South Africa Airports Guide 2026
South Africa has three major international airports serving its key cities: Johannesburg (OR Tambo), Cape Town, and Durban (King Shaka). OR Tambo is Africa's busiest airport and the main hub for continental travel. All three airports are modern, well-maintained, and offer comprehensive facilities. This guide covers everything you need to know about arriving in South Africa.
Major International Airports
| Location: Kempton Park, Gauteng | Distance to City: 24 km |
| Terminals: 2 | Passengers: ~21.6 million/year |
Africa's busiest airport and primary continental hub. Gautrain rail link to Sandton (15 min). Direct flights to London, Dubai, New York, Singapore, and 50+ African cities. Home base for South African Airways.
Full Airport Guide| Location: Matroosfontein | Distance to City: 20 km |
| Terminals: 2 | Passengers: ~10.8 million/year |
Gateway to Table Mountain, V&A Waterfront, and the Cape Winelands. MyCiti bus connection to the CBD (R100). Direct flights to London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Istanbul, and US cities. Car hire highly recommended.
Full Airport Guide| Location: La Mercy, KZN | Distance to City: 35 km |
| Terminals: 1 | Passengers: ~5.6 million/year |
Modern airport (2010) serving Durban and KwaZulu-Natal. Gateway to warm beaches, Drakensberg mountains, and Zulu cultural sites. Direct flights to Dubai, Istanbul, and Addis Ababa.
Full Airport GuideEssential Airport Information
Visa Requirements
South Africa has a generous visa-free policy. UK, EU, US, Canada, Australia enter visa-free for 90 days. Most SADC countries for 30-90 days. Some African nationalities require visas (apply before travel). All visitors need 2+ blank passport pages. See our visa requirements page.
Currency
The South African Rand (ZAR) is the local currency. South Africa is very card-friendly with tap-to-pay widely accepted. ATMs are plentiful. Forex bureaux are available at all airports.
SIM Cards
Vodacom and MTN offer the best coverage. SIM cards cost R5 with data from R69/GB. RICA registration (passport required) takes 10 minutes at airport stores.
Transport
Uber and Bolt are the primary transport apps across South Africa. The Gautrain rail link serves OR Tambo. MyCiti bus serves Cape Town. Car hire is recommended for exploring beyond cities.
Airport Comparison
| Feature | OR Tambo (JNB) | Cape Town (CPT) | King Shaka (DUR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| International Routes | 50+ | 15+ | 3-5 |
| Best Transport | Gautrain (R185) | MyCiti bus (R100) | Uber/Bolt |
| Distance to City | 24 km | 20 km | 35 km |
| Immigration Speed | 30-60 min | 15-30 min | 10-20 min |
| Terminal Quality | Excellent | Excellent | Modern |
| Car Hire | All majors | All majors | All majors |
| WiFi | Free | Free | Free |