About Aero Club of East Africa
The dozen rooms at the old Aero Club of East Africa, at Nairobi’s domestic Wilson Airport are available for ...
... non-members and make a very convenient base if you’re flying out of Wilson the next morning – or if you've just arrived at Wilson and won't be leaving Nairobi until the next day. The convivial bar is a real bonus. Java House Aero Club is open from 06:30 to 21:00 for meals and snacks.
Staying at the Aero Club is a very reasonable, secure option for those on more of a budget. The club interior is quirkily interesting, the shady grounds are very pleasant and the excellent restaurant and bar are dependable.
Accommodation
15 rooms
Children
Fine for all ages.
Open
All year
Activities
4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Cultural excursion
Elephant encounter
Traveller reviews of Aero Club of East Africa
35 real, un-edited reviews from Expert Africa's travellers.
Arrived 12 Feb 2025, 1 nights
"Good first night choice"
Overall rating: Good
Arrived 3 Jan 2024, 1 nights
"Aero Club of East Africa review"
Overall rating: Excellent
Arrived 13 Jun 2023, 1 nights
"Aero Club of East Africa review"
Overall rating: Excellent
Arrived 19 May 2023, 1 nights
"Aero Club of East Africa review"
Overall rating: Excellent
Arrived 13 Sep 2022, 1 nights
"Aero Club of East Africa review"
Overall rating: Good
Arrived 26 Jul 2022, 1 nights
"Oasis of familiarity and comfort"
Overall rating: Excellent
Arrived 2 Feb 2022, 1 nights
"Aero Club of East Africa review"
Overall rating: Excellent
Arrived 14 Oct 2021, 1 nights
"Aero Club of East Africa review"
Overall rating: Excellent
Arrived 8 Jan 2020, 1 nights
"Convenient stay at Aero Club"
Overall rating: Good
Arrived 5 Dec 2019, 1 nights
"Funky place with character near Wilson"
Overall rating: Good




















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Just ideas, we'll always tailor-make a trip for you


