Planning your South Africa travel budget is one of the most important steps before booking your trip. South Africa offers remarkable value compared to other major safari and coastal destinations — but costs vary enormously depending on how you travel. A backpacker dorm in Cape Town runs very differently from a private game lodge in the Lowveld. This guide breaks down exactly what to expect, from flights and accommodation to safaris and daily meals, so you can plan with confidence.
How Much Does South Africa Cost Per Day?
Your daily spend in South Africa depends almost entirely on your travel style. Budget travellers can get by on £50–£80 per day, while mid-range visitors typically spend £120–£200. Luxury safari lodges push the daily figure well beyond £300. Here is what each tier looks like in practice.
Budget Travel (£50–£80 per day)
South Africa has a well-developed backpacker scene, particularly in Cape Town, the Garden Route, and Johannesburg. Hostels in Cape Town charge around £15–£25 per night for a dorm bed. You can eat well at local township eateries, market stalls, and budget restaurants for under £10 per meal. Public minibus taxis connect most cities, though they require a local understanding of routes.
At this level, you can absolutely do the highlights — Table Mountain, Boulders Beach, a day trip into Winelands country — without breaking the bank.
Mid-Range Travel (£80–£200 per day)
Most visitors from the UK and US fall into this category. A comfortable en-suite guesthouse or boutique hotel in Cape Town costs £60–£120 per night. A hire car gives you full flexibility — essential for doing the Garden Route or reaching Kruger independently. Meals at good restaurants range from £15–£35 per person. This budget covers most of what South Africa has to offer, including game drives at rest camps inside Kruger National Park.
Luxury Travel (£200+ per day)
South Africa’s luxury offering is world-class. Private game lodges in the Sabi Sands or Timbavati regions deliver all-inclusive experiences — game drives, meals, drinks, and expert rangers — from around £350–£800 per person per night. Designer hotels in Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront match any five-star city in the world. At this level, you experience Africa at its most extraordinary.
Getting to South Africa: Flight Costs
Direct flights from London to Johannesburg (O.R. Tambo International) take around 11 hours. British Airways and South African Airways operate direct routes year-round. From the UK, return fares typically range from £500–£900 in economy, depending on the season and how early you book.
Flights from the United States connect through Johannesburg. From New York, a return economy ticket runs roughly $900–$1,400. Business class from London or New York costs considerably more — expect £2,500–£4,000 return for a premium cabin.
Flying into Cape Town (Cape Town International) is also an option, though routing via Johannesburg tends to offer more choice and better pricing. Timing your trip carefully helps — shoulder season (April–May and September–October) consistently delivers lower airfares alongside excellent weather.
Accommodation Costs in South Africa
Accommodation is often the biggest variable in your South Africa travel budget. Here is an honest breakdown across price points.
Hostels and Budget Guesthouses (£15–£50 per night)
Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Knysna, and Johannesburg all have reliable backpacker hostels. Most offer private rooms alongside dorms, with communal kitchens and organised day trips. Quality varies widely — check recent reviews before booking.
Mid-Range Guesthouses and Hotels (£60–£150 per night)
South Africa’s guesthouse sector is excellent value at this level. A well-kept, en-suite guesthouse in Cape Town’s Southern Suburbs or in a Winelands village typically costs £70–£120 per night, including breakfast. Kruger Park rest camps (run by SANParks) offer cottages and bungalows from around £60–£100 per night — booking months ahead is essential in peak season.
Safari Lodges and Luxury Hotels (£200–£800+ per night)
South Africa’s premium lodges are all-inclusive: accommodation, all meals, twice-daily game drives, and a dedicated ranger and tracker. Private reserves in the Greater Kruger area — Sabi Sands, Timbavati, Manyeleti — charge £300–£800 per person per night. Iconic Cape Town hotels like the Ellerman House or Belmond Mount Nelson command similar rates. These are once-in-a-lifetime experiences, and many visitors save for them deliberately.
Getting Around South Africa: Transport Costs
South Africa is a large country. Driving distances are significant — Johannesburg to Cape Town is roughly 1,400 km. Planning your transport strategy carefully saves both time and money.
Domestic Flights (£50–£150 one-way)
FlySafair and Airlink operate frequent, affordable domestic routes between Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha), and Kruger Mpumalanga Airport. A one-way flight from Johannesburg to Cape Town typically costs £55–£130 booked in advance. Flying saves a full day of driving and makes multi-destination trips far more practical.
Car Hire (£35–£80 per day)
Renting a car is the most flexible way to explore South Africa, and the most popular choice for UK and US visitors. A small hatchback starts from around £35–£50 per day, while a comfortable sedan suitable for longer trips runs £55–£80. Fuel is reasonably priced by European standards. South Africans drive on the left, and roads between major destinations are generally well-maintained.
For a self-drive safari through Kruger, you need a standard car — no 4×4 required for the main roads inside the park. Budget for fuel, toll fees (N1 and N3 toll routes), and the SANParks conservation fees on top of your daily hire rate.
Shuttle Services and Buses (£15–£60 per journey)
Intercape and Greyhound coaches connect major cities at very low cost — Cape Town to Johannesburg runs from around £25–£45 one-way. Baz Bus offers hop-on-hop-off transport along the Garden Route for backpackers. Airport shuttle transfers in Cape Town cost roughly £20–£30.
Food and Drink Costs in South Africa
Eating out in South Africa is excellent value by UK or US standards. A meal at a casual restaurant — a bowl of bobotie, a grilled snoek, or a generous steak — costs £8–£18 per person. A sit-down dinner at a quality restaurant in Cape Town’s Biscuit Mill or Stellenbosch wine country runs £25–£45 per person including wine.
