Flying from the UK to Africa has never been better connected — or more competitively priced. Legacy carriers, Gulf hub airlines and African flag carriers have created a rich network of routes that gives UK travellers genuine choice on price, routing and in-flight product. This guide covers every major corridor, the best airlines for each region, and the tactics experienced Africa travellers use to find the sharpest fares.
Direct Flights from London
British Airways flies direct from Heathrow to Lagos (LOS), Accra (ACC), Nairobi (NBO), Johannesburg (JNB), Cape Town (CPT) and Dar es Salaam (DAR). BA is typically the priciest option but offers consistent service and good baggage allowances on long-haul routes.
Virgin Atlantic operates direct flights to Lagos from Heathrow and is often competitive on price with BA during sales. Kenya Airways flies Heathrow–Nairobi direct; their Dreamliner cabin is excellent for the price. South African Airways and Comair operate on the London–Johannesburg route alongside BA.
Compare BA, Virgin, Emirates, Ethiopian, Kenya Airways and more on one search
One-Stop via the Gulf: The Smart Money Route
Routing through a Gulf hub consistently delivers the lowest fares and excellent in-flight product, even to destinations with direct options.
Emirates via Dubai (DXB) connects London to Lagos, Accra, Nairobi, Entebbe, Cape Town, Johannesburg and Harare. Their Business Class cabin on this routing is superb value when booked in advance.
Qatar Airways via Doha (DOH) is particularly strong for East Africa (Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, Kigali, Entebbe) and West Africa (Lagos, Accra, Cotonou). Qatar's Qsuite Business Class is regularly rated the world's best.
Etihad via Abu Dhabi (AUH) offers competitive fares to Nigerian destinations in particular — their Lagos and Abuja routings are well-regarded by the diaspora community.
African Carriers Worth Considering
Ethiopian Airlines via Addis Ababa (ADD) is one of the great underrated options. Ethiopian connects virtually every African capital through its hub, with modern aircraft and consistently low fares. London Heathrow to Nairobi via Addis, or Heathrow to Lagos via Addis, are typically among the cheapest available options on any given day.
RwandAir via Kigali (KGL) flies from Heathrow and is excellent for East and Central Africa — Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
When to Book and When to Fly
For West Africa (Nigeria, Ghana), the most expensive periods are December, Easter and the summer school holidays — when the diaspora community travels home. Book 4–6 months ahead for these windows.
For East Africa and safari destinations, the Great Migration (July–October) pushes flight prices up alongside accommodation. The cheapest flying to Nairobi is January–March and May–June. For South Africa, April–June (southern hemisphere autumn) offers the best combination of value and pleasant weather.
Set up fare alerts on Google Flights or Skyscanner for your specific route. Africa fares are volatile and often drop significantly in the 3–6 weeks before departure when airlines need to fill remaining seats.
Baggage: Know Before You Book
Most Africa routes include generous checked baggage — typically 23kg or 30kg per person depending on airline and fare class. Ethiopian Airlines and African carriers are generally the most generous. Budget European airlines are not advisable for Africa routes; the add-on baggage costs negate any headline fare saving.
Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Botswana and beyond
Our Route Picks by Destination
London to Lagos: BA direct or Emirates/Qatar via Gulf (best value). London to Nairobi: Kenya Airways direct or Ethiopian via Addis. London to Accra: BA direct or Emirates via Dubai. London to Cape Town: BA or Virgin direct, or Qatar via Doha. London to Johannesburg: Multiple direct options with healthy competition on price.