Gabar Goshawk Fly-in Safari
7 days • 3 locations • 1 country
NAIROBI AIRPORT TO NAIROBI AIRPORT
Experience Amboseli and Laikipia during this economically priced safari. Two simple camps offer adventure before a stopover in Nairobi and a final stay in the charming, wildlife-rich Il Ngwesi Eco-Lodge.
Visiting Laikipia, Nairobi and 1 other area
US$6,580 - US$6,580 per person
Aero Club of East Africa: Our full report
The dozen rooms at the old Aero Club of East Africa, at Nairobi’s domestic Wilson Airport are available for ...
... non-members and make a very convenient base if you’re flying out of Wilson the next morning – or if you've just arrived at Wilson and won't be leaving Nairobi until the next day. The convivial bar is a real bonus. Java House Aero Club is open from 06:30 to 21:00 for meals and snacks.
With connections between Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and Wilson Airport often taking well over an hour, depending on traffic, the option of taking a room for the night at Wilson has some appeal. If you're a flying enthusiast, then you'll probably enjoy every minute of it: during the day you can watch small planes through the fence, taking off and landing to your heart's content.
The club gates are on the main Wilson Airport road that runs inside the perimeter fence. Once through a basic security check your vehicle will park in the shady car park just in front of the old main building. A simple reception desk, sofa and notice boards comprise the reception area, with toilets to one side, the members’ bar to the left and the main lounge and restaurant straight ahead. To one side of the Aero club restaurant, there’s a pleasant terrace with further dining tables and chairs, and then the lawned rear gardens with further seating and tables under the trees and a 10-metre, rectangular, unheated swimming pool.
The interior of the club is replete with African aeronautical ephemera, photos, trophies, a large display cabinet and some quite large pieces of aircraft hardware.
The general style of the 12 rooms at the Aero Club is that of a comfortable boarding house or hostel, with no frills. They have two standards of rooms, the Old Wing close to the airport perimeter road and the New Wing a little further back in the grounds. There’s not much of a price difference, but the Old Wing, being close to the busy Langata Road, can be noisy with traffic at almost any time of the day or night. In the Old Wing, rooms #1 to #4 are small singles, and rooms #5 and #6 modest doubles. In the New Wing, rooms #7 to #12 can be set up as twins or doubles. Rooms #11 and #12 are larger, and probably the best rooms at the club. Room #10 is flamboyantly decorated in huge wall murals and posters depicting fighter planes and the like, installed by the Swedish aircraft manufacturer Saab after an air show. All the rooms have mosquito nets, clothes hanging space, TVs with rather poor reception and limited channels, dubious old room phones, tea and coffee-making kits and jugs of drinking water.
The simple tiled bathrooms have walk-in showers, single basins, flush loos and mini soaps, but no other toiletries. The towels were freshly laundered and reasonably good. There’s adequate lighting and UK-style sockets for charging. Mains electricity, although subject to occasional power cuts, is in theory on 24-hours a day.
The club’s check-out time is 10:30 and you’ll need to clear it with the manager or receptionist if you need to stay longer. They may require you to pay a late checkout fee or a day room rate.
Your main activities here are likely to be packing and preparing for travels, but if you have some time on your hands, the pool would be nice on a hot afternoon. The club also has two squash courts (available on a first-come-first-served basis) and a half-size snooker table.
Geographics
- Location
- Nairobi, Kenya
- Ideal length of stay
- 1 night
- Directions
- The Aero Club is located inside the precincts of Wilson Airport, a one- or two-minute taxi ride from arrival and departure areas.
- Accessible by
- Fly-and-Transfer
Food & drink
- Usual board basis
- Room Only
- Food quality
- The Aero Club is host to an outlet of a local coffee shop chain, Java Coffee House, which provides light meals and snacks all day from 06:00 to 21:00.
As well as snacks, burgers, fish and chips, all-day breakfasts, sandwiches and salads, there's quite an extensive international menu, plus daily specials chalked up on the blackboard. An excellent breakfast (which is an additional cost to your room and is settled at the club) can be served from 06:00, and last orders for dinner are taken at 21:00.
Our "Full English" breakfast (US$13) was extremely good, and came with toast and excellent preserves on the side. For meals and snacks throughout the day, there's plenty of choice, including vegetarian options and some tempting main course salads.
The main Aero Club bar is open until midnight ("or until the last person leaves") but only serves basic bar snacks like crips and peanuts. - Dining style
- Individual Tables
- Dining locations
- Indoor and Outdoor Dining
- Drinks included
- Drinks from the bar are reasonably priced - beers US$3 and bottled water by the litre US$2.50.
Children
- Attitude towards children
- Children are welcome
- Property’s age restrictions
- None.
- Special activities & services
- There is an unheated swimming pool in the garden near the restaurant/bar terrace. Under 12s must be supervised as there is no lifeguard. The restaurant does a small children's menu (most dishes around US$8).
- Equipment
- They have high chairs but no baby cots.
- Generally recommended for children
- We think the Aero Club is fine for a brief family stays, but parents should bear in mind that this is a private members' club and noisy children may prove unpopular with some members.
Communications
- Power supply notes
- There is a backup generator.
- Communications
- There are room phones but they don't work very well. Mobile coverage is good, though you're only allowed to use mobiles in your room or in the gardens, not in the clubhouse, bar or restaurant. Free Wi-fi is provided with no password protection. Members and temporary members are not allowed to make illegal downloads.
- TV & radio
- Guest rooms have old-fashioned TVs with a limited range of channels - NTV, Family, Citizen, KBC/TV Africa, KTN. The TV in the members' lounge has MNet satellite service. You're not allowed to play music around the public areas - keep your headhpones in!
- Water supply
- Mains
- Water supply notes
- The tap water comes from Nairobi's mains supply and is not recommended for drinking. Solar and electric water heaters provide hot water for each room block. Water pressure is variable.
Bottled water is sourced in large bottles and put into jugs in the rooms.
Health & safety
- Malarial protection recommended
- Yes
- Medical care
- There is a first-aid box at the Aero Club and medical facilities are available within Wilson Airport.
- Dangerous animals
- Low Risk
- Security measures
- As well as the secure perimeter fence around Wilson Airport, there is a 24-hour askari at the Aero Club gate.
- Fire safety
- Fire extinguishers are scattered around the club premises and rooms. Fire training takes place every so often.
Activities
4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Cultural excursion
Elephant encounter
Extras
- Disabled access
- On Request
- Laundry facilities
- There is an extra charge for laundry but costs are reasonable - for example US$1.20 for a shirt and US$0.50c for underwear. Clothes are ironed and will be delivered after 24 hours.
- Money
- A very limited foreign exchange is available. There are no safes in the rooms and while valuables could be left with the receptionist on duty or the manager if available, this is not the norm. Security at this private members' club is considered to be very good.
- Accepted payment on location
- Credit cards – Visa, MasterCard and Amex – are accepted with no surcharge.
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Aero Club of East Africa's location
Look closer at the environment and surroundings of Aero Club of East Africa.
Excursions from Aero Club of East Africa
Optional extra day-trips and excursions possible whilst you're staying at Aero Club of East Africa. Talk to us: these are usually best arranged before you go.

