$739 Find Cheap Flights from San Francisco to South Africa - Compare and Save

1 adult
1 adult, Economy, 0 bags

Save 19% or more on flights. Compare deals from all over the web.

Never overpay with our price tracking tools.

Filter searches by price, airline and more to find your best flights.

Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from San Francisco to South Africa

Cheapest round-trip prices found by our users on KAYAK in the last 5 days
Cape Town
Cape Town2 stops$1,187
Durban
Durban2 stops$1,570
Port Elizabeth
Port Elizabeth2 stops$1,834
Hoedspruit
Hoedspruit2 stops$1,930
George
George2 stops$1,690
Skukuza
Skukuza2 stops$1,897
East London
East London2 stops$7,232
Bloemfontein
Bloemfontein3 stops$2,317
Cape Town
Cape Town2 stops$1,187
Durban
Durban2 stops$1,570
Port Elizabeth
Port Elizabeth2 stops$1,834
Hoedspruit
Hoedspruit2 stops$1,930
George
George2 stops$1,690
Skukuza
Skukuza2 stops$1,897
East London
East London2 stops$7,232
Bloemfontein
Bloemfontein3 stops$2,317
Booking Insights

Price, demand and travel trends for San Francisco to South Africa flights

Use KAYAK data on prices, travel dates, airlines and seasonal trends to compare options and book flights with more confidence.

Are flights from San Francisco to South Africa cheaper or more expensive than last year?

Fares from San Francisco to South Africa are running about the same as they were around this time last year, averaging $1,453 round-trip.

What are the cheapest fares from San Francisco to South Africa right now?

Here are the cheapest round-trip fares from San Francisco to South Africa on KAYAK in the last week:

• Johannesburg OR Tambo (JNB) from $1,137
• Cape Town Intl (CPT) from $1,187
• Hoedspruit (HDS) from $1,930
• Bloemfontein Intl (BFN) from $2,317

What’s the cheapest month to fly from San Francisco to South Africa?

February is the cheapest time of year to fly, with average fares of $1,095. Prices are highest in July, when average flight costs increase to around $2,045.

When is the best time to book flights from San Francisco to South Africa?

Book your flights 17 weeks before your trip. KAYAK data collected over the past 12 months shows that booking in this window can save you around 46% compared to booking last-minute (within 2 weeks of departure).

Which airport in South Africa is the cheapest to fly to from San Francisco?

Based on KAYAK data from the past 12 months, the cheapest airports to fly into South Africa are:

• Johannesburg OR Tambo (JNB) from $1,419
• Cape Town Intl (CPT) from $1,708
• Bloemfontein Intl (BFN) from $1,796

What’s the cheapest day to fly from San Francisco to South Africa?

Tuesday tends to be the cheapest day to fly from San Francisco to South Africa, while Friday is the most expensive. Fares run about 19% higher that day, based on the past 12 months of KAYAK data.

What's the cheapest time of day to fly from San Francisco to South Africa?

Data from the past 12 months shows it's cheapest to fly to South Africa during the afternoon with average prices of $1,526. The morning is the most expensive time to fly, with average prices of $1,742.

Key details for San Francisco to South Africa flights

Low season

October

Cheapest flight

$731
Beat the crowds with an average 24% drop in travelers.
The most popular month to fly with an average 81% increase in travelers.
One-way flight from San Francisco to Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport

Your San Francisco to South Africa flight questions, answered

Find helpful answers about this route, including flight times, airports, airlines and booking tips.

  • Is now a good time to book a flight from San Francisco to South Africa?

    Yes. Fares from San Francisco to South Africa are low right now. As a rule of thumb, a round-trip under $1,200 (cheaper than most fares this year) is a good deal, so if you spot one at or below that, it's a good time to book.

  • How much should I budget for a flight from San Francisco to South Africa?

    Over the past 12 months, round-trip fares from San Francisco to South Africa have ranged from $1,200 to $1,960.

  • What are the main airports serving South Africa?

    South Africa has 5 airports. The three busiest are Cape Town Intl (CPT) (55% of arrivals), Johannesburg OR Tambo (JNB) (43%) and Bloemfontein Intl (BFN) (0%).

