December 2026 · Upcountry & Christmas trips from Nairobi
Van Hire in Nairobi for December Upcountry and Christmas Trips: 14-Seater Rates and Booking Tips
Gravity Vans for Hire hires out 14-seater Toyota Hiace vans with a driver from Nairobi for Christmas trips to 23 destinations. A 1-day trip costs KES 20,000 to Naivasha or Machakos, KES 25,000 to Nakuru, Nyeri or Nanyuki, KES 30,000 to Meru and KES 35,000 to Isiolo. Longer routes are priced one way, such as Eldoret at KES 40,000 and Kisumu at KES 45,000. Prices exclude 16% VAT. Book early: the days before Christmas and the first days of January sell out first.
Prices checked 12 November 2026 · Gravity Vans for Hire
14-seater van hire prices for December 2026
Prices are per vehicle, not per seat, and every hire includes a driver. The basic rate of KES 20,000 covers a 1-day trip of up to 280 km in total, there and back, so about 140 km each way. Destinations further away cost more, in steps of KES 5,000.
| 14-seater price | Trip | Destinations |
|---|---|---|
| KES 20,000 | 1-day trip | Machakos, Murang'a, Naivasha, Embu |
| KES 25,000 | 1-day trip | Nyeri, Nakuru, Kitui, Namanga, Nanyuki |
| KES 30,000 | 1-day trip | Meru, Amboseli |
| KES 35,000 | 1-day trip | Masai Mara, Isiolo |
| KES 40,000 | One way: drop-off or pick-up | Maua, Kisii, Eldoret, Tsavo |
| KES 45,000 | One way: drop-off or pick-up | Kisumu, Kakamega, Kitale |
| KES 55,000 | One way: drop-off or pick-up | Busia |
| KES 60,000 | One way: drop-off or pick-up | Mombasa, Kilifi |
Keeping the van 3 days or more
If the van and driver stay with you, for example for a family tour over Christmas, you pay a daily rate instead: KES 25,000 per day for a 14- or 16-seater.
| Vehicle | Model | Seats | Price (per day) | With 16% VAT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7-seater minivan | Toyota Noah | 7 | Ask for price | On request |
| 10-seater van | Toyota Hiace | 10 | Ask for price | On request |
| 14-seater van | Toyota Hiace | 14 | KES 25,000 | KES 29,000 |
| 16-seater van | Toyota Hiace | 16 | KES 25,000 | KES 29,000 |
| 22-seater bus | Toyota Coaster or Mitsubishi Rosa | 22 | KES 40,000 | KES 46,400 |
| 33-seater bus | Mercedes-Benz or Isuzu | 33 | Ask for price | On request |
Within Nairobi
| Vehicle | Model | Seats | Price (per day) | With 16% VAT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7-seater minivan | Toyota Noah | 7 | Ask for price | On request |
| 10-seater van | Toyota Hiace | 10 | Ask for price | On request |
| 14-seater van | Toyota Hiace | 14 | KES 15,000 | KES 17,400 |
| 16-seater van | Toyota Hiace | 16 | KES 15,000 | KES 17,400 |
| 22-seater bus | Toyota Coaster or Mitsubishi Rosa | 22 | KES 20,000 | KES 23,200 |
| 33-seater bus | Mercedes-Benz or Isuzu | 33 | KES 30,000 | KES 34,800 |
Nairobi to upcountry: distances, drive times and prices
Sorted from nearest to furthest. Bar length shows distance; colour shows the 14-seater price.