Nairobi Elephant Orphanage visit
One hour, by pre-booking only
Visit the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Elephant Orphanage for a close-up encounter with elephant orphans – and sometimes rhino orphans. You can visit during daily between 11:00 and 12:00, or make special arrangements for a private visit in the afternoon.
More about Elephant Orphans visit
Nairobi Giraffe Centre visit
One hour visit is generally recommended
Visit the AFEW Giraffe Centre for an eyeball-level encounter with gentle Rothschild giraffes. They visit this tree-level platform to be fed pellets.
More about Giraffe Centre visit
Safari in Nairobi National Park
Half day - AM or PM, or full day
It is truly remarkable that the plains and woodland of Nairobi National Park, an area of around 70km² (some 17,000 acres) should exist in a near-natural state so close to the city that in any other conurbation they would just be suburbs.
More about Nairobi Nat. Park SafariOther lodges in Nairobi
Alternative places to stay in this same area.

Four Points Nairobi Airport
The Four Points by Sheraton, set within the perimeter of Nairobi International Airport, is ideally located for a first or last night in Kenya.

The Emakoko
The Emakoko is a luxurious, owner-managed safari lodge in a beautiful gorge on the edge of Nairobi National Park.

Crowne Plaza Nbi Apt
The Crowne Plaza Nairobi Airport (formerly known as the Lazizi Premiere and now part of the InterContinental Hotels Group) is the oldest hotel at Nairobi International Airport.

Eka Hotel
The Eka is an affordably priced business-class hotel in a relatively convenient location between Nairobi International Airport and Wilson Airport.

Ole-Sereni
The Ole-Sereni is a modern, stylish hotel neighbouring Nairobi National Park and located 6km from Wilson domestic airport.

Macushla House
Macushla House is a very pleasant, small, owner-managed bed and breakfast hotel in a leafy part of southwest Nairobi, very convenient for visiting the Giraffe Centre and Sheldrick's Elephant Orphanage.

Giraffe Manor
Giraffe Manor is a unique, perennially popular lodge on the outskirts of Nairobi, offering up-close-and-personal encounters with the rare Rothschild giraffes that roam its extensive grounds.

Tamarind Tree Hotel
The Tamarind Tree is a stylish international hotel in a great location next to Wilson Airport.

Karen Gables
Karen Gables is a small, high quality hotel in Nairobi with expansive gardens and only seven rooms.

Hemingways Nairobi
Hemingways Nairobi is a luxury country-house style hotel, with a spa and gym, in the wealthy suburb of Karen.

The Norfolk Hotel
The Norfolk Hotel is one of the oldest hotels in Nairobi and has a reputation for its colourful history dating back to 1904.

Nairobi Tented Camp
Nairobi Tented Camp is the only tented camp located inside Nairobi National Park, making it a great option for a true safari stay close to the city and airports.


