The Best Time to Book Flights from the UK to Africa

How far ahead should you book a flight from the UK to Africa, and which months are cheapest? Here is what our agents see every year across West, East and Southern Africa routes.

There is no single "magic day" to book a flight, but there are clear patterns. Fares on UK to Africa routes are driven by school holidays, religious festivals and the size of the diaspora community flying home. If you understand those patterns, you can save a lot.

How Far in Advance Should You Book?

Booking much earlier than this rarely helps, because airlines don't always release their cheapest fares a year out. Booking later than this is a gamble: you might get a sale fare, but on popular dates the cheapest seats are usually gone.

Cheapest and Most Expensive Months

Usually cheapest: mid-January to March (outside half-term and Easter), May and early June, and September to November.

Usually most expensive: mid-December to early January, the end of July and all of August, Easter week, and the days around Eid.

The Cheapest Days to Fly

Tuesday and Wednesday departures are typically cheaper than Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Very early morning and late-night flights can also be cheaper. If your dates are flexible by a few days either way, tell your agent: we can check the whole week rather than one date.

Eid and Religious Holidays

Islamic festival dates move about 11 days earlier each year, so the peak moves too. In 2027, Eid al-Fitr is expected around 9 to 10 March and Eid al-Adha around 16 to 17 May (exact dates depend on the moon sighting). Expect higher prices on routes to Nigeria, Senegal, The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Morocco, Bangladesh and the Gulf in the week before each Eid.

Christian festivals matter too: Easter, and Christmas in particular, push up prices on routes to Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe and South Africa.

Region-by-Region Notes

West Africa (Lagos, Abuja, Accra, Freetown, Dakar, Banjul)

Christmas is by far the biggest peak, followed by summer. The rainy season (roughly June to September in much of the region) brings lower demand from holidaymakers, but family travel in August keeps fares high. See Lagos flights and Accra flights.

East Africa (Nairobi, Mombasa, Entebbe, Kigali, Addis Ababa, Dar es Salaam)

Safari season (roughly July to October) and Christmas are the peaks. The long rains in April and May are usually the cheapest time. See our Kenya flights guide.

Southern Africa (Johannesburg, Cape Town, Harare, Lusaka, Lilongwe)

December and January are peak, when it's summer in the south. The southern winter, from May to August, is often the cheapest. Read our South Africa flights guide.

Frequently Asked Questions