Compare South Africa flights

South Africa is the land of wildlife, wine and historic cities set in stunning natural surroundings. UK holidaymakers visit all year round, so there’s no shortage of South Africa flights from London and regional airports, with Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban the most common destinations.

South Africa's safari season peaks from May to September, when potential for ‘big five’ sightings is high. But you can see penguins on Boulders Beach any time, and flights to Durban between August and November are perfect for whale watching cruises along the ‘Dolphin Coast’ of the North Coast shoreline.

The UK's spring is South Africa's autumn, and it's a good time to pick up cheap flights. Prices are higher in December and January – the South African summer – and peak again in late July and August, when school holidays coincide with the best safari conditions in the Mpumalanga region. The difference between a Cape Town flight in March and one in August can be several hundreds of pounds, and Cape Town can get wet and windy in winter, so there's not much to be said for flying there in August if you can avoid it.

You can also save on your South Africa flights if you consider indirect services – Air France via Paris, for instance, or KLM via Amsterdam. And as ever, book well in advance for the best prices.

Non-stop flights to South Africa from the UK take 12 hours on average. Fly direct from London Heathrow to Johannesburg and you’ll touch down at OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in exactly 11 hours. If you want to fly from a regional UK airport, Air France and KLM offer the fastest flights to South Africa from Glasgow or Manchester. They include stopovers in Paris and Amsterdam, but will still have you in Johannesburg in about 14 hours.

With 'big five' safaris and scenic road trips, South Africa has a well-deserved reputation for adventure. But this is also the country of Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban; the Indian Ocean and the South Atlantic coasts; legendary landmarks like Table Mountain; and the 2,000-strong colony of penguins on Boulders Beach.

Unless you plan to stay put in a city, it's definitely worth considering car hire in South Africa. The Garden Route alone justifies a set of wheels, and self-drive safaris are possible at several game reserves, including the famous Kruger National Park in the northeast (though bear in mind that qualified guides give you a better chance of seeing game, and might be able to access places you can't).

In terms of gateways, Cape Town is South Africa’s oldest city and the gateway to the Western and Eastern Cape; Durban has balmy beaches and the Dolphin Coast; and Johannesburg is good for Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and Kruger. See our South Africa holiday page for more inspiration and to compare flight and hotel package deals.

Looking to visit South Africa? Make sure to check out our Tips and Advice first