UK travellers now have more direct routes to Cape Town to choose from, with the launch of the Norse Atlantic Airways flight between Cape Town International Airport (CPT) and London Gatwick Airport (LGW).
The service will operate seasonally with three weekly flights, starting on 28 October. The flight will arrive in Cape Town at 09:30 (SAST) on a Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday before departing for London Gatwick (LGW) at 11:45 (SAST). Norse Atlantic Airways will operate the service on a Boeing 787-9.
The United Kingdom is Cape Town’s top international source market, followed by the United States and Germany. In 2023, two-way passenger traffic from the UK grew by 54% compared to 2022, with more than 360,000 passengers flying between the two destinations.
Cape Town is one of the world’s most sought-after destinations, drawing tourists with attractions such as Table Mountain, Robben Island, and the Cape Winelands. The new direct flight route further extends the appeal of visiting Cape Town as part of a Southern African bucket list safari. Get in touch with a Discover Africa travel expert to find out more.
Cape Town’s weather is notoriously fickle, with visitors often told to expect four seasons in one day. If you want to include Cape Town in your next Southern African Safari Circuit experience, here’s what you need to know about the city’s seasons.
Updated 09/04/24: Certain parks closed due to bad weather
A weather warning on Monday detailing disruptive rain and flooding in certain parts of the Western Cape has put much of South Africa’s favourite city on alert. SANParks confirmed that severe weather conditions have forced the temporary closure of certain parks.
Lions Head trails are closed until further notice. Picnic sites at Oudekraal and Newlands, Deer Park, and Rhodes Memorial are also closed.
Visitors should postpone visiting Table Mountain National Park, as wet, slippery surfaces and gusty winds pose a safety risk.
Why the Cape of Storms?
Cape Town was initially dubbed the “Cape of Storms” by Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias in 1488. The tip of Africa earned this notorious title due to the maritime challenges encountered by sailors charting new routes to the east.
The “Cape of Storms” was later renamed the “Cape of Good Hope” by King John II of Portugal to reflect the maritime significance of the route as an East Indies gateway. The renaming symbolized the new trading opportunities of the spice trade.
Cape Town Weather Still Gets Quite Stormy – A Storm-Chaser’s Perspective:
The disruptive Cape Town weather didn’t stop dedicated storm-chaser photographer Kyle Goetsch from capturing some of the dramatic scenery.
Goetsch shared images highlighting the dramatic scenes in Kalk Bay, along Cape Town’s False Bay on the South Peninsula.
“Having all the elements align for the perfect big waves at Kalk Bay doesn’t happen very often,” said Goetsch, who often shares his work with his 62k-strong Instagram following.
Goetsch has been chasing the perfect shot since 2016 and said he had last seen waves of this proportion about eight years ago.
“The wind, tide, and swell have to all be perfect to get the waves to push up high over the wall. While there have been waves at Kalk Bay since then, I haven’t seen them this big since 2016. So it’s been a long wait to get these images,” said Goetsch.
He added that the most challenging part of capturing these images is predicting when the waves will be big.
“Normally, you only have a shooting window of 1-3 hours, depending on wind and tide. So if you have to drive from far away it makes planning and guessing quite difficult. Also, the waves usually only occur this big during a storm, which means you’ll be shooting in the rain, which we did, making it tricky to get a clean image without rain on your lens,” said Goetsch.
“It’s extremely difficult to guess where exactly the wave will push up along the wall.” Photo: Kyle Goetsch
“It’s also difficult to guess how big it will be before it hits. This means you generally have to shoot wider and crop in, as you don’t know exactly how much space to leave for the big wave,” said Goetsch.
“The light is also constantly changing so you have to adapt to this as well with your settings,” added Goetsch. “As you can see from my images I like a bit more of an artistic flare to my images and opted to go for slightly longer exposures (about 1/4th of a second). These shows the movement and speed of the wave and differs from the more common static images.”
Goetsch captured his images with a Nikon z6ii and z100-400mm lens.