| Route | Distance | Drive time | Trip | 14-seater | Via |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nairobi to Machakos | 1–1.5 hrs | 1-day trip | KES 20,000 | Mombasa Road, Athi River | |
| Nairobi to Murang'a | 1.5–2 hrs | 1-day trip | KES 20,000 | Thika Superhighway | |
| Nairobi to Naivasha | 1.5–2 hrs | 1-day trip | KES 20,000 | Rironi, Mai Mahiu or the escarpment road | |
| Nairobi to Embu | 2.5–3 hrs | 1-day trip | KES 20,000 | Thika, Makutano | |
| Nairobi to Nyeri | 2.5–3 hrs | 1-day trip | KES 25,000 | Thika, Sagana, Karatina | |
| Nairobi to Nakuru | 2.5–3 hrs | 1-day trip | KES 25,000 | Naivasha, Gilgil | |
| Nairobi to Kitui | 3–3.5 hrs | 1-day trip | KES 25,000 | Thika and Matuu, or Machakos | |
| Nairobi to Namanga | 2.5–3 hrs | 1-day trip | KES 25,000 | Kajiado | |
| Nairobi to Nanyuki | 3.5–4 hrs | 1-day trip | KES 25,000 | Thika, Karatina, Naro Moru | |
| Nairobi to Meru | 4–5 hrs | 1-day trip | KES 30,000 | Nanyuki, or Embu and Chuka | |
| Nairobi to Amboseli | 4–5 hrs | 1-day trip | KES 30,000 | Emali and Kimana, or Namanga | |
| Nairobi to Masai Mara | 5–6 hrs | 1-day trip | KES 35,000 | Mai Mahiu, Narok | |
| Nairobi to Isiolo | 4.5–5.5 hrs | 1-day trip | KES 35,000 | Nanyuki, Timau | |
| Nairobi to Maua | 5.5–6.5 hrs | One way | KES 40,000 | Meru | |
| Nairobi to Kisii | 6–7 hrs | One way | KES 40,000 | Narok and Bomet, or Kericho | |
| Nairobi to Eldoret | 5.5–6.5 hrs | One way | KES 40,000 | Nakuru, Timboroa | |
| Nairobi to Tsavo | 5.5–6.5 hrs | One way | KES 40,000 | Mtito Andei (Tsavo West) or Voi (Tsavo East) | |
| Nairobi to Kisumu | 6–7 hrs | One way | KES 45,000 | Naivasha, Nakuru, Kericho | |
| Nairobi to Kakamega | 7–8 hrs | One way | KES 45,000 | Nakuru, Kisumu or Kapsabet | |
| Nairobi to Kitale | 7–8 hrs | One way | KES 45,000 | Eldoret, Moi's Bridge | |
| Nairobi to Busia | 8–9 hrs | One way | KES 55,000 | Kisumu or Kakamega, Mumias | |
| Nairobi to Mombasa | 8–9 hrs | One way | KES 60,000 | Mtito Andei, Voi | |
| Nairobi to Kilifi | 9–10 hrs | One way | KES 60,000 | Mombasa, Mtwapa |
Routes by region
Western Kenya: Kisumu, Kakamega, Busia, Kisii
Trips west leave Nairobi on Waiyaki Way and the Rironi–Naivasha road to Nakuru, the usual breakfast stop. For Kisumu the driver continues through Kericho; Kakamega and Busia lie beyond Kisumu, or can be reached through Kapsabet. Kisii is often quickest through Narok and Bomet. All four are full-day drives, so plan a 5 am start.
Rift Valley: Naivasha, Nakuru, Eldoret, Kitale
Naivasha is the closest Rift Valley trip and fits in a single day there and back. Nakuru is an hour further through Gilgil. Eldoret is reached through Nakuru and over the Timboroa highlands, about 6 hours with stops, and Kitale is another 70 km through Moi's Bridge. Families heading to both Eldoret and Kitale can share one van.
Mt Kenya and Central: Murang'a, Embu, Nyeri, Nanyuki, Meru, Isiolo, Maua
Most Mt Kenya trips start on the Thika Superhighway. Murang'a and Nyeri turn off at Sagana, Embu at Makutano. Nanyuki is reached through Karatina and Naro Moru; Meru and Isiolo continue past Nanyuki, and Maua is about 70 km beyond Meru. Murang'a and Embu are within the 280 km round trip, so a visit and the drive home cost KES 20,000 for the day.
Ukambani: Machakos and Kitui
Machakos is a short run down Mombasa Road through Athi River, so a Christmas visit and return fits easily in one day. Kitui is about three hours away, through Thika and Matuu or through Machakos.
Coast: Mombasa and Kilifi
Mombasa and Kilifi are the longest Christmas drives on this list: Mombasa Road through Mtito Andei and Voi, then on past Mombasa to Kilifi. Leave Nairobi by 5 am to arrive before dark.
Parks and border: Namanga, Amboseli, Masai Mara, Tsavo
December is a popular time for family safaris. Namanga, the Tanzania border town, is on the Kajiado road; Amboseli is reached through Emali and Kimana or through Namanga. The Masai Mara is reached through Mai Mahiu and Narok. For Tsavo, Mtito Andei is the gate for Tsavo West and Voi for Tsavo East. Park entry fees are paid separately to the park.
