R6 666 Find Cheap Flights from the United Kingdom to South Africa

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from the United Kingdom to South Africa departing on 9/9. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel. Click the price to replicate the search for this deal.
1 adult
1 adult, Economy, 0 bags

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Booking Insights

KAYAK's insights & trends for flights to South Africa

Get data-powered insights and trends into flights to South Africa to help you find the cheapest flights, the best time to fly and much more.

What is the cheapest flight to South Africa?

These are the best return prices found by users searching on KAYAK in the last 72 hours.

The cheapest ticket to South Africa from the United Kingdom found in the last 72 hours was to Cape Town, at R5 189 return. The most popular route is London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport (JNB) and the cheapest return airline ticket found on this route in the last 72 hours was R14 666.

What is the cheapest month to fly from the United Kingdom to South Africa?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for flights from the United Kingdom to South Africa, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the median of all values for each month.

The cheapest month for flights from the United Kingdom to South Africa is November, when tickets cost R13 103 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are July and December, when the average cost of round-trip tickets is R20 648 and R20 551 respectively.

What is the cheapest time of day to fly to South Africa?

The average price for all round-trip flights from the United Kingdom to South Africa depending on the time of departure, clicked by users on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks.

The cheapest time of day to fly to South Africa is generally in the evening, when retur flights cost R16 285 on average. Morning departures are around 100% cheaper than evening flights, on average. The most expensive time of day to fly to South Africa is generally at night, which is peak travel time and where the average cost of a ticket is R16 897.

How far in advance should I book a flight from the United Kingdom to South Africa?

To calculate weekly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each week before departure over the last year for round-trip flights to South Africa, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the average of all the values for each week.

To get a below-average price on a flight from the United Kingdom to South Africa, you should book around 2 weeks before departure, which saves you about 4% compared to booking last-minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 8 weeks before departure.

Which is the cheapest airport to fly into in South Africa?

Prices will differ depending on the departure airport, but generally, the cheapest airport to fly to in South Africa is Cape Town Intl Airport (CPT), with an average flight price of R10 808.

Good to know

Low seasonApril
Cheapest flightR6 698
Best time to beat the crowds but there is an average 2% increase in price.
Most popular time to fly (29% more expensive on average)
Flight from London Gatwick Airport to Cape Town

FAQs for booking flights from the United Kingdom to South Africa

  • Which airlines operate non-stop flights to South Africa?

    British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and South African Airways operate direct flights from London Heathrow to Oliver Tambo International Airport and British Airways also operates direct flights to Cape Town International Airport.

  • What are the rules about car seats for children in South Africa?

    While it is not yet mandatory to have a suitable car seat for young children when driving in South Africa, it is advisable to take one with you if you are planning on doing a lot of driving. Alternatively, you can hire one along with your car hire and it is wise to do this in advance.

  • Where should I fly to in South Africa if I want to go to the Drakensberg?

    The Drakensberg, the highest range of mountains in southern Africa, is located in KwaZulu-Natal, so the best airport to fly into is King Shaka International in Durban. From here you can hire a car and drive to the southern part of the Drakensberg.

  • Do I need a visa for South Africa?

    British passport holders who are visiting South Africa for a period of less than 90 days do not need a visa to enter the country. However, your passport should have two blank pages in it and should also be valid for 6 months from your date of entry to South Africa.

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from the United Kingdom to South Africa?

    KAYAK is a travel search engine. That means we look across the web to find the best prices we can find for our users. With over 2 billion flight queries processed yearly, we are able to display a variety of prices and options on flights from the United Kingdom to South Africa.

  • How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy my flight ticket from the United Kingdom to South Africa?

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight from the United Kingdom to South Africa is likely to change within 7 days, so travellers know whether to wait or book now.

  • What is the Hacker Fare option on flights from the United Kingdom to South Africa?

    Hacker Fares allow you to combine one-way tickets in order to save you money over a traditional return ticket. You could then fly from the United Kingdom to South Africa with an airline and back with another airline.

  • What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight from the United Kingdom to South Africa?

    Sometimes travel dates aren't set in stone. If your preferred travel dates have some wiggle room, flexible dates will show you all the options when flying from the United Kingdom to South Africa up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

  • What is the cheapest day to fly to South Africa?

    Based on KAYAK data, the cheapest day to fly to South Africa is Monday when return tickets can be as cheap as R16 776. On the other hand, the most expensive day to fly is Friday, when return prices are R18 238 on average.