Karen Blixen Coffee Garden and Cottages
Karen Blixen Coffee Gardens and Cottages is small luxury boutique hotel located in the peaceful suburb of Karen.

Sankara
Sankara is a strikingly built hotel in the bustling central Nairobi suburb of Westlands, primarily used as a business stay, with very good dining and leisure facilities.

Eden Nairobi
One Forty Eight is a very stylish boutique hotel in one of the leafiest corners of the southwest Nairobi suburb of Karen-Langata. The Giraffe Centre at Giraffe Manor is just a 10-minute walk away.

Ololo Safari Lodge
Ololo Safari Lodge and Farm is a luxury property on the southern edge of Nairobi National Park.

The Stanley
The Stanley is a large, traditional hotel – the oldest in Nairobi – offering a range of facilities.

Tribe
Design-led, contemporary hotel in the Village Market area of Gigiri, a largely diplomatic and luxury residential suburb 10km north of Nairobi’s central business district.

Acacia Camp
Acacia Camp is a rustic and affordable safari camp in a wildlife sanctuary a 30-minute drive towards Mombasa from Nairobi’s international airport.
When to go to Nairobi
Our month by month guide: What it's like to visit Aero Club of East Africa in Nairobi
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Kenya in January
Clear, hot days and warm nights make this high season a popular time for safaris and it’s also good for diving and snorkelling as water clarity is excellent and gets better as the dry season progresses. Most lodges and tented camps treat January after the New Year week is over, as mid-season, making it a good compromise in terms of value for money with reasonably reliable, dry weather and some greenery left in the landscape.
Expert Africa bases its description of climate and weather in January, like the other months of the year, on the climate records of roughly the last 100 years, and it's fair to say that the weather and seasons since the beginning of this century have been highly irregular and unpredictable.
- On average, January is the second driest month of the year
- Elephants dig waterholes in the dry riverbed in the Samburu reserve.
- Wildebeest and many antelope have their calving season, to February.
- Migrant birds are seen in huge numbers, especially in the Rift Valley.
- Sea water clarity around the coral reefs generally good.
Our view
Fantastic: the very best time to visit
Weather in January
Kenya in February
With the short dry season well established, the grass grazed down and wildlife gathering close to water points, this is still a good time for a safari. Good water clarity in the Indian Ocean's coastal waters makes for excellent diving and snorkelling conditions.
Expert Africa bases its description of climate and weather in February, like the other months of the year, on the climate records of roughly the last 100 years, and it's fair to say that the weather and seasons since the beginning of this century have been highly irregular and unpredictable.
- On average, February is the driest month of the year.
- It’s sometimes possible to swim with whale sharks at Diani Beach.
- Migrant birds are still seen everywhere, especially near water.
- This is usually peak calving season for wildebeest and many antelopes.
- This month is often the hottest of the year, especially on the coast.
Our view
A very good time to visit
Weather in February
Kenya in March
Hot, increasingly humid weather – with good diving and snorkelling conditions at the start of the month – gives way to rains and lower accommodation costs. Expert Africa bases its description of climate and weather in March, like the other months of the year, on the climate records of roughly the last 100 years, and predicting the seasons since the beginning of this century has been difficult.
March is the month when – traditionally – intensely hot conditions build up until a cloudburst finally happens at the end of the month or in early April, to relieve the humidity. As ever, regional variations across the country can greatly impact on visitors' experiences.
- Sea-water clarity is best for diving before the long rains start.
- Visitor numbers are low, though the Easter holidays can be busier.
- Night skies can be scintillatingly clear in early March.
- Cropped down savannah grasses can make it easier to see the wildlife.
- Temperartures climb high, especially at lower elevations.
Our view
A good time to visit, with pros & cons
Weather in March
Kenya in April
April sees the full onset of the southeast monsoon wind or kusi, which heralds the long rains. Temperatures drop soon after the rains are established and you’ll often have facilities largely to yourself in this more affordable low season, sometimes known as the "green season". The bush quickly springs to life, with greenery sprouting almost before your eyes. While you're likely to get a fair number of heavy showers, the breaks in the rain can yield sparklingly clear conditions.