  • What airlines fly nonstop from San Francisco to South Africa?

    Based on the flight schedule for the next 3 months, no airline regularly operates nonstop flights from San Francisco to South Africa. One-stop options include:

    • United Airlines
    • British Airways
    • Delta

  • Which cabin classes are available on flights from San Francisco to South Africa?

    On flights from San Francisco to South Africa you can book Economy Class, Premium Economy Class, Business Class or First Class.

  • What are some popular landmarks in South Africa?

    KAYAK travelers' favorite landmarks in South Africa include:

    • Cape Town International Convention Centre
    • Camps Bay Beach
    • Sea Point Pavilion
    • Sandton Convention Centre

  • Is it a good idea to buy a ticket with an airport change during a layover?

    It depends. Some tickets from SFO to South Africa require you to change airports within a city during a layover or to collect your bags and check in again for the next leg of your flight. This can be time-consuming, and getting across town to another airport could get expensive. Before you book a ticket with a re-check-in or an airport change, make sure that the ticket leaves you enough time to do it and that all aspects of the change or the re-check-in are feasible.

  • What documentation do I need in order to fly to South Africa?

    US citizens flying to South Africa need a valid passport that is still valid at least 30 days beyond the date when you enter South Africa. This passport must have two consecutive empty pages per entry. You do not need a visa if you plan to leave South Africa in 90 days or fewer.

  • Does SFO have therapy dogs?

    Yes. When you are at SFO waiting for your flight to South Africa, you might encounter the Wag Brigade, therapy dogs roaming Departures with their trained handlers. SFO hopes these therapy dogs can delight, distract, and comfort passengers waiting to travel. The Wag Brigade includes several dogs, a pig, and a rabbit.

  • Does SFO have a hotel at the airport?

    Yes. If you would like to stay at the airport the night before your flight to South Africa, consider staying at the Grand Hyatt Hotel at SFO. Connected to all of the terminals by way of the free AirTrain, this upscale hotel offers free Wi-Fi, room service, a fitness center, a business center, and much more.

Your guide to booking San Francisco to South Africa flights

Get tips on when to book, when to fly and what to know before your trip.
  • If you can plan ahead, the sweet spot for booking your flight is 17 weeks before your trip. KAYAK data shows fares in this window are around 46% lower than last-minute bookings (made within 2 weeks of departure). Not ready to commit? Set a Price Alert and we'll let you know when prices change.
  • If your travel dates are flexible, book your trip for February when flights are typically cheapest and avoid July when prices are at their highest.
  • Flying on Tuesday is usually the cheapest. Flights on Friday cost about 19% more on average, so being flexible with your travel dates could help you save.
  • If you're looking to save, Johannesburg OR Tambo (JNB) is the cheapest airport to fly into from San Francisco. If you have onward travel, don't forget to factor in the cost of your journey by train, bus or domestic flight.
  • Start your trip in East London, which is the most popular destination in South Africa. From there, it's easy to continue on to other popular destinations such as Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban.
  • San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is a hub for Alaska Airlines. When you fly from the shores of the San Francisco Bay to South Africa, you will have many choices of destination city, airline, flight time, and price.
  • When you fly from SFO to Johannesburg, chances are you will be landing at the O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB). Turkish Airlines, Delta, and KLM are among the airlines that offer one-stop flights from San Francisco to Johannesburg. Some common layover cities include Istanbul, Atlanta, Amsterdam, and others. Alaska Airlines, Ethiopian Air, and United are among the carriers that offer two-stop flights from SFO to JNB.
  • If you want to fly from SFO to Cape Town at the southern tip of South Africa, you'll most likely be landing in the Cape Town International Airport (CPT). Turkish Airlines, Scandinavian Airlines, and KLM are among the carriers that offer one-stop flights from SFO to CPT, with layovers in cities such as Istanbul, Zurich, and Amsterdam. KLM, Ethiopian Air, and Delta are among the airlines that offer two-stop flights from SFO to CPT.
  • If you want to fly to Durban on the east coast of South Africa, you will most likely be landing at the King Shaka International Airport (DUR). Qatar Airways, SWISS, and Turkish Airlines are among the many carriers that offer two-stop and three-stop flights from SFO to DUR., with stops in Istanbul, Johannesburg, Paris, and others.
  • If you are flying into the city of Pietermaritzburg, about an hour inland from Durban, you will most likely be landing at the Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB). You can find two-stop flights from SFO to PZB on airlines such as Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines, with stops in cities such as Istanbul, Johannesburg, and Doha.

