Highveld skyline of Johannesburg, South Africa

JNB Airport

UK to Johannesburg

South Africa · The City of Gold

Fly from London to South Africa's beating heart with RwandAir — one quick hop through our Kigali hub, bags checked through, and Soweto's story, the Cradle of Humankind and the whole Kruger-and-Cape adventure at the other end. UK citizens enter visa-free.

1 Stop via Kigali (KGL)

13h 30m Fastest journey

Daily Connections

£629 Fares from

Departures

Flights to Johannesburg

Every RwandAir routing from London — pick the connection timing that suits you.

Best Fares

Latest Flight Tickets to Johannesburg

Hand-picked deals on flights departing from the UK. Secure your seat at the lowest price today.

RW Rwandair

LHR

London Heathrow

Cheapest Flights From London Heathrow to Johannesburg, South Africa

1 Stop

JNB

Johannesburg

£536

per adult · incl. taxes

Economy 23kg

RW Rwandair

LHR

London Heathrow

Cheap Business Class Flights to Johannesburg

1 Stop

JNB

Johannesburg

£2,014

per adult · incl. taxes

Business 23kg

Returning to London — same-week options

17:00 → 05:45⁺¹

via KGL · layover 2h 45m · 12h 45m

13:45 → 05:45⁺¹

via KGL · layover 6h 00m · 16h 00m

10:30 → 05:45⁺¹

via KGL · layover 9h 15m · 19h 15m

Sample RwandAir schedules and fares shown for illustration. Every fare we quote includes all taxes, checked baggage, and our best-price promise — find it cheaper elsewhere and we match it, plus the difference.

One Check-In, All the Way

Your bags are tagged through to Johannesburg at Heathrow — no re-checking in Kigali, ever.

Protected Connections

Minimum 60-minute guarantees at our hub. If a delay causes a missed link, we rebook you free.

A Hub That Feels Small

Kigali is one of Africa's easiest transits — walkable terminal, good coffee, no crowds.

Support in Transit

Our 24/7 team tracks every leg. Something goes wrong mid-journey? We already know and are on it.

Once You Land

Discover Johannesburg

Gold-rush history, world-class museums and the gateway to Kruger and Cape — egoli, the place of gold.

Powerful museum exhibits in Johannesburg

Apartheid Museum

The essential, unflinching story of South Africa's journey — and its remarkable constitution.

Colourful murals of Soweto's Vilakazi Street

Soweto & Vilakazi Street

The only street in the world to house two Nobel Peace Prize winners — Mandela's and Tutu's homes.

Sterkfontein Caves landscape, Cradle of Humankind

Cradle of Humankind (UNESCO)

Where "Mrs Ples" and "Little Foot" rewrote human origins — caves an hour from the city.

Maboneng Precinct

Rooftop bars, street art and the Neighbourgoods Market — Joburg's creative renaissance, live.

Gateway to Kruger & Pilanesberg

The Big Five a scenic drive or hop-flight away — safari extensions built into your ticket.

The Great Braai

More than barbecue — a national ritual of flame, boerewors rolls, chakalaka and good company.

Good to Know

Joburg travel essentials

The practical details, handled before you pack.

Visa & Entry

UK citizens enter South Africa visa-free for up to 90 days — but your passport must have two blank pages (a strict SA rule), and because you transit Kigali, carry a yellow fever certificate. We'll checklist everything with you.

Best Time to Visit

September to November and March to May bring warm, clear Highveld days. May–September is prime Kruger safari season — cool, dry and game-rich.

Money & Payments

South African Rand (ZAR). The most card-friendly city on the continent alongside Doha — Apple Pay and cards work everywhere, markets included. Cash barely needed.

Language

English is one of South Africa's official languages and the city's working tongue — signage, taxis, menus, everything. Zero language barrier for UK travellers.

Time Zone

SAST (GMT+2) — the same clock as Kigali, 2 hours ahead of the UK. Land at 12:00 local, and by your body clock it's only 10am. No jet lag to speak of.

JNB → City & Gautrain

O.R. Tambo sits ~20km from the CBD. Skip the traffic on the Gautrain rapid rail — 15 minutes to Sandton — or use our trusted pre-booked transfers.

Questions

Johannesburg trip FAQs

Not on RwandAir — we connect through our Kigali hub, and with just a 3h 40m second leg it's one of the quickest one-stop routings at 13h 30m fastest. Bags are checked all the way through to JNB and the Kigali connection is guaranteed on a single ticket. If pure nonstop speed is everything, direct carriers exist — but our fares, flexibility and 24/7 human support usually win on value.

No visa needed — UK passport holders enter visa-free for up to 90 days. Two things to watch, though: South Africa strictly requires two blank pages in your passport, and because your itinerary transits Kigali, border officials typically ask for a yellow fever certificate — carry it, even if vaccinated years ago. Our team walks you through the full entry checklist.

On a through-ticketed RwandAir booking you're protected: the airline rebooks you on the next available Johannesburg flight at no cost. Both legs are the same carrier, your bags are transferred for you, and our 24/7 team monitors the connection in real time.

Economy includes 23kg checked plus 7kg cabin on every leg, with the checked bag tagged straight through to JNB. Extra allowance — popular for family visits, golf trips and safari kit — can be pre-booked through us at better rates than airport prices.

Different cities, different trips: Joburg is the economic engine — history, culture, markets and the best flight connections — while Cape Town brings Table Mountain and the Winelands. We land in Joburg, and a 2-hour internal flight adds Cape Town to any itinerary; we're happy to build the combo with protected connections.

Yes — Sandton, Rosebank and Melrose hotels, the Gautrain option to beat traffic, and safari extensions to Kruger or Pilanesberg with vetted partners can all be added to your booking. For the overnight Kigali connection, we can also arrange a transit hotel with shuttle so you rest between flights.