Cheap flights to South Africa
Johannesburg and Cape Town are the two gateways most travellers compare first. Cheap flights to South Africa usually mean choosing between these airports, then checking onward connections to Durban, Port Elizabeth, George, Hoedspruit or East London. Travellers flying to South Africa include holidaymakers, business travellers and people visiting family; their ticket is often a return fare through a main gateway. The right choice depends on whether the trip starts with meetings, a safari, a coastal holiday or a family visit.
Cities with flights
Gateways
The gateways differ by trip: Johannesburg suits business and onward safari connections, while Cape Town fits a coastal or wine-country break. Durban and Port Elizabeth work for beach and garden-route plans, George for the southern coast, Hoedspruit for safari areas, and East London for the eastern coast. Choose a gateway near the first real stop, rather than the first fare found.
Before you go: South Africa
- Currency
- ZAR (R)
- Power sockets
- Type C, D, G, N · 230 V
- Language
- South African Sign Language, Southern Ndebele, Sesotho, Tsonga, Tswana, Swazi, Northern Sotho, Venda, Afrikaans, Xhosa, Zulu, English
- Emergency number
- 112
- Calling code
- +27
- Internet domain
- .za
Country facts: Wikidata
When to go
South Africa's summer falls when many northern travellers are in winter, so weather and flight prices do not follow the same calendar visitors may expect. Flights are often busier around school holidays and Christmas; outside those periods, midweek departures can offer more seat choice. Wildlife, beach and city trips also peak at different times, so match the month to the region rather than the whole country.