Please note: This page was written before the Covid-19 pandemic, which affected many international airline routes. We’ll update it when these have settled down again – but meanwhile talk to one of our country experts if you’d like an update on the flights available to access Africa.
With so many choices, working out the best route to Africa can be overwhelming. That's why we have put this information together to simplify the options.
If you need to get to southern Africa from London Heathrow; South African Airways and British Airways both fly straight to Johannesburg, and British Airways also flies non-stop to Cape Town. For trips to East Africa, British Airways and Kenya Airways have direct non-stop flights between London and Nairobi.
Travellers coming from Amsterdam who need to fly straight to Nairobi can either use Kenya Airways or KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. Kenya Airways also flies straight to Zanzibar from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines also flies from here straight to Johannesburg, Cape Town and Dar es Salaam.
Turkish Airlines runs a number of routes to Africa from Istanbul Ataturk. Turkish Airlines has daily flights to Johannesburg, Cape Town, Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro, and Nairobi making it one of the main European hubs for our destinations.
There are two non-stop flights from Paris to East and southern Africa; Air France serves Johannesburg and Kenya Airways flies to Nairobi, both from Charles de Gaulle Airport.
For flights from Germany and Africa the two main airports are Frankfurt and Munich. South African Airways flies from both cities to Johannesburg. Lufthansa also operates from Frankfurt to Johannesburg and has a direct service to Nairobi. In addition, Air Namibia flies from Frankfurt straight to Windhoek.
For travellers coming from Switzerland Swiss International Airlines has useful links from Zurich to Dar es Salaam, Nairobi and Johannesburg.
The only direct flight from North America to East Africa is Kenya Airways' non-stop flight from New York JFK to Nairobi which operates several times a week. Many North American travellers fly to East Africa via a European or Middle Eastern hub.
Travellers coming from Dubai have the option of either using Kenya Airways to get to Nairobi, or Fly Dubai to get to Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar. However Emirates has by far the most routes from Dubai, flying direct to Johannesburg, Cape Town, Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar and Nairobi. Emirates are also the only airline that flies straight into Harare and Lusaka, making it the best choice for Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Etihad Airways is based out of Abu Dhabi and has nonstop flights to Johannesburg, Dar es Salaam and Nairobi.
Qatar Airways flies from Doha directly to Johannesburg, Cape Town, Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, Kilimanjaro and Nairobi.
Oman Air has routes from Muscatt straight to Johannesburg and Zanzibar.
Lastly, El Al flies directly from Tel Aviv to Johannesburg.
British Airways in partnership with Comair also flies from Johannesburg to Windhoek, Harare, Victoria Falls and Livingstone.
Air Namibia flies daily from Johannesburg to Windhoek and Walvis Bay. Travellers flying to Mozambique can also use Air Mozambique from Johannesburg to Maputo, Vilanculos and Pemba.
If you are combining a safari in Namibia, Botswana, Zambia or Zimbabwe with a beach option in Mozambique or the Seychelles, you can connect via Johannesburg but this requires an overnight in Johannesburg en route.
In addition to Kenya Airways, Rwandair flies daily from Nairobi to Kigali and Precision Air has daily flights to Kilimanjaro
Rwandair also fly from Kigali to Lusaka.Air Mozambique flies from Dar es Salaam to Pemba three days a week on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
► Flights to Botswana
► Flights to Malawi
► Flights to Mozambique
► Flights to Namibia
► Flights to Rwanda
► Flights to Seychelles
► Flights to South Africa
► Flights to Tanzania
► Flights to Zambia
► Flights to Zanzibar
► Flights to Zimbabwe
International Flights to Africa
Those flying from the UK can take responsibility for their own flights, or we can take responsibility for them as part of a package. Booking them directly may be cheaper, but you'll have less protection in the event of flight changes or cancellations. You will also need to accept the added responsibility of anything relating to flights that you book separately.With so many choices, working out the best route to Africa can be overwhelming. That's why we have put this information together to simplify the options.
From Europe
There are plenty of direct routes between Europe and Africa. This not only makes it straightforward for those who live in Europe, but it also allows passengers originating from North America to connect easily onto flights to Africa.If you need to get to southern Africa from London Heathrow; South African Airways and British Airways both fly straight to Johannesburg, and British Airways also flies non-stop to Cape Town. For trips to East Africa, British Airways and Kenya Airways have direct non-stop flights between London and Nairobi.
Travellers coming from Amsterdam who need to fly straight to Nairobi can either use Kenya Airways or KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. Kenya Airways also flies straight to Zanzibar from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines also flies from here straight to Johannesburg, Cape Town and Dar es Salaam.
Turkish Airlines runs a number of routes to Africa from Istanbul Ataturk. Turkish Airlines has daily flights to Johannesburg, Cape Town, Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro, and Nairobi making it one of the main European hubs for our destinations.
There are two non-stop flights from Paris to East and southern Africa; Air France serves Johannesburg and Kenya Airways flies to Nairobi, both from Charles de Gaulle Airport.
For flights from Germany and Africa the two main airports are Frankfurt and Munich. South African Airways flies from both cities to Johannesburg. Lufthansa also operates from Frankfurt to Johannesburg and has a direct service to Nairobi. In addition, Air Namibia flies from Frankfurt straight to Windhoek.
