Loading map...
MBA → FRA
Which side of the plane to sit from Mombasa Moi International Airport (Mombasa) to Frankfurt am Main Airport (Frankfurt)?
Left Side of the Plane
The left side provides the most dramatic geographic contrasts, featuring Kenya's highest peaks, the unique 'Jade Sea' of Lake Turkana, the vast Saharan dunes, and the most iconic views of the Central Alps on descent.
Mount Kenya
Kenya's highest mountain and its jagged volcanic peaks are often visible shortly after departure if the route stays inland.
Lake Turkana
The world's largest permanent desert lake, known as the Jade Sea for its incredible turquoise color, appears as you cross into Ethiopia.
The Libyan Desert
Endless rolling sand dunes and dramatic 'ergs' of the Eastern Sahara provide a mesmerizing minimalist landscape for hours.
Italian Coastline
A clear view of the Tyrrhenian coast and potentially the smoking peak of Mount Etna if the flight path tracks west of Greece.
Central Swiss Alps
The most spectacular glaciers and high-altitude peaks like the Matterhorn are visible during the descent into Central Europe.
Ensure a window seat forward of the wing to avoid engine heat distortion. For morning flights, the left side is shaded, providing better lighting for photography. Look for Mount Kenya approximately 30-40 minutes after takeoff and the Alps roughly 1 hour before landing in Frankfurt.
Kenyan Coastline
Initial views of the white sands of Nyali and Bamburi beaches immediately after takeoff from Mombasa.
Ethiopian Highlands
The rugged, deep-cut valleys and high plateaus of the 'Roof of Africa' provide dramatic shadows in the afternoon.
Cairo & Nile Delta
The massive urban sprawl of Cairo and the stark transition where the green Nile Delta meets the desert sands.
Greek Archipelago
Stunning aerial views of Crete and the Cyclades islands scattered across the deep blue Mediterranean Sea.
The Austrian Alps
Views of the Tauern mountains and the Eastern Alpine ridges as the plane enters German airspace.
If the flight is overnight, the right side is best for witnessing a sunrise over the Mediterranean or the Red Sea. Keep an eye out for the Nile River; even if the plane is not directly over it, the green ribbon is visible for hundreds of miles against the yellow desert sand.
Distance: 6,707 km (4,168 miles)
Approximate Flight Time: 7 hrs 53 min
Departure: MBA (-4.034830093383788, 39.594200134277344)
Arrival: FRA (50.033333, 8.570556)
Route Type: International
Thank you for booking your travels through our travel partners. The commissions from your bookings keep this site running.