Compare: Johannesburg→Cairo (6,264 km) vs Johannesburg→Nairobi (2,925 km). Johannesburg → Nairobi wins by 3,339 km (53%). Side-by-side with flight & drive times.
By SnapDistance Team · Updated April 21, 2026
6,264 km
3,892 miles · Flight: ~8h 20min · Drive: ~101h 47min
2,925 km
1,818 miles · Flight: ~4h 9min · Drive: ~47h 32min
✓ Shorter route
Difference: 3,339 km (53%) · Flight time difference: ~4h 11min
Verdict
Johannesburg → Nairobi is the smarter pick if travel time and emissions matter most: it is 3,339 km (53%) shorter, saves about 4h 11min of flight time, and cuts roughly 851 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Choose Johannesburg → Cairo only if the destination itself is the reason for the trip.
Johannesburg → Nairobi is the shorter route at 2,925 km, which is 3,339 km (53%) shorter than Johannesburg → Cairo. You would save approximately 4h 11min in flight time by choosing the shorter route.
| Metric | Johannesburg → Cairo | Johannesburg → Nairobi |
|---|---|---|
| Distance (km) | 6,264 | 2,925 |
| Distance (miles) | 3,892 | 1,818 |
| Flight time | ~8h 20min | ~4h 9min |
| Driving time | ~101h 47min | ~47h 32min |
| Road distance (est.) | ~8,143 km | ~3,803 km |
| Drivable? | No | Yes |
| Cross-continental | No | No |
| Initial bearing | 3° (N) | 20° (NNE) |
| Time-zone shift | None | None |
| CO₂ – flight (per pax) | ~1,597 kg | ~746 kg |
| CO₂ – driving (per car) | — | ~650 kg |
| Fuel cost (est.) | — | ~$380 USD |
Flying from Johannesburg to Cairo produces roughly 1,597 kg of CO₂ per passenger, based on the ICAO/EEA short-haul emission factor of ~0.255 kg per passenger-km. The Johannesburg → Nairobi flight emits about 746 kg. Choosing the shorter route saves approximately 851 kg of CO₂ per traveler — equivalent to 41 typical tree-years of carbon sequestration.
The Johannesburg to Cairo route covers 6,264 km (3,892 miles), staying within Africa. Johannesburg (population: 5,635,127) is located in Gauteng, South Africa, while Cairo (population: 9,540,000) is in Greater Cairo, Egypt.
The Johannesburg to Nairobi route covers 2,925 km (1,818 miles), remaining within Africa. Johannesburg (population: 5,635,127) is in Gauteng, South Africa, and Nairobi (population: 4,734,000) is in Nairobi, Kenya.
Flying from Johannesburg to Cairo takes approximately 8h 20min, while Johannesburg to Nairobi takes 4h 9min. If driving is an option, expect roughly 101h 47min for the first route and 47h 32min for the second.
Since both routes depart from Johannesburg, this comparison is especially useful for travelers deciding between Cairo and Nairobi as a destination.
The 3,339 km difference between these routes is substantial and will significantly impact travel time and cost.
Only the Johannesburg→Nairobi route is practical by car (3,803 km by road). The other route requires flying.
Cairo (Egypt) has a population of 9,540,000 and is located in the Greater Cairo region of Africa. As a major metropolis, it offers extensive international connections and diverse attractions.
Nairobi (Kenya) has a population of 4,734,000 and is situated in Nairobi, Africa. This city serves as an important regional hub with solid connectivity.
Choose this route if your priority is reaching Cairo (Egypt) — a city of 9,540,000 in the Greater Cairo region of Africa. Despite being the longer of the two at 6,264 km, it makes sense when Cairo itself is the destination, the schedule fits better, or ticket prices are noticeably lower. This is a fly-only route in practice — overland travel is not realistic at 6,264 km. The initial bearing is 3° (N), so a great-circle flight leaves Johannesburg heading roughly N.
This route is the right call if you are heading to Nairobi (Kenya) — a city of 4,734,000 in the Nairobi region of Africa. It is also the shorter of the two at 2,925 km, saving about 4h 11min of flying and around 851 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Driving is feasible — expect roughly 3,803 km of road and a fuel cost in the $380 USD range. Departing Johannesburg, the great-circle bearing toward Nairobi is 20° (NNE).
Johannesburg (-26.20°, 28.05°) and Cairo (30.04°, 31.24°) sit in the same approximate time zone. Johannesburg (-26.20°, 28.05°) and Nairobi (-1.29°, 36.82°) share an approximate time zone. Both routes have manageable time-zone shifts, so jet lag should not be a major factor.
Nairobi is closer at 2,925 km, which is 3,339 km (53%) shorter.
6,264 km (3,892 miles). Flight: ~8h 20min.
2,925 km (1,818 miles). Flight: ~4h 9min.
Flying to Nairobi is faster at ~4h 9min, saving about 4h 11min compared to Cairo.
All distances on SnapDistance are calculated using the Haversine formula, which determines the great-circle distance between two points on Earth's surface. This gives the shortest possible distance over the globe, which is the measurement used for aviation and navigation. Actual travel distances by road or rail are typically 20-40% longer due to terrain, borders, and infrastructure routing. Flight times assume 800 km/h cruising speed with 30 minutes for takeoff and landing. Driving estimates use 80 km/h average speed with a 30% road distance factor.
📍 Data: Coordinates from OpenStreetMap contributors. Distances calculated using the Haversine formula. Travel times are estimates only. Last verified: April 21, 2026.