Peak season:
June to September is the peak season and you’ll see it reflected in the price of flight tickets. Finding cheap flights to Kenya during this time is practically impossible so make sure you book as far in advance as you can to secure any kind of saving on your flight tickets. The costs of safaris also increase drastically as these are the months where the annual migration takes place.
Off season:
The main off-peak time is during the rainy seasons. Flight tickets will be cheaper and you’ll find better deals on safaris and hotels. You’ll miss the migration but you’ll still see plenty of animals out in the wild. January to February are the hottest months of the year but you have more chance of spotting wildlife around water holes. Any time outside of the peak months will give you a better chance of securing the cheapest flights to Kenya though so unless you only want to visit for the migration, consider the rest of the year for booking your flight tickets.
Flights to Kenya can be quite expensive, especially during the peak seasons. Make sure you secure your flight tickets 2 or 3 months in advance to avoid paying through the teeth. It’s also a good idea to secure safari tours in advance too. Whilst the migration is a spectacle that should definitely be watched if you can, you’ll end up paying a lot of money on flights to Kenya, hotels and the safari itself so if you want to find cheaper flights to Kenya, book outside of these months. If you can be flexible with your dates then you’ll have the best chance to secure the cheapest flights to Kenya and find some good deals on hotels too.
Flights from London to Nairobi, Kenya: 8 hours 35 minutes.
Flights from Manchester to Mombasa, Kenya: 13 hours 10 minutes.
Flights from Birmingham to Nairobi, Kenya: 10 hours 20 minutes.
Flights from Glasgow to Mombasa, Kenya: 14 hours 10 minutes.
Kenya Airways and British Airways provide direct flights to Kenya. You’ll struggle to find really cheap flights to Kenya purely because of the travel time and lack of competition but you can still find some deals. British Airways for example provide complimentary snacks and drinks onboard their flights and you can sign up to be an executive member for free. That means you’ll start collection Avios points which you can redeem against other flights and rewards.
Nairobi:
The airport is 14km from the city and there are a couple of options to get you there. The cheapest way of getting into the city is a bus. Bus number 34 runs every 20 minutes and takes around 45 minutes. It stops at several hotels too so you can sit and relax and wait to be dropped off. You can arrange for a shuttle van to meet you there but you’ll need to book this in advance. Expect to be harassed by many, many taxi drivers as you leave the airport. Make sure you use an official airport taxi if you do choose to get one and agree on the fare in advance else you’ll get overcharged. If you don’t feel safe then don’t get in.
Mombasa:
Until recently the only way to get to the city of Mombasa was with a taxi. This meant a costly journey where you’ll know doubt get overcharged and taken longer routes. Now, however, there is an airport shuttle which you can jump onto straight from the airport. It’s about 20 feet away from the taxis all trying to get your attention and it is probably the cheapest option to get you to the city. The prices do vary depending on whether you’re the only passenger and where exactly you need to be dropped off, but the airport shuttle is a must easier and cheaper option than a taxi.