Peak Season:
The weather in Africa varies from city to city but generally the peak seasons run from July to October so expect higher prices on flights to Africa then. December and January can also have hordes of tourists but flights to Africa become a lot more expensive, as does accommodation. That said, December to March can be uncomfortably hot so if you're someone who doesn't deal with the heat too well, visit in October for a bit of cooler weather and cheap flights to Africa.
Off Season:
Certain countries such as Tanzania have a very heavy tropical rain season that can run anywhere from January to March, sometimes even until June. While this might not be ideal, you'll find cheap flights to Africa and less crowds across the cities, making it a great time of year to secure your flight tickets if you don't mind very wet weather. September to January can also be extremely windy in certain counties in Africa too, although the heat is still intense so temperatures can become uncomfortable. You'll find deals on your flight tickets scattered across these months, with November being a good month to find cheap flights to Africa.
Flights to Africa vary in price depending on when you want to visit and what country you are flying to. Booking your flights to Africa as early in advance as possible only serves to save you money, so don't hesitate hoping for a last minute deal as these are becoming rarer and rarer. Cheap flights to Africa can be found during the rainy season, and late on in the year, again you'll have to make sure to book at least a month in advance, especially if your flights to Africa take you to a popular destination such as Cairo or Cape Town. It's worth finding out if there are any particular events, festivals or national holidays taking place when you want to visit and these can skyrocket the price of flights to Africa.
Flights from London (All airports) to Cape Town - 11 hours 35 minutes
Flights from Manchester to Cairo - 5 hours 00 minutes
Flights from Birmingham to Cape Town - 13 hours 50 minutes
Flights from Glasgow to Cape Town - 14 hours 10 minutes
There is a huge variety of airlines that operate flights to Africa, all depending on where you are flying too. The main ones are South African Airlines, British Airways, KLM, Air Arabic Maroc and Iberia. The prices of flights to Africa are vary drastically from one place to another, so make sure to compare each airline to another and look out for additional costs for checked in baggage, in-flight meals etc. If you want a truly cheap flight to Africa, Marrakech offers the greatest savings, however Cape Town has one of the greatest beaches in the world so choose carefully and secure your flight tickets early!
O.R Tambo International Airport:
The airport is 21km from the city centre, making transport quite quick and easy to arrange. The Gautrain operates a fast rail service to Sandton where you can change for Johannesburg. The journey takes around 25 minutes in total and is the easiest way to get to the centre. You could also rent a car or jump in a taxi - make sure to agree on a price before getting into a taxi as you could end up being ripped off at the end of your trip! Finally most hotels offer a transfer service to and from the airport.
Cairo International Airport:
The easiest way to get to the centre from the airport is to jump onto the newly established shuttle service operating straight from the airport. It has several stops including downtown Cairo, and gives you a great option to choose. Tourists are normally hassled my taxi drivers as soon as they leave the airport. While this is a convenient choice, make sure to either avoid the black and white cabs as they have no metre, or agree on a price before you get in. Taxi drivers here are notorious for ripping off tourists so keep your wits about you.
Cape Town International Airport
The airport is located 20km away from the centre of Cape Town. You can take a metered taxi to the city centre for around R300 and R400 but these prices can vary. Some taxi's will charge by the kilometre or some will have flat rates. Either way you should agree a fee before getting into the taxi. The most cost-effective way to travel to or from the airport is the MyCiti bus, it runs every 20 minutes and the service operates from around 05:00 until 22:00. Every passenger will have to purchase a myconnect pass which is R35, except passengers under 4 who can travel for free.