$386 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 4/24. 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.
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Low season

June

High season

December

Cheapest flight

$386
Best time to beat the crowds with an average 11% drop in price.
Most popular time to fly with an average 38% increase in price.
Flight from London Heathrow Airport to Johannesburg

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.

  • Do some airlines offer more flights to South Africa for historical reasons?

    Due to South Africa's former status as a British colony and it remaining a member of the Commonwealth, British Airways has always offered the majority of flights from the UK to Cape Town and Johannesburg. The same is true of South African Airways, so you'll find plenty of flights on offer between these two carriers.

  • Are some flights to South Africa more carbon-efficient than others?

    Use the CO2 filter to find the flights that emit the least carbon from whichever airport you choose for your departure. British Airways is your best option if you're flying the most common route from Heathrow to OR Tambo. Booking with this carrier can save over 50% in overall carbon emissions.

  • 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 travelers 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 round-trip 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.

See more FAQs

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.
  • It pays to consider African airlines when you want to find cheap flights to South Africa. These are quite numerous, and usually only make one stopover en route, typically in their home country. A good example is Kenya Airways, which flies from London Heathrow (LHR) to OR Tambo (JNB) in Johannesburg, with a single stopover at Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International (NBO).
  • South Africa is a vast country compared to the British Isles that just begs for a road trip or two. It's a really good idea to book a hire car through KAYAK when you find cheap flights to South Africa. An SUV or MPV will do you well, to handle the challenging roads through some of its major natural tourist attractions, like Namaqualand or the Karoo.
  • You can often find cheap flights to South Africa by choosing those operated by different airlines in tandem. For example, fly London Gatwick Airport (LGW) to Cape Town International (CPT) on Turkish Airlines, switching to South African Airways at Istanbul International (IST). Or fly from Edinburgh Turnhouse (EDI) to King Shaka Airport (DUR) in Durban on a combination of Turkish Airlines and Airlink, switching at OR Tambo.
See more tips

Top 5 airlines serving 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 1333 reviews
8.4Crew
7.3Food
7.7Comfort
7.8Boarding
7.2Entertainment
Airline reviews

Great boarding, great short flight but no entertainment whatsoever and no wifi. Prepare to disembark by a staircase.

10.0 ExcellentAnonymous, Dec 2024BRU - AMS
Read more KLM reviews

Great boarding, great short flight but no entertainment whatsoever and no wifi. Prepare to disembark by a staircase.

Great boarding, great short flight but no entertainment whatsoever. It was supposed to have wifi but that did not work.

Good flight with KLM, friendly staff. Food was good, had much worse on other airlines. Selection of drinks also good enough for us. Entertainment was also good. The economy seats are ok and that’s it. For a 12 hour flight I think a little more comfort in the economy seats in pitch and softness would be highly appreciated by the customers and can makte the difference.

Good food. Excellent crew service. Clean aircraft. Narrow seats and isle.

There was fog in Amsterdam so many flights were delayed because of the weather. Air France knew that the flight would be delayed by two hours but still boarded the plane on time. Instead of letting the passengers wait at the gate we were crammed into the plane. It was uncomfortable. No refreshments were given. I couldn’t charge my devices onboard.

Seats were comfortable crew members support was very good but AVML ordered or selected by us needs a lot of improvement.

Transavia flight, was booked as KLM but i couldnt select seat or access boarding pass with KLM at all. Crammed seating and very no frills experience all around. First and last time.

Overall a very pleasant flight. No significant issues on either flight. Amsterdam airport is very convenient for connecting

It’s chaotic at the bus stop outside of the airport because of the Uber meeting point. You need to be alert and look for the KLM bus which is not branded or labeled. Incorrect information was provided to go to gate 28, when in fact the bus was at gate 27. On the plus side the bus left early and arrived early to Ottawa.

Great flight because I upgraded to Premium Comfort. Made a huge difference in the experience.

Flight took off an hour late. Had to stay on the tarmac for half an hour after landing. Both annoying.

We had an unfortunate experience where we had to leave the aircraft after boarding, shortly before the scheduled takeoff time, and re-board. The reason given was that a passenger felt ill and had to cancel their plans and therefor their luggage had to be found and removed.

We’ve used VA before many times the experience is always been good they have lovely staff and the food is always delicious.

Everything about the flight was amazing from check in to boarding entertainment was okay food we didn’t try.

Seats were old and dirty, for a long haul flight you expect to be able to recline and for the av to work properly. Choice for vegans was fruit….

