Private jet to South Africa

Johannesburg and Cape Town are between about 8,400 and 10,100 km from the western European hubs, and a long-range business jet covers that in one night. The usual plan is an evening departure, about eleven hours in the air and a morning arrival, with only one or two hours of time difference to absorb. A business visit to Sandton, a safari in the Greater Kruger or a stay on the Cape can start on the day of landing.

Private aircraft from abroad land mainly in two places: Gauteng, with OR Tambo and Lanseria, and Cape Town International in the Western Cape. Durban serves KwaZulu-Natal. Inside South Africa the aircraft changes: domestic legs are flown by South African operators, and the last stretch to a lodge is a turboprop on a bush strip. Our clients are families on safari, mining and finance executives, golfers heading for Sun City and winter-sun guests on the Cape.

Send the dates, the number of passengers and the region you are visiting, and we propose aircraft for the whole itinerary:

Why travellers choose a private jet for this trip

How long the night flight takes

Times are for the Gulfstream G550, which flies every European route in the main table without a stop:

• Nice - Johannesburg 10:08 h, Milan Linate - Cape Town 11:07 h, Geneva - Lanseria 10:27 h
• Zurich - Johannesburg 10:34 h, Munich 10:36 h, Frankfurt 10:53 h, Paris Le Bourget 10:57 h
• Amsterdam - Johannesburg 11:17 h, London Farnborough - Johannesburg 11:20 h
• Madrid - Cape Town 10:46 h, Lisbon - Cape Town 10:45 h, London Farnborough - Cape Town 12:03 h
• Larnaca - Johannesburg 8:38 h, the shortest sector from the EU
• Praetor 600 with one fuel stop: 10:51 h from Larnaca, 12:28 h from Nice and up to 14:34 h from London Farnborough to Cape Town

The routing allows for a detour of a few per cent around closed or restricted airspace over Africa, which is already included in the distances. Johannesburg is reached first because Cape Town lies about 1,300 km further south-west. On the way home the aircraft takes off from a high plateau: OR Tambo stands at about 1,700 m and Lanseria at about 1,375 m, so on a hot afternoon a heavy, fully fuelled jet may have to carry less or plan a stop. Operators often prefer a morning departure for the long sector north.

Prices for private flights to South Africa

Prices are for the whole aircraft, one way, with an aircraft based near the departure city. The fuel stop, landing permit, handling, parking and passenger charges are added in the quote. The Praetor 600 is the lowest-priced option and stops once for fuel; the Gulfstream G550 and Global 7500 fly direct.

From the European hubs

Non-stop in a Gulfstream G550, Johannesburg costs EUR 105,000 from Larnaca and EUR 125,000 from Nice, while Zurich and Munich are at EUR 130,000; Geneva - Lanseria is also EUR 130,000. From London the price is EUR 140,000 to Johannesburg and EUR 150,000 to Cape Town, which lies about 1,300 km further on. With a fuel stop, the Praetor 600 starts at EUR 74,000 from Larnaca and EUR 85,000 from Nice, and takes two to three hours longer.

From neighbouring countries and the Indian Ocean

Mauritius and Nairobi are too far for a turboprop without a stop, so those cells are on request. Safari trips often combine South Africa with a neighbour: Botswana (Maun), Zimbabwe (Victoria Falls) or Namibia first, then Johannesburg or Cape Town; Maun - Johannesburg costs EUR 9,000 in a Pilatus PC-12. After the bush, many guests finish on the beach in Mauritius or the Seychelles.

Long-haul from the Gulf and the USA

Dubai and Doha are about eight hours from Johannesburg non-stop, which suits clients combining Gulf business with a southern African trip. From New York every jet in the table makes one fuel stop on the way.

Domestic legs (flown by South African operators)

A foreign aircraft may not carry passengers between two South African airports, so these legs are quoted on South African-registered aircraft of the same class. Johannesburg - Cape Town costs EUR 12,500 in a Citation CJ3 and EUR 16,500 in a Citation XLS+. Departure taxes depend on where the trip starts: from France a solidarity tax that rises with distance, about EUR 2,100 per passenger on a sector this long against about EUR 420 in Europe, from Italy EUR 200 per passenger on these distances, and from the UK Air Passenger Duty, at the higher private-jet rate for aircraft of 20 t or more with fewer than 19 seats, such as the Gulfstream G550, and otherwise at the standard rate; South African passenger charges are listed in the quote.

