Giraffes against a city skyline, lions half an hour from downtown and coffee grown on the hills nearby.
Kenya Airways flies non-stop from London Gatwick to Nairobi from £477 return. That is just under 9 hours with no connection, and the fare includes bags.
✈️ The Deal
- From: London Gatwick, United Kingdom
- To: Nairobi, Kenya
- Airline: Kenya Airways
- Stops: Non-stop
- Price: £477 - £480 return
- When: November - December 2026 and April - June 2027
Example dates:
23/11/2026 - 11/12/2026
12/04/2027 - 25/04/2027
10/05/2027 - 26/05/2027
07/06/2027 - 23/06/2027
Claim up to £520 for your delayed or cancelled flight →
On the November dates you leave Gatwick at 10:00 and land in Nairobi at 21:55. The flight home leaves at 23:59 and lands at Gatwick at 06:20 the next morning. Kayak shows a cabin bag and checked baggage included on this fare. In early December, February and March the price goes up to £581-£642, so stick to these months.
💰 How far does your money go?
A plate of nyama choma (grilled goat) with ugali and kachumbari at a local joint costs about £5, roughly a London flat white and a pastry. A cold Tusker in a bar is around £2-3, less than half the price of a London pint. A matatu ride across town costs well under £1, less than a third of a Zone 1 Tube fare.
☀️ The Weather
Nairobi sits at 1,795 metres, so it never gets too hot. Late November is the end of the short rains, with highs of 24-25°C, nights around 14°C and afternoon showers. By December the rains ease and the safari parks turn green. April and May are the long rains, with wetter days and fewer tourists, and June brings cool, dry weather and the start of the safari high season.
🏨 Where to Stay
Stay in the centre for a night or two, or in the north of the city by the mall.
Hotel Boulevard Nairobi · 8.1/10 · From £57/night
A simple, central hotel, a good base for a night or two before a safari.
Holiday Inn Nairobi Two Rivers Mall · 8.9/10 · From £64/night
A modern hotel attached to a big shopping mall in the north of the city.
Radisson Blu Hotel Nairobi Upper Hill · 9.1/10 · From £145/night
A smart hotel about 1 km from the centre, with a pool.
🎯 What to Do
Nairobi is the only capital with a national park inside the city limits.
Nairobi National Park game drive: Lions, rhinos and giraffes with skyscrapers in the background, on a half-day drive with hotel pickup.
Elephant orphanage and Giraffe Centre: Watch baby elephants being bottle-fed at the Sheldrick Trust, then feed Rothschild giraffes by hand.
Karen Blixen Museum tour: The farmhouse of the Out of Africa author at the foot of the Ngong Hills, combined with the elephants and giraffes.
Maasai Mara group safari: Three days and two nights in Kenya's most famous reserve, leaving from Nairobi.
🗺️ Where to Go From Here
Nairobi is the gateway to Kenya's safari circuit and coast.
Maasai Mara: The country's most famous reserve, about 45 minutes by light aircraft or 5-6 hours by road. Search flights
Amboseli: Elephants under Mount Kilimanjaro, about 4 hours by road.
Lake Naivasha: Hippos, boat rides and walking safaris at Crescent Island, about 2 hours by road.
Diani Beach: White sand on the Indian Ocean, about 1 hour by air to Ukunda. Search flights
£477 return, non-stop from London to Kenya with bags. A safari trip starts here.
Get every flight deal we find, on your favourite app.
Pick how you want to hear from us — or all three. Free, no spam.
