Travel to South Africa
Flying to South Africa
South Africa is well connected by international air routes, with several major airports serving different regions of the country. The primary gateway is O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg, which handles the majority of long-haul flights and serves as the main hub for connections within southern Africa. Cape Town International Airport (CPT) is another key entry point, particularly popular with leisure travellers, while King Shaka International Airport (DUR) near Durban serves the east coast.
Major international airlines operate direct or one-stop services to South Africa from Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the Americas. These include carriers such as British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Lufthansa, Air France, KLM, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines and Singapore Airlines. Regional connections are well served by Ethiopian Airlines and Kenya Airways.
South Africa's national carrier, South African Airways, operates selected international and regional routes, while domestic airlines such as FlySafair and Airlink provide connections between major cities and regional destinations.
Most long-haul travellers reach South Africa via hubs such as Dubai, Doha, Istanbul, Addis Ababa or major European cities, with onward connections to Johannesburg, Cape Town or Durban.
Flight times:
From London to Johannesburg: 11 hours (direct).
From London to Cape Town: 11 hours 35 minutes (direct).
Airport guides
Airport Code: CPT. Location: Cape Town International Airport is located 18km (11 miles) east of Cape Town. Money: Bureau de change and ATMs are available in both terminals. There is a full-service bank in the... Read more
Airport Code: JNB. Location: Johannesburg O.R. Tambo International Airport is located 22km (14 miles) east of Johannesburg, and... Money: There are ATMs, banks and bureaux de change within the terminals. Read more
Airport Code: PLZ. Location: Port Elizabeth Airport is situated within Port Elizabeth, approximately 3.2km (2 miles) south of... Money: There is an ATM situated in the passage between the arrival and departure halls. Read more
Airport Code: DUR. Location: Durban King Shaka International Airport is located 35km (22 miles) north of central Durban. Money: Standard Bank provides exchange services and ATMs within the terminal. A VAT refund facility is... Read more
Travel by rail
International rail travel to South Africa is limited and is generally not used by most visitors.
The most notable international route is the luxury Rovos Rail, which operates scheduled journeys linking Pretoria with destinations such as Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and, on longer itineraries, as far as Tanzania. These journeys are designed as high-end travel experiences rather than practical transport, with multi-day itineraries and onboard accommodation.
There have historically been passenger rail links between South Africa and neighbouring countries such as Zimbabwe and Mozambique, but these services are limited and not always reliable. As a result, travellers typically combine train and road transport or opt to fly when crossing borders.
Driving to South Africa
South Africa shares borders with Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Eswatini and Lesotho, with numerous official border posts linking it to these countries.
Some of the busiest and most popular crossings include Beitbridge between Zimbabwe and South Africa, which connects to the main route towards Johannesburg, and Kopfontein/Tlokweng between Botswana and South Africa, linking Gaborone with Pretoria and Johannesburg. From Namibia, the Vioolsdrif/Noordoewer crossing is commonly used by travellers heading towards Cape Town via the scenic Northern Cape.
On the eastern side, crossings from Mozambique and Eswatini are frequently used, particularly by travellers visiting Kruger National Park. The Lebombo border post between Mozambique and South Africa is a major route connecting Maputo with the South African road network. Lesotho, an enclave within South Africa, is accessible via several mountain border posts, some of which offer particularly scenic drives through the Drakensberg region.
Road conditions on major routes are generally good, with well-maintained highways linking border posts to key cities. However, border formalities can take time, especially at busy crossings such as Beitbridge, so travellers should allow extra time for immigration and customs procedures.
Foreign drivers must carry valid documentation, including vehicle registration papers and insurance, and may be required to pay road or entry fees depending on the route and vehicle.
Getting to South Africa by boat
South Africa has a long coastline along both the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, but international passenger arrivals by water are limited as there are no regular international ferry services linking South Africa with neighbouring countries. Cruise ships, however, regularly call at South African ports, particularly as part of itineraries around southern Africa or global voyages.
Cruise ships:
Port of Cape Town and Port of Durban are the main cruise gateways, handling both international cruise liners and regional voyages. Other ports, such as Port Elizabeth Harbour (Gqeberha), also receive occasional cruise traffic.
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