What a December trip costs: three examples
| Trip | Price | With VAT | Per person (14) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christmas Day visit, Nairobi → Nyeri and back the same day | KES 25,000 | KES 29,000 | ≈ KES 2,071 |
| Drop-off in Kisumu on 23 December, pick-up on 2 January | KES 90,000 | KES 104,400 | ≈ KES 7,457 |
| Kisumu trip keeping the van, 24–26 December (3 days) | KES 75,000 | KES 87,000 | ≈ KES 6,214 |
For a short stay far from Nairobi, keeping the van can cost less than a separate drop-off and pick-up. Ask us to compare for your dates.
Booking tips for Christmas travel
- Book by late November. 14-seaters are the first vehicles to go for the days just before Christmas.
- Book your return at the same time. The first days of January are as busy as Christmas week.
- Leave by 5 am. You clear Nairobi before traffic builds on Waiyaki Way, Thika Road and Mombasa Road.
- Bring the luggage and gifts. Our 14-, 16- and 22-seaters have roof racks and our buses have side luggage boots, so a full van still has room for suitcases and Christmas shopping. Tell us roughly how much you are carrying.
- List every pick-up point. Collecting relatives across several estates adds time, so agree the route before travel day.
- Carry IDs. Police checks are common on highways over the holidays.
- Pay the 40% deposit early. Your van is reserved only once the deposit is paid.
What's included
- Every hire comes with an experienced, professional driver
- Fuel is included in every price
- Pickup from your home, office, hotel, JKIA or the SGR station
- Day hire, one-way transfers and multi-day trips anywhere in Kenya
- Agreed stops for food, fuel and photos on long trips
- Pro forma invoice with 16% VAT shown separately, for companies and institutions
Get your price on WhatsApp
Pick the trip and group size. We suggest the right vehicle and open WhatsApp with your details filled in.
Button not opening? WhatsApp or call us on +254 725 626 434
Tap a vehicle to choose it. Estimate only; your pro forma invoice confirms the price. Prices exclude 16% VAT.
How to book
- Send your details on WhatsApp or by phone: date, pickup point, drop-off, number of passengers and luggage.
- Get a pro forma invoice with the vehicle, price and 16% VAT shown separately.
- Pay a 40% deposit by M-Pesa or bank transfer to confirm. The balance is due before the trip.
- Receive your driver's name and number before travel day, so you can reach them directly.
December van hire: questions people ask
How much does it cost to hire a 14-seater van from Nairobi upcountry in December 2026?
It depends on the destination. A 14-seater with driver costs KES 20,000 to Naivasha or Machakos, KES 25,000 to Nakuru, Nyeri or Nanyuki, KES 30,000 to Meru and KES 35,000 to Isiolo for a 1-day trip. Kisumu is KES 45,000 and Eldoret KES 40,000 one way. Prices exclude 16% VAT.
What does the 280 km rate mean?
KES 20,000 covers a 1-day trip of up to 280 km in total, there and back: about 140 km each way. That includes Machakos, Murang'a, Naivasha and Embu. Places further away are priced by distance.
Is the price for a trip there and back the same day?
For destinations up to about 280 km from Nairobi, such as Nyeri, Nakuru, Meru or Isiolo, the price is for one day with the van: a drop-off, a pick-up, or there and back the same day. For longer routes such as Kisumu, Eldoret or Mombasa, the price is one way: a drop-off or a pick-up.
Can you drop us upcountry before Christmas and collect us after New Year?
Yes. That is two one-way trips: for Kisumu, KES 45,000 to drop you and KES 45,000 to collect you, plus VAT. For a short stay, keeping the van at KES 25,000 per day (3 days or more) can cost less.
How early should I book a van for Christmas?
Book by late November or the first week of December. The days just before Christmas and the first days of January are usually the busiest, and 14-seaters are booked first.
How many people and how much luggage fit in a 14-seater?
Up to 14 passengers plus the driver, with all their luggage. Our 14-, 16- and 22-seaters have roof racks that carry a lot of luggage, and our buses have side luggage boots, so suitcases, Christmas shopping and gifts all come along.
Can the van pick up family members from different places in Nairobi?
Yes. Agree the pick-up points when you book, for example Rongai, Kitengela or Ruaka, and allow extra time for each stop.
Do you go to the Masai Mara, Amboseli and Tsavo?
Yes. A 14-seater costs KES 30,000 to Amboseli, KES 35,000 to the Masai Mara and KES 40,000 to Tsavo. Park entry fees are paid separately to the park.
How do I confirm the booking?
Send your dates, route and group size, receive a pro forma invoice, and pay a 40% deposit by M-Pesa or bank transfer.
Choose your vehicle
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