Cheap Flights to South Africa

When you fly from the UK to South Africa, you can choose a non-stop flight or one that includes a stop on the way. These are the direct flight options from the UK to South Africa:

• British Airways.

• Virgin Atlantic.

One-stop flights from the UK to South Africa are:

• Emirates (Dubai)

• Qatar Airways (Doha)

• Etihad Airways (Abu Dhabi)

• Turkish Airlines (Istanbul)

• KLM (Amsterdam)

• Air France (Paris)

• Lufthansa (Frankfurt or Munich)

• SWISS (Zurich)

• Ethiopian Airlines (Addis Ababa)

• Kenya Airways (Nairobi)

• EgyptAir (Cairo)

• RwandAir (Kigali)

If you book with British Airways, you can fly straight from London Heathrow to Johannesburg or Cape Town without changing planes. The Johannesburg service runs daily all year, while Cape Town is also served year-round.

Johannesburg is about an 11-hour flight, while Cape Town takes a little longer. You can book anything from economy to first class (depending on your budget). And because the flights leave from Heathrow, you can get there easily from anywhere in the UK.

If you are travelling around South Africa after you land, Johannesburg O. R. Tambo International is the airport to choose. It is the largest in the country and offers the most connections to other cities.

If your plans are all about Cape Town and the Western Cape, fly into Cape Town International instead. In 2024 it welcomed just over 10 million passengers, its busiest year yet.

The cost of flights from the UK to South Africa depends on three things:

• When you travel

• The airline you choose

• The type of ticket you buy.

For a one-way fare, you may find prices starting from about £200. A direct one-way ticket with British Airways or Virgin Atlantic usually costs around £400 or more. A return economy ticket typically ranges from £500 to £700.

If you prefer business class, then note that the return tickets usually cost between £1,000 and £1,200.

We at CheapFlightsFare can help you find low-cost tickets to South Africa. Our team compares prices from different airlines, which is why you can book the flight that suits you in no time. For any queries, you can reach us by calling 020 8432 9595. The same number works on WhatsApp if you prefer messaging. You can also email info@cheapflightsfare.uk.

We are available Monday to Saturday, from 9 in the morning to 6 in the evening, UK time to help you book the right flight for you.

A direct flight from London to Johannesburg usually takes between 11 to 12 hours. Keep in mind that one-stop flights increase your travel time. In most cases, a one-stop flight from the UK to South Africa takes around 14 hours.

Direct flights from Manchester to South Africa aren’t available, so you’ll have to choose one-stop ones. Most one-stop flights take between 13 and 15 hours in the air. These usually involve a change in cities like Doha, Dubai, or Amsterdam. If your layover is short, you will reach your destination faster. 

Some routes have two stops, which adds even more time. If possible, choose a flight with only one connection and a short wait between flights.

You can fly from Birmingham to South Africa, but there are no direct flights. The total time in the air is usually between 16 and 18 hours. This does not include the layover, so your full trip may take longer depending on the connections you choose. Flights often connect through Dubai, Doha, or Amsterdam.

There are no direct flights from the UK to Bloemfontein, and all routes include at least one stop. Most passengers choose to connect through Johannesburg O. R. Tambo International Airport before continuing on to Bram Fischer International Airport in Bloemfontein.

From London Heathrow, you can take a non-stop flight to Johannesburg with British Airways or Virgin Atlantic. The onward journey to Bloemfontein is a short domestic flight of around one hour, usually with Airlink or another South African carrier.

Unfortunately, you can’t fly directly from the UK to Durban. Every route requires at least one stop before reaching King Shaka International Airport. The fastest option is to fly from London Heathrow to Johannesburg on a non-stop service with British Airways or Virgin Atlantic, then connect to Durban on a domestic flight.

You can’t fly directly from the UK to East London, South Africa. The total travel time depends on the layover, but you can expect around 15 hours in the air. Longer layovers will add more hours to the journey, sometimes making the trip considerably longer.

There are direct flights from London Heathrow to Johannesburg O. R. Tambo International Airport. British Airways and Virgin Atlantic both operate these non-stop services throughout the year, and the flight takes around 11 hours. If you prefer to save money, you can choose a one-stop route, but it will take longer.

There are no direct flights from the UK to Port Elizabeth, now officially named Gqeberha. The most common route is to fly from London Heathrow to Johannesburg on a non-stop service with British Airways or Virgin Atlantic, then take a domestic flight to Gqeberha.

The best time for you to visit South Africa depends on what you want from your trip. May to September is the ideal time to visit Kruger for a safari. But if you are heading to Cape Town or the Western Cape, the warm, dry summer months from December to February are perfect for beaches. This area gets most of its rain in winter, so June to August can be wetter.

You might prefer the shoulder months of April to May or September to November. These give you pleasant weather and better prices on flights.

If you want to save money on your trip, May is usually the cheapest month for you to fly from the UK to South Africa. This is outside the peak tourist seasons, so airlines often lower their fares to fill seats.

You can also find good deals in late April and early June. Keep in mind that the cheapest flights are often available for a short time before they sell out.

Booking your flights to South Africa two to six months before you travel is a smart move. If you plan to travel during Christmas, booking even earlier will help you get the dates. These periods sell out quickly, and the cheapest seats are usually taken first.

The FCDO advises you to be careful when visiting South Africa. Crime is an issue in some areas, including robberies and carjackings. Most visitors have a trouble-free trip, but it’s important to stay alert. The advice is to avoid walking alone in quiet areas, especially at night. Also, use secure parking wherever possible.

If you hold a full British passport, you can travel to South Africa without a visa for up to 90 days for tourism or business. This is confirmed by the UK Government’s travel advice and the South African Department of Home Affairs list of visa-exempt countries.

If you want to stay longer than 90 days, you will need to arrange the right visa before you go. Always check the latest rules before booking, as requirements can change.

To enter South Africa, you’ll need a passport that’s valid for 30 days after you leave and has two clear pages for stamps. Similarly, if you are coming from a country with a risk of yellow fever, you must carry a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate. This does not apply if you are flying directly from the UK.

Immigration may also ask you to show proof of your onward or return ticket to confirm you are not planning to overstay. This could be your flight booking back to the UK or to another destination.

CheapFlightsFare makes it easy for you to find and book affordable flights to South Africa. On our website, start by choosing if you want a return or one-way trip. Enter your departure city or airport in the “Flying From” box and your destination in the “Going To” box. Then, pick your travel dates, choose the number of passengers and click “Search” to see the available flights.

If you would rather book with our help, you can call us on 020 8432 9595 or send us a WhatsApp message on the same number. Our email is info@cheapflightsfare.uk. Our team is here Monday to Saturday from 9am to 6pm, UK time. Choose us and travel to South Africa without paying more than you need to.