“I love that I was able to capture some big waves with perfect long exposure technique, resulting in the desired effect I wanted. Also trying to get a great composition and having the waves work with us and hit the wall in the right places, worked well,” said Goetsch.
“I opted for a longer lens for this as the sea was wild with lots of sea spray and surging waves. Due to this shooting with a longer lens and standing further back was optimal. Also a tripod for this type of shooting is essential and ND filters for the longer exposures.”
A Guide to Cape Town’s Weather and Seasonal Things to Do:
Cape Town Summer Weather:
December: Hot and sunny, with strong southeasterly “Cape Doctor” winds, ideal for kite-surfing adventure holidays.
January: Warm and sunny, with occasional strong southeasterly winds, ideal for beach outings. Don’t miss outdoor events like the Cape Town New Year’s Day parade.
February: Hot and dry, this is the peak of summer, with clear skies and balmy evenings. Don’t miss the much-loved open-air summer sunset concerts series. As the peak season draws to a close, beaches are also less crowded.
Cape Town Autumn Weather
March: Warm days start to cool, signaling the onset of autumn with less wind. The Cape Town Carnival is a seasonal highlight.
April: Mild temperatures with crisp mornings and evenings, and occasional rain showers. It’s the perfect time to tackle any of Cape Towns cool hiking routes.
May: Cooler days see the arrival of regular rainfall. It’s the ideal time to plan a Cape Winelands adventure with Stellenbosch’s annual Oyster & Bubbly Festival or the Franschhoek Literary Festival.
Cape Town Winter Weather:
June: As winter sets in, it’s cold and wet, with frequent rain and strong northwesterly winds. It’s also the start of the whale-watching season. Spot these gentle giants in False Bay, Gansbaai, or the town of Hermanus, about one hour from Cape Town.
July: Cold, with the highest rainfall of the year, interspersed with clear, sunny days. The Cape Winelands town of Franschhoek also celebrates its French roots with Bastille Day on the 14th of July.
August: Still cold and rainy, but with increasing sunny spells. The Flower Season begins to hint at the start of Spring.
Cape Town Spring Weather:
September: Spring arrives, bringing wildflowers, variable weather, and occasional rain. Experience a stunning burst of flowers along the West Coast, an hour outside Cape Town.
October: Warmer weather is perfect for outdoor activities. Whale watching is good during October. Whale watching and the calving season are now in full swing along the waters of False Bay.
November: Warmer temperatures and longer days see Cape Town getting ready for its best beach days, which are spent along the likes of Clifton and Camps Bay.
Whatever the season, Cape Town is ready to be explored. Get in touch with a Discover Africa expert to plan the best way to include this world-class city into your bucket list safari to South Africa.
Easier access between Africa’s cities adds to the appeal of planning safari itineraries across multiple countries instead of a single-country trip, as travellers can now pair different experiences with traditional safari itineraries. It also means reduced travel time, with more quality holiday time in destination.
New Routes and Codeshare Partnerships in 2024
Proflight Zambia connects Lusaka and Cape Town – February 2024
Proflight Zambia launched a new direct route between South Africa’s Cape Town International and Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka in February. The thrice-weekly flights will operate on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
Connectivity between the UK and East Africa has been improved with the latest partnership between SkyTeam alliance partners Virgin Atlantic and Kenya Airways.
The codeshare allows Virgin Atlantic customers to book flights directly on Kenya Airways’ route between London Heathrow and Nairobi.
It simplifies travel to Kenya for international visitors, including those from the UK, who can now enter with online authorization instead of a traditional visa.
Virgin Atlantic and Kenya Airways codeshare improves flight access between UK and East Africa.
Federal Airlines to Connect Marakele and Madikwe Game Reserve – March 2024
South African charter flight provider Federal Airlines will introduce a new shuttle route connecting Marakele National Park to Madikwe Game Reserve. The route started operating on 23 March, with departure and landing times at Thabazimbi Airport for Marataba Luxury Lodges, part of MORE collections.
Federal Air offers daily shuttles connecting South Africa’s most popular Big Five game reserves and luxury safari lodges, along with private charters direct to flight strips of luxury safari locations across Africa.
