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Flight routes from South Africa to Kenya

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CPT - Kenya
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Visa Requirements
Attractions
When to Go

Cheap Flights to Kenya

The sole direct flights from SA to Kenya are from Johannesburg to Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO, previously known as Nairobi International Airport & Embakasi Airport), with SAA and Kenya Airways. There are options for 1-stop flights to Mombasa, Kisumu, and Malindi.

To make a cheap flight reservation reservation to Kenya compare flight prices using the booking engine on the left, and and book the one which will do the least damage to your budget.

News

  • 25 June 2014 : South African travellers will now need to apply for a visa when planning to travel to Kenya. This new law was to come into effect from the 1st of July 2014 but the Kenyan High Commission announced that the date will be postponed to the 1st of September 2014. This means that South Africans will need to produce a visa upon entrance to Kenya from the 1st of September 2014.

  • 20 February 2014 : Kenya, Rwanda & Uganda officially launch their unified visa allowing tourists to visit all 3 countries with a single visa.

  • 1 January 2014 : The planned common tourist visa for Rwanda, Uganda & Kenya; has started the year with a postponement, as the countries weren't ready to launch.

  • 25 September 2013 : The UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office has advised against travelling to within 60km of Kenya's border with Somalia or within certain parts of Nairobi, as a result of the attack in a shopping centre in Nairobi. They believe there is a "high threat from terrorisim, including kidnappings", and draw attention to violent crime in the large Kenyan cities & the risk of being attacked by pirates in the Indian ocean.

Flights

Johannesburg to Kenya

There are flights from Johannesburg to Nairobi (NBO) with SAA (direct), Kenya Airways, (direct), Air Mauritius (1-stop via Mauritius), Ethiopian Airlines (via Addis Ababa), LAM Mozambique (via Maputo), Precision Air  (via Dar es Salaam), and RwandAir (via Kigali), Egyptair (via Cairo), Emirates (via Dubai), Etihad (via Abu Dhabi) or Qatar Airways (via Doha).

Fly from Johannesburg to Mombasa (MBA) with Ethiopian Airlines (via Addis Ababa), Rwandair/Fly540 (via Kigali & Nairobi), Kenya Airways (via Nairobi), SAA (via Nairobi) or Turkish Airlines (via Istanbul).

Book a cheap flight from Johannesburg to Kisumu (KIS) by comparing Rwandair/Fly540 (via Kigali & Nairobi), Ethiopian Airlines/Fly540 (via Addis Ababa & Nairobi) & Kenya Airways/Fly540 (via Nairobi).

Airlines flying from Johannesburg to Malindi (MYD) are Rwandair/Fly540 (via Kigali & Nairobi), Ethiopian Airlines/Fly540 (via Addis Ababa & Nairobi) & Kenya Airways via Nairobi.

Cape Town to Kenya

Flights from Cape Town to Nairobi may be booked with BA Comair/Kenya Airways (via Johannesburg), Kulula/Kenya Airways (via Johannesburg), South African Airways (via Johannesburg), Emirates (via Dubai) or Turkish Airlines (via Istanbul).

Durban to Kenya

There are 1-stop flights from Durban to Nairobi with BA Comair/Kenya Airways (via Johannesburg), Kulula/Kenya Airways (via Johannesburg), SAA (via Johannesburg) or Emirates (via Dubai).

Visa Requirements

South African nationals travelling to Kenya as tourists will require a visa if they will be in the country for more than 30 days. To travel you will also need:

  • From the 1st of September 2014 travellers will need to produce a visa when entering Kenya. This means that South African travellers that are heading to Kenya will need to apply for a Visa if they are travelling to Kenya after the 1st of September 2014.

  • Passport

  • Yellow Fever Certificate (this is mandatory, you will not be given a pass without it).

  • Depending on your reason for visiting, you may be required to produce a letter of invitation or an employer’s Letter

  • Return or Onward Ticket

For the latest up to date requirements, check the Kenyan High Commission or contact them on 012-362-22495 or info@kenya.org.za. Their physical address is Taifa House, 302 Brooks Street, Menlo Park, Pretoria. Note that the High Commission is closed on Kenyan public holidays.

South African Conslate General in Kenya

Keep these contact details handy in case you lose your passport in Kenya (or something else happens requiring consular assistance):

  • Physical address: 3rd Floor, Roshanmaer Place, Lenana Road, Nairobi, Kenya

  • Email :nairobi@foreign.gov.za

  • Phone number : +254 202-82-7100

Currency

The currency used in Kenya is the Kenyan shilling.

Languages

Kenya has two official languages which are Swahili and English.  There are 42 unique vernaculars, with Swahili being the most used dialect, so it will work to your advantage and score you a couple of smiles and friends to know a few phrases like:

  • Jambo meaning “Hello”

  • Ninaitwa meaning “My name is …”

  • Asante meaning “Thank You”

  • Hakuna mathata meaning “No problem” (watch the Lion King II if you want to get into the hakuna mathatha way of life before your trip!)

Attractions

Whether you are adventurous or conservative; or you are visiting Kenya for business, study, work or diplomatic reasons, there is usually something to add a spark to your trip and a reason to spoil yourself with a return trip. Kenya is renowned for endearing forests, coral reefs, vibrant tribal cultures, savanna, safaris, alpine snows, desserts, lakes and world class beaches. Here are some of the places you can visit:

  • Watch the annual wildebeest migration across the Mara River. This is the famous chokepoint seen in countless wildlife movies, where you see nervous wildbeest crossing and getting chomped by crocodiles.

  • Amboseli national Park. If you ever dreamed of caressing majestic elephants or mingling with the Maasai tribe, this small park will materialize your dream. It is situated next to the Tanzanian border, at the base on Mount Kilimanjaro; therefore, it offers spectacular mountain views.

  • Hell’s Gate National Park. If you wonder what it will be like to cycle or walk around a wildlife park without the supervision of guides, this small park will feed your curiosity.  It is home to a handful of lions, cheetahs and leopards.  This park is surrounded by magnificent sceneries to massage your soul and mind.

  • Watamu Beach. If your emotions are not aroused by chasing dangerous animals with binoculars, Watamu beach should trigger some fun for you.  This beach has interesting snorkeling and diving because of its coral reefs.

  • Lake Nakuru. For a spectacle of flamingos not known anywhere in the world, visit this lake.  It is said that this lake’s algae profusion attracts more than one million flamingos at a time; hence it is called “the greatest bird spectacle on earth”.

When to Travel to Kenya

A typical day in Kenya is sunny and dry; but usualy not too hot.  Its rainy season falls in March, April and May, and later in the year again in November and December.  To maximise chances of watching the wildeebest migrating across the Mara River, August/September is a good time to go (they unfortunately don't march to a clock).

Public holidays in Kenya

Depending on your perspective it may or may not be a good idea to travel around these dates:

  • 1 January

  • 1 May

  • 1 June (Madaraka Day)

  • 20 October (Mashujaa Day)

  • 12 December Jamhuri Day

  • 25 December

  • 26 December

Floating dates:

  • Good Friday

  • Easter

  • Eid al-Fitr

  • Easter Monday


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