Home › Travel Guides › Africa Travel Guide › South Africa › Travel to South Africa
Image gallery

Zebra in Mokala National Park, South Africa

© 123rf.com / Nico Smit

Travel to South Africa

Flying to South Africa

The national airline is South African Airways (SAA) (www.flysaa.com). There are frequent direct and indirect flights by numerous major airlines from destinations throughout Europe and North America.

Flight times:

Flights to Cape Town from London are 12 hours 40 minutes and to Johannesburg 11 hours. From New York to Cape Town is at least 23 hours, to Johannesburg at least 19 hours, changing in Atlanta.

Departure tax:

All taxes are included in the price of an air ticket.

Driving to South Africa

There are several borders you can cross to get into South Africa if you are entering the country by car and border posts are open daily. These are the main border posts:
• Namibia Vioolsdrif / South Africa, 24 hours
• Mozambique Komatiepoort / South Africa, 0700-2200
• Botswana Tlokweng / South Africa, 0700-2200
• Zimbabwe Beitbridge / South Africa, 0600-2200
• Swaziland Oshoek / South Africa, 0700-2200

Getting to South Africa by boat

Cape Town, Durban, East London and Port Elizabeth all have major ports and it is possible to travel by ferry from these destinations. For more information regarding the ports, contact Transnet National Ports Authority (www.transnetnationalportsauthority.net).

Cruise ships:

Several international cruise liners call at Cape Town or Durban including the MSC Starlight Cruise Ships (www.starlightcruises.co.za).

Recommended Sites:

Protect yourself from malaria
Before you travel, find out if your holiday destination is in a malaria zone.
(An educational initiative organised and funded by GlaxoSmithKline Travel Health. UK/MARK/0173/10 September 2010)
Travel insurance
For residents of over 150 countries. High levels of medical, evacuation, emergency & most adventure activities covered.