Paris to Nairobi is East Africa’s most direct gateway from France: you can fly it non-stop in about 8½ hours from Charles de Gaulle, whether you’re heading for a safari, Mount Kenya or a business trip. This guide covers who flies the route, what a fair return fare looks like in euros, the entry paperwork you’ll need, and when to book to land the best price.
Route: Paris (CDG) → Nairobi, Jomo Kenyatta (NBO)
Distance: approximately 6,490 km (4,033 miles)
Non-stop flight time: about 8h 25m – 8h 35m southbound
Direct flights: Yes — Air France (on its A350 and 777s) and Kenya Airways (on the Boeing 787-8) both fly non-stop from Paris Charles de Gaulle, about 13 departures a week between them. Connecting fares are not just occasionally cheaper but usually so: the cheapest non-stop we priced was €726, against a €500 floor with a change.
Fares from Paris to Nairobi (EUR)
Nairobi is a year-round destination, but fares lift around the peak safari seasons (July–October for the Masai Mara migration, and the December–February dry spell) and the European holidays. The quietest, cheapest months are usually the “long rains” of April and May. The figures below are typical economy return fares in euros; the lowest are usually a one-stop Gulf or Turkish routing, with the non-stops sitting toward the higher end.
| Month | Demand |
|---|---|
| January | medium-high |
| February | medium |
| March | medium |
| April | low (long rains) |
| May | low |
| June | medium (season builds) |
| July | high (migration/summer) |
| August | very high (migration/summer) |
| September | high (migration) |
| October | medium-high |
| November | medium (short rains) |
| December | very high (holidays/dry season) |
Reference points from our own deal tracking (Paris–Nairobi): a genuinely strong return lands around €500–€600, a typical fair price is roughly €660, and anything under about €600 is worth booking quickly. A figure near €850 is not the middle of this route but close to its ceiling — that is non-stop territory. Non-stop Air France and Kenya Airways fares usually start higher in the peak safari months.
Airlines on this route
Non-stop (about 8½ hours):
- Air France — non-stop Charles de Gaulle → Nairobi daily, on its A350-900 and Boeing 777s; the widest schedule and good onward connections across France and Europe. It was also the cheaper of the two non-stops in our sample, €726–€799.
- Kenya Airways — Kenya’s flag carrier and a SkyTeam partner, non-stop from CDG on the Boeing 787-8 several times a week, and strong for onward flights within Africa. On price it was not the better-value non-stop: every one of its fares in our sample came in at a flat €959, the highest figure on the route.
One-stop (usually cheaper, about 10–18 hours total):
- Etihad Airways via Abu Dhabi — the cheapest way to Nairobi from Paris in our sample by a wide margin, and the busiest: 59 of the hundred cheapest fares at €500–€766 (median €617). The cost is time — 13h 20m to 25h 15m against 8h 25m non-stop.
- Qatar Airways via Doha — also appeared, at €642–€656, some of it sold under an Iberia code. Turkish Airlines via Istanbul is frequent and well-rated but did not turn up among the hundred cheapest fares we priced.
- KLM via Amsterdam and Ethiopian Airlines via Addis Ababa — reliable one-stop alternatives, though neither appeared among the hundred cheapest fares we priced, so compare them against Etihad rather than assuming they lead on price.
The two non-stops usually set the price; a single stop through Istanbul, Doha or Amsterdam only wins when there’s a sale on. If time matters, the direct flight is well worth it.
When to book & how to save
- Book 2–4 months ahead for the best balance of price and choice — safari-season fares to Nairobi rarely improve at the last minute.
- Avoid the peaks: July–October (the Masai Mara migration) and the Christmas/New Year dry season are the busiest and dearest.
- Travel in April–May for the lowest fares — it’s the “long rains”, but wildlife is still plentiful and lodges are cheaper too.
- Sort your eTA early: Kenya requires an electronic travel authorisation (eTA) before departure — apply online a few days ahead, not at the airport.
- Compare all-in prices with bags: Air France and Kenya Airways include a generous checked allowance; the cheapest one-stop “light” fares may not, so check before booking.
Arriving in Nairobi
Flights land at Jomo Kenyatta International (NBO), about 15 km south-east of the city centre and East Africa’s busiest hub. There’s no train, so the usual options are a metered or pre-booked airport taxi (roughly €15–€30 to the centre, agree the fare first) or a hotel transfer; ride-hailing apps also operate. Allow extra time in Nairobi’s heavy traffic — the drive can take 30 minutes off-peak or well over an hour in rush hour. The local currency is the Kenyan shilling.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the flight from Paris to Nairobi?
Non-stop flights take about 8 hours 25 minutes to 8 hours 35 minutes from Paris to Nairobi, and a similar time on the way back. In the fares we priced, one-stop itineraries took 10h 50m to 25h 15m in total, median about 14h 05m — so the cheaper connecting fares typically cost you around six extra hours, and the longest more than a day.
Are there direct flights from Paris to Nairobi?
Yes. Air France (on its A350-900 and Boeing 777s) and Kenya Airways (on the Boeing 787-8) both fly non-stop from Paris Charles de Gaulle, about 13 times a week between them, so there is a flight most days. If you’d rather save money, connect: Etihad via Abu Dhabi started at €500 in our sample against €726 for the cheapest non-stop, and Qatar Airways via Doha came in around €645.
How much does it cost to fly from Paris to Nairobi?
In the dates we could price, returns ran €500–€959 with a median near €660, and the split is mostly about routing: connecting fares €500–€766, non-stops €726–€959. The cheapest were Etihad via Abu Dhabi from €500. The July–October safari peak and the December holidays sit at the top of the range.
What is the cheapest month to fly from Paris to Nairobi?
April and May are usually the cheapest. Our sample covers August to January, so it cannot price either month — but nothing on the route sold below €500 in the dates we could see, and that floor was a connecting fare rather than a non-stop. Avoid July to October (the migration season) and the Christmas/New Year holidays, which are the busiest and most expensive.
Which airlines fly from Paris to Nairobi?
Non-stop: Air France (A350 and 777s, €726–€799 in our sample) and Kenya Airways (787-8, a flat €959) from Charles de Gaulle. One-stop: Etihad Airways via Abu Dhabi was both the cheapest and the most common, 59 of the hundred cheapest from €500, with Qatar Airways via Doha next. Turkish Airlines (Istanbul), KLM (Amsterdam) and Ethiopian Airlines (Addis Ababa) fly it too but appeared at no price among the cheapest hundred. On this route connecting is the cheaper option as a rule, not as an occasional exception.
Which airport do I fly into in Nairobi?
You arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International (NBO), Nairobi’s main international airport, about 15 km south-east of the city. It’s the usual starting point for safaris and onward flights to the Masai Mara, Mombasa and the rest of East Africa.
Do I need a visa for Kenya?
Most visitors, including EU citizens, need an electronic travel authorisation (eTA) to enter Kenya — apply online before you travel and carry the approval. It replaced the old visa-on-arrival system, so sort it a few days ahead rather than at the airport. Always check the latest rules before flying.
How far in advance should I book Paris to Nairobi flights?
Aim to book 2 to 4 months ahead. Fares to Nairobi tend to rise as departure approaches, especially over the July–October migration season and the December holidays, so early booking almost always wins on this route.
Fare guidance based on aifly.one deal tracking and current airline schedules; last reviewed July 2026. Indicative economy returns — always check the live fare before booking.
