Travel Guide: Cheap flights to South Africa
South Africa Airlines and Airports
Airline and airport information plus insider tips for South Africa
Surrounded by oceans on three sides, South Africa lies at the continent's southern tip. Step off flights to South Africa and into a country large enough to provide you with a true African experience: traditional tribal villages, game reserves and sprawling townships. Tradition meets modernity, however, and world-class hotels, chic shopping and incredible beaches are also on offer. Luckily, visitors are now able to take advantage of a wide variety of cheap flights to South Africa, allowing them to enjoy all the fine dining experiences this country has to offer. You can breakfast in a New York-style deli, lunch in an African shebeen, enjoy cocktails on a sunset cruise, or dine in style in a grand British colonial restaurant.
The Republic has made great changes since the era of Apartheid, when the white minority ruled the black majority through draconian laws. Famously, the release of Nelson Mandela and his subsequent election as President ushered in a new era of democracy. Now the 'Rainbow Nation' opens its doors to visitors of all races, revealing a wealth of fascinating cultures and natural history. And it won't take you long to get to this amazing melting pot, either, as cheap flights to South Africa only take 11 hours.
Find the best flight prices to South Africa
When to fly to South Africa
Peak season:
South Africa is a year-round destination. The best times to look for flights to South Africa depend on the activity you have in mind. Southern-hemisphere rules apply when it comes to seasons. South Africa's summer lasts from November to February - it's warm with heavy rains in the afternoons.
Average winter temperatures range between 11 degrees (Celsius) in Johannesburg and 17 in Durban, while summer temperatures are between 19 degrees in Jo'burg and 24 in Durban.
The best time to watch game is spring, so book your flights to South Africa between August to October. Whale watchers should visit between mid-June and the end of October for southern right whales and should book their South Africa flights between August and December for humpback whales.
For diving and surfing, booking flights to South Africa between April and September is best. Spring and autumn are the preferred seasons for hiking, as summer temperatures can be very high.
Getting Around
Air: There are eight domestic airlines operating internal South Africa flights. Flights are available through British Airways from Johannesburg to Cape Town, Durban and Port Elizabeth, and between Cape Town and Durban. South African Airways, the national carrier, flies to several destinations including Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban, George, Upington, Kimberley, East London, Mthatha, Margate, and Sun City. South African Express flies between Johannesburg, Cape Town, East London, George and several other cities.
Other airlines offering internal South Africa flights include Airlink, Kululu.com, 1time, Mango and Nationwide. There are also smaller charter airlines.
Intercape, Greyhound and Translux offer services around the country.
Rail: Spoornet links the major cities, connecting Johannesburg to Port Elizabeth, Cape Town and Durban for example. The Blue Train is a luxury service (scheduled and charter) that runs Pretoria - Cape Town - Pretoria. There are special packaged routes too. Rovos Rail is another luxury service and the Steam Train Company offers scenic tours in a traditional style. If you have booked cheap flights to South Africa, the Rovos Rail is well worth spending your savings on.
Roads are good in South Africa. Avis, Budget and Europcar are among the car rental companies with branches at the airports so you can just step off your flights to South Africa and into a comfortable air-conditioned hire car. It's also possible to rent a motorbike or motorhome, but do if you're from the States or Europe, do remember to drive on the left.
Flying to South Africa
Major airports in South Africa include:
Cape Town (CPT) (Cape Town International)
Bloemfontein (KRK) (Bloemfontein International)
Durban (DUR) (Durban International)
Johannesburg (JNB) (O R Tambo International)
Port Elizabeth (PLZ) (Port Elizabeth International)
Airlines offering cheap flights to South Africa include:
British Airways
South African Airways
Virgin Atlantic
In-flight Reading
Try our in-flight reading suggestions for your flight to South Africa.
Youth
by J M Coetzee
John, a mathematics graduate from South Africa, comes to London and discovers not excitement and romance, but drudgery and loneliness as a computer programmer with IBM.
Long Walk to Freedom
by Nelson Mandela
The inspiring memoir of the Nobel Peace Prize winner, former president of the African National Congress and head of the anti-Apartheid movement. Read this on your flights to South Africa and the time will fly by.
Disgrace
by J M Coetzee
Following an affair with one of his university students, David resigns and leaves Cape Town for his daughter's farm, but violence and crime force him to confront the realities of post-Apartheid SA. A great way to pass the time on your South Africa flights.
Insider Information on South Africa
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is composed of the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park (of South Africa) and Gemsbok National Park (of Botswana). It has more than 3.6 million hectares. In such a large space, vegetation is sparse and most of the animals concentrate around the Auob and Nossob riverbeds.
Whales, turtles and penguins: view breaching whales at Hermanus, south of Cape Town. The town has its own whale crier, who blows his horn in a 'Morse' code, signalling the location of whales. There are African jackass penguins on Boulder's Beach in Simon's Town. To spot leatherback and loggerhead turtles nesting, head to St Lucia in KwaZulu Natal. The turtles nest between November and January but if you want to watch them hatch, book your cheap flights to South Africa to leave between January and March, Johannesburg has the Apartheid Museum and MuseuMAfricA, a history and cultural museum. Far from Austria, the South African Lipizzaners, are in action each Sunday morning in Kyalami. During Easter, the horses will dance to the music of the 1970s.
If your flights to South Africa have taken you to Cape Town, make sure you take the cable car to the top of Table Mountain. The cable car whooshes up the mountain's 1085m (3,560 feet) height in less than ten minutes and has a rotating floor offering 360-degree views of the city.
Travel Tips
- Finding Cheap FlightsOur golden rules for finding a cheap flight
- Airlines with low-cost ticketsAn essential guide to how the main carriers operate
- Before You GoAdvice on everything you need to do before you set off
- Regional UK and Irish AirportsFlying from the four corners of the UK and Ireland
- Glossary of Flying TermsAn A-Z of common terms you’ll need to know
- Travel Sickness and DVTHow to stay happy and healthy in the air
Travel links
- Currency converterFind the current exchange rate
- WeatherThe weather in South Africa today
- Destination GuideLonely Planet's guide to South Africa