With the dust settled and bright sun piercing the clouds, conditions can be sublime for photography, especially first thing in the morning or in the late afternoon with another storm brewing. You may be lucky, or you may find conditions very wet and muddy.
- A wet month, the coast often gets more than 300mm (12in) of rain.
- Sunny spells can provide great light for photography.
- Buffalo and zebra calving season often happens in this month.
- Baby crocodiles hatch, for example on Central Island in Lake Turkana.
- Palearctic migrant birds gather to fly north to breeding grounds.
Our view
A time to avoid if possible
Weather in April
Kenya in May
While game viewing can be trickier as vegetation runs riot, between the cloudbursts the colours and light are great for photography at this time of year. Expert Africa bases its description of climate and weather in May, like the other months of the year, on the climate records of roughly the last 100 years, and while it's reasonable to expect heavy rains in many parts during this month, especially on the coast, the rains don't always come evenly or in some areas come at all.
In an El Niño year, the so-called long rains that normally are established across much of the country by May can be meagre, to the despair of farmers. On the other hand in a La Niña year, the long rains can bring floods. On the coast, the monsoon winds make the climate much more predictable, with heavy rains common throughout this month.
- Frogs breed in the ponds in the Arabuko Sokoke Forest near Watamu.
- Wildebeest, impala and other grazers are in rut (the breeding season).
- Kilimanjaro looks its best as heavy rain falls as snow on the summit.
- There's a sharp peek of rainfall on the coast with many rainy days.
- Accommodation prices are uniformly low, while some camps close.
Our view
A time to avoid if possible
Weather in May
Kenya in June
The rains give way to cloudy, cooler weather, often making for comfortable conditions by the end of the month, especially in the highlands. Starting from mid-June or the beginning of July and running until the end of October, this is the high season, and accordingly has higher accommodation rates and – at least until early September – higher numbers of visitors.
While the early part of June can often be rainy on the coast, it can be a great time to go on safari, with fresh greenery, many young animals and good photographic conditions with clear air.
- The Taru Desert, inland from the coast, is carpeted with flowers.
- The Lake Turkana Cultural Festival is held in Loiyangalani.
- Madaraka Day (commemorating self rule) is 1 June.
- The annual Lewa marathon runs a course through the wildlife.
- The Diani Rules "sports" event rips up the rulebook at Diani Beach.
Our view
A good time to visit, with pros & cons
Weather in June
Kenya in July
Kenya’s “winter" season sets in (winter is a misnomer but locals feel the change), and the highlands can be rather grey. Skies are often cloudy and the days can be surprisingly cool, with an average daytime high in many highland safari areas of 15-20°C and night-time temperatures dropping below 10°C in Nairobi and the highlands. Lower parts of the country and the coast are usually warm and dry, typically reaching highs of around 25°C with lows in the high teens.
As this is the start of the high season, coinciding with the usual arrival of the wildebeest migration in the Maasai Mara, July is a busy month. Ask your Expert Africa specialist to advise on how to avoid the crowds, which is not that difficult to do.
- The wildebeest migration usually reaches the Maasai Mara in July.
- Simbi Lake (Kisumu) and Crater Lake (Naivasha) can attract flamingoes.
- Watersports start to pick up and some surfing is possible at Malindi.
- Afternoon thunderstorms are a common feature in the Maasai Mara.
- The sea can be choppy along the coast, making diving difficult.
Our view
A good time to visit, with pros & cons
Weather in July
Kenya in August
The Great Migration fills the plains of the Maasai Mara, and school’s out, so the park roads are full of tourists – ask your Expert Africa specialist for advice on crowd avoidance tactics. Choose a private conservancy rather than a public national park or national reserve for quieter conditions.
Like July, August is generally mild and relatively dry in the safari areas, but it can be very chilly in the highlands, even in the middle of the day, and hail occasionally falls above altitudes of around 2,400m (8,000ft). Nairobi can be disappointingly overcast, with low cloud.
- Apart from Christmas holidays, this is the busiest month of the year.
- Late August sees peak wildebeest drama at the Mara River crossings.
