Comparison · Cape Town vs Nairobi · South Africa / Kenya
Cape Town vs Nairobi
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
Choose Cape Town for Table Mountain, Robben Island, lower day-to-day costs and beaches; choose Nairobi for Nairobi National Park, Elephant orphanage and a short break. Cape Town is generally less expensive, and the two are about 4,102 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 4,102 km
- Less expensive
- Cape Town
- Best time for Cape Town
- February–April and November
- Best time for Nairobi
- January–February and June–September
Side by side
| Cape Town | Nairobi | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | South Africa | Kenya |
| Known for | Table Mountain, Robben Island and African penguins | Nairobi National Park, Elephant orphanage and Giraffe Centre |
| Best time to visit | February–April and November | January–February and June–September |
| Ideal stay | 7 days | 3 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $100–$200 | $120–$250 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | February, 27°C (81°F) | February, 26°C (79°F) |
| Coldest month | June, 18°C (64°F) | June, 21°C (70°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 8 | 3 |
| Day trips in our guide | 5 | 6 |
| Beaches | Clifton 4th Beach | — |
| Airports | CPT | NBO, WIL |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Cape Town for…
Table Mountain, Robben Island, lower day-to-day costs and beaches. Cape Town wraps around the base of Table Mountain, with the City Bowl and V&A Waterfront facing Table Bay, the Atlantic beaches of Sea Point, Clifton and Camps Bay to the west, and the warmer False Bay shore of Muizenberg and Kalk Bay to the south. Most…
Choose Nairobi for…
Nairobi National Park, Elephant orphanage and a short break. Nairobi sits at about 1,795 metres on the edge of the Great Rift Valley, and its biggest surprise is Nairobi National Park, where lions, black rhinos and giraffes roam grassland about 7 km south of the city centre. Most visitors spend one to three days…
Top sights compared
| # | Cape Town | Nairobi |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Table Mountain and the Aerial Cableway | Nairobi National Park |
| 2 | Robben Island | Sheldrick Wildlife Trust elephant orphanage |
| 3 | Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden | Giraffe Centre |
| 4 | V&A Waterfront | Karen Blixen Museum |
| 5 | Bo-Kaap | Nairobi National Museum |
Food compared
| Cape Town | Nairobi |
|---|---|
| Bobotie | Nyama choma |
| Cape Malay curry | Ugali |
| Gatsby | Sukuma wiki |
| Hake and chips | Kachumbari |
Which is cheaper?
Cape Town is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $100–$200 per person there, against $120–$250 in Nairobi (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Cape Town on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 4,102 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 11 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Cape Town or Nairobi cheaper?
Cape Town is usually less expensive: about $100–$200 a day mid-range against $120–$250 (estimates).
+Is Cape Town or Nairobi better for a first trip?
Pick Cape Town for Table Mountain, Robben Island, lower day-to-day costs and beaches, or Nairobi for Nairobi National Park, Elephant orphanage and a short break.
+How far is Cape Town from Nairobi?
About 4,102 km in a straight line.