South African wine is outstanding and remarkably affordable. A good bottle from the Winelands costs £8–£15 at a farm cellar, and many wine estates offer tastings from £5–£10 per person. A local Carling Black Label or Castle beer at a restaurant costs around £2–£3.
Supermarkets like Woolworths Food, Pick n Pay, and Checkers make self-catering very affordable. Budget around £30–£40 per day for two people eating mostly from supermarkets — useful when staying in self-catering accommodation along the Garden Route.
Safari Costs in South Africa
A safari is the reason most visitors come, and it is worth understanding the different tiers before you budget.
Kruger National Park is the most affordable Big Five destination in Africa. Entry for international visitors costs around £20–£24 per person per day. Guided game drives from SANParks rest camps cost roughly £25–£50 per person. Self-drive allows full flexibility — and many visitors see extraordinary wildlife simply by driving the tar roads at dawn. Read our Kruger National Park guide for first-time visitors for full planning details.
Private reserves adjacent to Kruger — Sabi Sands, Timbavati, Thornybush — charge all-inclusive rates of £300–£800 per person per night. These include twice-daily guided drives in open 4×4 vehicles, tracking on foot, and all meals. The density of wildlife is extraordinary; sightings of all Big Five in a single day are common.
Budget-conscious safari options include Addo Elephant National Park near Port Elizabeth (affordable entry and accommodation), Pilanesberg National Park near Johannesburg (easily done as a day trip from the city), and Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park in KwaZulu-Natal, Africa’s oldest game reserve.
South Africa Visa and Entry Costs
UK and US passport holders do not need a visa to visit South Africa for stays up to 90 days. Entry is free. You will need at least two blank pages in your passport and a return or onward flight ticket. Travel insurance is strongly recommended — good comprehensive cover for a two-week trip costs roughly £40–£80 from UK providers.
South Africa Travel Budget: What Two Weeks Actually Costs
Here is what a realistic two-week South Africa trip costs, from budget to luxury, based on all the figures above. These are approximate totals per person, excluding international flights.
- Budget (£1,000–£1,500): Hostels, buses, self-catering meals, self-drive Kruger in SANParks rest camps. Cape Town, Garden Route, Kruger.
- Mid-range (£2,000–£3,500): Guesthouses, hire car, restaurant meals, guided game drives at Kruger rest camps. Cape Town, Winelands, Garden Route, Kruger.
- Luxury (£5,000–£10,000+): Boutique hotels in Cape Town, two or three nights at a private game lodge, domestic flights. The very best of everything South Africa offers.
For detailed day-by-day itinerary ideas across all these budget levels, see our complete South Africa 2-week itinerary guide.
Money-Saving Tips for South Africa
- Book SANParks accommodation early. Rest camps inside Kruger fill months ahead, especially over the South African school holidays (June–July, December–January).
- Travel in shoulder season. April–May and September–October offer lower prices, thinner crowds, and excellent wildlife visibility in Kruger.
- Use domestic flights wisely. Flying Johannesburg to Cape Town saves a full day versus driving or bussing, and budget airlines make it very affordable.
- Self-cater where possible. Guesthouses with kitchens or self-catering cottages on the Garden Route save significantly on food costs.
- Visit Winelands estates early. Morning cellar tastings are quieter, often cheaper, and you will avoid peak lunch crowds at Franschhoek and Stellenbosch.
- Combine Cape Town and the Garden Route. Renting a one-way car from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha) lets you drive the full Garden Route and fly back, avoiding retracing your steps.
What is a typical South Africa travel budget per day?
A mid-range South Africa travel budget runs roughly £120–£200 per person per day, covering a comfortable guesthouse, hire car, meals at restaurants, and one guided activity. Budget travellers can manage on £50–£80 per day using hostels and self-catering. Luxury travellers at private game lodges typically spend £300–£800 per person per day all-inclusive.
Is South Africa expensive for UK visitors?
South Africa is very good value for UK visitors. The South African rand tends to trade favourably against the pound, meaning your money stretches further than in most European or North American destinations. Dining out, wine, car hire, and domestic accommodation all cost noticeably less than their UK equivalents.
What is the cheapest time to visit South Africa?
The cheapest time to visit South Africa is during the shoulder seasons — April to May and late August to September. International airfares, hotel rates, and game lodge prices all dip outside South African school holidays and European peak summer. Wildlife viewing in Kruger is also excellent in the dry season (May–September), when animals congregate around water sources.
How much spending money do I need for 2 weeks in South Africa?
For a mid-range two-week South Africa trip, budget approximately £2,000–£3,500 per person excluding international flights. This covers hire car, comfortable guesthouses, restaurant meals, park entry fees, and a couple of guided activities or game drives. Budget travellers can halve this; luxury lodge-based travellers should budget at least £5,000–£10,000.
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- South Africa Itinerary 2 Weeks: The Complete Day-by-Day Planning Guide
- Kruger National Park: The Complete Guide for First-Time Visitors
- The Best Time to Visit South Africa: A Month-by-Month Guide
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Plan Your South Africa Trip
South Africa rewards careful planning. Whether you are dreaming of sundowners in the Lowveld, Cape Town’s Atlantic coastline, or the wild Drakensberg, knowing your budget in advance means you can commit to the experiences that matter most. Browse more on this site for destination guides, safari planning, and everything in between.