For travellers coming from Switzerland Swiss International Airlines has useful links from Zurich to Dar es Salaam, Nairobi and Johannesburg.
From North America
There are only three direct flights from North America to southern Africa, all of which go to Johannesburg. Delta Airlines flies from Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson; and South African Airways flies from both New York JFK and Washington Dulles.The only direct flight from North America to East Africa is Kenya Airways' non-stop flight from New York JFK to Nairobi which operates several times a week. Many North American travellers fly to East Africa via a European or Middle Eastern hub.
From South America
The most direct route from South America to Africa uses the South African Airways direct flight from São Paulo to Johannesburg. Other alternatives are much less convenient, using hubs in Europe or the Middle East.From the Middle East
Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha and Muscat are all major gateways into Africa. They have great connections for passengers coming from Asia, Australasia, North America and even Europe. Travellers from any of these regions should consider the airlines below when planning a trip to Africa.Travellers coming from Dubai have the option of either using Kenya Airways to get to Nairobi, or Fly Dubai to get to Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar. However Emirates has by far the most routes from Dubai, flying direct to Johannesburg, Cape Town, Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar and Nairobi. Emirates are also the only airline that flies straight into Harare and Lusaka, making it the best choice for Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Etihad Airways is based out of Abu Dhabi and has nonstop flights to Johannesburg, Dar es Salaam and Nairobi.
Qatar Airways flies from Doha directly to Johannesburg, Cape Town, Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, Kilimanjaro and Nairobi.
Oman Air has routes from Muscatt straight to Johannesburg and Zanzibar.
Lastly, El Al flies directly from Tel Aviv to Johannesburg.
From Asia
There is a selection of non-stop flights between Asia and Africa. Johannesburg acts as the main gateway for southern Africa, which can be accessed from: Beijing Capital Airport with Air China; Hong Kong Airport with Cathay Pacific or South African Airways; and Singapore Airlines from Singapore Changi Airport. Singapore Airlines also flies to Cape Town. Kenya Airways is the main airline servicing East Africa from Asia, with flights between Nairobi and Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport, Hanoi Noi Bai Airport, Hong Kong Airport, Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Airport and Guangzhou Baiyun Airport. China Southern Airlines also flies Nairobi-Guangzhou. Alternatively, travellers from Asia can fly via a hub in the Middle East.From Australia and New Zealand
There are two direct flights between Australia and Johannesburg Qantas flies from Sydney and South African Airways flies from Perth. From Johannesburg, you can connect to the rest of Africa. Travellers from New Zealand will find flying via Australia their best option. Alternatively, the next best routes are via Asia or the Middle East.International Flights Between African Countries
Regional flight routes from Johannesburg
Johannesburg is the major hub in southern Africa for flights to other African counties. There are direct flights from Johannesburg with South African Airways to Maun and Kasane in Botswana, Windhoek in Namibia, Blantyre and Lilongwe in Malawi, Maputo, Pemba and Vilanculos in Mozambique, Livingstone and Lusaka in Zambia, Harare and Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, Nairobi in Kenya, Kigali in Rwanda, Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, Mahé in the Seychelles, and Cape Town and other major cities in South Africa.British Airways in partnership with Comair also flies from Johannesburg to Windhoek, Harare, Victoria Falls and Livingstone.
Air Namibia flies daily from Johannesburg to Windhoek and Walvis Bay. Travellers flying to Mozambique can also use Air Mozambique from Johannesburg to Maputo, Vilanculos and Pemba.
If you are combining a safari in Namibia, Botswana, Zambia or Zimbabwe with a beach option in Mozambique or the Seychelles, you can connect via Johannesburg but this requires an overnight in Johannesburg en route.
Other routes in southern Africa
In March 2016, South African Airways introduced a new flight route between Cape Town and Maun, making this an easy connection for safari-goers in Botswana to include a trip to this beautiful city or a visit to the Winelands. Air Namibia flies from Cape Town to Windhoek and Walvis Bay. They also have direct flights from Windhoek to Maun and Victoria Falls.Regional flight routes from Nairobi
In East Africa, Nairobi is the gateway to other African countries with Kenya Airways flights to Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar in Tanzania, Kigali in Rwanda, Blantyre, and Lilongwe, in Malawi, Lusaka and Livingstone in Zambia, Harare in Zimbabwe, Gabarone in Botswana, Maputo and Pemba in Mozambique, Mahé in the Seychelles, and Johannesburg in South Africa.In addition to Kenya Airways, Rwandair flies daily from Nairobi to Kigali and Precision Air has daily flights to Kilimanjaro
Other routes in East Africa
Travellers who would like to add a beach stay onto a safari in Rwanda can fly with Rwandair from Kigali to Dar es Salaam from where it is a short hop to Zanzibar.Rwandair also fly from Kigali to Lusaka.Air Mozambique flies from Dar es Salaam to Pemba three days a week on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
Specific Country Fight Information
Click on the links below to read specific information about flights to each of our African destinations:► Flights to Botswana
► Flights to Malawi
► Flights to Mozambique
► Flights to Namibia
► Flights to Rwanda
► Flights to Seychelles
► Flights to South Africa
► Flights to Tanzania
► Flights to Zambia
► Flights to Zanzibar
► Flights to Zimbabwe
