Cheap Flights from Johannesburg to Nairobi

Travellers and cabin class

Compare Johannesburg to Nairobi flight deals

Find the cheapest month or even day of the year to fly to Nairobi

Book the best Nairobi fare with no extra fees

Flight deals from Johannesburg to Nairobi

Looking for a cheap last-minute deal or the best return flight from Johannesburg to Nairobi? Find the lowest prices on one-way and return tickets right here.

Find the cheapest month to fly from Johannesburg to Nairobi

We’re always keeping an eye on fares, so you can find the best one in seconds. It looks like Johannesburg to Nairobi flights are currently cheapest in May.

Direct flights from Johannesburg to Nairobi

Alternative Johannesburg to Nairobi routes

Looking for the cheapest, fastest or easiest route from Johannesburg to Nairobi? You could fly into the following airports instead.

Johannesburg to Nairobi: Flight information

The things to know before you go.
Cheapest flight found297 €
Cheapest month to flyMay
Average flight time4 hrs, 5 mins
Most popular airlineSouth African Airways
Average flights per week96

Finding cheap flights from Johannesburg to Nairobi: Frequently asked questions

There are 2 airports in Nairobi: Nairobi Wilson and Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta.
The best price we found for a return flight from Johannesburg to Nairobi is 297 €. This is an estimate based on information collected from different airlines and travel providers over the last 4 days and is subject to change and availability.
4 hours and 5 minutes is the average flight time from Johannesburg to Nairobi.
South African Airways, Kenya Airways and Saudia fly direct from Johannesburg to Nairobi.
As of May 2025, there are 96 flights per week flying from Johannesburg to Nairobi.
The cheapest month to fly from Johannesburg to Nairobi is usually May 2025.
If you're flying from Johannesburg, the cheapest airport near Nairobi is Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta – which is 13.2 km away from the centre of Nairobi. We've found flights into this airport from 297 €.
After crunching the numbers on our flight calendar, we found that it is currently cheapest to fly from Johannesburg to Nairobi on Wednesday, 21 May 2025.
Yes – the average flight time is 4 hours and 5 minutes.
We show every price from over 1,200 airlines and travel agents, comparing them all so you don’t have to. If you know you want to fly to Nairobi but you’re not ready to book, set up a Price Alert. We’ll track prices for you, and let you know when they rise or fall.
We crunched all the numbers in our flight calendar and it looks like the cheapest time to book a flight to Nairobi is around 40 days in advance, so don’t leave your flight to the last minute.
In May, the average temperature is usually around 20°C. April is typically the warmest month in Nairobi, when it usually averages around 27°C. You can expect the least rain in July. The coldest month is June, with temperatures averaging 13°C. The rainiest month is April.
The cheapest airline that flies to Nairobi is Ethiopian Airlines. And the cheapest airline that flies to Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta Airport is Kenya Airways.

Travelling from Johannesburg to Nairobi: what you need to know

  • Johannesburg's main base, O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB), is where countless awesome holidays begin. Explore your departure choices from here for your flight from Johannesburg to Nairobi.

  • Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) and Wilson Airport (WIL) are Nairobi's major entry points.

  • Take a direct Johannesburg to Nairobi flight and you'll be travelling for an average of 4 hours 5 minutes.

  • Nairobi is one hour ahead of Johannesburg and is in the UTC+3 timezone.

  • The busiest route for flights from Johannesburg to Nairobi is from O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO). You can select from 33 weekly services between these two airports. If you want to set off at the first opportunity, the earliest flight from JNB to NBO is the 01:15 Kenya Airways option. If you have other commitments or plans on your day of travel, the final departure is at 17:00 with Kenya Airways.

  • Give yourself plenty of time to make your Johannesburg to Nairobi flight. A good rule of thumb is to arrive two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.

  • During popular months like July, you'll want to get to the airport even earlier. Arrive two hours before a domestic departure and four hours ahead of international flights whenever you're flying during peak periods in general.

How to find the cheapest flights from Johannesburg to Nairobi

  • At the moment, 174 € is the lowest price we've seen for a one-way ticket from Johannesburg to Nairobi. The cheapest price for a return flight is 297 €. Remember fares may change due to availability at the time of booking.

  • Lock in cheap Johannesburg to Nairobi flights by booking six months ahead. Based on our research, that's the ideal time frame for bagging a bargain.

  • The best month for scoring cheap plane tickets from Johannesburg to Nairobi is September. Use the 'Whole month' tool to compare all available prices, then choose the dates offering the lowest fares.

