Private Jet Charter Prices in Kenya: The 2026 Guide
How much does it cost to fly private from Nairobi? Most websites say "contact us". This guide puts the numbers on the table.
Quick answer: a private flight from Nairobi starts at about USD 2,100 to the Maasai Mara on a 12 seat turboprop, about USD 5,400 to Mombasa or Diani, about USD 9,500 to Zanzibar on a light jet and roughly USD 65,000 to Dubai on a Cessna Citation Sovereign. Prices are for the whole aircraft, not per seat.
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Hourly rates by aircraft
Charter is priced per flying hour for the whole aircraft. These are Lujui Kenya Travels guide rates for 2026.
Cessna Caravan
Type: Turboprop
Guests: 12
Range: about 1,500 km
Guide rate per hour: USD 1,400
Pilatus PC 12
Type: Turboprop
Guests: 8
Range: about 2,800 km
Guide rate per hour: USD 3,400
Embraer Phenom 100
Type: Very light jet
Guests: 4
Range: about 2,000 km
Guide rate per hour: USD 3,800
Cessna Citation CJ
Type: Light jet
Guests: 6 to 7
Range: about 3,000 km
Guide rate per hour: USD 4,800
Cessna Citation Sovereign
Type: Super midsize jet
Guests: up to 9
Range: about 5,000 km
Guide rate per hour: USD 7,700
Route prices from Nairobi
One way, whole aircraft, 2026 guide prices. The price includes the empty flight back to base.
Nairobi to the Maasai Mara
Flight time: about 45 minutes
From: USD 2,100
Nairobi to Mombasa
Flight time: about 1 hour 15 minutes
From: USD 5,400
Nairobi to Diani
Flight time: about 1 hour 20 minutes
From: USD 5,400
Nairobi to Lamu
Flight time: about 1 hour 20 minutes
From: USD 8,000
Nairobi to Zanzibar
Flight time: about 1 hour 15 minutes
From: USD 9,500
Nairobi to Kigali and back the same day
Flight time: about 1 hour 20 minutes each way
From: about USD 14,000
Nairobi to Dubai
Flight time: about 4 hours 30 minutes
From: about USD 65,000
How a charter price is worked out
Every operator uses the same basic sum: flying hours times the hourly rate, plus fees.
1. Your flying time. Distance divided by the aircraft's speed, plus time to taxi, climb and land.
2. The empty leg. Most aircraft are based at Wilson Airport or JKIA. On a one way trip you also pay for the flight home, often at a reduced rate.
3. Waiting and crew nights. A jet that waits for you overnight costs about USD 1,000 a night for the crew. On longer stays it can be cheaper to send the jet home and back.
4. Fees. Landing, handling and passenger charges. Small in Kenya, larger abroad.
5. Season. July to October and the December holidays are the busiest months, so book early.
A same day return is often the best value, because the jet does not fly home empty.
Which aircraft fits your trip?
Under 1 hour, bush strips: a Cessna Caravan or Pilatus PC 12. Jets cannot land on the gravel strips of the Mara, Samburu or the Serengeti.
1 to 3 hours, up to 7 guests: a light jet such as the Citation CJ. Kigali, Entebbe, Zanzibar, Kilimanjaro and Addis Ababa all sit in this range.
3 to 6 hours, up to 9 guests: the Citation Sovereign. Dubai, Johannesburg, Cape Town and the Seychelles nonstop, in a cabin tall enough to stand in.
Private jet or airline?
Check in
Airline: 2 to 3 hours
Private jet: about 30 minutes
Timetable
Airline: Fixed
Private jet: You choose
Airports
Airline: Major only
Private jet: Wilson, JKIA and smaller strips
Price
Airline: Per seat
Private jet: Whole aircraft, shared by your group
Split a USD 5,400 Mombasa flight between 8 guests and each pays about USD 675.
Who flies private in Kenya
Executives with meetings in two cities on the same day. Honeymooners heading to Lamu or Zanzibar. Families with children and too many suitcases. Wedding parties. Safari guests who would rather not spend 6 hours on the road to the Mara.
How to stay safe
Fly only with operators licensed by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA). Ask for a written quote that lists every fee before you pay. Be careful of prices far below market rates.
How to book with Lujui Kenya Travels
Send your route, dates and number of guests on WhatsApp (+254 748 265 886) or email info@lujui.com. You get a written quote with the aircraft and every fee shown.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to hire a private jet in Kenya?
From about USD 5,400 one way to Mombasa on a turboprop. Light jets cost about USD 4,800 per flying hour and the Citation Sovereign about USD 7,700.
Can a private jet land in the Maasai Mara?
Not on the bush strips. Use a Cessna Caravan, from about USD 2,100 one way, or a helicopter.
How far ahead should I book?
A few days is usually enough. In peak season, book two to three weeks ahead.
Is a private jet cheaper per person than business class?
On short routes with a full aircraft, it can be close. Eight guests on a Mombasa flight pay about USD 675 each.
Prices are 2026 guide prices from Lujui Kenya Travels. Your final price comes from a written quote.