✈️ Book now, pay later — secure your holiday with a low deposit and pay the balance before you travel— low deposit, balance before travel
How it works →T&Cs apply. A deposit secures your booking and the remaining balance is paid in scheduled instalments before you travel. Deposits are non-refundable in line with our cancellation policy.
South Africa
ATOL Protected · IATA Accredited
Get a fast fare quote to South Africa — speak to our UK flight experts for the best fares.
ATOL Protected · IATA Accredited · UK travel experts
Flights and flight-inclusive holidays are financially protected via our licensed ATOL supplier partners.
Low Deposit
Secure your South Africa trip with a low deposit and pay the balance before you travel — a simple payment schedule arranged directly with our UK team, with no third party and nothing to apply for.
T&Cs apply. A deposit secures your booking and the remaining balance is paid in scheduled instalments before you travel. Deposits are non-refundable in line with our cancellation policy.
South Africa
Twenty thousand square kilometres of Big Five bush — self-drive between rest camps or join a guided game drive at dawn for lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo sightings.
Ride the rotating cable car to Table Mountain's flat summit, then take the Robben Island ferry to the cell where Mandela spent eighteen years — the most visited room on the continent.
Three hundred kilometres of coastal drama from Mossel Bay to Storms River — ancient Yellowwood forest, Knysna's famous lagoon, and suspension bridges above the Indian Ocean.
An hour from Cape Town, internationally acclaimed wine estates and Franschhoek's world-class restaurants sit under mountain ranges — a destination in their own right.
The only street to have housed two Nobel Peace Prize winners; the Hector Pieterson Museum tells the story of the 1976 uprising with unflinching dignity and historical depth.
Explore
Twenty thousand square kilometres of Big Five bush — self-drive between rest camps or join a guided game drive at dawn for lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo sightings.
Ride the rotating cable car to Table Mountain's flat summit, then take the Robben Island ferry to the cell where Mandela spent eighteen years — the most visited room on the continent.
Three hundred kilometres of coastal drama from Mossel Bay to Storms River — ancient Yellowwood forest, Knysna's famous lagoon, and suspension bridges above the Indian Ocean.
An hour from Cape Town, internationally acclaimed wine estates and Franschhoek's world-class restaurants sit under mountain ranges — a destination in their own right.
The only street to have housed two Nobel Peace Prize winners; the Hector Pieterson Museum tells the story of the 1976 uprising with unflinching dignity and historical depth.
Travel Essentials
Visa & Entry
UK passport holders are visa-exempt for stays up to 90 days. Carry your return ticket and a bank statement. If travelling with children, a full unabridged birth certificate is mandatory — South African immigration enforces this strictly. Verify current requirements before travel at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/south-africa.
Money & Currency
South Africa's currency is the Rand (ZAR). The exchange rate generally makes South Africa excellent value for UK visitors. ATMs are widely available in cities and tourist areas; cards accepted in most hotels, restaurants, and supermarkets. Carry some rand cash for markets and remote areas. Tipping 10–15% is customary.
Language
South Africa has eleven official languages. English is widely spoken across business, tourism, and government, making communication straightforward for UK visitors. You may hear Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, or Sotho depending on region — a few courteous local phrases are always warmly received.
Best Time to Visit
For safari (Kruger, Waterberg), May to September is peak — dry season brings animals to waterholes and offers the best game-viewing conditions. For Cape Town and the Western Cape, October to March is summer — ideal for beaches, hiking, and wine touring. Winelands harvest (February–April) is a highlight.
Health & Safety
Malaria risk exists in the Kruger region and other low-veld areas, particularly in the wet summer months — anti-malarial prophylaxis is recommended for those areas. Cape Town, Johannesburg, and the Garden Route are malaria-free. Consult your GP at least six weeks before departure. Comprehensive travel insurance including medical evacuation is strongly recommended.
Airlines
Why Travel Orbit
Travel Orbit is a UK travel agency arranging bespoke flights, holiday packages and Umrah for the diaspora community and beyond. You get wholesale fares, a real expert who plans around your family and your budget, and the reassurance of ATOL financial protection on flight-inclusive trips.
From visiting family in Africa to once-in-a-lifetime journeys, every trip is built by hand and backed by real people — not a booking engine.
Every flight-inclusive trip is financially protected under our ATOL cover, arranged through our licensed supplier partners — so your money and your holiday are safe.
Why Book With Travel Orbit
The difference feels obvious when the trip matters.
UK expert
Dedicated specialist
Self-serve booking
Fare access
Tailored wholesale sourcing
Public shelf prices
Protection
ATOL via licensed partners
Provider-dependent
Pay later
Available on selected trips
Not usually offered
Flights, holiday packages and Umrah built around your dates, budget and travel style by a real UK travel expert — never a one-size-fits-all algorithm.
We know visiting-family and diaspora travel to Africa and beyond — multi-city routings, generous baggage and the dates that matter to your family.
