By Air
South Africa has three main international airports. O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB), between Johannesburg and Pretoria, is the country's busiest and your most likely point of entry. Cape Town International Airport (CPT) is about 20 km from the city centre. King Shaka International Airport (DUR) serves Durban and KwaZulu-Natal.
From London, flying time is around 11-12 hours to Johannesburg, slightly longer to Cape Town. From New York, expect roughly 15-16 hours non-stop. From Los Angeles there is no direct service — you will connect through Johannesburg or a European hub. South African Airways operates international routes, as do British Airways, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, Qatar Airways, and Lufthansa.
Nelspruit's Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP) is a useful option if you are heading directly to the Kruger National Park, with connections via Johannesburg.
By Land
South Africa shares land borders with Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho, and Eswatini. The most-used overland crossing from Zimbabwe is Beit Bridge on the N1; expect delays, especially on weekends and public holidays. From Mozambique, the Komatipoort/Ressano Garcia crossing connects to the Mozambican capital Maputo. Borders with Lesotho and Eswatini are straightforward and popular with travellers on road trips.
Long-distance coaches operated by Greyhound, Intercape, and Translux connect South Africa to Harare, Maputo, Windhoek, and other regional cities.
By Sea
Cape Town and Durban are both cruise ports. The V&A Waterfront in Cape Town handles most large cruise ships, and several operators include South Africa on southern Africa itineraries.
Departure Tax
International departure tax is included in the price of airline tickets.