Cheap Flights to South Africa
Cheap flights to South Africa — Cape Town and Table Mountain, Kruger National Park safaris from Johannesburg, Garden Route road trips and Durban's beaches.
Best months to fly to South Africa
Cheapest months are colour-coded green; high season (most expensive) is red. Best to book: Sep, Oct, Mar, Apr. Avoid: Jun, Jul.
Top routes to South Africa
UK origins with the most-searched routes to South Africa — click any row to see live prices.
Top airports in South Africa
Major international gateways: CPT, JNB, DUR.
Top cities
Most-searched destinations: Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban.
About flying to South Africa
Flights to South Africa are well covered by the major comparison feeds. The main international gateways (CPT, JNB, DUR) all have direct connections from one or more UK airports, and onward connections via European hubs (Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Paris, Madrid, Istanbul) often surface cheaper than non-stop options if you're flexible on timing. Once inside South Africa, Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban are the most-searched destinations on Exmoway — the route guides linked above include airline lists, typical durations, and best-months strips for each.
Pricing on routes to South Africa follows the seasonal pattern shown in the colour-coded "best months to fly" strip above. Green months are the cheaper end of the year — usually outside school holidays, public holidays, and the destination's peak weather window. Red months (peak) can be 50–100% more expensive for the same itinerary, so even a one-week shift either side of a peak window can produce real savings if your dates are flexible. Booking 8–16 weeks ahead for long-haul, or 3–8 weeks for short-haul, generally catches the cheap fare buckets before they sell out.
The currency in South Africa is ZAR R, and the official language is English, Afrikaans and 9 other official. UK travellers should check the visa rules in the "travel essentials" panel below before booking — most visa-free arrangements have a maximum stay limit and may require a passport with six months' validity beyond your travel dates. Local SIMs, ATM availability, and tipping conventions vary by region; we recommend the relevant national tourism board's official guidance for the latest details.
When you're ready to compare prices, the route grid above lets you jump directly into a search from your nearest UK airport. Exmoway shows airline and online-travel-agent prices side-by-side, sorted lowest first, with no booking fee added by us. We send you direct to the airline or agent's checkout — we don't sell tickets ourselves and we don't process payment.
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Travel essentials for South Africa
Frequently asked questions about flights to South Africa
When is the cheapest time to fly to South Africa from the UK?
The cheapest months to fly to South Africa are typically Sep, Oct, Mar, Apr. Search volumes drop and airlines discount fares to fill seats. Avoid peak periods such as Jun, Jul when prices climb 25–60% above the off-season average.
Do I need a visa to travel to South Africa?
Visa-free for UK passports up to 90 days Always check the latest official guidance on the UK Foreign Office website before booking — entry rules can change at short notice.
How long does it take to fly to South Africa?
Flight times depend on your origin city and the route. Direct flights from London to South Africa range from short-haul to long-haul depending on which South Africa city you're visiting. Use Exmoway's route search to see exact durations and the cheapest day to fly.
What's the local currency in South Africa?
South Africa uses the ZAR R. Major UK debit cards work in most cities, but it's worth carrying a small amount of local currency for taxis and small shops outside the main tourist areas.
Which UK airports have the most flights to South Africa?
The widest choice of flights to South Africa typically goes from London Heathrow and Gatwick, but Manchester, Edinburgh and Birmingham often have direct routes too — sometimes 20–40% cheaper than London. Compare all UK origins on Exmoway in one search.
Other destinations
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Find cheap flights →⚠ Prices shown are live estimates from our agency partners — Exmoway aims to keep them as close as possible to the final price, but the exact amount is set by the booking agency at checkout. Always confirm the final price with the agency before paying. Exmoway is not involved in the booking or payment.
Updated 2026-10-19