Top tips for finding a cheap flight out of the United Kingdom

  • There are a number of international airports in South Africa that provide onward connections to other destinations within the country. Oliver Tambo International Airport (ORT) in Johannesburg is the central hub and from here you can get flights to all other cities in South Africa. If you want to visit the south of the country, you can fly into Cape Town International Airport (CPT), while King Shaka International Airport (DUR) in Durban will give you easy access to the coastline of KwaZulu-Natal.
  • If you are travelling to South Africa with children, you will need to ensure that you are carrying full unabridged birth certificates for each child under the age of 18, especially if only one parent is travelling with the child. While this rule may not apply if both parents are travelling, the South African authorities reserve the right to ask to see the birth certificate and will turn you away at the border if you cannot produce it.
  • Visitors looking at flights to South Africa to visit the world-famous Kruger National Park in the north-east of the country should consider flying into Oliver Tambo in Johannesburg and catching an onwards domestic flight to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (KMI) in Nelspruit. The flight takes approximately 45min. It is also possible to fly to Nelspruit from Cape Town and Durban. In Nelspruit you can hire a car or catch a brebooked transfer to travel to Kruger.
  • If you are planning on driving the Garden Route, you could book a flight to George Airport (GRJ), which is situated at one end of this drive from the Eastern Cape to Cape Town. George Airport only has a domestic terminal, so you would need to book a connecting flight from your point of entry into South Africa to George, where you can then collect a hire car for the rest of your journey along the coast.
  • There is a limit to the amount of South African currency that you can carry into the country in cash and it is advisable to check this limit before you fly as it changes frequently. You can also carry a limited amount of cash in foreign currency that you can change at a bureau du change in the airport or, alternatively, use your credit or debit card at an ATM in the airport.

Reviews of the top 5 airlines flying from the United Kingdom to South Africa

 
Need help choosing which airline to fly with from the United Kingdom to South Africa? KAYAK airline reviews give an overall score for each airline based on loads of factors, including comfort, boarding, in-flight entertainment and more, to make your decision easier. See airline scores according to verified KAYAK customer reviews.
7,8
KLMOverall score based on 1524 reviews
7,2Entertainment
7,3Food
7,7Comfort
8,4Crew
7,8Boarding
Airline reviews

As always, it’s a pleasure to travel with KLM. It is one of my favorite airlines.

10,0 ExcellentGeorge, May 2026
OTP - AMS
Read more KLM reviews

As always, it’s a pleasure to travel with KLM. It is one of my favorite airlines.

Outstanding even though the 330 was one of the oldest in the fleet. The difference was the attentiveness and responsiveness of a really experienced flight attendant. For airline food great variety of interesting choices and good tastes supported by a good wine selection.

As per usual when you Hit the UK it's a slow process through customs Not as efficient at Thailand for sure

The flight was delayed. The aircraft was unclean. Promised seat was not given due to change in Aircraft. Not one crew on ground was in a position to give any response. Amsterdam Airport is AVIODABLE Over crowded. Over Expensive. Poor Services.

The crew were unprofessional with a racist element. I was physically abused as well from one of the crew members

Flight was ok but lack of communication cost me to literally beg to be put on another flight as connecting flight had departed

They forgot to serve food and the crew was very unfriendly. Never experienced such a bad KLM flight. Usually fly from Toronto. New York was different.

The immigration hall in Amsterdam was understaffed, so passport checking was slower than it should be for a major airport. They need to get the automatic readers up and running for non EU passport holders. Waiting in line after a long flight feels a bit abusive.

Over 1 Hr delay. No APU so no AC on ground. Plane was hot during boarding and then they closed the doors over 20 minutes before engine start so interior of plane was steamy hot and stuffy. Could have been helped by opening doors until ready to depart.

First of all we couldn’t check in online, then we learn at the airport we were on stand by for KLM’s mistake of overbooking. The seats were not comfy at all. Our luggage got lost.

Seating and zone. The minor I went with didn’t even seat close to me

My seat 3G did not go down fully and the buttons were not working properly

Food has been disappointing in both legs of flight to india

Great staff great experience, made a 2 hour delay very bearable

Great staff, great experience, made a 2 hour delay very bearable

Food was the worst I’ve had on a VA flight. Normally it’s a lot better

I was my pleasure to fly virgin on my birthday for my first solo trip ever 🫶🏼

These are one of the older seat arrangements facing away from the windows! Not particularly convenient sets. No storage spaces. NO COAT HANGING HOOKS. Inconvenient business class seat compared to any other airlines of similar class. Staff are excellent! Extremely professional, friendly. Food is good too.

Overall, flight was excellent but check in was very slow for Premium Economy. Economy queue was shorter but we weren't allowed to use it.

The staff was not very polite but the flight was very very nice and comfortable and the entertainment was great

Everything was great, the infotainment system was glitching but this was not a big deal.

The flight was very smooth, however, the quality of food was mediocre.

To the Ethiopian Airlines Customer Relations Team, I am writing to formally express my disappointment regarding my recent travel experience with Ethiopian Airlines on flight 629/352. Unfortunately, the level of service provided fell significantly short of the standards I expected from your airline. I would like to highlight the following serious issues encountered during the journey: • Cabin Condition and Hygiene: The aircraft cabin was notably poorly maintained. The seating area was dirty, and there was a persistent, unpleasant odor throughout the flight, which made the environment very uncomfortable for passengers. • Inadequate Service: The overall level of service provided by the staff was unsatisfactory and did not reflect a professional passenger experience. • Baggage Loss: Upon arrival, I was informed that my luggage was lost. This is particularly distressing as it has caused significant personal inconvenience and disruption to my schedule. As a frequent traveler, I value reliability and a clean cabin environment. I request that you investigate these matters immediately, provide an update on the status of my missing baggage, and outline how you intend to compensate for these failures in service. I look forward to your prompt response and a resolution to my lost luggage claim. Sincerely, Puguh

I will fly this going forward especially for ORD to EBB and the reverse.

