
Safari City — the only capital with a national park where lions roam against the city skyline
Flights to Nairobi start from $350 roundtrip, with May being the cheapest month to fly. Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) serves 40+ direct international routes from cities including London (8h 30m) and Dubai (5h). Book on Travorio and pay with Bitcoin, Ethereum, or 100+ cryptocurrencies, or split into 4 interest-free payments with Sezzle.
Avg. Roundtrip
$350–$800
Cheapest Month
May
~$350 avg
Direct Flight
8h 30m
40+ routes
Airport
NBO
18 km from center
Pay with Bitcoin, Ethereum, or 100+ cryptocurrencies. Compare 750+ airlines on Travorio.
Monthly price guide — cheapest in May (~$350 avg roundtrip)
Best time to book: 6-10 weeks before departure
| Month | Avg. Price | Demand | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | $550 | high | Dry season. Great for safari. New Year demand. |
| February | $520 | high | Dry and warm. Masai Mara still accessible. |
| March | $430 | medium | Long rains begin. Shoulder season prices. |
| April | $380 | low | Heavy rains. Cheapest safari rates. Some lodges close. |
| MayCHEAPEST |
2 direct routes and 4 connecting options
2 airlines offer direct flights to Nairobi, with Kenya Airways providing the most frequent service from London Heathrow.
| Airline | From | Direct? | Duration | Price Range | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya Airways | London Heathrow | Direct | 8h 30m | $400-$850 | Daily |
| British Airways | London Heathrow | Direct | 8h 45m | $450-$900 | Daily |
| Turkish Airlines | Istanbul (via) |
Compare prices and flight times from major departure cities
London
LHR · UK
Dubai
DXB · UAE
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) — 18 km from city center
NBO · 18 km from center · Primary
Uber (~KES 1,500/$12), airport bus (KES 100/$0.80), taxi (KES 2,500/$20)
WIL · 6 km from center
Domestic/safari flights. Uber to CBD KES 400-600 ($3-5).
Safari City — the only capital with a national park where lions roam against the city skyline
Nairobi is the world's only capital city with a national park inside its borders — lions, giraffes, and rhinos roam with skyscrapers in the background. Beyond this unique claim, Nairobi is East Africa's most dynamic city and the gateway to Kenya's legendary safari destinations: the Masai Mara (Great Migration), Amboseli (Kilimanjaro views), and Samburu. The city has a thriving food scene, a growing tech hub ("Silicon Savannah"), and some of the best wildlife conservation experiences on the planet.
Nairobi National Park — Big Five safari (except elephants) with the city skyline as a backdrop, just 15 minutes from CBD
David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage — feed and interact with orphaned baby elephants rescued from poaching, open daily 11am
More ways to pay than any other travel platform
Book flights to Nairobi with Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDT, USDC, and 100+ other cryptocurrencies. Real-time exchange rates, no hidden markup.
Avoid the 3-5% international card conversion fee on KES transactions. Stablecoin payments (USDT/USDC) lock your price in USD equivalent.
Learn about crypto paymentsMay is typically the cheapest month ($350 avg roundtrip from London), coinciding with the long rainy season when tourist demand drops. April is also affordable ($380 avg). Peak pricing hits in August ($700 avg) during the Great Migration and in December ($580 avg) for Christmas.
Direct flights from London Heathrow to Jomo Kenyatta (NBO) take approximately 8 hours 30 minutes. Kenya Airways and British Airways both operate daily direct services. One-stop options via Istanbul, Dubai, or Addis Ababa take 11-16 hours but can save $50-100.
Direct from London: Kenya Airways and British Airways (both daily, Heathrow). KLM from Amsterdam. Other connections: Turkish Airlines (Istanbul), Emirates (Dubai), Ethiopian Airlines (Addis Ababa), Qatar Airways (Doha). Nairobi is East Africa's main hub with 40+ international routes.
Most visitors (including UK and US) need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA, $30). Apply at etakenya.go.ke at least 7 days before travel. This replaced the old e-visa system in 2024. Approval is typically within 72 hours.
Yes. Travorio accepts Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDT, USDC, and 100+ other cryptocurrencies. Kenya is one of Africa's crypto leaders, and paying for your trip in crypto avoids the 3-5% card conversion fee on Kenyan Shilling transactions.
