during peak seasons), duration before travel (a flight ticket booked two weeks before is cheaper than a ticket bought 12 hours to travel time), airline (some airlines are cheaper)

As a resident you don’t necessarily require a passport or visa for that matter and your bags don’t go through customs and passport control or immigration inspection. In Kenya, your national ID is required- name on the identification must much the name on the boarding pass.

At the airport, you check in at the ‘Domestic Departures’ and check out at the ‘Domestic Arrivals’. These are usually separate from the International Arrival and Departures.

In Kenya there are domestic flights flying to Nairobi (JKIA and Wilson airports), Malindi, Kisumu, Eldoret, Ukunda, Mombasa

If you have never taken a domestic flight, check out the local airlines low season ticket and you could get very good bargains if you book well in advance. You’ll be impressed at the amazing scenery as you take off or land in the local towns.

Make your domestic travel to that place that you’ve never been this year and enjoy the adventure.