Flying into Africa

Served by numerous international carriers and home to sophisticated world-class airports, flying into Africa is as easy as flying to anywhere else in the world. Africa is however an enormous continent with various international and national airports acting as gateways to its remote islands and iconic safari destinations – you’ll need to know which gateway airport best serves the destinations you have in mind.

Gateway Airports of Africa

Nairobi (Jomo Kenyatta International Airport)

Kenya’s capital city is home to East Africa’s unrivalled flight hub and will be your first landfall if you’re planning to go anywhere in Kenya – including the Masai Mara – as well as Uganda, Rwanda and indeed Tanzania and Zanzibar. Visitors transfer from Jomo Kenyatta to nearby Wilson Airport for onward regional connections and charter flights.

Dar es Salaam (Julius Nyerere International Airport)

Tanzania’s main flight hub is set on the coast and perfectly placed if you’re heading for Zanzibar or islands off the Tanzanian coast like Pemba as well as the Nyerere National Park (previously Selous Game Reserve). Mount Kilimanjaro and Tanzania’s northern safari destinations are served by transferring from Dar es Salaam to either Kilimanjaro International Airport (also offering limited international flights) or Arusha Airport for local charter flights.

Cape Town International Airport

Serving South Africa’s Cape destinations such as Cape Town, Whale Coast and the Cape Winelands, this is the gateway airport for the Garden Route and Eastern Cape. Namibia can also be easily accessed from Cape Town.

Johannesburg (O R Tambo International Airport)

Africa’s premier flight hub, O R Tambo serves all destinations in South, Southern and East Africa including the Kruger Park, Victoria Falls, Botswana and the Mozambique coast. You’ll transfer at the airport to domestic or regional flights.

On a smaller scale, other important gateway airports include Namibia’s Hosea Kutako International Airport in Windhoek (ideal for Etosha and the Namib Desert) and Mozambique’s Maputo International Airport, serving the country’s Bazaruto and Quirimbas Archipelagos.

Find out more about flying into:

Botswana
Kenya
Malawi
Mauritius
Mozambique
Namibia
Rwanda
Seychelles
South Africa
Tanzania
Uganda
Zambia
Zimbabwe

Flying Around Africa

Once you’ve touched down at one of Africa’s gateway airports you’ll need to move on if you’re not staying in the city itself. Flying around Africa – from the international hub to your final destination – can involve a variety of transport mediums, several of which can add immense value to your journey – be sure to have your camera handy when you fly over Botswana’s Okavango Delta or across the Indian Ocean to a remote desert island!

For regional and domestic flights, Go2Africa will only use accredited international airlines (IATA members). We do not use low cost carriers due to the inconsistencies in scheduling and irregular service.

Shorter distances and flights into remote destinations that use ‘bush airstrips’ are best served by scheduled or non-scheduled charter flights that may be shared or private. Light aircraft that seat four to six people are used on these flights. Although uncommon, helicopter transfers can be arranged for destinations such as the Seychelles or the Okavango Delta.

Getting to your final destination – the lodge, resort or hotel – will involve ground transport. If you’ve hired a car then you’ll pick it up at the airport; if not, then you’ll be transferred by private or shared mini bus, 4X4 or car.

Find out more about flying into these top destinations:

Bazaruto Archipelago
Cape Town
Cape Winelands
Chobe National Park
Garden Route
Kruger National Park
Masai Mara
Ngorongoro Crater
Okavango Delta
Quirimbas Archipelago
Serengeti
Sun City
Victoria Falls
Zanzibar

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, Go2Africa can organise all your flights into and around Africa. Please bear in mind that we only sell flights in conjunction with our holiday packages - we do not sell flights as stand-alone bookings.

Weight restrictions vary between airlines and points of departure but here are some approximate figures for your check in luggage - ensure you double check before you fly.

If you're flying to Africa from Europe, Asia or Australia then you'll need to keep your luggage weight (excluding hand luggage) under 20kg for Economy Class, 30kg for Business Class and 40kg for First Class.

If you're flying from the USA, you are allowed one piece of luggage weighing no more than 23kg or two pieces (each weighing under 23kg) if travelling Business Class.

Remember that when travelling in Africa your luggage should weigh no more than 20kg in Economy and 30kg in Business Class.

Weight restrictions on charter flights vary between operators but passengers are usually restricted to a single, soft-sided bag weighing a maximum of 15kg.

Check with your Go2Africa African Safari Expert to confirm the weight restrictions on your particular charter flight.

If you are flying on British Airways, Lufthansa or KLM from London, Frankfurt (seasonal) or Amsterdam you can fly direct to Cape Town.

There are no direct flights from the USA to Cape Town; you will need to fly via Johannesburg. The same applies to flights from Perth and Sydney in Australia. Unfortunately there are no direct flights from Canada to South Africa - all flights go via Europe or the USA.

Most flights from other African countries fly to Johannesburg except for limited flights from Mauritius and Namibia that fly direct to Cape Town.

