Travelling from Melbourne to Nairobi: what you need to know
Planning your trip starts with working out where you'll fly out of in Melbourne. Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL) is the city's main airport, so check out your options for reserving a flight from Melbourne to Nairobi taking off from here.
Arrive in Nairobi at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) or Wilson Airport (WIL).
Nairobi is eight hours behind Melbourne and is in the UTC+3 timezone.
Give yourself enough time to get on your Melbourne to Nairobi flight. As a general rule, arrive two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
During popular months such as January, you'll want to get to the airport earlier than usual. Plan to arrive two hours before a domestic departure and four hours ahead of international flights whenever you're travelling during high season in general.
How to find the cheapest flights from Melbourne to Nairobi
To pick up cheap Melbourne to Nairobi flights, book in advance. Airlines usually offer their most competitively priced fares when flights first go on sale.
The 'Whole month' tool shows you the cheapest plane tickets from Melbourne to Nairobi across the month. It's an easy way to find a bargain if your trip dates are flexible.
Cut down on the time spent looking for cheap flights from Melbourne to Nairobi by setting up a Price Alert. You'll get an email or notification through the app when a new low fare is offered.
Tailor your trip using filters. Select your ideal departure and arrival times, total journey duration and airlines. You can also sort your results by 'Cheapest,' 'Fastest' or 'Best' Melbourne to Nairobi flights.
Flying from Melbourne
Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL)
Consider adding a stopover to potentially save on your Melbourne to Nairobi flight. Simply deselect 'Direct flights only' when searching for departures from Melbourne Tullamarine Airport. Break up your trip (and maybe save some cash) by stopping at one of these popular options:
Dubai Airport (DXB)
Hamad International Airport (DOH)
Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK)
MEL is about 19 kilometres from central Melbourne. If you're driving, catching a cab or ride-sharing from the centre, it'll take you 30 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic conditions. If you're taking public transport, expect the journey time to be around 40 minutes.
Need a handy hotel close to Melbourne Tullamarine Airport? If you're catching an early flight from Melbourne to Nairobi, these stays will put you moments from your departure lounge:
When it comes to the on-time performance of Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, data shows 67.71% of flights stick to their scheduled arrival time.
Arriving in Nairobi
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO)
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) to central Nairobi takes around 20 minutes by car. The centre is roughly 11 kilometres away.
If you're travelling on public transport, expect a journey time of roughly 1 hour 10 minutes.
If you're arriving on a late flight from Melbourne to Nairobi, few things beat the convenience of staying close to the terminal. Collect your bags from the carousel and then be showered and resting not long after at one of these hotels near NBO:
Go wherever you want, whenever you want with a Jomo Kenyatta International Airport rental car. Pick up a set of wheels from Auto-Union, Green Motion or Hertz and find adventure across Nairobi and beyond.
Secure the lowest price by booking your ride from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport about three weeks ahead of your trip.
Wilson Airport (WIL)
Central Nairobi is approximately 2 kilometres from Wilson Airport (WIL). After your flight from Melbourne to Nairobi has hit the runway and you've made your way to arrivals, the drive should be around 15 minutes.
Travelling by public transport will take about 45 minutes.
Hang up the 'Do not disturb' sign and relax at a hotel close to WIL. Here are a few options where you can tuck yourself in after your flight from Melbourne to Nairobi:
Grab a Wilson Airport rental car and set the course for your next destination. You can choose from trusted rental outlets like Auto-Union and Unicorn rent a car.
Avoid the long lines and paperwork at the rental desk by having everything prearranged. Reserve your ride from WIL a few weeks in advance so you can simply grab the keys and be on your way.
Best time to go to Nairobi
It's time to plan your trip dates for your flight from Melbourne to Nairobi. July is the busiest month to visit Nairobi. If you prefer a more low-key vibe, go in February.
The warmest month in Nairobi is March, with temperatures ranging between 14ºC (57ºF) and 30ºC (86ºF). Lock in your Melbourne to Nairobi ticket then if this is the type of weather you enjoy.
July sees average temperatures of between 12ºC (54ºF) and 24ºC (75ºF). Search for cheap flights from Melbourne to Nairobi around that time if you like travelling in cooler conditions.
More about Nairobi
When it comes to looking for somewhere to lay your head, you'll find the best stays in Nairobi right here. Check out these hotels once you've booked your flight from Melbourne to Nairobi:
There are so many things to explore in this city it can be hard to know where to begin. Nairobi National Park, The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and Westlands Maasai Market D at the roof top are highlights which should feature on any good Nairobi itinerary.
Explore more of Kenya
Mombasa is just one of the many cities in Kenya waiting to be explored after you've experienced Nairobi. Around 434 kilometres to the south-east, top sights here include Fort Jesus, Haller Park and Old Town of Mombasa.
Nakuru is another must-experience destination in Kenya and is around 145 kilometres north-west of Nairobi. No journey is complete without experiencing ARTHUR GARDENS (WEDDING/EVENT GROUNDS), Upper Hill estate and Muhia's Conservation Forest.