A whole world in one country
South Africa combines a world-class city, celebrated vineyards, a dramatic coastal road trip and Big Five safaris — with barely any jet lag from the UK. From Cape Town's beaches to the bush of Kruger, we plan flights, stays, car hire and safaris in one booking, with one team you can message.
Where to go
Mountain, ocean and a buzzing waterfront — take the cable car up and the coast road to Cape Point.
Big Five game drives in the national park and its private reserves, for every budget.
Stellenbosch and Franschhoek — historic estates, mountain views and long lunches.
A classic self-drive past lagoons, forests and beach towns east of Cape Town towards Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth).
Warm Indian Ocean beaches, the Drakensberg mountains and a large Indian heritage community.
Culture and customs
South Africa is wonderfully diverse, with 12 official languages and a welcome to match.
Carry ID. Carry a copy of your passport photo page and the page with your visitor’s permit — officials can ask for ID at any time. Keep the passport itself in the hotel safe.
Driving. A UK photocard licence can be used for up to 12 months; if you still have a paper licence, you need the 1968 international driving permit.
Swim between the flags. Sea currents can be strong — on busier beaches swim between the red and yellow flags and follow the lifeguards, and on quieter beaches ask locally first.
Wildlife souvenirs. Buying or trading protected wildlife or its parts needs a permit, and trading ivory or rhino horn is banned.
Drugs. Only private personal use of cannabis is considered legal. Other drug possession, use or smuggling — including in transit — carries severe penalties.
Power cuts. Planned power cuts (“loadshedding”) are much reduced but can still happen, so a power bank and a torch are handy.
How far is South Africa from you?
Distances are great-circle estimates and flying times are typical, not timetabled. Message us for live fares and routes.
South Africa, month by month
Hover overTap a month for average day and night temperatures and rainy days.
Long-term averages from national weather services (Cape Town, Mbombela). Actual weather varies year to year.
Ready-made holidays, coming soon
We’re adding South Africa packages you can browse and filter by trip type, length and budget. Until then, tell us what you’d like and we’ll send ideas and prices — usually the same day.
Tell us about your South Africa trip
Holiday, flights only or just a hotel — send us the details and our team will come back with options and prices, usually the same day during opening hours.
- Flights issued by our own IATA-accredited team
- Internal flights, transfers and tours arranged
- Visa and passport help from our documents team
- One team to message before, during and after
Read the full official entry requirements
See the official GOV.UK entry requirements for South Africa.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Updated automatically from GOV.UK travel advice.
Travelling to South Africa — quick answers
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Do I need a visa for South Africa with a British passport?
No. You can visit South Africa without a visa for up to 90 days for business or tourism — check your entry stamp and do not overstay. Your passport must be valid for at least 30 days after you leave and have at least 2 blank pages. Since 1 July 2026 every traveller must also submit an online traveller declaration to the South African Revenue Service (SARS), through its website or SATMS app, no more than 24 hours before the final flight into South Africa. Children aged 17 and under have special requirements.
How long is the flight from the UK to South Africa?
Nonstop flights take about 11 hours to Johannesburg and about 11½ hours to Cape Town. British Airways and Virgin Atlantic fly from Heathrow to both cities, and Norse Atlantic flies from Gatwick to Cape Town in season. South Africa is only 1 or 2 hours ahead of the UK, so there is very little jet lag.
When is the best time to visit South Africa?
Cape Town and the Winelands are at their best in the warm, dry summer from November to March, while June to August brings winter rain to the Cape. For safari in Kruger, the dry winter months from May to September are best for game viewing.
Do I need malaria tablets for Kruger?
TravelHealthPro advises antimalarials for low-lying parts of Mpumalanga and Limpopo, including Kruger National Park, from September to May; from June to August the risk is very low. Cape Town, the Winelands and the Garden Route have no malaria risk. Hepatitis A, tetanus and typhoid are recommended for most travellers.
Is South Africa safe to visit?
There are no FCDO 'advise against travel' areas, but the FCDO notes a high crime rate and advises extra care. Arrange airport pickups through your hotel or tour operator, use recognised ride-hailing apps, avoid isolated beaches and quiet trails after dark, and hike Table Mountain, Lion's Head and Signal Hill on busy, marked trails in groups. Check the latest GOV.UK travel advice before you go.
Please note: the information on this page is a general guide, checked when it was published. Entry rules, health advice, weather, seasons, flight routes and local conditions can change at any time and vary from person to person, so we can’t accept responsibility for changes or for decisions based on this page alone. Always check the latest GOV.UK travel advice and official travel health advice before you travel. It is your responsibility to check the entry, health and travel requirements that apply to you before you travel. See our terms and conditions.