Real people on WhatsApp and the phone — before you book, while you travel and after you land. No call centres, no chatbots.
Every flight-inclusive trip is financially protected under our ATOL cover, arranged through our licensed supplier partners — so your money and your holiday are safe.
Flights, holiday packages and Umrah built around your dates, budget and travel style by a real UK travel expert — never a one-size-fits-all algorithm.
We know visiting-family and diaspora travel to Africa and beyond — multi-city routings, generous baggage and the dates that matter to your family.
Real people on WhatsApp and the phone — before you book, while you travel and after you land. No call centres, no chatbots.
Airports
| Code | Airport | City | Airlines Served |
|---|---|---|---|
| JNB | O.R. Tambo International Airport | Johannesburg | British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, South African Airways |
| CPT | Cape Town International Airport | Cape Town | British Airways |
| DUR | King Shaka International Airport | Durban | South African Airways |
Best Time to Visit
May–Sep
Safari Season
Peak seasonDry season — vegetation thins, animals concentrate at waterholes; best Kruger game viewing
Oct–Mar
Cape Town Summer
Peak seasonLong sunny days for Cape Town, Garden Route, and coastal activities; Winelands harvest Feb–Apr
Apr
Shoulder
Shoulder seasonAutumn harvest in the Winelands; Johannesburg pleasant; quieter and cheaper than peak
Nov–Jan
Green Season
Shoulder seasonLush summer rains in the north; excellent birdwatching; good Cape Town beach weather
Routes
| From | Type | To | Airline | Est. Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London Heathrow (LHR) | Direct | Johannesburg (JNB) | British Airways | 11h 00m |
| London Heathrow (LHR) | Direct | Johannesburg (JNB) | Virgin Atlantic | 11h 00m |
| London Heathrow (LHR) | Direct | Cape Town (CPT) | British Airways | 12h 00m |
South Africa at a Glance
| Flight time from UK | ~11h direct from London Heathrow to Johannesburg (LHR–JNB) |
|---|---|
| Best time to visit | May–Sep (safari — dry season); Oct–Mar (Cape Town — dry summer) |
| Visa requirements | Visa-free for UK passport holders — up to 90 days |
| Currency | South African Rand (ZAR) |
| Language | 11 official languages — English, Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and others |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (SAST) |
| Plug type | Type M (South African 3-pin); also Type D/N |
No. UK passport holders are visa-exempt for stays of up to 90 days for tourism and family visits. Carry your return ticket, a bank statement, and a birth certificate if travelling with children — South African immigration enforces the unabridged birth-certificate rule strictly. Always verify current requirements before travel at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/south-africa.
Approximately eleven hours direct from London Heathrow to Johannesburg (JNB) with British Airways or Virgin Atlantic. Direct flights to Cape Town (CPT) are around twelve hours. Connecting options via the Gulf (Emirates via Dubai; Qatar Airways via Doha) add connection time but can offer fare savings from regional UK airports.
For safari (Kruger National Park), the dry season from May to September is best — animals concentrate at waterholes and game-viewing is at its peak. For Cape Town and the Garden Route, October to March is the warm, dry summer season ideal for beaches and wine touring. The Winelands harvest (February to April) is a highlight for food-and-wine travellers.
South Africa is a well-established international destination visited by millions each year. Normal precautions apply — stay aware in urban areas, avoid walking alone after dark in unfamiliar neighbourhoods, and follow local advice. Always check the latest UK government foreign travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/south-africa before you travel.
The South African Rand (ZAR). The Rand generally offers UK visitors favourable exchange rates, making South Africa excellent value. ATMs are widely available and cards are accepted in most hotels and restaurants; carry some cash for markets and remote areas.
Fares to South Africa vary by season, routing, and how far ahead you book. British Airways and Virgin Atlantic operate non-stop services from London Heathrow to Johannesburg (JNB) and Cape Town (CPT), making South Africa one of the best-connected African destinations from the UK. Demand and fares peak during UK summer holidays (July to August) and December. Contact Travel Orbit for a personalised fare quote — we compare direct and connecting options to find the best available fare for your travel dates.
South Africa's green season (October to April) can offer lower fares for the Cape Town and Garden Route areas, though Kruger wildlife viewing is better in the dry season (May to September). The UK summer school holiday period (July to August) and December are peak and most expensive. Booking two to three months ahead and avoiding school holiday windows typically gives the best combination of fare and availability.
British Airways operates daily non-stop flights from London Heathrow to both Johannesburg (JNB) and Cape Town (CPT). Virgin Atlantic also serves the LHR–Johannesburg route direct. For UK regional airports, Qatar Airways (via Doha), Emirates (via Dubai), and Ethiopian Airlines (via Addis Ababa) provide connecting services. Travel Orbit advises on the best combination of routing, fare, and baggage allowance for your journey.
ATOL Protected · IATA Accredited · financial protection on flight-inclusive bookings
Flights and flight-inclusive holidays are financially protected via our licensed ATOL supplier partners.