  • You don't need to search every day to find out if fares have dropped when you set up a Price Alert. We'll update you as soon as there's a better deal on cheap flights from Johannesburg to Nairobi.

  • Tailor your trip using filters. Select your departure and arrival times, airlines and total journey duration. You can also sort the results by 'Cheapest,' 'Best' or 'Fastest' Johannesburg to Nairobi flights.

Flying from Johannesburg

O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB)

  • You can get a direct flight from Johannesburg to Nairobi leaving from O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB). Start your journey at JNB and come in for landing at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO).

  • Kenya Airways is a leading airline that offers direct Johannesburg to Nairobi plane tickets from JNB.

  • Think about adding a stopover to potentially find a cheaper Johannesburg to Nairobi flight. Just uncheck 'Direct flights only' when searching for departures from O.R. Tambo International Airport. Break up your trip (and maybe save some cash) by stopping at one of these airports:

    • Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (LUN)

    • RG Mugabe International Airport (HRE)

    • Kigali International Airport (KGL)

  • JNB is around 23 kilometres from central Johannesburg. If you're ride-sharing, catching a cab or driving from the centre, it'll take 30 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic conditions. If you're taking public transport, expect the travel time to be around 1 hour 10 minutes.

  • Need a convenient hotel close to O.R. Tambo International Airport? If you're boarding an early flight from Johannesburg to Nairobi, these accommodation options will put you moments from check-in:

  • When it comes to O.R. Tambo International Airport's on-time performance, data shows 77.1% of flights arrive within the scheduled time frame.

Arriving in Nairobi

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO)

  • Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) to central Nairobi takes about 20 minutes to reach by car. The centre is roughly 11 kilometres away.

  • If you're travelling by public transport, expect a journey time of around 1 hour 10 minutes.

  • The last thing you need is a lengthy journey to your hotel if you're getting in late on a flight from Johannesburg to Nairobi. Check in to one of these accommodation options near NBO instead:

  • Fast-track your adventure by picking up a Jomo Kenyatta International Airport rental car. Grab your wheels from Auto-Union, Green Motion or Hertz to explore Nairobi and beyond.

  • Secure the lowest price by booking your ride from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport about three weeks in advance of your trip.

Wilson Airport (WIL)

  • After your flight from Johannesburg to Nairobi has arrived, you can make your way to the city centre in around 15 minutes by car. Central Nairobi is approximately 2 kilometres from Wilson Airport (WIL).

  • You can expect the trip to take approximately 45 minutes on public transport.

  • After your flight from Johannesburg to Nairobi, tuck yourself in at a hotel near WIL. These are some great options that'll help you get into relaxation mode:

  • Land, collect your Wilson Airport rental car, and drive off without skipping a beat. Auto-Union and Unicorn rent a car are popular providers to choose from here.

  • Avoid filling out forms on the spot and save time at the rental desk by having everything prearranged. Reserve your ride from WIL a few weeks in advance so you can simply grab the keys and go.

Best time to go to Nairobi

  • February is the quietest month for flights from Johannesburg to Nairobi, while July is the busiest. Work out the ideal time to visit Nairobi based on whether you like a laid-back vibe or a more bustling atmosphere.

  • The warmest month in Nairobi is March, with temperatures ranging between 14ºC (57ºF) and 30ºC (86ºF). Lock in your Johannesburg to Nairobi ticket then if you enjoy this type of weather.

  • Search for cheap flights from Johannesburg to Nairobi in July if you'd rather travel during cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between 12ºC (54ºF) and 24ºC (75ºF) on average.

More about Nairobi

  • After booking your flight from Johannesburg to Nairobi, choose a hotel that puts you where you want to be. Make one of these options your base for exploring Nairobi:

  • There are so many things to discover in this city it can be hard to work out where to begin. Nairobi National Park, The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and Westlands Maasai Market D at the roof top are top sights which should be on any well-planned Nairobi itinerary.

Explore more of Kenya

  • You've visited Nairobi, now it's time to discover other parts of Kenya. Journey about 434 kilometres south-east to Mombasa to tick off its top sights. From Fort Jesus to Haller Park and Old Town of Mombasa, there's plenty to keep you on the go.

  • Nakuru is another well-known destination in Kenya and is around 145 kilometres north-west of Nairobi. No journey is complete without dropping by ARTHUR GARDENS (WEDDING/EVENT GROUNDS), Upper Hill estate and Muhia's Conservation Forest.

Prices shown on this page are estimated lowest prices only. Found in the last 45 days.