What percentage of Cape Town to Nairobi flights are direct?

Across the trailing 90 days, approximately 6.2% of flights from Cape Town to Nairobi were direct. The majority of travelers on this route typically opt for flights with layovers. For those connecting, the median number of stopovers observed was 2. This suggests that direct options are less common for this particular route.

What's the flight time from Cape Town to Nairobi?

The typical direct flight from Cape Town to Nairobi has a duration of approximately 5 hours and 45 minutes, covering a distance of 4100 kilometers. For flights with one stop, the median travel time is considerably longer, averaging around 11 hours and 40 minutes. Travelers should account for these differences when planning their journey.

Is it cheaper to fly direct or with a layover from Cape Town to Nairobi?

Historically, it has been cheaper to fly with a layover from Cape Town to Nairobi. Connecting flights had a median price of $505 across the trailing 90 days. Direct flights, while less common at 7.2% of all options, had a significantly higher median price of $704. This represents a premium of approximately 39% for choosing a direct flight over one with a layover.

Flights From Cape Town

To Nairobi

Cheap Flights from Cape Town to Nairobi

Browse current best options from Cape Town. Become a member to unlock all deals and get alerts when new deals appear.

Deals from

Cape Town

RatePunk searches hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to Nairobi

Prices updated today

405 airlines compared

80%+ AI score for best value

Fares are subject to change and may not be available for all dates. (Data last updated Jul 26, 2026.)

Today’s best flight deals from Cape Town to Nairobi

Explore current cheapest deals departing from Cape Town to Nairobi

Round trip

Sort by: Cheapest

August 10 - August 17

Cheapest

CPT - Nairobi

$626

$503

Round trip

October 4 - October 9

CPT - Nairobi

$807

$505

Round trip

August 3 - August 9

CPT - Nairobi

$628

$507

Round trip

January 4 - January 11

CPT - Nairobi

$806

$507

Round trip

August 3 - August 7

CPT - Nairobi

$667

$508

Round trip

July 24 - July 28

Best

CPT - Nairobi

$827

$518

Round trip

July 21 - July 28

Earliest

CPT - Nairobi

$773

$518

Round trip

August 24 - August 28

CPT - Nairobi

$624

$527

Round trip

December 17 - December 31

CPT - Nairobi

$767

$547

Round trip

November 19 - December 3

CPT - Nairobi

$592

$547

Round trip

Unlock all 500+ flight deals to Nairobi and get alerts when great deals appear

Cape Town to Nairobi: Overview

Insights for flights from Cape Town to Nairobi

Fares for cheap flights from Cape Town to Nairobi typically range from $449–$722, with a median price of $551. Right now, current fares are significantly above the typical level for this route. Only 12% of recent fares have been classified as a good price, indicating that finding a deal may require some flexibility.

When considering the cheapest time to fly from Cape Town to Nairobi, you'll find that November offers the lowest median fare at $364. Following closely, December presents a median fare of $385, and January is also a more affordable option with a median fare of $424. These months represent the best opportunities to secure lower prices for your journey.

A typical journey from Cape Town to Nairobi takes approximately 13h 10m, including connections. Given that most itineraries connect at least once, this duration accounts for layovers. When flights do connect, the median number of stopovers is 2, which contributes to the overall travel time for this route.

This route covers a substantial distance of 4100 kilometers, classifying it as a long-haul journey. For travelers flying from Cape Town to Nairobi, this means you should anticipate a significant amount of travel time. New deals for this route appear almost daily, so setting up a price alert can help you stay informed about fare changes.

How much is a round trip from Cape Town to Nairobi

Regular price: $600 - $1,327

Prices for flights from Cape Town to Nairobi are currently below the regular range.

The regular price range for flights from Cape Town to Nairobi is between $600 and $1327. The current lowest deal is $494 with Ethiopian Airlines, for travel from Sep 2 to Sep 12.

now $494

Low $600

High $1,327

The cheapest time to fly from Cape Town to Nairobi

The cheapest month to fly from CPT to NBO is November, with a median price of $364. The most expensive month is October, with a median price of $813. Prices are generally lower from January to December.

November

Cheapest

Flights from $364

October

Most Expensive

Flights from $813

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Direct flights from Cape Town to Nairobi

Kenya Airways

Last-minute flights going from Cape Town to Nairobi

Tue, Aug 4

⌛ Last-Minute

CPT - Nairobi

Cape Town (CPT) - Nairobi (NBO)

Ethiopian Airlines

$655

$561

One-way

Tue, Aug 4

⌛ Last-Minute

CPT - Nairobi

Cape Town (CPT) - Nairobi (NBO)

Ethiopian Airlines

$626

$565

One-way

Tue, Aug 4

⌛ Last-Minute

CPT - Nairobi

Cape Town (CPT) - Nairobi (NBO)

Ethiopian Airlines

$705

$572

One-way

Fri, Aug 7

⌛ Last-Minute

CPT - Nairobi

Cape Town (CPT) - Nairobi (NBO)

Ethiopian Airlines

$697

$555

One-way

Fri, Aug 7

⌛ Last-Minute

CPT - Nairobi

Cape Town (CPT) - Nairobi (NBO)

Ethiopian Airlines

$653

$561

One-way

Sun, Aug 9

⌛ Last-Minute

CPT - Nairobi

Cape Town (CPT) - Nairobi (NBO)

Ethiopian Airlines

$647

$513

One-way

Biggest price drops on these dates for flights from Cape Town to Nairobi

5 nights

Oct 4 - Oct 9

$807 → $503

38%

7 nights

Jan 4 - Jan 11

$804 → $526

35%

4 nights

Sep 7 - Sep 11

$759 → $503

34%

5 nights

Sep 13 - Sep 18

$754 → $504

33%

Popular Airports to fly from Cape Town to Nairobi

Cape Town - Nairobi route insights

💸 Price insights

Recent fares are above the typical level

Recent fares for Cape Town to Nairobi are above the typical level at $494.

