World Country Guide

Travel - International

Air
South Africa’s national airline is South African Airways (SA) (website: www.flysaa.com). There are frequent direct and indirect flights by numerous major airlines from destinations throughout Europe and North America. For more information regarding airports, contact Airports Company South Africa (tel: (11) 453 9116; fax: (11) 453 9353/4; e-mail: webmaster@airports.co.za; website: www.airports.co.za).

Approximate flight times
From Cape Town to London is 11 hours 30 minutes, from Durban is 14 hours and from Johannesburg is 10 hours 30 minutes. From Johannesburg to New York is 14 hours 30 minutes.

International airports
Cape Town (CPT) (Cape Town International), 22km (16 miles) east of the city. Airport facilities include outgoing duty-free shop, car hire, bank/bureau de change and restaurant/bar. Inter-Cape buses run 24 hours and meet all incoming and outgoing flights. Courtesy buses are operated by some hotels. Taxis are available, with a surcharge after 2300 (travel time - 20 minutes). Car hire is available (includes Avis, Budget, Europcar and Hertz).
Bloemfontein (BFN) (Bloemfontein International), 10km (6 miles) east of the city (travel time – 15 minutes). Airport facilities include ATMs, restaurants, car hire and conference facilities. There is an airport shuttle bus to the city centre (leaving from outside the airport building). Taxis are also available.
Durban (DUR) (Durban International), 18km (11 miles) southwest of the city (travel time – 20 minutes). Airport facilities include outgoing duty-free shop, car hire (includes Avis, Budget, Hertz and Europcar), bank/bureau de change and bar/restaurant. Airport buses and taxis are available to the city.
Johannesburg (JNB) (Johannesburg International), 22km (14 miles) east of the city (travel time – 35 minutes). Airport facilities include incoming and outgoing duty-free shops, post office, car hire, bank/bureau de change, restaurant and bar. Bus services to Pretoria and Johannesburg are available. Buses link Kempton Park with Johannesburg. Taxis are available. Courtesy coaches are operated by some major hotels.
Port Elizabeth (PLZ) (Port Elizabeth International) is 5km (3 miles) west of the Capital Business District. Airport facilities include Nedbank ATM, conference facilities, information desk (tel: (41) 507 7319), restaurants and pubs, shops, a pharmacy, postal services, car hire. There is an airport shuttle bus to the main international hotels in Port Elizabeth upon request. Taxis are also available.

Departure tax
None.

Sea
The main ports are Cape Town, Durban, East London and Port Elizabeth. St Helena Steamship Co Ltd runs a regular passenger service from Avonmouth to Cape Town. Cruises are offered by various companies between South Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands. Cruise lines include Cunard, Eurocruises, Orient Lines, P&O, Peter Deilmann Cruises, Princess, Radisson Seven Seas and Silversea Cruises.

Rail
The main routes are from South Africa to Zimbabwe, Botswana and Mozambique. Contact South African Railways (SPOORNET) (website: www.spoornet.co.za) for further information.

Road
There are main routes into South Africa from Botswana (via Ramatlabama), Lesotho, Mozambique (now open after a long war – check with local police about state of road and safety), Namibia, Swaziland and Zimbabwe (via Beit Bridge).