Flights to the Cape | South Africa | options for flights from Europe or USA

Flights to South Africa

International flight routes to South Africa

We can arrange flights to South Africa's Cape for you from the UK. Alternatively, if you would prefer to arrange your own flights, or book with air-miles or the like, then feel free to do so. If you organise your flights, we will gladly just make the ground arrangements for you.

Starting from London

The easiest and most direct way to South Africa's Cape is to fly with British Airways, who run direct flights from London Heathrow Airport. These depart every evening, arriving in Cape Town the following morning. In Cape Town, you usually collect a hire car to drive to your Cape Town accommodation, or to start your self-drive holiday.

The alternative route is to fly via Johannesburg, again with British Airways. Flights from London Heathrow depart every evening, arriving in Johannesburg the following morning. Then connections link through from Jo'burg to Cape Town, arriving around the middle of the day. Again, you usually pick up your own rental car in Cape Town.

If your trip to South Africa starts further north (eg: Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park), or in the Cape' east (eg: Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape Game Reserves), the easiest way is to fly with British Airways from London Heathrow to Jo’burg and then onward from there to Upington or Port Elizabeth, respectively with Airlink. As mentioned above, the BA flights to Jo'burg depart London every evening, arriving following morning and then in Jo'burg you can make the onward connections with Airlink flights to Upington/Port Elizabeth, usually departing in the morning, and arriving around noon, though this can vary with the day of the flight.

Obviously, it's easy to use one route into South Africa, and return via another – on an 'open-jaw' trip. However, note that it's not easy to economically combine the use of different airlines for your intercontinental routes; normally if you fly to Africa with British Airways then you will fly back with them.

Starting from the USA

Coming from North America, you have choices to make about your flights. In broad terms, your two options for the flight arrangements are:

1)
You arrange your return flights USA -> London and London -> USA for yourself.
Expert Africa arranges the London -> South Africa and South Africa -> London flights for you.

This makes a lot of sense as we can then organise linked, connecting flights all the way through from London through to your end destination, which is really important. This means any domestic flight within South Africa (e.g. from Johannesburg to Upington / Port Elizabeth) is linked to you international ticket, thus the airlines have the obligation to get you through to your end destination, even if there are flight delays. (Please do speak to us about this for further clarification if you’d like). However, you need to make sure that you have plenty of turn-around time between planes in London.

2)
You arrange your own flights USA -> South Africa and South Africa -> USA, either via London or on any other route, and advise us of the flight times and carriers.
Expert Africa arranges your arrangements in South Africa only for you.

This makes more sense if you are flying direct from the US – e.g., on the service linking New York with Cape Town / Jo’burg. If you choose to arrange your own intercontinental flights to South Africa, then it's best to book any domestic connecting flights at the same time, using the same company who arranges your intercontinental flight (eg: include linked flights between Jo'burg and Upington, or between Jo'burg and Port Elizabeth). This way there's no danger of you being left with two separate flights which do not connect, in case one flight changes.

Flights to the rest of Africa

For more information on flights, please see our webpage on International flights to Africa.
Click on the links below to read specific information about flights to each of our other African destinations:

► Flights to Botswana
► Flights to Malawi
► Flights to Mozambique
► Flights to Namibia
► Flights to Rwanda
► Flights to Seychelles
► Flights to Tanzania
► Flights to Zambia
► Flights to Zanzibar
► Flights to Zimbabwe

Our top picks for holidays to South Africa

We'll always tailor-make your Town for you. Here are some of our favourites to inspire you.

Cape Genet Self-drive Safari

20 days • 8 locations
CAPE TOWN AIRPORT TO CAPE TOWN AIRPORT

Enjoy fine-dining in Cape Town, whale-watching in Hermanus, and a range of walking and water-based activities throughout De Hoop’s Nature Reserve, the Klein Karoo and Plettenberg. This relaxed self-driven safari concludes with stays in The Winelands and Namaqualand.

US$3,650 - US$4,370 per person

Cape Grysbok Self-drive Safari

20 days • 8 locations
CAPE TOWN AIRPORT TO CAPE TOWN AIRPORT

Explore Cape Town, Hermanus, Franschhoek and Namaqualand, amongst other memorable destinations, during this leisurely self-driven safari. Fine dining, varied activities and impressively comfortable lodges, estates and country houses await.

US$4,810 - US$7,240 per person

Bontebok Self-drive Safari

12 days • 5 locations
CAPE TOWN AIRPORT TO PORT ELIZABETH AIRPORT

This varied and great-value self-drive trip visits Cape Town, the Winelands and diverse sections of the Garden Route, staying at great places with real local character. It’s ideal for active couples and families who want to explore the Cape’s stunning locations.

US$1,800 - US$1,940 per person

Waterbuck self-drive

12 days • 6 locations
CAPE TOWN AIRPORT TO PORT ELIZABETH AIRPORT

A classic Cape and Garden Route self-drive taken at a leisurely pace and staying in charming boutique hotels. Great food and wine paired with spectacular scenery and an exciting array of activities.

US$2,980 - US$3,380 per person

Cape Mountain Zebra Self-drive Safari

12 days • 4 locations
CAPE TOWN AIRPORT TO CAPE TOWN AIRPORT

Fine dining, luxurious accommodation and a wide of range of leisurely activities make this a superbly comfortable self-driven safari. Visit the cosmopolitan Cape Town, tranquil coastal retreats, stylish wine farms and spectacularly peaceful nature reserves.

US$4,520 - US$7,630 per person

Black Wildebeest Self-drive Safari

19 days • 10 locations
CAPE TOWN AIRPORT TO WINDHOEK AIRPORT

Journey from South Africa’s cosmopolitan Cape Town to central Namibia’s Okonjima Nature Reserve during this self-driven safari. The route passes through a stunning variety of landscapes, offering access to this beautiful continent’s rich diversity.

US$4,140 - US$4,250 per person

The Highlights of Africa

17 days • 7 locations
CAPE TOWN AIRPORT TO KIGALI AIRPORT

An epic adventure taking in some of Africa’s most incredible sights and wildlife experiences, from Cape Town to the Okavango Delta, Victoria Falls, the Maasai Mara and an encounter with mountain gorillas.

US$15,270 - US$19,670 per person

Leopard Safari

13 days • 4 locations
VICTORIA FALLS AIRPORT TO CAPE TOWN AIRPORT

Victoria Falls, Botswana and Cape Town – a classic southern African itinerary combining luxury, wilderness, safari and culture. We can't think of a better way to spend two weeks.

US$13,430 - US$17,990 per person

Kwandwe Self-drive Safari

3 days • 1 locations
PORT ELIZABETH AIRPORT TO PORT ELIZABETH AIRPORT

An elegantly stylish lodge that is well suited to families, Kwandwe offers a range of safari activities and the chance to sight all of the "Big 5" during exploration of the Eastern Cape.

US$3,120 - US$4,420 per person

View all holidays in South Africa

Looking for inspiration on where to travel next?

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