- Coastal winds are good for kite- and wind-surfing.
- Few mosquitoes are around at this generally dry time of year.
- The annual Camel Derby takes place in the Samburu capital, Maralal.
Our view
A good time to visit, with pros & cons
Weather in August
Kenya in September
The skies clearing of cloud signals the start of hot, dry weather with little chance of rain – and, after the first few days of the month, far fewer visitors – making the latter part of September a good time for a quieter safari. While early September is often good for dramatic migration crossings along the Mara River, you might consider deliberately postponing your trip until later in the month, when the migration can still be very impressive and visitor numbers fewer.
If tourist surges are somewhat predictable, however, the patterns of the wildebeest migration are more volatile, and like all of Expert Africa's climate and weather assessments, they are based on accumulated years of experience rather than guaranteed certainty.
- This is still high season, with prices to match.
- Many river crossings take place on the Mara river in both directions.
- Natural bush fires flush out insects and small animals for predators.
- The Rift Valley Music Festival takes place by Lake Naivasha.
- With school holidays over by early September, late-month is quieter.
Our view
Fantastic: the very best time to visit
Weather in September
Kenya in October
Still hot, mostly dry and not too busy, this is many people’s preferred month for a safari, and it’s also good for diving and snorkelling. The wildebeest and zebra herds of the great migration are often still to be seen, though in dwindling numbers. The swamps of Amboseli attract thirsty wildlife including large herds of elephants.
While we wouldn't expect much rain across most of the country this month, the climate has become so unpredictable that you can never say never, and the possibiity of the short rains – usually associated with November to mid-December, starting early, can't be discounted.
- This month sees the tail end of the great migration in the Mara.
- Palearctic migrant birds start to arrive, staying until March.
- Turtle nests hatch at Watamu, until November.
- Amboseli elephants focus on the swamps for their daily water.
- The Indian Ocean monsoon winds turn from southeast to northeast.
Our view
A very good time to visit
Weather in October
Kenya in November
The northeast monsoon wind or kaskazi heralds the start of the “short rains", usually some time in the second half of the month. From November to mid-December, this is the low season, and accordingly has lower accommodation rates and lower visitor numbers. Across most of the country you can expect warm, somewhat cloudy weather, with occasional heavy showers and localised flooding.
Expert Africa bases its description of the climate in November, like the other months of the year, on the records of roughly the last 100 years, and it's fair to say that the seasons since the beginning of this century have been highly irregular and unpredictable: some years the short rains don't come at all, or don't reach every part of the country. In an El Niño year, the November short rains can be very heavy, but in a La Niña year, they can fail completely.
- Swimming with dolphins in Lamu can be done from now until April.
- Birders gather at Ngulia in Tsavo West to ring Palearctic migrants.
- The Lamu Cultural Festival takes over the town and Lamu Creek.
- Agricultural shows often take place regional market towns.
- This is low season, so camps can be great value, with special offers.
Our view
A good time to visit, with pros & cons
Weather in November
Kenya in December
In a typical December, the rains usually finish by middle of the month, leaving the landscape looking its best, under clear blue skies, and heralding the start of the second peak tourist season from around 20 December to the first week of January. Our assessment of the likely weather in December, like the other months of the year, is based on climate records, and it's fair to say that the seasons since the beginning of this century have been highly irregular and unpredictable.
Christmas can sometimes be wet, but most years the rains have finished a week or two earlier, with the festive season ushering in the perfect combination of clear skies and sunshine by day and starry nights.
- Christmas and New Year are busy, with the lodges and camps full.
- Rates are highest after 24 Dec, with supplements on public holidays.
- Republic Day and Independence day are celebrated on 12 December.
- Good kite- and wind-surfing restarts, with strong northeasterly winds.
- Mango season begins, providing excitement for primates and elephants.
Our view
A good time to visit, with pros & cons
Weather in December

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