By James Murimi - Reporter
Kenya, 8 May 2026 - Tourism and flight operations to Amboseli National Park are set to rebound after the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) announced the reopening of the Amboseli Main Airstrip following a prolonged shutdown caused by flooding.
The airstrip, a critical gateway for tourists visiting the world-famous park, had remained closed since March 9 after heavy rains submerged sections of the runway, forcing authorities to suspend operations.
But in a statement sent to newsrooms on Friday, KWS confirmed that the facility is now “safe and fully operational” after a joint technical inspection established that the runway had recovered from the flood damage.
“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.
The agency further revealed that the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) had withdrawn the closure notice that grounded flights to the airstrip for nearly two months.
“In view of this assessment, the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority has officially withdrawn the closure notice (NOTAM) previously issued, thereby allowing the resumption of normal flight operations to and from Amboseli Main Airstrip with immediate effect,” the statement added.
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KWS said airlines, tour operators and pilots can now resume direct flights without restrictions, a development expected to restore tourism activities and ease transport logistics into the park.
The reopening comes as the tourism sector seeks to recover from disruptions caused by extreme weather conditions that affected several parts of the country in recent months.
KWS thanked stakeholders for their “cooperation, patience, and understanding” during the closure, adding that the agency remains committed to ensuring visitor safety and efficient access to national parks.