Flights to South Africa
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Map of Airports in South Africa |
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A list of all our featured airports in South Africa can be found below, together with an overview of how to find cheap flights to South Africa.
Featured Cities in South Africa:
Cape Town Durban Johannesburg
Flights to South Africa - Overview
Although South Africa is one of the most popular destinations for long-haul flights from the UK, direct routings are almost exclusively limited to departures from London. Frequent flights to both Johannesburg and Cape Town are available from London Heathrow, with three major players fighting it out between them - British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and South African Airways. Additionally, Nationwide Airlines offer cheap flights to Johannesburg from London Gatwick, although their flights are considerably less frequent than those which are offered from Heathrow.
Regional departures (direct flights)
Currently, the only opportunity to find direct flights to South Africa from any airport outside London is provided by the Scottish airline Flyglobespan, who operate flights from Manchester to Cape Town and Johannesburg.
Connecting flights
The market of flights to South Africa is nothing like as competitive as it could be, with demand rising steeply over the British winter. This makes finding cheap flights to South Africa a thankless task, and it is not unusual to pay over £1000 return for flights to either Cape Town or Johannesburg during the peak season.
Sometimes, flights can be slightly cheaper if you take an indirect option, although if you don't live near London or Manchester, then this is your only option anyway. Although London still offers the best choice of South Africa flights, the country's strong Dutch colonial links ensure that there are regular South African flights from Amsterdam, which is easily accessible from most UK international airports.
Other European airports which offer frequent connecting flights to South Africa include Paris, Zurich, Milan and Madrid. Flight connections through other countries in Africa are a bit more sporadic, although taking flights with Kenya Airways via Nairobi can often produce some of the best fares. Air Namibia also offers onward connections to South Africa from their hub in Windhoek. Another option is to take flights with Emirates via Dubai, although this is not exactly the most direct route.
Domestic flights
South Africa is a well-developed market for domestic flights, with frequent onward connections being available to cities such as Durban, East London, Port Elizabeth and Bloemfontein. There are also regular shuttle flights between Cape Town and Johannesburg.
We hope that you have found this information about flights to South Africa useful.
Mini guide to South Africa
The most accessible of the southern hemisphere travel hotspots, South Africa’s popularity among Brits shows no sign of waning. With the World Cup on its way in just over four years time, South Africa is set to become even more tourist friendly.
The majority of overseas visitors head straight for spectacular Cape Town, widely considered to be one of world’s most ‘liveable’ cities. The nearby Stellenbosch region is a veritable paradise for wine lovers, and back in town the seafood is simply stellar. South Africans take their love of sport to quasi-religious levels, and watching a live football, cricket or rugby match here is highly recommended. Surfing is also very popular - both the Atlantic and Indian Ocean coast offer some of the best breaks going. For those who like to take things at a more relaxed pace there is trekking in the dramatic Drakensberg Range, the wildlife of the Kruger National Park – including lions, cheetahs, elephants and giraffes – or the remarkable Sun City resort, one time setting of the Miss World contest.
With a population of over eight million, Johannesburg is South Africa’s largest city, and also bears the brunt of the country’s significant crime problem. Huge efforts are being made to tackle the issue, especially in areas popular with tourists. Most visits are hassle free, especially if sensible precautions are taken. A reputable guide is an absolute must if you plan to visit the fascinating but tense township of Soweto.
More details:
South Africa Flight News
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