Business jet price per flight hour

Heavy Jets from EUR 8,300 / hour

Light Jets from EUR 3,200 / hour

Ultra Long Range Jets from EUR 12,000 / hour

Super Midsize Jets from EUR 6,300 / hour

Very Light Jets from EUR 2,500 / hour

Long Range Jets from EUR 9,800 / hour

Midsize Jets from EUR 4,500 / hour

Turboprops from EUR 2,000 / hour

Three trips with the full picture

Price per passenger

The aircraft price divided by the number of guests, before taxes and ground costs:

Price calculator

The calculator sends an estimate by e-mail within seconds; mention the lodge or hotel in the comment:

Airports and private terminals in South Africa

A foreign operator needs a landing permit, which the South African Civil Aviation Authority issues on working days; three to five working days is a safe lead time. The file lists the purpose of the visit, the aircraft, its certificates and insurance, and the crew and passengers. For more than eight passengers the authority may ask for a letter confirming that the flight is private, so we allow extra time for such groups.

Kruger Mpumalanga, Skukuza and George are reached after entry at Johannesburg, Lanseria or Cape Town. Skukuza, inside the national park, limits the number of daily landings and requires a permit from the park authority. Lodge strips in the private reserves are short and mostly unpaved: only turboprops such as the Pilatus PC-12 or a Cessna Caravan use them, with the lodge's consent.

Which aircraft suits the route

On a night of ten to twelve hours, flat beds and a crew rest area count for more than speed, which is the case for ultra long range jets and the larger long-range cabins. A super midsize jet with one stop saves around a third of the price and suits four to eight passengers who accept two to three extra hours. For the lodges, a turboprop is the right tool rather than a compromise.

Unsure whether to fly direct or with a stop? Leave your number and we call you back:

Where to land for Gauteng, the Kruger and the Cape

Helicopters fly from a heliport at the V&A Waterfront to the Cape Peninsula, the Winelands and Hermanus, and in Gauteng they save hours in traffic. Every landing site needs permission, and in the Cape summer the south-easterly wind can stop rotary flights while jets still land, so a car is always booked as a fallback. Hotels and handlers send drivers to the terminal; arriving after dark is avoided where the plan allows.

When to fly: the year in South Africa

South Africa has two weather systems running in opposite directions: Gauteng and the Kruger get rain in summer, from October to March, while the Cape gets rain in winter, mainly from June to September. The dry months from May to September are the best for game viewing in the north, and the Cape is warmest and busiest from December to February. Empty Legs towards Europe are most frequent in January and at the end of August, after the holidays; southbound legs appear before Christmas and at the start of the European summer holidays.

Empty Legs to and from South Africa

A window of a few days helps far more than a fixed date, and a leg can disappear if the original booking changes. Send the direction and the dates to empty-legs@jets.flights.

Flying with a dog or cat

A pet sits beside you in the cabin on the way to South Africa, but the paperwork takes months and the operator must approve the animal in advance:

• A veterinary import permit issued in advance by the Director of Animal Health in Pretoria, usually valid for six months.
• A 15-digit ISO microchip and a rabies vaccination given at least 30 days and not more than 12 months before arrival.
• A health certificate from a licensed vet within 10 days of entry, endorsed by the government veterinary service; dogs also need blood tests within 30 days of entry and treatment against internal and external parasites.
• The published rules are written for animals arriving as cargo, so we obtain written confirmation that the animal may travel in the cabin of a private jet.
• Return to the EU: South Africa is not on the EU list of third countries with simplified rules, so a rabies antibody test (at least 0.5 IU/ml) is taken at least 30 days after vaccination and three months before re-entry; a test done before leaving the EU avoids the wait.
• Return to the UK: the same antibody test, a Great Britain pet health certificate and, for dogs, tapeworm treatment by a vet 1 to 5 days before arrival.

