Flights
Turkish Airlines Adds Six Weekly Flights to South Africa from 25 October
Turkish Airlines adds six weekly flights to South Africa from 25 October, bringing Istanbul-Johannesburg and Istanbul-Cape Town to 10 weekly each.
South Africa Travel News
Staying up to date on South Africa travel: visa changes, new flight routes, upcoming events, and anything that affects your trip.
Visa
South Africa Scraps 60-Day Advance Visa Filing Rule
South Africa's Home Affairs has waived the 60-day advance filing rule for visa extensions and status changes, effective from 2 October 2026.
News
Boulders Beach Penguins: October Marks the Start of Breeding Season at Simon's Town
Boulders Beach near Cape Town hosts around 3,000 African penguins. October to February is their breeding season, making it a great time to visit.
News
Durban and Soweto Unrest: US Embassy Issues Alert After Anti-Immigration Riots
Anti-immigration riots torched 24 vehicles in Durban and Soweto on 8 October. US Embassy issued an alert; Home Affairs withdrew the trigger directive.
News
Kruger in October 2026: Phabeni Road Reopening and What to Expect This Season
Kruger's Phabeni Road is expected to reopen in October 2026 after flood damage, with the south and central sections offering strong Big Five viewing.
Flights
Lufthansa Group Launches Biggest-Ever South Africa Winter Schedule from 27 October
Lufthansa Group operates 38 weekly long-haul flights between South Africa and Europe from 27 October, its largest SA winter programme in the airline's
News
Springboks 2026 Autumn Tour: Tests Against France, England, Ireland and Scotland
South Africa's Springboks depart for their 2026 autumn tour of Europe in November, with Tests against France, England, Ireland and Scotland confirmed.
Flights
Airlink Launches Cape Town–Lanseria Flights from December 2026
Airlink announces twice-daily Cape Town–Lanseria International flights from 4 December 2026, offering Gauteng travellers an alternative to OR Tambo.
Flights
Emirates Adds Third Daily Cape Town Service with A350
Emirates launches a third daily Dubai–Cape Town service from October 2026, deploying the A350-900 and opening new midday connections from Europe.
Flights
LATAM Airlines Launches Direct São Paulo–Cape Town Flights
LATAM Airlines launches the first direct São Paulo–Cape Town service, cutting journey time for travellers between South America and South Africa.
News
South Africa Records 12.4% Visitor Growth Through July 2026
South Africa welcomed 6.57 million international visitors from January to July 2026, a 12.4% rise on last year driven by African and US demand.
Flights
Air France Restores Direct Cape Town–Paris Flights from 22 September
Air France restarts its Cape Town–Paris CDG route on 22 September 2026, with 3 weekly flights through October then 5 weekly through March 2027.
Flights
Condor Resumes Frankfurt–Cape Town Service from 17 September
Condor Airlines restarts its seasonal Frankfurt–Cape Town direct service on 17 September 2026, running twice weekly until April 2027.
News
South Africa Celebrates World Tourism Day at Mapungubwe National Park
South Africa marks World Tourism Day on 27 September 2026 at Mapungubwe in Limpopo, showcasing heritage, wildlife, and the digital future of tourism.
News
SANParks Mahala Week 2026: Free National Park Entry 8–12 September
SANParks Mahala Week 2026 ran 8–12 September, giving SA citizens and residents free entry to all 21 national parks during Heritage Month.
News
All Blacks Tour South Africa 2026: What It Means for Visitors
The All Blacks are touring South Africa for four Tests against the Springboks in 2026. Here's what rugby fans and travellers need to know.
News
OR Tambo Jet Fuel Supply Risk: What Travellers Need to Know
A Natref refinery boiler failure has disrupted jet fuel supply to OR Tambo until 4 Oct 2026. Check flight status before heading to Johannesburg.
News
South Africa Hosts Tourism Infrastructure Summit 30 Sept–1 Oct
South Africa's first Tourism Infrastructure Investment Summit takes place 30 Sept–1 Oct in Johannesburg, targeting R50bn in new tourism projects.
News
Southern Africa Jet Fuel Shortage Pushes Up Flight Costs
A regional jet fuel shortage is forcing Southern Africa airlines to raise fares in September 2026. Here's how it affects your travel plans.
News
Malawi Airlines Launches Afternoon Lilongwe–Johannesburg Service
Malawi Airlines added an afternoon Lilongwe–Johannesburg service from 24 August 2026, flying Boeing 737s daily except Mondays with Business Class.
News
LATAM São Paulo–Cape Town Flights
LATAM starts thrice-weekly nonstop São Paulo–Cape Town service in September 2026, adding the first direct link between South America and the Cape.
News
Sho't Left 2026: Up to 50% Off South Africa in September
South Africa's Sho't Left Travel Week runs 24–30 September with packages up to 50% off domestic travel, timed to World Tourism Day 27 September.
News
Airlink Launches Doha Codeshare with Qatar Airways
Airlink and Qatar Airways expand their codeshare to Doha from 31 August, giving South African travellers easier long-haul connections from three hubs.
News
South Africa Tourism Month 2026
South Africa records 5.6 million international arrivals in H1 2026, a 12% rise, as Tourism Month launches with Limpopo as the focus province.
Visa
South Africa's Electronic Travel Authorisation
South Africa's ETA system goes live on 12 August 2026. Visa-exempt visitors can apply online for R500, with 24-hour processing and 90-day stays.
