ABF 2026 X WTS 4.0 · Nairobi Travel Guide
Your guide to
Nairobi.
Everything you need to arrive, stay, and thrive in Kenya’s capital — your complete companion for Africa’s largest blockchain gathering, October 15–17, 2026.
Dates
Oct 15–17, 2026
Venue
Sarit Expo Centre
Theme
Building Africa's Digital Blueprint
Delegates
3,000+ expected
Nairobi at a glance
$30
Kenya eTA · valid 90 days
≈ KES 130
to US $1 · M-PESA
UTC+3
East Africa Time
24–26°C
October daytime
240V
Type G plugs (UK)
15–20 km
NBO → Westlands
Getting there
Flights & entry to Nairobi
Two things to lock in before you travel: your Kenya Airways delegate fare, and an approved eTA. Here is everything for a frictionless arrival at JKIA.
Official Airline Partner
Fly Kenya Airways on a delegate fare
Discount details:
Africa: 12% off
Europe & Americas: 8% off
Domestic Kenya: 5% off
Travel Details:
Festival Dates: 15-17 October 2026
Travel Period: 8-24 October 2026
01 · Flying to Nairobi
Touchdown at JKIA
Jomo Kenyatta International (NBO) is Kenya’s primary hub — 15 km from the city, connected to four continents. The hall runs 24/7 and clears eTA holders fast.
15–20 km
to Westlands
30–60 min
allow for traffic
24 / 7
immigration hall
4
direct continents
Getting from the airport
Uber / Bolt
Book in-app from arrivals · ≈ $12–20 · safest for first-timers
Hotel transfer
Arrange ahead with your hotel · fixed price · meets you at arrivals
Official airport taxi
Licensed desks in the hall · ≈ $25–35 · agree the fare first
Car hire
Desks at the terminal · best if you plan day trips out of the city
Security — only use Uber, Bolt or a pre-arranged hotel transfer. Politely decline informal taxi offers inside the terminal.
02 · Visa & Entry
The Kenya eTA, simplified
Kenya replaced its eVisa with the Electronic Travel Authorization in 2024. Every visitor needs an approved eTA before departure — airlines can deny boarding without one.
Fee
$30 flat · all visitor types
Official portal
etakenya.go.ke
Processing
24–72 hours
Validity
90 days from approval
Apply
7–10 days before travel
Payment
Visa or Mastercard
What you need to apply
Passport valid 6+ months beyond departure
Clear scan of your passport biodata page
Recent passport photo, white background
Return or onward flight booking
Proof of Nairobi accommodation
Business: an ABF letter of invitation
Request your ABF 2026 invitation letter once confirmed — it supports your eTA and may be asked for at immigration.
Recommended connection hubs
West Africa
Direct on Kenya Airways, or via Addis Ababa
East Africa
Direct regional flights — under 2 hours
Europe
Direct · Kenya Airways flies LHR–NBO
North America
Connect via Amsterdam, London or Addis
Middle East
Emirates & Qatar Airways fly direct
Southern Africa
Kenya Airways & South African Airways direct
eTA exemptions
EAC citizens — Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan & the DRC — need no eTA. Most other African Union nationals are fee-exempt but must still apply. Confirm at etakenya.go.ke.
On arrival
Have your approved eTA (printed or on your phone), passport, return ticket and proof of accommodation ready. Tip: save your eTA as a PDF offline — mobile data may be unavailable at the counter.
Around town & money
Getting around & spending
Uber and Bolt are the reliable, affordable way to move through Nairobi. The city runs on the shilling — cards in hotels and malls, cash and M-PESA everywhere else.
Staying in Westlands? The venue is a 5-minute ride.
Sarit Expo Centre sits inside the Sarit Centre complex in Westlands — book a hotel nearby and skip the commute entirely during the three event days.
