Flights from Ireland to Kenya: Routes, Times and What to Book First

There is no direct flight from Ireland to Kenya. From Dublin you fly to Nairobi with one stop, usually in London, Amsterdam, Paris, Istanbul or the Gulf, and the time in the air comes to roughly 10 to 13 hours before you add the connection. Depending on the connection, you land in Nairobi the same evening or early the next morning.

Below are the routes that work best, how long each takes, what the eTA involves, and the order we suggest you book things in so the flights and the safari fit together.

The main routes from Dublin to Nairobi

Every option from Dublin is a one-stop journey. These are the connections with a scheduled onward flight to Nairobi, with approximate flying time only (connection time is extra):

The European hubs are the quickest on paper. London has the most choice: British Airways and Kenya Airways between them run about two nonstop Heathrow to Nairobi flights a day, each around 9 hours 15 minutes. Amsterdam is the other easy one, because KLM and Kenya Airways both fly from Schiphol and you stay with one airline group from Dublin.

The Gulf carriers take a little longer in the air but often have competitive fares and several departures a day to choose from. If you are flying from Shannon or Cork, start by checking which of these hubs your local airport connects to, then compare from there.

Book on one ticket

If you can, buy Dublin to Nairobi as one booking rather than a cheap flight to London plus a separate long-haul ticket. On one ticket the airline has to rebook you if the first flight is late. On two tickets a missed connection is your problem, and a new same-day ticket to Nairobi is expensive.

If you do split the tickets, leave a long gap at the hub and check whether you need to collect bags and check in again.

Time difference and jet lag

Kenya is on East Africa Time, UTC+3, and does not change its clocks. That puts Nairobi 2 hours ahead of Ireland in summer and 3 hours ahead from late October to March. Jet lag is mild compared with long-haul trips east or west, so you can usually start a safari the morning after you land. We still suggest one night in Nairobi after an overnight arrival rather than a long drive straight to a park.

Entry: the Kenya eTA

Irish passport holders need a Kenya Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) before they fly. You apply online at etakenya.go.ke, the only official site. The standard fee is about US$30 to US$32.50 and processing usually takes around three working days, but the government advises applying at least two weeks before travel. Your passport should have at least six months of validity left.

If you fly in via a country with a risk of yellow fever, or spend 12 hours or more in transit there, you may be asked for a yellow fever certificate. Routes through Europe or the Gulf do not trigger this. Check with your GP or a travel clinic about vaccinations and malaria tablets, and see our safari FAQ for the basics.

When Irish travellers usually go

Many Irish families travel in July and August because of school holidays, which is also when the Great Migration is usually in the Masai Mara. That makes it the busiest and most expensive time, and the best camps fill 6 to 12 months ahead. January to March and June are quieter, still dry, and often cheaper for flights too.

Our month-by-month guide to Kenya's seasons explains what changes through the year.

What to book first

1. Pick your month and how many nights you have. Seven to ten days on the ground covers two or three parks without rushing.
2. Confirm the safari. Camps in the Mara are small and sell out before flights do.
3. Then book the flights to match the safari dates, ideally landing in Nairobi the evening before day one.
4. Apply for the eTA once your flights are booked.

If your trip includes a flight from Nairobi to the Mara or the coast, light aircraft from Wilson Airport usually allow 15 kg per person in a soft bag, including hand luggage. Pack for that from the start.

Safaris that suit a trip from Ireland

Our Kenya safaris for Irish travellers are all private and priced in US dollars, which is how camps and parks in Kenya charge. A good first trip is the 7-day Mara, Nakuru and Amboseli luxury safari, or the 10-day safari and beach trip if you want a few days on the Indian Ocean before the flight home. Send us your dates and we will match the safari to the flights that work best from Dublin.

Last updated: 15 October 2026

Written byStanley GichukiFounder of Majestic Kenya Safaris. Stanley started the company in Nairobi in 2015 after years in guiding and safari operations, and still plans many trips himself. More about Stanley