Visa
South Africa Proposes R500 ETA Processing Fee From August 17
South Africa is proposing a R500 processing fee on top of its ETA charge. Public comment closes 11 August 2026 and the fee is planned from 17 August.
News
Cape Town Airport: Disruption After Kenya Airways Tyre Burst
Cape Town Airport disruption 4 August: what to do if delayed or cancelled. Rebooking rights and compensation guide.
News
Garden Route Named World's Best Scenic Drive for 2026
The Garden Route tops the 2026 World Travel Rankings for scenic drives: forests, coastline and mountains across 300 km, Mossel Bay to Storms River.
News
Kruger Roads Reopen After July 2026 Floods
Letaba Rest Camp camping and Low-Level Bridge reopen after July 2026 floods. Letaba Road is accessible again, though some facilities remain closed.
News
Emirates Adds Third Daily Cape Town Flight and Deploys A350
Emirates launches a third daily Dubai–Cape Town service and deploys the A350-900, taking its South Africa network to 56 weekly flights.
News
South Africa Arrivals Up 12.8% as Brazil Surges 40%
South Africa recorded a 12.8% rise in tourist arrivals for January–May 2026. Brazil led all source markets with 40.6% growth, the strongest of any.
News
Johannesburg Protests; Canada Advisory
Canada updated its South Africa travel advisory on 13 July as weekly anti-migrant Thursday marches cause transport disruption in Johannesburg.
News
Hermanus Whale Season 2026: First Southern Right Whales
Southern right whales have returned to Walker Bay at Hermanus, opening the 2026 whale watching season - what to expect and how to visit.
Visa
South Africa Plans Biggest Visa Overhaul in More Than 20 Years
South Africa is introducing a remote work visa, start-up visa, and points-based system in its most ambitious visa reform since 2002.
Visa
South Africa Introduces Mandatory Online Entry Declaration
South Africa's new online traveller declaration launched 1 July 2026. All visitors must complete it before arriving - here's what to know.
News
LATAM Launches Nonstop Cape Town to SĂŁo Paulo Flights
LATAM Airlines opens the first direct Cape Town–São Paulo service since 1998, with three weekly A321XLR flights starting 2 July 2026.
News
South Africa Record April Arrivals
South Africa saw 989,329 international arrivals in April 2026 - a 19.5% year-on-year rise as the winter safari and whale-watching season opens.
News
Air Europa Launches Madrid–Johannesburg Flights on 24 June
Air Europa will begin three weekly Boeing 787-8 flights between Madrid and Johannesburg from 24 June 2026, its first route to sub-Saharan Africa.
News
June 30 Shutdown in South Africa: What Travellers Must Know
Anti-immigration groups have called a nationwide shutdown in South Africa on 30 June 2026 with potential transport blockades and civil disruption.
News
UK Updates South Africa Travel Advice: New Crime & Safety Warnings
The UK FCDO updated its South Africa travel advice on 11 June with warnings on e-hailing app safety, crime hotspots and Kruger National Park risks.
News
Airlink Begins Direct Johannesburg–Zanzibar Flights
Airlink launched weekly direct Johannesburg to Zanzibar flights in June 2026, making Zanzibar an easy extension for visitors exploring South Africa.
Visa
New Border Rule: Foreign Vehicles Must Be Declared Before Crossing
From 1 June 2026, foreign-registered vehicles must be declared on the SARS Traveller Management System before crossing into or out of South Africa.
News
South Africa Youth Day 16 June: What Travellers Should Know
Youth Day on 16 June is one of South Africa's most significant public holidays. Here is what to expect across Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban.
News
Kruger National Park Turns 100 on 31 May 2026
Kruger marks its centenary on 31 May with post-flood safari conditions delivering exceptional game viewing and lush vegetation across the park.
News
Airlink Cape Town–Zanzibar Flights
Airlink launches once-weekly Cape Town–Zanzibar nonstop from 3 October 2026 on the E195-E2, removing the need for a Johannesburg connection.
News
Africa's Travel Indaba 2026 Wraps Up With 9,800 Visitors
Africa's Travel Indaba 2026 closed in Durban with 9,800 visitors attended, and the ICC confirmed a five-year hosting agreement through 2030.
News
Durban Launches Coastal Tourism Policing Unit for Beachfront Visitors
Durban's new R4.3m coastal tourism policing unit deploys quad bikes and hi-tech vehicles to safeguard visitors on the city's famous beachfront.
News
Club Med South Africa Resort 2026
South Africa's most expensive resort ever - a R2 billion Club Med on KwaZulu-Natal's North Coast - opens 4 July 2026, with beach and Big Five safari.
Visa
Ramaphosa Backs SADC Tourism UNIVISA
At Africa Travel Indaba 2026, Ramaphosa backed a SADC Tourism UNIVISA allowing seamless multi-country southern Africa travel on one authorisation.
News
Africa's Travel Indaba 2026 Opens in Durban with 600 Exhibitors
Africa's Travel Indaba 2026 is underway in Durban this week, with 600 exhibitors from 22 African nations and over 700 buyers from 71 countries.
News
CemAir Launches Direct George–Hoedspruit Route from 17 May
CemAir launches a direct domestic route between George and Hoedspruit from 17 May 2026, linking the Garden Route to Kruger in a single hop.
News
Virgin Atlantic to Run Record 21 Weekly South Africa Flights
Virgin Atlantic will fly 21 times weekly between London Heathrow and South Africa from October 2026, its biggest SA programme in three decades.
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