A bit chaotic boarding flight but over all good experience.

Planes are good. However the entertainement system is slow. The headphones are of low quality and I could hardly hear a movie The movies lack subtitiles

The crew were amazing. They should improve the inflight entertainment

Delay not posted, only departure time listed- not boarding time. We left an hour late and arrived 45 min late. Restrooms had backed up sinks and toilets not flushed ) passenger error). Lots of screen for entertainment didn’t work. But we arrived with our luggage

Need to do a lot of improvement on service and cleaness

They only gave us 30 minutes to make an international connecting flight. We didn’t make the connection but they did do a good job rebooking us despite the chaos. Our bags didn’t make it back and their process for customer support is pretty bad when it comes to luggage.

The crew were excellent, smiling and kind. The seats were good for economy though my seat back got a bit sticky from getting out of the reclining position. The food was good for a Kosher meal, better than usual. Entertainment was okay, but there was no Wi-fi available the entire flight. Overall the flight was fine for an overnight flight. The flight attendant in my section was absolutely delightful.

Flight map did not work. Crew was great, food was good, plane took off on time and landed early. That's all I can ask.

Everything was on time, even though the layover in Frankfurt was 22hrs

Paid for exit row at the back of the plane. Window seat with lots of leg space. Food was inedible (as usual). Brought my own.

The crew on my Frankfurt to Chicago flight were outstanding!! Friendly, helpful and worth taking the time to write an excellent review on their behalf. I would fly Lufthansa again just because of their warmth, kindness and humor!

Everything went smoothly and the staff was very kind. I’m glad I purchased the extra leg room for my long flight; it was totally worth it. We were served 2 meals for a 9 hour flight which I was not expecting and they were very tasty. I appreciated them being vegetarian. Customs line in Munich was long; I had a choice to have a 1 hr 40 min layover or 2 hr 40 min layover; I took the longer layover which I was thankful for because my flight was delayed 30 minutes and there’s a good chance I would have missed my connecting flight. This was my very first international flight and I would fly Discover again without hesitation. Thank you for taking good care of me!

Efficiency of staff, and comfort and cleanliness of aircraft was all great. Maybe a hot drink without payment at that time in the morning would be good!

The plane was late (as was my flight out from Birmingham the day before)

It was good service. The very low economic seats where not comfortable

The flight was delayed by an hour. Made the connection uncomfortably tight.

The plane was a long way from departure lounge. The plane looked tired but got us there.

Lovely big plane. Excellent take off and landing. Cabin crew were so nice. Flight in time no delays

Because our ABZ-LHR flight was cancelled by BA for reasons they refuse to tell us--not weather--we did not make this flight and were booked on the following day. BA offered no assistance to us on the phone or in the airport, and we had to find a hotel at Heathrow on our own.

BA Canceled this flight and put us on a flight leaving Aberdeen at 8:00 PM, delaying our return to the states by a full day. The cancellation caused us expenses in both Aberdeen and London and BA was completely unhelpful on the phone and at the airport.

Horrible - flight was delayed by 6 hours - we boarded, were made to de-board due some technical fault; aircraft changed; special meals request on new flight - all went awry. Landed in Dulles airport; breezed thru immigration; as Business Class passengers or baggage was delivered almost 90 minutes after landing; air tags indicated the bags were just near the carousel but the unhelpful BA staff - Maria and Ghina refused to give any update - palming it off on some imaginary invisible “manager” despite air tags evidence showing it right there. So about 50-60 passengers waiting and getting infuriatingly impatient for their bags coz one container was not delivered. Finally after much argument by some other passengers Maria condescended to go to the “ramp” and within 5 minutes the baggage was delivered miraculously. Question is why couldn’t she have done it one hour earlier ? Poor poor experience once again on Business Class BA.

Poor service, antiquated plane with 2-3-2. B-class config upstairs. Tight and not comfortable—not what I expected for paying B-class! AND my bag didn’t make the transfer, bag will be delivered the day after it lands!

Cheap Flight Fares would not provide booking info. I canceled the reservation and we arbitrated with American Express. They provided erroneous info to Amex and it was determined that C.F.F. deserved the price of the ticket. Worse experience I've ever had.

Seating space is appalling. Seats and all surrounding area in "Economy" is built for individuals shorter than 4' 10" and below 120 lbs. Ridiculous. While I'm not expecting fine dining, the food was the worst airplane food that I can recall.

Business class lounge for my gate was closed and no email was sent, causing me to walk back and forth to different gates, etc for over 20 minutes one way. Flight entertainment was mediocre with very poor choices especially for business class cabin. Original flight was cancelled and rebooking was difficult and no reason given for cancellation.

Waiting area not big enough for all the passengers, no airport lounge.

Everything you need to know for your flight to South Africa

Cabin class types available on flights to South Africa

Cabin classes available on flights to South Africa. Prices are the lowest found on KAYAK over the last 7 days. Price and availability is not guaranteed.