South Africa | The Ultimate Travel Guide

The nation's biggest draw card, no doubt, is its wildlife safari adventures, which allow you that up-close-and-personal experience with some of the country's most amazing beasts as they live in their natural habitat.

But South Africa is so much more than safari. Beyond its famous national parks, the country houses incredible mountains boasting hundreds of walking trails, pristine beaches frequented by adorable penguins and colourful cities filled with a history of struggle and freedom.

A trip to South Africa is like no other and while the flight may be long for Australians, it's well worth the journey.

• South Africa travel guides
• Book flights to South Africa
• Book a hotel in South Africa

Hotels

Honeymooner, family or wildlife enthusiast, these are South Africa's most idyllic rooms.

Flights

Discover special fares and flight deals to South Africa from Australia.

Things to do

Safari, cricket matches, shark dives, beaches, mountain hiking and more.

Best time to go

Find the cheapest and most pleasant time to discover South Africa’s wildlife and beaches.

Tours

Go on safari or explore the cost on a South Africa tour

Travel insurance

An essential guide to finding travel insurance for South Africa.

Latest South Africa travel deals

Trafalgar Tours

Up to 15% off last minute trips

Valid for travel on select dates in 2020 and 2021. Destinations include Europe, UK, the Middle East, Argentina, India, Asia, New Zealand, Australia and Africa and more. T&Cs apply.

Last verified 1 Jun 2020

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TourRadar

Up to 50% off Africa tours

Available on select travels until December 2021. Destinations include Morocco, Cairo, Namibia, South Africa, Cape Town and more.

Last verified 2 Jul 2020

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Deal ends 31 Jul 2020

G Adventures

Up to 15% off North Africa and Middle East tours

Available on select dates until 31 July 2021. Destinations include Jordan, Morocco, Egypt, Israel, Oman and more. T&Cs apply.

Last verified 1 Jul 2020

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Deal ends 31 Jul 2020

G Adventures

Up to 15% off Africa tours

Available on select dates until 31 July 2021. Destinations include Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa and more. T&Cs apply.

Last verified 1 Jul 2020

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Deal ends 31 Jul 2020

Trafalgar Tours

Up to 5% off family tours

Available on select travel dates in 2020 and 2021 when you book for 5 people or more. Destinations include Australia, New Zealand, Europe, South Africa and more. T&Cs apply.

Last verified 1 Jun 2020

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Deal ends 31 Aug 2020

Trafalgar Tours

Up to 5% off group tours

Available on select travel dates in 2020 and 2021 when you book for 9 people or more. Destinations include Australia, New Zealand, Europe, South Africa and more. T&Cs apply.

Last verified 1 Jun 2020

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Deal ends 31 Aug 2020

Cape Town Pass

Up to 50% off 30 Cape Town attractions

Available on select dates and attractions including Table Mountain Aerial Cableway, Groot Constantia, Cape Point Funicular, Castle of Good Hope, Drakenstein Lion Park and much more. T&Cs apply.

Last verified 20 May 2020

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Topdeck

Up to 10% off multi-trip worldwide

Available for travel on select dates in September 2020 onward. Discount applies when booking three trips at once. Extra 5% off for bookings of four trips and more. Destinations include Balkan, Ireland, Britain, Thailand, Canada, Egypt, Japan, South Africa, Athens and more. T&Cs apply.

Last verified 18 May 2020

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Viator

Up to $51 off things to do in South Africa

Available on select dates. Activities include safari tours, wine tours, shark cage diving, hot air balloon experience and more.

Last verified 17 Mar 2020

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Cape Town Pass

Free attractions guide

Get a free attractions guide when you purchase a 2-day, 3-day or 5-day pass. Pass includes a free entry to top Cape Town attractions like Table Mountain, Castle of Good Hope and more. T&Cs apply.

Last verified 23 Apr 2018

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Popular Travel coupon codes

Getting around in South Africa

South Africa has one of the cheapest and best-connected public transport networks around. Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban are the three major cities of South Africa. Johannesburg and Durban are 570 kilometres apart, and Cape Town is 1400 kilometres from Johannesburg and 1640 kilometres from Durban.

Flights are a preferred means for inter-city travel while trains pass through scenic routes to provide a more immersive experience. Buses offer a similar experience at a lesser price.

Cities are well connected through extensive bus and train networks. Traffic is generally quite chaotic, so we wouldn't recommend cycling or driving in cities.

Here's an easy guide to help you travel safely and cheaply in South Africa.

Travelling between cities in South Africa

• Internal flights: Travelling from one South African city to another via plane is a good option as there are agreements with the national airline, South African Airways, for cheap domestic flights. A return flight from Cape Town to Johannesburg costs around $150. Daily direct flights link Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Port Elizabeth, East London, Kimberley and Bloemfontein. South African Airways covers major routes while British Airways, Mango and Kulula also offer domestic routes.
• Trains: There are numerous companies that operate trains in South Africa. Excluding the Blue Train, a fast luxury train that connects Pretoria with Johannesburg and Cape Town, train travel in South Africa is quite slow. Trains have bunkbed services and buffets, and are divided into first and second class carriages.It's advisable to book tickets in advance along popular routes and for overnight travel. Shosholoza Meyl tourist class fare (standard train fare) from Cape Town to Johannesburg is nearly $70 while a journey in the Blue Train will set you back by $1000.
• Buses: South African buses are usually modern, air-conditioned and economical. They offer frequent services between cities. The most popular bus companies in South Africa are Translux and Greyhound. These also provide hop-on, hop-off passes on select routes.

Public transport in South Africa

• Types of transport. There is an extensive and affordable bus network in South African cities. However, these buses can be unreliable and unless you are familiar with their routes, are not recommended for foreign travellers.Major South African cities like Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban are serviced by commuter trains that connect the important parts of cities. Run by MetroRail, a state-owned enterprise, these trains are efficient and affordable but also pose safety concerns. Along with commuter trains, Johannesburg is serviced by a mass rapid transit railway system called Gautrain.Minibuses or shared taxis are the most common form of transport in South Africa. The minibuses travel practically everywhere – through the cities, to the outskirts and to neighbouring cities. They usually carry 14-16 people and leave only when full.
• Paying for transport. Generally, buses and minibuses accept payments only in cash. All commuter train networks have their respective passes.
• Getting to and from the airport. Usually, regular buses run between city centres and the airport. However, private transfers, airport shuttles or taxis are recommended for first-time travellers to get to the city.
• Best apps for getting around. Although there is no official transport app of South Africa, GoMetroApp is a useful app that provides information about bus and train schedules, routes and fares.

South Africa car hire rental companies

Travellers hesitate to drive in South Africa due to chaotic traffic and safety concerns but if you plan to do so, you can hire a car from car rental services like Avis, Budget, Hertz, Sixt, Europcar, Dollar or Thrifty from major airports.

Taxis and rideshare

Taxi. You can't hail a taxi in South Africa on the street. You have to call one by phone or look for them at stops in hotels and shopping centres. Taxis in South Africa are metered. Make sure it reads zero when your commute starts.

Rideshare. Ride-sharing services Bolt and Uber are available in major South African cities.

Airport transfers in South Africa

Shared and private transfers from the airport to your accommodation allow you to travel easily between the city and airport in South Africa. Here are some examples of transfers you can book for major airports and cities.

Tambo airport and Johannesburg transfers

Viator

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Cape Town private airport transfers

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Durban Airport shared transfer

Viator

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