The Virgin Atlantic crew was very good. However, the equipment was OK, the seats were OK, but her bags did not arrive with me. Two bags showed up a day later and I’m still waiting for my third back.

The crew was very good. However, the equipment was a bit dated. Some of the electronics were not working. To top it, three bags didn’t arrive with me. Two of them were delivered a day later. I’m still waiting for the third bag, I was so looking forward to this virgin Atlantic flight, but, I am disappointed.

My only complaint is that the pocket in front of me was ripped and my things, like iPad and airline magazines, kept slipping to the floor.

Flight delayed yet again. Crew apathetic and unhelpful re affect on connecting flight.

I think Virgin is one of the best flying experiences, especially from/to the UK. The staff are so helpful and fun, the food is good, seats comfortable, goof entertainment and great value. Check in and boarding is pretty pain free. I also find that the other passengers are generally so kind and considerate than when I've flown other airlines.

Pleasant, relaxed flight. I had 2 seats to myself, which was a bonus. I couldn't find a flight tracker ap so I could know where we were but that's a minor complaint. On the plus side, the passenger announcements did not come through my earphones but were on main speakers only. That was a nice touch.

Flight delayed by 3 hours 45 mins and no explanation given or apology. Rebooked on a flight departing to final destination 48 hrs later and baggage not delivered.

My outbound flight was grounded in Lusaka so we never made it to Paris. DO NOT fly this airline you will be stranded and your plans will be completely disrupted

Inflight entertainment with electronic charging stations can help during a long flight.

The flight was delayed with no notice. No inflight entertainment. Communication is vital in any business.

Poor communication: Flight come directly to kigali , didn’t come via mumbasa. Favouring to Rwandan passenger to move from economic to bussiness class after flight depart. Where they don’t asked other older passenger who need more comfort. Rude staff : chekin airport at Mumbai. Talking in local language (marathi) while serving and no sorry no thank you attitude.

No Asian Vegetarian food was available on this sector but only fish and chicken and pasta were offered.

My experience was great. The flight attendants were very helpful and nice, and the food was very good.

Very bad experience flight was over 5 hours delayed 😑 not a chance to be put on another flight we had to stay at the hotel we lost 2 days on our vacation. Never again I will fligh with Ethiopian airlines.

Terrible customer service I lost my bag luggage and I still haven’t received any information

The flight delayef for over 2 hours so my route was changed leading to arriving to my destination without my luggage

I liked nothing of Ethiopian airlines except the price of the fare.

I felt all of the food tasted the same. And we had five meals over the 16 hrs in the air.

The use of a domestic carrier without entertainment was disappointing and a let down

Like: It arrived, Dislike: Boarding was a separate corridor with no counter announcements at the passenger waiting area. Very dirty airplane and toilets, food options were terrible - everything even the vegetarian option was a curry spice. Many other passengers using the toilets would not lock the door and kept door partially open during use - flight attendants would not enforce or direct them to lock it and light turns on, no entertainment options at all, other passengers would be singing and not peaceful. Atrocious flight experience.

There where no ear phones provided and the food needs to improve.

We found the bag drop/ check-in proceedure at T5 unnecessarily complicated. We paid extra for seat selection in advance and were allocated worse seats at T5. We found the check-in person was not particularly helpful although the the staff at the gate were super good.

Very dated plane. Seat was firm and uncomfortable. Entertainment system almost laughably outdated. Poor audio. Picture was always too dark.

The worst travel experience of my life. Boarding chaos, delays and disorganisation at every stage. The worst of many was sitting in freezing temperatures for 10 hours whilst asking all cabin crew to turn the heat up to no avail.

The seats on the plane and at Heathrow Airport are so uncomfortable

BA have long since lost their way. They are a budget airline without the budget fares. Everything from booking to boarding to flying to arrival is just plain ordinary. I fly BA if the only alternative is Ryanair who are even worse. Otherwise we fly KLM or Lufthansa who are so much better.

They did not provide free WiFi, It could be purchased for, I think, around $25, This seemed excessive.

Good flight, awful, vindictive, vile customer services in T5 Heathrow.

Denied boarding passes for connecting flight. Missed connection as a result. Customer services T5 Heathrow airport vile, arrogant people who lied to us and threatened us.

Ok we did get an upgrade and the flight was delayed 45 minutes BUT without any bias. The crew were excellent, friendly, efficient and verging on exuberant, they all were so happy to do their jobs. Food excellent and the new safety video is fun to watch.

