Getting here

Other than traffic from our neighbouring countries, which still mostly makes its way into South Africa by road, most travellers use air services to get to South Africa.

The country boasts 3 international airports in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban, but the lion's share of international airlines operating to this country do so to and from O R Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, or Ortia for short.  The airport is one of the busiest in Africa. All 3 airports are managed by the Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA) - its website is a great source of South African travel information.

Here's a rundown of the airlines travelling to South Africa with scheduled weekly services.

Africa  Middle East  Indian Ocean Islands  Europe  Australasia  United States

Air Botswana  Egypt Air  Air Austral  Air France  Cathay Pacific  Delta Airlines

Air Malawi  El Al  Air Madagascar  Air Portugal  Malaysia Airlines

Air Namibia  Emirates  Air Mauritius  British Airways  Qantas

Air Tanzania  Etihad Airlines  Air Seychelles  Iberia Airlines  Singapore Airlines   Air Zimbabwe  Qatar Airways    KLM Royal Dutch Airlines     Bellview Airlines Saudi Arabian Airlines   Lufthansa  

Ethiopian Airlines  Turkish Airlines   Olympic Airways  Gabon Airlines   Swissair  Hewa Bora Airways   Virgin Atlantic Airways

InterAir Interlink Airlines  Kenya Airways   LAM Mozambique Airlinws   South African Airways  TAAG Angolan Airlines

Connections to South America are possible on SAA and Malaysia Airlines, and to India on SAA.

There are also limited means of getting to South Africa by sea. A number of cruise itineraries include Durban or Cape Town on their routes, while Safmarine's cargo ships, which sail between the UK and South African ports over a 2-week duration, include offer a few passenger cabins.  There is also the well-known RMS St Helena which travel from the UK to Cape Town calling at the islands of Tenerife, St Helena and Ascension, as well as Walvis Bay in Namibia.