Reviews of the top 5 airlines serving from San Francisco to South Africa

 
Need help choosing which airline to fly with from San Francisco to South Africa? KAYAK airline reviews give an overall score for each airline based on loads of factors, including comfort, boarding, in-flight entertainment and more, to make your decision easier. See airline scores according to verified KAYAK customer reviews.
8.1
EmiratesOverall score based on 3677 reviews
8.2Entertainment
7.9Food
8.4Crew
8.2Boarding
8.0Comfort
Airline reviews

We never fly any other atrline if Emirate flights are available. In all aspects we rank it the best.

10.0 ExcellentAnonymous, Sep 2026
Read more Emirates reviews

We never fly any other atrline if Emirate flights are available. In all aspects we rank it the best.

Service was great. Food was perfect. My mom needed a wheelchair and I was worried that I will miss the connecting flight. Emirates ground staff and wheelchair staff ensured we get to our gate on time.

Fly Dubai takes low cost and thrift to new depths in terms of service levels, terminal 2 is grossly inadequate for capacity and resembles a crowded buss or railway station,, the fly dubai( Emirates) flight is never on time(was 2.5 hrs delayed), and this is not an isolated experience, the flght air conditioning was turned low while we waited on the tarmac for take clearance to save fuel, should say more!!!! The depths! I only fly this airline from a compulsion, emirates code shares for connections to Muscat

Thay crew was so nice.Air hostess il ham was so nice.my mom was little scray with airplan turbulence she help us alot.

Airline did not have enough vegetarian meals for all guests, and crew were not adequately trained to handle this.

Flight got canceled without any prior information and it caused lot of trouble

More leg room and comfortable seats at least for long flights

Great flight. Comfortable seats, courteous service, and excellent selection for entertainment.

On both legs of my trips (Jhb - Dxb and Dxb - Jhb) the entertainment system did not work.

The plane and services in Emirates flight from Los Angeles to Dubai were very good . But plane and services in flight from Dubai to Delhi were very poor/uncomfortable. Staff at Dubai and crew in Dubai plane was very very disappointing|shabby. Wheel chair was given only for a very small part of layover at Dubai and we faced great inconvenience. In short , our experience Dubai onwards(fly Dubai) was very bad and uncomfortable.

WiFi was a major problem and if it does not work on a 4 hour flight then that lowers the overall experience

The Airline Attendant found us in flight and moved us to seats in the front of economy due to the short time we would have to make our connecting flight. We really appreciated it.

Carmen was an absolute delight on the flight staff! Everyone was lovely and made it a very pleasant flight.

Internet connectivity still seems to be touchy on these flights, making it difficult to rely on it for getting work done.

My son’s suitcase was left behind at SFO and did not make the flight.

Crew was absolutely fantastic and we’re so welcoming and friendly ❤️

Flight delayed four separate times. I’m now one hour hours late to landing.

The plane was an older model, so it wasn’t as comfortable as others. The flight attendants were not helpful during onboarding. It was a full flight so there was chaos finding space for baggage.

Awesome! On time flight, early arrival, and a complimentary upgrade!

Delta’s staff is unmatched. From the gate agents, to the pilots, to the flight attendants… all top of the industry.

Entertainment system is okay, flight attendants were ok. Leg space very narrow, I couldn’t get what I wanted to eat, dinner nor breakfast.

Excellent experience with business class area. Staff was attentive and food was amazing. Only one bathroom for business class which was logistically difficult for the staff while preparing meals. Need to offer fluids with meals. I did not get enough water to drink. But overall I rate it 5 star.

