Cheap flights to Nairobi
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Quick summary
Country
Kenya
Continent
Africa
Airport
NBO
Currency
Kenyan shilling (KES)
Time zone
UTC+3 (EAT), no daylight saving
Deals already spotted to Nairobi
Real flight examples detected by SniperAir, with their reference price.
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Airport and getting into town
A major airport about 15 km out, plus a second for domestic flights
Jomo Kenyatta International (NBO)
Jomo Kenyatta International, known as JKIA, is Nairobi's main airport. Wikivoyage (EN) puts it 15 km south-east of the centre and calls it one of Africa's largest hubs; Wikivoyage (FR) ranks it first in East Africa by traffic. Airport bus no. 34 links it with the centre, per Wikivoyage (FR, DE). Wikivoyage (EN) advises using a reputable taxi or the official taxi desk just after customs; we quote no fares. A commuter train also serves the city, per Wikivoyage (DE, EN).
Wilson Airport (WIL)
Wilson Airport lies about 11 km south of the centre and handles mainly domestic flights and flights to nearby destinations such as Entebbe, Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar, per Wikivoyage (EN). SniperAir follows NBO for Nairobi.
Approximate distances, per Wikivoyage (EN). Transport services change, so check them before you go. We do not quote fares.
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya, in the south-central part of the country, per Wikipedia (EN). Its name comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, place of cool waters, and it is nicknamed the Green City under the Sun. It was founded in 1898 as a rail depot on the Uganda-Kenya Railway, chosen for its high elevation, temperate climate and water supply, according to Wikipedia (EN, ES).
Wikipedia (EN) stresses that Nairobi is the only capital in the world with a national park inside its boundaries, and the major financial hub of East Africa. Wikivoyage (EN) calls it the safari capital of Africa while noting that it has kept up with modernisation.
Landmarks
The centre and the KICC, the national park, Uhuru Park and the green city
Nairobi is both a city and a gateway to wildlife. The places below are described from the sources; the photographs show the downtown skyline, its green spaces and a giraffe against the city.
The centre and the Kenyatta International Conference Centre
The Kenyatta International Conference Centre, or KICC, offers the best far-ranging view over the sprawling city, per Wikivoyage (EN): you go up to the saucer-shaped top of its round viewing tower. What you see depends on smog and fog, the same source adds. The centre sits between the Nairobi River to the north and the Ngong River to the south, per Wikivoyage (FR).
Nairobi National Park
Nairobi National Park, opened in 1946, is Kenya's oldest park, per Wikivoyage (FR) and Wikipedia (ES), covering about 113 to 117 km², per Wikivoyage (EN, FR). It is home to large herds of zebra, wildebeest, buffalo, plus giraffe, lion, cheetah, hippo and over 400 bird species, per Wikivoyage (EN). Wikipedia (ES) puts it about 7 km from the centre.
An East African business hub
Nairobi hosts the Parliament, State House and Supreme Court, plus the headquarters of the UN Environment Programme, per Wikipedia (EN, FR). It is the main financial hub of East Africa, with the Nairobi Securities Exchange among the largest on the continent, per Wikipedia (EN). The towers of the centre rise above the greenery.
Uhuru Park and the green spaces
Uhuru Park is a spacious park in the city centre with a monument, a playground and boat rental, per Wikivoyage (EN). Uhuru Gardens on Langata Road commemorates the struggle for independence, which Kenya gained in 1963. Wikipedia (EN) also mentions the Nairobi Botanical Gardens within the National Museum grounds and John Michuki Memorial Park along the Nairobi River.
The Green City under the Sun
Nairobi sits at about 1,795 m, per Wikivoyage (EN) and Wikipedia (EN); sources differ slightly, from an average of 1,624 m to 1,800 m. The climate is tempered by altitude, per Wikipedia (DE), with cool mornings that can turn cold in the rainy seasons, per Wikivoyage (FR).
Giraffe Centre, elephant orphanage and the Karen Blixen Museum
The Giraffe Centre in Lang'ata breeds the endangered Rothschild giraffe and lets visitors feed the animals, per Wikivoyage (EN). The Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage near the national park takes in orphaned elephants from all over Kenya, per the same source, with set visiting hours that you should check before you go. The Karen Blixen Museum occupies the writer's house and appeals to readers of Out of Africa, per Wikivoyage (EN); the house is visited with a guide.
Museums and culture
Prehistory, railways, art and the cultures of Kenya
The national museum
The Nairobi National Museum, founded in 1910, explains the city's history and culture, per Wikivoyage (EN); Wikipedia (ES) says it holds a large collection of prehistoric tools, including the full remains of a Homo erectus.
Railways and gallery
The National Railway Museum tells the story of the Kenya-Uganda line and shows engines, per Wikivoyage (EN). The Nairobi Gallery presents changing exhibitions. Wikipedia (ES) also names the Rahimtulla Museum of Modern Art and the Mzizi Arts Centre.