Reliable, great value, but not outstanding in any aspect. This is similar to the experience you get in most international carriers like Etihad or Delta.

Book cheap flights from the United Kingdom to South Africa

Recent round-trip flight deals

3/4Tue
1 stopEthiopian Air
15h 55mLGW-JNB
5/28Wed
1 stopEthiopian Air
16h 50mJNB-LGW
$554
5/1Thu
1 stopEthiopian Air
16h 45mLGW-JNB
5/12Mon
1 stopEthiopian Air
16h 50mJNB-LGW
$555
5/17Sat
1 stopKLM
25h 45mLHR-JNB
6/1Sun
1 stopKLM
36h 30mJNB-LHR
$664
6/18Wed
1 stopKLM
13h 50mLHR-JNB
7/5Sat
1 stopKLM
15h 35mJNB-LHR
$665
3/31Mon
1 stopRwandAir
16h 00mLHR-JNB
4/14Mon
1 stopRwandAir
15h 10mJNB-LHR
$682
3/5Wed
1 stopRwandAir
15h 50mLHR-JNB
5/13Tue
1 stopRwandAir
17h 10mJNB-LHR
$685
3/5Wed
nonstopVirgin Atlantic
11h 00mLHR-JNB
3/12Wed
nonstopVirgin Atlantic
11h 20mJNB-LHR
$727
3/2Sun
nonstopVirgin Atlantic
11h 00mLHR-JNB
3/7Fri
nonstopVirgin Atlantic
11h 20mJNB-LHR
$756
8/18Mon
1 stopBritish Airways
14h 15mLHR-DUR
9/7Sun
1 stopBritish Airways
21h 35mDUR-LHR
$1,158
5/3Sat
1 stopBritish Airways
35h 55mLHR-DUR
5/20Tue
1 stopBritish Airways
21h 35mDUR-LHR
$1,252

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Recent one-way flight deals

4/24Thu
2 stops
35h 20mLHR-JNB
$386
3/22Sat
2 stops
33h 35mLGW-JNB
$395
2/25Tue
1 stopRwandAir
15h 50mLHR-JNB
$561
5/3Sat
1 stopRwandAir
16h 00mLHR-JNB
$563
3/22Sat
nonstopVirgin Atlantic
11h 00mLHR-JNB
$626
6/28Sat
1 stopKLM
35h 00mLCY-JNB
$787
5/2Fri
1 stopKLM
26h 30mLCY-JNB
$788
4/24Thu
nonstopVirgin Atlantic
11h 00mLHR-JNB
$821
3/4Tue
nonstopBritish Airways
11h 05mLHR-JNB
$1,005
3/19Wed
nonstopBritish Airways
11h 05mLHR-JNB
$1,006

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Last minute flights to South Africa

Last minute flight, train and bus deals

2/25Tue
multi-stopEthiopian Air
15h 55mLGW-JNB
3/8Sat
multi-stopEthiopian Air
17h 05mJNB-LGW
$662
2/24Mon
multi-stopEtihad Airways
33h 40mLHR-JNB
3/12Wed
multi-stopEtihad Airways
22h 45mJNB-LHR
$693
2/22Sat
nonstopVirgin Atlantic
11h 00mLHR-JNB
3/1Sat
nonstopVirgin Atlantic
11h 20mJNB-LHR
$718
2/24Mon
multi-stopRwandAir
15h 50mLHR-JNB
3/9Sun
multi-stopRwandAir
15h 30mJNB-LHR
$733
2/21Fri
multi-stopRwandAir
15h 50mLHR-JNB
3/5Wed
multi-stopRwandAir
15h 30mJNB-LHR
$738
2/22Sat
nonstopVirgin Atlantic
11h 00mLHR-JNB
2/27Thu
nonstopVirgin Atlantic
11h 20mJNB-LHR
$744
2/25Tue
multi-stopKLM
23h 55mLCY-JNB
3/15Sat
multi-stopKLM
33h 20mJNB-LCY
$933
2/21Fri
nonstopBritish Airways
11h 05mLHR-JNB
3/4Tue
nonstopBritish Airways
11h 20mJNB-LHR
$967
2/24Mon
multi-stopKLM
25h 05mLCY-JNB
3/9Sun
multi-stopKLM
20h 30mJNB-LCY
$971
2/21Fri
nonstopBritish Airways
11h 05mLHR-JNB
2/27Thu
nonstopBritish Airways
11h 20mJNB-LHR
$1,023

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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.

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