As a big guy the seats are way too small for me. Would prefer more comfortable seats on these long haul flights.

The staff at IST airport could have been more helpful. Too much wasted time and the plane from IST to KHI was just horrible. The plane was not clean and smelled bad!

This is my 2nd time with the Turkish airline. Would definitely recommend. In stability we connected to Indiago would not recommend, very cramped seating. No inflight entertainment..service was inferior.

Vegan food tasted good. Restroom could be kept cleaner. Seat tray table was a bit tilted so food tray kept sliding down a bit. Flight crew can be a little more friendly, caring and approachable. Their faces lacked smiles and tone was stern.

Flight was delayed then we had to redirect for medical emergency during which time we had no information on what is the plan. The connecting flight was also delayed.

Awful seats, poor air circulation. Smelled like poop for 3-5 mins after someone used the bathroom. Child screaming for 13 hours

We are thankful for the useful gifts provided by the airline.The entertainment and crew were also very good

Quality of service on board was very inconsistent. FA service primarily seemed robotic and they barely engaged with passengers

Delayed - leaving, delayed getting to the gate at destination. What should have been a very easy flight and experience was not.

Better management of the boarding process. Is there any way you could forward all the window seats first? That's the Way Reno Air used to do it, and they had the fastest boarding in the industry!

overall a very good travel experience - left on time, arrived early. Mostly a smooth flight. Polaris seats were excellent, very good service and nice food with options.

Flight was over two hours late, but they notified us early in the morning. They ended up changing planes the food on board that was extremely mediocre and we were in premier class.

Food was very bad Crew was not so welcoming. Chairs was so uncomfortable

The business class had to wait to board last. Unacceptable

The air hostess was excellent. I have taken so many flight domestic and international, this is the first time the air hostess was so caring. She was a delight

We paid extra to check our bags ($90*2=$180) but our luggage remained in Frankfurt. VERY DISAPPOINTED as we were promised that our luggage would go to our destination. We had to pay 90€ to take a taxi back to the airport in Split the next day to get our bags so we would not miss our next step on our trip. We think we should be reimbursed for our checked bags. How can we coordinate this?

This was an auto-rebook due to being delayed from an earlier UA connecting flight. The boarding was fine, but they sat me in a middle seat when my original booking was a window seat. Overall, the flight was fine as it still got me to my final destination.

Sitting in coach even in the larger leg space is extremely uncomfortable and the staff pay no attention.

I washed attendant for assistance and she never got back to me. I asked her a second time and she said she would check. She never did. The flight was over an hour late taking off No food service was offered despite over 4 hours on the flight

Boarding from the SFO lounge is a big improvement. Although the first class dining room inside the lounge is becoming very crowded.

Boarding was orderly, pilot and flight attendants were nice, entertainment options were good, and low sodium meals were quite tasty.

Flight delayed, connection was not at gate listed and so missed, staff were rude at Heathrow, phone tree stupid and difficult, took me 21 actual hours to reach my destination. Almost lost my hotel reservation after walking in a strange city alone after midnight because they would not put me up in a hotel at sfo or heathrow. I will never fly BA again and will tell all people and Instagram followers never to fly BA.

Wish the food and overall service was better. They treat Business class passengers same as economy

Loved the boarding option from Business class lounge, experience on flight was excellent, plenty of good food choices

Check in was was and the agent was very friendly and helpful The lounge was nice...boarding was straight from the lounge Everything worked at our seats, and video entertainment was good ..food was mediocre

Airlines have to stop assuming passengers bring entertainment. Provide it like you used to in business class and above!! N

Crying baby the ENTIRE flight. Not your fault, but I paid 2700 for a premium economy ticket and it wasn't worth it. should have just stuck with coach. flight attendants very mediocre - minimal effort. Plane didn't seem very clean. Didn't have any cleansing wipes - most airlines give you this when you board. Flat screen scrolling didn't work. Toiletry case a joke - why bother at all?

Enjoyable flight, helpful crew everything was organized to accommodate passengers.

More options for your flight from San Francisco to South Africa

Complete your trip to South Africa with a hotel stay or car rental