Typical Uber / Bolt fares
NBO Airport → Westlands
KES 1,500–2,500
Within Westlands
KES 200–400
Westlands → CBD
KES 400–700
Westlands → Karen
KES 900–1,400
CBD → Nairobi NP gate
KES 600–1,000
Hourly hire (in town)
KES 1,200 / hr
Airport → Karen
KES 2,500–3,500
Daily budget · per person
Budget
Hostels, matatus, local eats
$40–60
Mid-range
3–4★ hotel, Uber, restaurants
$80–130
Business
4–5★ hotel, dining, day trips
$180–280
Luxury
5★ suites, private guides, fine dining
$350+
Exchange rates · mid-2026
US $1
≈ KES 130
EUR 1
≈ KES 140
GBP 1
≈ KES 165
CAD 1
≈ KES 95
NGN 1,000
≈ KES 90
ZAR 1
≈ KES 7
Best rates at major banks (Equity, KCB). Skip airport bureaus; ATMs are widespread in Westlands. M-PESA mobile money is accepted almost everywhere.
Good to know · getting around
Book Uber & Bolt only
Both work perfectly in Nairobi — cheaper and safer than street taxis.
Avoid informal taxis
Decline unmarked cars; never share your live location with a stranger.
Matatus are cheap & colourful
Fun for the adventurous, but crowded — not ideal with luggage.
Build in buffer
Nairobi traffic is heavy 7–9am & 5–7pm — leave early for sessions.
ABF delegate shuttle — a service between partner hotels and the venue is planned; schedule confirmed closer to the event.
Money tips
Carry some cash
Keep KES on hand for markets, tips and small purchases.
Use safe ATMs
Withdraw inside malls or bank lobbies — not street-facing machines.
Tell your bank
Flag your travel dates so cards aren’t blocked for overseas use.
Tipping is appreciated, not mandatory — 10% at restaurants if no service charge, round up Uber fares, and tip safari guides and porters in cash.
Stay & eat
Where to stay & eat
Base yourself in Westlands — the dining and business hub, closest to the Sarit Expo Centre. Then eat your way through a city that runs from rooftop fine-dining to smoky nyama choma.
Westlands · the delegate’s base
Westlands
Recommended
Nairobi’s dining & business hub. The venue sits in the Sarit Centre complex here — many hotels are a short walk away, so you can skip the commute entirely during the three event days.
Kilimani
Quieter and residential, with great boutique stays. Very safe; a short hop to Westlands & the CBD.
Upper Hill
The financial district — ideal for business-focused delegates, close to embassies.
Karen
Leafy and peaceful, 20–30 min out. Best if you’re pairing ABF with a safari extension.
CBD
Budget options, but heavy traffic — best avoided after dark for first-time visitors.
Luxury
USD 150–350 / night
5★ · Westlands
Hyatt Regency
Premier MICE hotel — a 570 sqm pillarless ballroom, 10 meeting rooms and multiple restaurants.
5★ · Westlands
JW Marriott
Sophisticated rooms, outdoor pool and strong conference infrastructure; steps from the National Museum.
5★ · Westlands
Sankara · Autograph
Boutique luxury with local character — rooftop pool, Graze steakhouse, curated experiences.
5★ · Westlands
Villa Rosa Kempinski
Landmark property with spa and fitness, within the Westgate Mall complex for easy shopping.
Business & mid-range
USD 80–150 / night
4★ · Westlands
Park Inn by Radisson
Five meeting rooms, a rooftop pool bar and a business-district address. Great value, free WiFi.
4★ · Westlands
Novotel Westlands
Reliable Accor property with The Green Room — a solar-powered conference facility.
4★ · South C
Eka Hotel
Ten minutes from JKIA and highly rated by conference-goers — ideal for late arrivals.
ABF Partner Rate
Coming soon
ABF 2026 is negotiating accommodation packages and partner rates. Watch the site for confirmed deals.
Book early — October is shoulder season but business-travel demand is high. Rates climb as the dates approach; reserve at least 6–8 weeks ahead.
Food & dining
The national feast
Pull up a chair for nyama choma
Smoky, slow-grilled meat shared straight off the board — Nairobi’s defining meal. Pair it with ugali, fresh tilapia, sweet mandazi and a cup of Kenyan AA coffee.
