Flights to Johannesburg
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More suggestions for finding cheap flights to Johannesburg
Direct flights
The demand for flights to South Africa continues to grow, and even though most Brits are heading for cosmopolitan Cape Town, Johannesburg is still the major transfer hub for onward connections within South Africa. South African Airways, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic offer non-stop direct flights from London Heathrow to Johannesburg, with the lesser known Nationwide Airlines also offering a much lower frequency service from London Gatwick.
Connecting flights
There are plenty of connecting flights to Johannesburg available through European cities such as Paris, Madrid or Milan. However, the Dutch colonial connections with South Africa, combined with the huge range of regional connections from various UK airports, ensure that Amsterdam is by far the most popular transfer point for indirect flights from the UK to Johannesburg. It is also possible to find connecting flights via Dubai with Emirates - this route takes longer, but some passengers are happy to trade this slight increase in journey time for the chance to peruse Dubai’s amazing duty free shops. Connecting flights via African cities are few and far between, although Air Namibia do actively promote the option of travelling to Johannesburg via Windhoek.
Mini Guide to Johannesburg
Nowhere else in South Africa is feeling the changes of the post-apartheid years – both good and bad – like Jo’Burg. This bustling metropolis is the country’s financial powerhouse and main transport hub, but whilst hotels, casinos, and nightclubs are dotting up all over the city, serious crime continues to be a major concern. Violent crime is common, but huge efforts are being made to curb the problem, especially with the world’s attention focusing on South Africa ahead of the 2010 World Cup finals.
For all its tensions, Jo’burg is a city desperately trying to move up in the world. This dynamism is reflected in the wealth of top notch shopping and entertainment facilities that rival many North American or European cities. At the other extreme are townships that form a suffocating belt around the city. Two million people live in Soweto, the largest and most notorious of Jo’burg’s ghettos. Guided tours of this fascinating and vibrant (if somewhat edgy) area have become popular in recent years, but it is still too dangerous to visit without a knowledgeable chaperone.
Jo’burg is ideally situated within a few hours drive of many of South Africa’s top attractions. Lion Park (which is?) and the ever-popular Gold Reef City theme park, which was created out of a disused gold mine, are both about 45 minutes out of town.
Further afield is the extraordinary Sun City entertainment and gambling complex and the extinct volcanic craters of the Pilansberg nature reserve. Jo’burg is also the main starting point for tours to the immense Kruger National Park, which stretches vistually the whole length of the border with neighbouring Mozambique. The park has an enormous range of wildlife including lions, cheeters, elephants, giraffes, rhinos, and hippos.
Johannesburg Flight News
- New Johannesburg flights from Manchester - 01/02/2007
Other flights and travel news stories:
- Easyjet in hot water over misleading ad - 02/07/2008
- BA set to buy French business airline - 02/07/2008
- Aviation tax reform plans may be dropped - 02/07/2008
Flights to South Africa - Other Cities
Can't find any good value flights to Johannesburg? Read our general guide about finding flights to South Africa, or try one of the other cities in South Africa mentioned below:
Other useful Johannesburg travel websites
- Johannesburg Airport - Official Website
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