Air Ambulance Nairobi — ICU Medevac Flights

Nairobi · NBO / HKJK · Wilson WIL / HKNW

Nairobi functions as East Africa's referral hub, and our caseload reflects that: patients consolidated from safari camps, national parks and upcountry towns before a fixed-wing leg out of the country, alongside residents and long-term expatriates needing repatriation to Europe or specialist referral within Kenya's better-equipped private hospitals. Wildlife-related trauma, road-traffic injuries and altitude-related illness from Mount Kenya feature more here than in most of our other coverage cities.

A large share of Nairobi missions begin as a light-aircraft or helicopter transfer from a remote location into the city, so our planning treats that first leg as part of the same case, coordinating directly with camp operators and local air-ambulance operators rather than picking the story up only once the patient reaches Nairobi.

Airports used for Nairobi medical flights

• NBO / HKJK — Jomo Kenyatta International: Kenya's principal gateway, used for longer-range international repatriation once the patient has been consolidated in Nairobi.
• WIL / HKNW — Wilson Airport: The city's general and business-aviation field, and the usual arrival point for light aircraft bringing patients in from safari camps and upcountry airstrips.

Medical cabin options

• Light medical/turboprop — The consolidation leg from safari camps and upcountry airstrips into Wilson Airport, suited to shorter unpaved-strip operations.
• Midsize medical jet — Regional East African and shorter Gulf-bound sectors with equipment and escort capacity.
• Large-cabin medical jet — European repatriation where the team needs full working space for the sector.
• Commercial medical escort — Stable patients able to travel seated, accompanied by a physician or flight nurse.

Medical corridors flown from Nairobi

• Safari camps & upcountry airstrips ↔ Nairobi — The initial consolidation leg, typically flown by light aircraft into Wilson before onward international transfer.
• Nairobi ↔ London / other European cities — Repatriation of European visitors and expatriate residents, and treatment travel for Kenyan residents.
• Nairobi ↔ Dubai / Doha — Referral to Gulf specialist centres, an increasingly used route for complex cases.
• Nairobi ↔ Regional East African capitals — Cross-border referral within East Africa where Nairobi's private hospitals offer capability not locally available.

Bed-to-bed ground transfers

• Coordination with the originating safari camp or lodge is treated as part of the mission from the outset, since the light-aircraft leg into Wilson is often the piece that determines overall timing.
• Ground ambulance and handover between Wilson Airport and Nairobi's private hospitals is arranged in advance, and again between Nairobi and Jomo Kenyatta for onward international transfer.
• Receiving-hospital acceptance abroad is confirmed in writing before the international sector is committed, once the patient has been stabilised in Nairobi.

Documentation and clearances

• Kenyan exit documentation and any required medical clearance are checked at enquiry stage for the patient and accompanying family.
• Travel-insurance authorisation is typically required early for safari and tourism-related cases, alongside standard medical records and a fit-to-fly assessment.
• Destination-country entry requirements are verified in parallel, particularly for onward repatriation to Europe or the Gulf.

Costs

Medical flights are quoted per case. Distance, aircraft category, medical crew and equipment, permits, positioning and the dates all move the figure, so a published rate would not be accurate. You receive a written quotation with the configuration set out before anything is committed.

Related pages

• Medevac coverage — all cities
• Air ambulance services
• International medical repatriation
• Medevac & air ambulance overview

Frequently asked questions

Can you evacuate a patient from a safari camp?

Yes, this is a core part of our Nairobi work. We coordinate directly with the camp operator on the light-aircraft leg into Wilson Airport before arranging the onward international transfer.

Which Nairobi airport is used for medevac flights?

Wilson Airport (WIL) is the usual arrival point for patients coming in from upcountry locations; Jomo Kenyatta International (NBO) is used for the longer-range international leg.

Do you handle Mount Kenya or wildlife-related trauma cases?

Yes, these are a recognised part of our East African caseload, and we plan the consolidation flight and Nairobi hospital handover accordingly.

Can you repatriate an expatriate resident from Nairobi?

Regularly, most commonly to Europe, with the mission planned bed-to-bed and the receiving hospital confirmed before the international sector is committed.

How quickly can a Nairobi medevac be arranged?

Timing depends heavily on the originating location — a remote camp adds a consolidation leg that a city hospital case would not need. We will give you a realistic plan once we know the starting point.

How do I request a Nairobi air ambulance?

Call +1 650 550 2734 at any hour or email charter@mega.aero with the patient's location (including camp or lodge name if applicable), condition and destination.

Missions are flown by registered third-party operators with medically configured aircraft. Clinical acceptance by the receiving facility, crew and equipment suitability, permits and weather all govern departure.

Medevac services · Contact the 24/7 medical operations desk · charter@mega.aero