The research station is located in Wundanyi town, 400 km from Nairobi and 150 km from Mombasa. Both cities have international airports, and the highways and tarmac roads to Wundanyi are in relatively good condition. The Taita Research Station is located 0.5 km northwest from the Wundanyi town towards Werugha and Mbale.
How to get there?
A drive from Nairobi usually takes about seven hours to Wundanyi. Unless travelling by a private car, long distance coaches reach until Voi town, from where one can take a Matatu mini bus or a taxi to Wundanyi.
The new railway service has improved the comfort and speed of transport between Nairobi and Mombasa. The fastest Madaraka Express Passenger Service train which does not stop at any station between these two cities, departs Nairobi Terminus at 3.35 p.m. headed to Mombasa and arrives at 8.08 p.m. while the Mombasa one will be leaving the coastal city at 3.15 p.m. and arrives Nairobi at 8.08 p.m. A first class ticket to the express service costs 3,000 Ksh, and an economy class ticket 1,000 Ksh per person one way.
This Express Service also has a night train connection between Nairobi terminus and Mombasa terminus departing from the capital at 10.00 p.m. and arriving the coastal city early in the morning at 03.35 a.m. The night train from Mombasa to Nairobi follows the same timetable with departure at 10.00 p.m.
The ordinary Inter-County train from Nairobi to Mombasa via Athi River, Emali, Kibwezi, Mtito Andei, Voi, Miasenyi and Mariakani County stations departs Nairobi terminus at 08.00 a.m. every morning and arrives in Mombasa at 2.00 p.m. The scheduled arrival time of the train from Nairobi to Voi is at 12.02 p.m. so travel time is only about four hours. Voi is the nearest train station to the Taita Hills. Connecting transport from Voi railway station can be organized using a minibus "matatu" or a motorcycle "boda boda" to Wundanyi. Railway station pick up may also be requested from the research station.
The Nairobi bound Inter-County train leaves the Mombasa Terminus at 08:00 a.m. and arrives in Nairobi at 2.10 p.m. This train service is scheduled to arrive in Voi at 9.49 a.m. so travel time is less than two hours. These new train services are very popular so it is advisable to book the train tickets at least two weeks in advance. Tickets in economy class from Nairobi to Voi cost 700 Ksh and from Mombasa 290 Ksh. In first class, the fare from Nairobi to Voi is 2,130 Ksh and from Mombasa 880 Ksh.
