Look at any world map, and nine times out of ten, the African continent is in the middle of the page. South Africa is located right at the bottom of this big chunk of land and is 1,233,404 km² (766,401 miles²) in size and is edged on three sides by nearly 3,000 km (1,864 miles) of coastline, with the Indian Ocean to the east and the Atlantic Ocean to the west.
The country is bordered in the north by Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, and also encloses two independent countries, the kingdoms of Lesotho and Eswatini (formerly known as Swaziland).
Getting to South Africa
You will likely need to make at least one transit stop along the way to get to one of the country's international airports. And depending on where you will be flying from, your dedication will be rewarded tenfold with an unforgettable adventure. It's a long haul from Europe (10 to 12 hours), Asia (12 to 17 hours) and the United States (up to 15 hours or even more), but it will be so worth it!
With many major international airlines flying into South Africa, you have your options open to choose which carrier to bring you over. Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) operates the major airports and is responsible for approximately 200,000 landings and around 24 million passengers every year. So, if you find yourself researching flights into South Africa, here are the three major airports to keep in mind (in order of most frequently used):
- O. R. Tambo International Airport (Johannesburg)
- Cape Town International Airport (Cape Town)
- King Shaka International Airport (Durban)