Fly if your budget allows. Wilson Airport (6 km from CBD) has light aircraft to Masai Mara (1h, $100-250 one-way), Amboseli (45min, $100-200), and Samburu (1.5h, $150-300). The drive to Masai Mara takes 5-6 hours on rough roads. Flying saves a full day of travel.
| $350 |
| low |
| Cheapest month. Rains easing. Green season safaris. |
| June | $450 | medium | Dry season returns. Safari high season begins. |
| July | $600 | high | Great Migration reaches Masai Mara. Demand surges. |
| August | $700 | peak | Peak: Great Migration + European summer holidays. |
| September | $650 | high | Migration continues. Still premium pricing. |
| October | $500 | medium | Short rains may begin. Migration herds moving south. |
| November | $430 | medium | Short rains. Good value. Baby animal season. |
| December | $580 | high | Christmas demand. Dry, warm weather returns. |
January
$550
high demand
February
$520
high demand
March
$430
medium demand
April
$380
low demand
May
$350
low demand
June
$450
medium demand
July
$600
high demand
August
$700
peak demand
September
$650
high demand
October
$500
medium demand
November
$430
medium demand
December
$580
high demand
| 1 stop |
| 12h |
| $350-$700 |
| Daily |
| Emirates | Dubai (via) | 1 stop | 14h | $450-$950 | Daily |
| Ethiopian Airlines | Addis Ababa (via) | 1 stop | 11h | $380-$750 | Daily |
| Qatar Airways | Doha (via) | 1 stop | 13h | $420-$850 | Daily |
Amsterdam
AMS · Netherlands
New York
JFK · US
Istanbul
IST · Turkey
Dar es Salaam
DAR · Tanzania
Addis Ababa
ADD · Ethiopia
Best option for visitors. Nairobi traffic is heavy — allow extra time, especially 7-9am and 5-8pm.
Kenya Bus Service to CBD. Infrequent. Uber is more reliable.
Yellow cabs at the airport. More expensive than Uber. Negotiate before boarding.
Iconic Nairobi minibuses. An experience but not recommended with luggage.
Light aircraft from Wilson Airport to Masai Mara, Amboseli, Samburu. Book via safari operator.
Local tip: Download Uber and Bolt before landing — they're 40-60% cheaper than airport taxis. Nairobi traffic can double journey times at rush hour. Safari flights from Wilson Airport are worth the cost for Masai Mara (1h vs 5h drive).
Giraffe Centre — hand-feed endangered Rothschild's giraffes at eye level from a raised platform in Karen
Masai Mara gateway — the Great Migration (July-October) is a 1-hour flight or 5-hour drive from Nairobi
Carnivore Restaurant — Nairobi's famous all-you-can-eat game meat restaurant (crocodile, ostrich, zebra)
Climate
Tropical highland — spring-like year-round. Warm days (22-26°C), cool nights (10-14°C). Long rains March-May, short rains October-December.
Best Time to Visit
July-October for Great Migration; January-February for dry weather; year-round for Nairobi attractions
Currency
Kenyan Shilling (KES). ~KES 130 = $1 USD. M-Pesa mobile money dominant; cards at hotels/malls; cash for markets.
Language
English (official), Swahili (national language); both widely spoken
Pay securely with PayPal or any major credit/debit card. Visa, Mastercard, Amex accepted. No extra fees.
Pay with Bitcoin, Ethereum, or 100+ cryptocurrencies. Also accepts PayPal and all major credit cards.
Crypto in Nairobi: Kenya is one of Africa's top crypto markets with high mobile money adoption (M-Pesa). Bitcoin peer-to-peer trading is active. Several Nairobi businesses accept crypto, and the country's tech-savvy "Silicon Savannah" culture drives adoption.
The wildebeest herds arrive in the Masai Mara from July to October, with the dramatic river crossings typically happening in August-September. This is peak season with highest flight and safari prices. Book at least 3 months ahead for the best Mara camps.
Time Zone
EAT (UTC+3) — same as Zanzibar and Addis Ababa, 3 hours ahead of London in winter
Visa
Most nationalities need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA, $30) — apply at etakenya.go.ke. Replaced e-visa in 2024. Process takes 3-7 days. Apply before travel.
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