The Kenya Wildlife Service has announced the reopening of the Amboseli Main Airstrip nearly two months after operations were suspended due to flooding caused by heavy rainfall.
In a statement issued on Friday, KWS said the airstrip, located within Amboseli National Park, is now fully operational and safe for aircraft following a joint technical assessment conducted on May 7.
The airstrip had been temporarily closed on March 9 after heavy rains caused flooding that affected the runway and raised safety concerns for aviation operations.
KWS said the inspection confirmed that the airstrip had sufficiently recovered from the flooding and was now in good condition to support normal flight activities.
“Following the earlier advisory on the suspension of operations, a joint technical assessment was conducted on 7th May 2026. The inspection confirmed that the airstrip has sufficiently recovered from flooding and is now in good and approved condition for safe aircraft operations,” KWS said.
According to KWS, the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority has officially withdrawn the Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) that had been issued during the closure period.
“All airlines, pilots, and tour operators are therefore advised that they may resume direct flights to the airstrip without restriction,” KWS said.
“The Kenya Wildlife Service appreciates the cooperation, patience, and understanding of all stakeholders during the temporary closure.”
KWS added that it remains committed to ensuring safety in all parks and protecting both visitors and aviation operations.
During the closure earlier, the KWS mentioned on X that flight operations remain shut until the weather clears up.
“As a result, aircraft operations to the main airstrip are temporarily suspended until conditions improve, and the airstrip is deemed safe for landing and take-off,” KWS said.
The service notified the tourists, tour operators, and airlines to instead use the nearby Tawi Airstrip as the alternative landing airstrip.
It noted that the airstrip is located about 5 kilometers from the Kimana gate, located at the southeastern part of the park.
KWS commended that the airstrip would conveniently provide continued access to the park for their visitors.
Amboseli National Park remains one of the country’s most popular wildlife conservation areas and is famous for large elephant herds and its scenic landscape beneath Mount Kilimanjaro.
The Main Amboseli Airstrip is located at the centre of the park near the Kenya Wildlife Service headquarters.
The 1,180m long landing strip receives daily scheduled flights from Wilson Airport and charter flights mainly operated by AirKenya Express and Mombasa Air Safari.