Thanks to alliances between the major airlines, it is now possible to fly from almost anywhere in the world to Nairobi (Kenya) as well as Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar (all Tanzania). The airlines with the most regular flight schedules to these destinations are British Airways, KLM, Kenya Airways and Emirates.

British Airways flies direct from London to Nairobi.

Kenya Airways flies direct from London and Amsterdam to Nairobi, and direct from London to Mombasa.

KLM flies direct from Amsterdam to Nairobi and Kilimanjaro.

There are no direct flights to East Africa from the USA, Canada or Australia. American flights go via Europe, Dubai or Johannesburg, Canadian flights via the USA or Europe, while flights from Australia usually fly to East Africa via the Far East or Middle East.

Flight schedules are available on the internet but should be used as a guideline only: airlines often change these schedules without prior notice or any financial obligation.

Go2Africa's flights team will check flight routes for you and advise you on the best flight times for your holiday itinerary.

On confirmation, we will include a copy of your electronic ticket in your itinerary and documentation, all of which will be e-mailed to you.

You can also access your electronic ticket on-line using a reference number that we will provide.

You can pay for all flights booked through Go2Africa by using our secure online payment system.

Yes, we can make a request to the airline on your behalf and this will be catered to if possible. It is important to remember that airlines do not guarantee seating and that emergency exit seats are only allocated on the day of departure at the airport. Some airlines only permit advanced seating by means of a pre-payment which can be done online.

Yes, we can notify the airline of your meal preference on your behalf. All meal requests have to be made at least 72 hours prior to departure, although it should be noted that nothing is guaranteed.

Yes, we can notify the airline of your needs - such as wheelchair assistance - on your behalf. You will be asked to complete a short questionnaire.

All extra payments and taxes are calculated beforehand and included in your ticket price. However, there are certain government levies that can only be paid in cash at the airport - please check with your African Safari Expert.

Schedule changes are changes to flight times made by the airline. Go2Africa will inform you of any changes to your flights booked through us, and will ensure that your itinerary and transfers all connect accordingly.

All scheduled flights booked through Go2Africa can be viewed via the following link: www.checkmytrip.com using the reference number that we provide you with.

Yes, but lost luggage must be reported immediately to the relevant airline and a reference number obtained. We will need the reference number to follow up on your behalf.

No, if you have booked your flights through Go2Africa our flight department will do this on your behalf. However, some confirmations come through after office hours so it is always advisable to have your concierge check with weekend or public holiday departures.

Airlines allocate only a small number of seats for air mile tickets on each flight so it helps to be flexible with your travel dates. However, you will still be liable for the airport taxes which usually comprise a large proportion of the overall ticket price, so even with air miles your ticket will not be completely free.

We recommend that you book the best possible fare available to suit your holiday itinerary and then redeem your miles on other merchandise available to you - car rental, accommodation and so on. You will need to arrange your own flight arrangements with the Frequent Flyer programme concerned.

All airlines require you to purchase a minimum air fare in order to upgrade to Business Class with your air miles. This minimum fare is usually much higher than the cheapest Economy Class fare or seat sale specials you might have initially been offered. This means that you can easily pay three or four times more for your ticket than you expected in order to redeem these miles.

However, once you have purchased this ticket, your upgrade is not guaranteed as airlines only allocate a certain number of seats per flight for upgrading.

We strongly recommend that if you do not have enough miles for a full ticket, you don't use your air miles for a Business Class upgrade. Your flight could end up costing you a lot more than necessary. Should you be happy to incur these costs however, our Flights Experts can help you purchase upgradable tickets.

The name on your ticket must always match the name on your passport so if you want to travel under your married surname, then you will have to have a passport which matches your married surname. Airlines no longer accept a marriage certificate as proof of the name change. If you are unable to obtain a new passport before you travel, you will have to travel under your maiden surname.

Yes. Go2Africa uses www.bagport.co.za for both airports.

Johannesburg's luggage storage depot is located in Terminal A. The number of the airport desk is +27 11 390 2317; the number of the storage facility is +27 11 390 2689.

Cape Town storage facilities are located on the ground floor at parking area level 2. The contact number is +27 72 384 2954.

Go2Africa uses U-Bag (a worldwide shipper) to manage any excess luggage. Their services include collection and delivery to your next destination, whether home or your next hotel. No airline ticket is required if you send goods without travelling yourself; you can track and trace your shipment online; and your baggage is shrink-wrapped for added security at no extra charge.

You can contact them on [email protected] or 086 111 8224 (within South Africa). Please quote Go2Africa for preferential rates.

Their offices are located at:

Johannesburg: 14 Willow Street, Rhodesfield, Kempton Park - open Mondays to Fridays 08h00 to 18h00 and Saturday 08h30 to 13h00.

Cape Town International Airport (International Departure Hall) - open Mondays to Fridays 08h30 to 22h00 and weekends 13h30 to 22h00.