Cape Town International Airport (CPT)
Location of the Airport: 11 miles from the city center of Cape Town
Pros: One of the best airports in Africa, with great infrastructure and services
Cons: Not as many international routes as O. R. Tambo
Ground Transportation: If you’re going the public transportation route, you can take a bus. Otherwise, taxis are plentiful.
Cape Town International Airport is the second busiest in South Africa, serving as a hub for South African Express, Mango, and FlySafair. The airport has far fewer international routes than O. R. Tambo, though it still connects to other African countries, plus Europe and Asia. There’s also a number of seasonal routes. Though it’s quite a busy airport by African standards, the layout is well designed, meaning it’s easy to navigate and never really feels too crowded.
South Africa: King Shaka International Airport (DUR)
Location of the Airport: 20 miles from the city center of Durban
Pros: Modern, well-designed terminal with plenty of entertainment; very easy to navigate
Cons: Not as many routes as the other major South African airports
Ground Transportation: Airport shuttle services, buses, and metered taxis are readily available.
South Africa’s third busiest airport is King Shaka International in Durban. Most of the airport’s traffic is to Johannesburg or Cape Town, but there are international routes on airlines like Air Namibia, British Airways, Qatar, and Turkish. It’s one of the best-designed airports in Africa, offering passengers an easy-to-navigate layout that’s filled with shopping and dining.