Entry rules and documents

Returning to Europe, EU citizens pass the Schengen or national border at the arrival airport, and in the UK the handler files the General Aviation Report in advance. The Johannesburg metropolitan area has high crime levels, so we read the travel advice against your itinerary and arrange drivers and transfers before arrival.

Before departure

• Passports with 30 days' validity after departure and two blank pages, children's documents.
• Online traveller declaration filed for each passenger within 24 hours before take-off, for the way in and the way out.
• Hotel, lodge and transfer plan: driver, helicopter or turboprop to the strip.
• Soft bags of about 20 kg per person if a bush flight follows.
• Golf, fishing or camera equipment listed with weights.
• Firearms for hunting declared in advance with permits.
• Pet permits and certificates checked against the itinerary.

How to book

1. Send the route, dates, passengers and the regions you plan to visit, including any safari camp or lodge.
2. We compare a non-stop long-range jet with a one-stop super midsize option and add the local legs on South African aircraft.
3. You receive the offers with operator, model, photos, flight time, fuel stop and price.
4. We file the landing permit, book the slot, the handler and the turboprop or helicopter.
5. On the day you go straight to the private terminal; the crew and our office stay in touch until the return.

Questions about private flights to South Africa

• • How much does a private jet to South Africa cost?

  • The lowest table price is EUR 74,000 for the whole aircraft one way, Larnaca - Johannesburg in a Praetor 600 with a fuel stop. Non-stop in a Gulfstream G550, Johannesburg costs EUR 105,000 from Larnaca and EUR 125,000 from Nice; from London it is EUR 140,000. Permits, handling and passenger charges are added in the quote.

• • How long is the flight from Europe?

  • Between about 10 and 12 hours non-stop in a long-range jet, for example 10:57 h from Paris Le Bourget to Johannesburg and 12:03 h from London Farnborough to Cape Town. A super midsize jet with one fuel stop needs two to three hours more.

• • OR Tambo or Lanseria?

  • Lanseria is closer to Sandton and the northern suburbs and has two private terminals. OR Tambo has the longer runways, which helps a heavy long-range jet leaving for Europe on a hot afternoon, and the Fireblade terminal with its own customs. We suggest the airport per trip.

• • Can our jet land at a lodge in the Kruger?

  • No. Lodge strips are short and mostly unpaved, so a turboprop flies the last leg from Johannesburg or Kruger Mpumalanga in about an hour and a quarter. Skukuza takes light aircraft within a daily cap and with a park permit.

• • Can the same aircraft fly us from Johannesburg to Cape Town?

  • Not with passengers on board, because a foreign aircraft may not fly domestic legs in South Africa. We book a South African operator for that sector, from EUR 12,500 in a Citation CJ3, while the long-range jet repositions empty.

• • Do I need a visa?

  • UK citizens and most EU passport holders do not need a visa for up to 90 days. The passport must be valid 30 days beyond departure and have two blank pages.

• • How far ahead should we book?

  • The landing permit takes three to five working days, so a week is the practical minimum. For December, January, July and August book several weeks ahead, and allow extra time for groups above eight passengers.

• • Can I bring my dog?

  • Yes, with an import permit, microchip, rabies vaccination 30 days to 12 months before entry and a vet certificate issued within 10 days. The return to the EU or UK needs a rabies antibody test planned months in advance.

• • Are there Empty Legs to South Africa?

  • Mostly northbound after the holidays and after drop-offs, and southbound before Christmas and the European summer. Write to empty-legs@jets.flights with a window of a few days.

• • Can we combine South Africa with other countries?

  • Yes. Maun, Victoria Falls, Windhoek and Mauritius are short flights from Johannesburg or Cape Town, and each country needs its own landing permit, which we file with the rest of the trip.

• • How much luggage can we take?

  • A long-range jet takes golf bags and large suitcases without trouble. The bush turboprops limit baggage to about 20 kg per person in soft bags, so pack a separate bag for the lodge.