📅 Best time to fly

November is historically cheapest

Historically, November is the cheapest month to fly from Cape Town to Nairobi, with a median price of $364.

⏱️ Flight duration

Typical flight time is 13h 10m

The typical flight duration from Cape Town to Nairobi is 13 hours and 10 minutes.

✈️ Airlines & availability

Connecting flights are dominant

Connecting flights are dominant on this route, with a median of 2 stopovers when connecting.

🏆 Airline highlight

Kenya Airways offers direct flights

📍 ~200 km from Nairobi (approximately 4-5 hours by road)

💸 Flights from ~$432

Arusha (ARK)

Arusha Airport is a significant regional hub for Northern Tanzania, requiring cross-border travel.

📍 ~250 km from Nairobi (reachable by car)

💸 Flights from ~$677

Nanyuki (NYK)

Nanyuki Airport is a small regional airport within Kenya, avoiding border crossing formalities.

📍 ~150 km from Nairobi (reachable by car)

💸 Flights from ~$1,679

Amboseli (ASV)

Amboseli Airport is relatively close to Nairobi and the Kenyan-Tanzanian border, with scheduled bush flights.

📍 ~180 km from Nairobi (reachable by car)

💸 Flights from ~$1,283

Mara Serena (MRE)

Mara Serena Airport is useful for travelers already in the Maasai Mara safari circuits.

📍 ~230 km from Nairobi (reachable by car)

💸 Flights from ~$1,573

Business & First Class Flight Deals to Nairobi

73% AI deal score

$1,740

From CPT

Elite

Aug 31

Nairobi, Kenya

73% AI deal score

Nairobi, Kenya

50% AI deal score

$4,437

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to Nairobi

Historically, the optimal time to purchase tickets for flights from Cape Town to Nairobi is typically between 14 and 27 days before departure. During this period, the average price observed was $498. Prices tend to be higher for bookings made very close to the travel date, with flights purchased 0-6 days out averaging $569. Conversely, booking more than 60 days in advance also shows a higher average price of $583, based on data from the trailing 90 days.

Based on historical data from the trailing 90 days, a good price for a flight from Cape Town to Nairobi is considered to be around $449 or less. The median price for this route across the trailing quarter was $551. Prices can go higher, with 75% of observed fares being $722 or less. Travelers aiming for a budget-friendly option should target fares at or below the good price threshold.

Historically, November has been the cheapest month to fly from Cape Town to Nairobi, with a median price of $364. December also offers competitive prices, with a median of $385. While January is listed as a cheaper month with a median of $424, it was also the most expensive month in the trailing 270 days. The annual median price for this route is $551, indicating potential savings during these months.

Related routes

Consider alternative routes from Cape Town

Flights from Cape Town to Abuja Flights from Cape Town to Accra Flights from Cape Town to Addis Ababa Flights from Cape Town to Agadir Flights from Cape Town to Amsterdam Flights from Cape Town to Antananarivo Flights from Cape Town to Athens Flights from Cape Town to Auckland Flights from Cape Town to Bangkok Flights from Cape Town to Bloemfontein Flights from Cape Town to Bulawayo Flights from Cape Town to Chicago

Cheap Flights from Cape Town to Nairobi

Today’s best flight deals from Cape Town to Nairobi

Unlock all 500+ flight deals to Nairobi and get alerts when great deals appear

Cape Town to Nairobi: Overview

Insights for flights from Cape Town to Nairobi

How much is a round trip from Cape Town to Nairobi

The cheapest time to fly from Cape Town to Nairobi

Direct flights from Cape Town to Nairobi

Last-minute flights going from Cape Town to Nairobi

Biggest price drops on these dates for flights from Cape Town to Nairobi

Popular Airports to fly from Cape Town to Nairobi

Cape Town - Nairobi route insights

Recent fares are above the typical level

November is historically cheapest

Typical flight time is 13h 10m

Connecting flights are dominant

Kenya Airways offers direct flights

Deals are frequent on this route

Cape Town main airports to depart from

Nairobi main airports to arrive at

Airports nearby Nairobi used as alternative

Business & First Class Flight Deals to Nairobi

Best Elite deals to Nairobi

Oct 05

Sep 26

Dec 07

Nov 02

Jul 20

Jul 02

Aug 23

Sep 21

Oct 05

Sep 14

Jul 13

Jul 13

Oct 19

Oct 26

Nov 02

Jul 13

Nov 02

Nov 02

Nov 02

Jul 13

Nov 09

Aug 24

Aug 31

Aug 10

Aug 17

Jun 24

Jun 24

Jun 18

Jun 18

Jun 18

Jun 19

Aug 11

Jul 20

Jun 30

Jul 25

Sep 08

Jun 17

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to Nairobi

When should I buy Cape Town to Nairobi tickets?

When should I buy Cape Town to Nairobi tickets?

How much should a flight from Cape Town to Nairobi cost?

How much should a flight from Cape Town to Nairobi cost?

What's the cheapest month to fly from Cape Town to Nairobi?

What's the cheapest month to fly from Cape Town to Nairobi?

What percentage of Cape Town to Nairobi flights are direct?

What percentage of Cape Town to Nairobi flights are direct?

What's the flight time from Cape Town to Nairobi?

What's the flight time from Cape Town to Nairobi?

Is it cheaper to fly direct or with a layover from Cape Town to Nairobi?

Is it cheaper to fly direct or with a layover from Cape Town to Nairobi?

Related routes

Consider alternative routes from Cape Town