Living culture
Bomas of Kenya shows traditional homes, dances and music, per Wikivoyage (EN). We do not quote ticket prices: Wikivoyage (EN) lists different fees by residency, and they change.
Food and drink
Ugali, nyama choma, sukuma wiki and chapati
Everyday dishes
Local restaurants serve sukuma wiki (kale), ugali (a maize-flour staple), nyama choma (roast meat) and chapati, per Wikivoyage (EN, ES).
Grilled meat
The Carnivore restaurant near Uhuru Gardens in Langata is famous for grilled meats carried round the table on skewers, per Wikivoyage (EN).
Influences
Nairobi has a large East Indian community, descendants of the railway workers, per Wikivoyage (DE), which adds to the variety of the city's tables.
Getting around
Matatus, ride-hailing apps and the commuter train
Matatus and buses
Matatus, minibuses, serve routes between the centre and the suburbs, per Wikivoyage (EN); they are convenient and cheap but involved in many accidents each year. Nairobi is the only Kenyan city with a bus network of its own, per Wikivoyage (FR).
Apps and taxis
Uber, Bolt, Little and MaraMoja are the hired-car services of choice for expatriates because of convenience and quality, per Wikivoyage (EN).
Train
A commuter train links the central station with Syokimau (Nairobi Terminus), where trains to Mombasa leave, per Wikivoyage (EN). The SGR line, opened in 2017, takes about 5 to 6 hours to Mombasa, per Wikivoyage (EN, FR, DE).
Driving caution
Wikivoyage (EN) advises travelling by day: most carjackings happen after dark, but they can occur at any hour.
Budget and precautions
Costs to confirm, and important precautions
Price level
Nairobi offers restaurants and lodging at every level, per Wikivoyage (EN). We do not quote figures, because we could not confirm them across two independent open sources.
Currency and payment
The currency is the Kenyan shilling. M-Pesa, a phone-based payment platform, is widely used across Kenya, per Wikivoyage (EN, ES), and reduces the need to carry cash.
Flights
SniperAir monitors prices to NBO and compares them with the route's history, but it does not sell or book tickets. You can also watch Zanzibar (ZNZ) or Arusha to compare.
Safety
For entry rules and safety, check your own government's official advice. Wikivoyage (EN) reports very active pickpockets, elaborate scams and snatch-and-grab thefts; stay alert and avoid secluded areas.
When to go
A highland climate tempered by altitude, with two rainy seasons
December to February
The sunniest and warmest period, with mean maximum temperatures of about 24 °C, per Wikivoyage (EN) and Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (DE) puts March as the warmest month, at 20.5 °C on average.
March to May
The first rainy season starts in late March, per Wikivoyage (FR); April is the wettest month, with 219.4 mm on average per Wikipedia (DE).
June to September
Evenings are cool, down to about 9 °C in June and July, per Wikivoyage (EN, ES). July is the coolest month, at 16.8 °C on average per Wikipedia (DE). After the first rains, skies are often overcast with drizzle until September, per Wikipedia (EN).
October to November
The second rainy season falls in November and December, per Wikivoyage (FR). Temperatures stay mild all year.
Wikipedia (DE) gives about 19 °C as the annual mean and 1,024 mm of rain a year; Wikipedia (FR) describes a highland temperate climate (Cwb). We give only orders of magnitude.
By length of stay
What to do in Nairobi depending on how long you stay
The essentials
Nairobi National Park and the KICC viewing tower, or the Giraffe Centre.
Wildlife and museums
The Giraffe Centre, the elephant orphanage, the national museum and the Karen Blixen Museum.
Safari and lakes
Excursions to Lake Naivasha, Nakuru National Park or the Maasai Mara reserve, per Wikivoyage (ES).
In pictures
Nairobi in pictures
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions about flights to Nairobi
How do I get from Nairobi airport to the centre?
Jomo Kenyatta airport is about 15 km from the centre. Use a reputable taxi or a ride-hailing app, or airport bus no. 34; check schedules before you travel.
When is the best time to visit Nairobi?
December to March is the sunniest period; rain falls from late March to June and in November and December. Evenings are cool in June and July.
Is Nairobi expensive?
It depends on the restaurants and lodging you choose. We publish no figures because we could not confirm them on two sources.
How long should I stay in Nairobi?
One to three days for the city, the national park and the museums; more with a safari.
How do I get around Nairobi?
By ride-hailing taxi, by matatu for local trips, and by commuter train to Syokimau. Travel by day if you can.
What should I eat in Nairobi?
Ugali, sukuma wiki, nyama choma and chapati.
How much does a flight to Nairobi usually cost?
The price depends mainly on your departure city, the time of year and how far ahead you book. The "opportunities" section above shows real examples of prices SniperAir has already detected to this destination.
How do I get alerted when a flight to Nairobi drops below my budget?
Create an alert profile with your departure airport, Nairobi as the destination and your maximum budget. You are notified automatically as soon as a matching price is detected.
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