The Marataba Rhino Conservation team in the Marakele National Park. Source: MORE Collection.
FlySafair connects Cape Town to Kruger – April 2024
South African low-cost carrier FlySafair will launch a new route between Cape Town International Airport and Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport from 2 April. The flight will operate twice a week, on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
A herd of buffalo seen on a game drive in Kruger National Park. Source: SA Tourism.
FlyNamibia Adds New Route Between Windhoek and Vic Falls – April 2024
FlyNamibia will operate new flights between Windhoek’s Hosea Kutako International Airport and Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe from 4 April. As an Airlink affiliate partner, this new scheduled flight will allow travelers to fly directly between Cape Town, central Namibia, Victoria Falls, and Kruger Park, all booked on a single ticket.
A view of Victoria Falls, which sits between the Southern African countries of Zambia and Zimbabwe. Source: Ian Mackey, Unsplash.
Ethiopia Airlines adds Botswana Connection – June 2024
Ethiopian Airlines will connect its capital city of Addis Ababa to Zambia’s Ndola and Botswana’s Maun starting 10 June. The flight will add three weekly connections on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays.
Maun serves as a gateway to northern Botswana. Situated on the banks of the Thamalakane River in the Southeastern part of the Delta, it offers seamless connectivity for fly-in safaris from the airport to central parts of the Okavango Delta.
An aerial view of the Okavango Delta, Botswana. Source: Wynand Uys, Unsplash
Lufthansa Ups Direct Flights to South Africa – June 2024
Lufthansa is set to launch a direct flight between Munich and Johannesburg, improving access for travellers wanting to visit South Africa. The increased direct flights to South Africa bodes well for European travellers looking to visit South Africa. Some 245,259 German travellers visited South Africa in 2023, showing 42% growth compared to 2022.
Airlink reconnects Mozambique’s Vilanculos with SA’s Kruger – July 2024
In July, Airlink will return to its seasonal beach-and-bush route between South Africa’s Kruger National Park and Mozambique. The flight will link Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport with Vilanculos on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. Ticket booking is live, with the seasonal route set to run until January 2025.
The Panorama Route in Mpumalanga is a popular add-on to a Kruger safari. Highlights include God’s Window in the Blyde River Canyon, Bourke’s Luck Potholes in Graskop, and the Three Rondavels rock formation. Mozambique’s Vilanculos is the launchpad to the Bazaruto Archipelago, renowned for its spectacular beaches, marine life, and vibrant island lifestyle.
Norse Atlantic Airways launches seasonal flight between Cape Town International Airport and London Gatwick Airport. Image: Supplied
Norse Atlantic Adds New Direct Flight to Cape Town – October 2024
UK travellers now have more direct routes to Cape Town to choose from, with the launch of theNorse Atlantic Airways flight between Cape Town International Airport and London Gatwick Airport.
The service will operate seasonally with three weekly flights, starting on 28 October. The flight will arrive in Cape Town at 09:30 (SAST) on a Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday before departing for London Gatwick (LGW) at 11:45 (SAST). Norse Atlantic Airways will operate the service on a Boeing 787-9.
All A330-900neo aircraft includes Delta One, Delta Premium Select, Delta Comfort+ and Main Cabin.
Delta Expands Service to Nigeria, Upgrades South Africa, Ghana Fleet – December 2024
Starting 1 December, Delta Airlines will revive its daily service from New York-JFK to Lagos, Nigeria, complementing its existing daily flights from Atlanta. This expansion will see Delta offer up to 14 weekly flights to Nigeria during early winter and maintain ten weekly flights for the remainder of the season. The New York-JFK to Lagos, Nigeria route will shift from a daily to three times per week on 16 January next year.
Tourism between the U.S. and Africa will see improved service and flight connectivity from U.S. carrier Delta Airlines. The carrier announced plans to restart its service to Nigeria from New York-JFK, and fleet upgrades for its Ghana and South Africa service have been confirmed.
