The short answer
Africa is a big region, so fares vary widely by route. Compare direct and connecting options, avoid the school holidays and December if you can, and check visa or travel authorisation rules for your destination before you pay.
Popular routes from the UK
Many travellers from the UK fly to Nairobi (NBO) for Kenya and East Africa, Lagos (LOS) and Abuja (ABV) for Nigeria, Accra (ACC) for Ghana, Banjul (BJL) for The Gambia, Johannesburg (JNB) and Cape Town (CPT) for South Africa, Harare (HRE) for Zimbabwe, Addis Ababa (ADD) for Ethiopia, Casablanca (CMN) for Morocco and Kinshasa (FIH) for the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Each has its own busy periods and entry rules. See our guides to West Africa, southern Africa and Addis Ababa, Casablanca and Kinshasa. Our page on flights to Nairobi has more on Kenya and East Africa.
Direct or connecting?
Some routes have direct flights from London; others connect through Europe, the Gulf or an African hub such as Addis Ababa or Casablanca. Connecting flights can be cheaper, but check how long the layover is and whether your bags are checked through. For long journeys with family, a shorter connection time can matter more than a small saving.
When fares are higher
Demand rises over the UK school holidays and the Christmas and New Year period, when many families visit relatives. Safari and tourist seasons push prices up on some routes too. Book earlier for those dates.
Entry rules differ by country
Entry requirements vary and change. Kenya requires an electronic travel authorisation for most visitors, which you can apply for on the official Kenya eTA website. Nigeria and Ghana require visas for UK passport holders in most cases, and South Africa has its own rules. Always check the official GOV.UK Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa travel advice before you pay for flights.
Health and insurance
Some destinations have vaccination or health requirements. Check the travel advice pages above and speak to a health professional well before you travel. Take out travel insurance that suits your itinerary.
Entry and health: what to check by country
| Destination | Main airports | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Kenya | Nairobi (NBO), Mombasa (MBA) | Electronic travel authorisation; health advice |
| Nigeria | Lagos (LOS), Abuja (ABV) | Visa requirements; health advice |
| Ghana | Accra (ACC) | Visa requirements; yellow fever certificate rules |
| South Africa | Johannesburg (JNB), Cape Town (CPT) | Passport validity rules; health advice |
Rules change, so confirm each item on the official sources linked in this guide.
Vaccinations and health
Some African countries require proof of vaccination, such as yellow fever, for entry, and others recommend vaccinations or malaria precautions. Check TravelHealthPro and speak to a health professional with plenty of time before you travel, because some vaccines need weeks to take effect.
Visiting family: baggage and timing
Many journeys on these routes are to visit family, often with extra baggage. Check the baggage allowance on each fare and each flight in your itinerary, and consider how long you will stay when choosing between a fixed return and a flexible one.
Combining a city with a safari or coast
If your trip includes a safari or a beach stay, for example Nairobi followed by the coast, price flights and ground arrangements together so the dates line up. Our holiday quote form is the right place to start for that kind of trip.
Africa is not one market
Routes and fares differ a lot between regions. Nairobi is a major hub for East Africa; Lagos, Abuja and Accra serve West Africa; and Johannesburg and Cape Town serve southern Africa. Each has different airlines, busy seasons and entry rules, so research your own route rather than relying on a general rule.
Using a stopover to your advantage
A connecting route through a hub can be cheaper than a direct flight. Some itineraries allow a longer stopover, so you can break a long journey or see another city. Ask whether a stopover is possible and what it does to the fare and to visa requirements for the transit country.
Visiting more than one country
If you want to fly into one city and out of another, for example Nairobi in and Mombasa out, ask for a multi-city or open-jaw quote rather than booking two separate tickets. It is easier to manage and the baggage rules are clearer. You can start from our flight search.
Fares, baggage rules and entry requirements change. Always confirm current details with the airline and the official sources linked above before you travel.