Nyama Choma
Ugali
Tilapia
Mandazi
Kenyan AA Coffee
Brazilian Churrasco
Fogo Gaucho
All-you-can-eat steakhouse and one of Nairobi’s top tables. Book ahead.
Nikkei Fusion
INTI
Japanese-Peruvian with stunning city views — splurge-worthy ceviche.
Modern Kenyan
Nyama Mama
Local flavours with a creative twist, in a contemporary setting.
All-day Café
Artcaffe
The go-to for coffee, pastries and a working breakfast. Many locations.
Seafood
BigFish Westlands
Fresh tilapia, prawns and coastal fish. Great value, no-frills.
International
Urban Eatery
PwC Tower ground floor — popular for business lunches, good Wi-Fi.
Café + Tech Hub
The Node
Catch up on work between sessions over Kenyan & global plates.
Rooftop Mexican
Taqueria at Fonda
Sarit Centre rooftop — great margaritas, tacos and city views.
Coffee culture — Kenya grows some of the world’s finest Arabica. Order a single-origin AA pourover at Dormans, Nairobi Coffee Exchange or Java House.
Things to do & see
Experience the city
Walk the giraffe centre, explore Nairobi’s rooftop bars, catch a sunset safari, browse the city’s markets, or hike in Hell’s Gate. The three event days connect you to delegates — the evenings connect you to Kenya.
Step into the wild
Day trips out of the city
Nairobi NP is 30 min away — the only game reserve inside a capital. Book a half-day safari, spot lions and zebras, and be back for evening drinks. Hell’s Gate (2 hours) offers zip-lining and rock-climbing. Karen Blixen Museum preserves colonial literary history.
Nairobi NP
Hell’s Gate
Giraffe Sanctuary
Sheldrick Elephants
Karen Blixen
Where Nairobi shops
Markets & artisan districts
Maasai Market (Westlands) for curated crafts and jewellery — Tuesday–Thursday are best. Kibera has emerging visual artists. The DAK gallery district along Kenyatta Ave hosts contemporary work. First Friday Art shows in Runda.
Maasai Market
Kibera Arts
DAK Gallery
GoDown Arts Centre
Coffee Tour
Roasted Beans
Farm-to-cup tasting at a Nairobi roastery.
Street Food
Westlands Food Walk
Guided street-food crawl with a local chef.
Business
Tech Hub Tour
See the start-up scene & innovation spaces.
Night Life
Rooftop Bars
City views, sunset cocktails, live music.
Culture
Karen Blixen Museum
The Out of Africa colonial homestead.
Sport
Golf at Muthaiga
Championship course, diplomats’ playground.
Wellness
Spa Day
Thermal treatments and Nairobi pampering.
Dining
Foraging Experience
Farm-to-table ingredient sourcing.
Delegate info
Everything for the three days
Where to be, who to call, and what to tick off before you land at the Sarit Expo Centre.
The venue & logistics
Sarit Expo Centre
Westlands · Nairobi, Kenya
Event dates
October 15–17, 2026
Registration
africablockchainfestival.com
Event app
Download link — coming soon
Delegate shuttle
Partner hotels ↔ venue — TBC
Useful contacts
ABF general
info@africablockchainfestival.com
Website
africablockchainfestival.com
Nairobi emergency
999 or 112
Tourist police
+254 20 604767
Aga Khan Hospital
+254 20 366 2000 · 24h
Kenya Airways
kenya-airways.com
eTA support
etakenya.go.ke
Your pre-departure checklist
Register for ABF 2026 at africablockchainfestival.com
Apply for the Kenya eTA (7–10 days before travel)
Book Kenya Airways flights with the ABF promo code
Request your ABF letter of invitation
Book accommodation early — rates rise toward October
Download the ABF event app when available
Buy a Safaricom SIM on arrival at NBO
Install Uber and Bolt before you fly
Check your government’s Kenya travel advisory
Travel insurance with medical-evacuation cover
Be part of Africa’s Largest Blockchain Festival