Air Traffic Recovery Across Africa
Passenger demand is a key driver for new route connections, adding to the availability of affordable flights, with air travel for African airlines inching towards 2019 pre-pandemic demand. International Air Transport Association (IATA) data shows that air travel for Africa rose 9.5% in December last year compared to December 2022.
African destinations are seeing increased interest from international travellers, with independent travellers driving leisure flight route recovery in Central and West Africa, according to travel analytics firm ForwardKeys.
Its air ticketing data painted a healthy picture for international arrivals in popular safari destinations towards the end of 2023, with double-digit growth for Tanzania (+15%), Rwanda (+15%), and Namibia (+10%).
Connectivity to the continent is receiving a positive outlook, said Julia Simpson, President and CEO of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), who emphasized the growing desire for African destinations, noting that search trends reveal “an undeniable appetite for travel to destinations across Africa.”
South Africa’s Camp’s Bay Beach has landed on travel review site Tripadvisor’s newest ranking list— Top Sustainable Beaches of the World.
The new ranking of sustainable beaches released Wednesday follows Tripadvisor’s addition of a Sustainable Destinations category in January, as 55% of global Tripadvisor users surveyed said “helping the environment is important to them”.
Africa’s Most Sustainable Beach
Camps Bay, a world-famous beach holiday destination in Cape Town, secured 10th position. The Mother City’s sunseekers’ haven ranks amongst Sandbanks Beach, in the UK’s Poole, which took the top spot, followed by Radhanagar Beach in Havelock Island, India, and the UK’s Saundersfoot Beach, in second and third position.
Top 10 Sustainable Beaches in the World
1. Sandbanks Beach – Poole, United Kingdom
2. Radhanagar Beach – Havelock Island, India
3. Saundersfoot Beach – Saundersfoot, United Kingdom
4. Corniche Beach – Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
5. Galissas Beach – Galissas, Greece
6. Nissi Beach – Ayia Napa, Cyprus
7. Mellieha Beach – Mellieha, Malta
8. Myrtos Beach – Kefalonia, Greece
9. Playa Blanca – Playa Blanca, Spain
10. Camp’s Bay Beach – Cape Town, South Africa
Tripadvisor’s newest ranking saw BeCause, a sustainable data management company, analyze eligible beaches awarded a Blue Flag from May 1, 2023, to April 23, 2024. It also combined Tripadvisor reviews rated four or higher and referenced terms such as “environmentally friendly,” “eco-tourism,” and “clean water” over a 12-month period.
Cape Town Tourism CEO Enver Duminy said he believes the recognition of Camps Bay as one of the world’s most sustainable beaches in 2024 represents the “unwavering commitment of Cape Town Tourism, alongside the city, to uphold the highest sustainability standards.”
“Sustainability is at the heart of everything Cape Town Tourism does, and we remain committed to preserving our region’s natural wonders for future generations. This award celebrates not only the scenic splendour of Camps Bay but also our collective efforts to maintain it through sustainable practices,” said Duminy.
Push for More Sustainable Travel Choices
Tripadvisor’s focus on sustainability forms part of a global trend of travellers looking for meaningful ways to make sustainable travel choices.
Discover Africa has noted similar trends amongst its guests looking for activities that allow them to contribute to eco-friendly efforts and participate more meaningfully beyond typical safari tours, according to Head of Product Murielle Vegezzi.
Vegezzi stated it has led to the development of “positive impact” experiences that are more focused on the environment and are rooted in community and conservation-driven projects.
Africa’s Best Beaches
The Top 10 Sustainability Beaches of the World list coincided with the release of Tripadvisor’s World’s Best Beaches list for 2024, with Portugal, Italy, and Spain claiming the top three spots.
While Africa was missing from the global list, Tripadvisor named the Best Beaches for Africa 2024, stating that fewer than 1% of the platform’s more than 8 million listings can make the ranking grade.
The ever-popular beach holiday spot of Seychelles is rated tops, and the top beach and bush destinations of Tanzania and Zanzibar dominate the list, with Kenya, Mauritius, and North Africa’s Morocco also given a nod.
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