A 2-week trip to South Africa costs €2,500–3,500 (about £2,150–3,000) per person with flights from London. Full breakdown of flights, car hire, lodges, safari and food.
A 2 week holiday to South Africa costs between €2,500 and €3,500 per person (roughly £2,150–3,000) including return flights from London, for a mid-range independent trip with a hire car. Travelling on a tight budget it can drop to around €1,800 (about £1,550), and with private safari lodges it easily passes €6,000.
Here is the breakdown, and the question behind it: is South Africa expensive or cheap for a British traveller?
In this article
- Is South Africa expensive or cheap?
- 2 week holiday to South Africa: the cost breakdown
- Three sample budgets (15 days, per person, with flights)
- How much spending money for 2 weeks?
- How to make the trip cheaper
- Frequently asked questions
- Looking for nature without a safari budget?
Is South Africa expensive or cheap?
The short answer: getting there is expensive, being there is cheap.
Once in the country, prices for food, accommodation, transport and leisure are clearly lower than in the UK. A good restaurant meal costs €12–20 (£10–17), an excellent glass of wine €3–5, and fuel is cheaper than at home. The rand has lost value against sterling and the euro over the years, which works strongly in the visitor's favour.
What pushes the bill up is the long-haul flight and the safari activities, which are priced in international terms rather than local ones.
2 week holiday to South Africa: the cost breakdown
Flights from the UK: €750–1,150 (about £650–1,000)
British Airways and Virgin Atlantic fly direct from London Heathrow to Johannesburg and Cape Town (Virgin's Cape Town route is seasonal, roughly October to April), in around 11–12 hours overnight. One-stop flights via Europe, the Gulf or Istanbul are often cheaper. In December and January, the South African summer and Christmas holidays, return fares regularly go well above £1,000.
Car hire: €300–550 for 15 days
South Africa is a driving country: distances are long and public transport is not useful for touring. A small car costs around €20–35 (£17–30) a day, and they drive on the left, as at home. Add €150–250 of fuel for a long route.
Accommodation: €700–1,300 for 15 nights in a double
- Guest house or B&B: €45–80 per double room
- Mid-range hotel: €80–130
- Lodge in a private game reserve: €250–1,000 per person per night, with full board and game drives
Safari: from €60 to €400 a day
This is the big variable:
- Self-drive Kruger: the budget option. The daily conservation fee for international visitors is R602 per adult (roughly €30 / £25) until 31 October 2026, plus accommodation in the rest camps. You can do the safari yourself in your own car.
- Guided safari in a private reserve: €250–400 per person per day, all-inclusive.
Food: €400–600 per person
Around €25–40 (£20–35) a day eating out normally, including a few good dinners. It is one of the best-value things about the country.
Activities: €250–450
Table Mountain cableway, Cape Point, Stellenbosch wine tasting, whale watching in Hermanus, Robben Island and the like.
Travel insurance: €60–120
Essential, with comprehensive medical cover and repatriation: there is no healthcare agreement between the UK and South Africa, and private hospitals are expensive.
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Three sample budgets (15 days, per person, with flights)
- Tight: €1,800–2,300 (about £1,550–2,000). Low-season flight, guest houses, self-drive Kruger, cooking some meals.
- Mid-range: €2,500–3,500 (about £2,150–3,000). The typical trip: hire car, good B&Bs, two or three days of safari and the full Garden Route.
- Luxury: €5,000–8,000 (about £4,300–6,900). Private safari lodges, boutique hotels in Cape Town and domestic flights.
When to go changes the price a lot. Our guide to the best time to visit South Africa explains the seasons and how many days you need.
How much spending money for 2 weeks?
With accommodation and car already paid, allow around €35–60 (£30–50) per person per day for food, drinks, tips, park fees and small extras, so roughly €500–850 (£430–730) for two weeks, more if you add paid excursions.
The currency is the South African rand (ZAR). South Africa is a card country: cards are accepted almost everywhere, even for small amounts, and ATMs work well (use those inside shopping centres). Carry the equivalent of £80–130 in cash for tips, markets and rural petrol stations. There is no need to buy rand in the UK; a card without foreign transaction fees is the cheapest option.
Budget for tipping too: it is firmly expected, around 10–15% in restaurants, and car guards in car parks get a few coins.
How to make the trip cheaper
- Avoid December and January, the southern summer and local school holidays.
- Check whether the SANParks Wild Card pays off if you will spend several days in national parks: it is an annual pass that replaces daily fees.
- Do the Kruger yourself. The difference with a private reserve can run to thousands of pounds.
- Book the hire car before you leave and read the insurance cover carefully.
- Mix B&Bs with one or two lodge nights rather than lodges for the whole trip.
- Make the most of local prices: eating and drinking well is remarkably cheap.
Frequently asked questions
How much would a 2 week trip to South Africa cost?
Around €2,500–3,500 (about £2,150–3,000) per person with flights from the UK for a mid-range self-drive trip. From roughly €1,800 on a tight budget, and €5,000+ with private lodges.
How much is a flight to South Africa from the UK?
Usually €750–1,150 (about £650–1,000) return in economy outside peak season, and over £1,000 in December and January.
Is South Africa cheaper than the UK?
On the ground, yes: food, accommodation and transport cost much less. The flight is what evens out the overall budget.
Do UK citizens need a visa for South Africa?
No, for tourist stays of up to 90 days. You need a passport valid for 30 days after departure with at least two blank pages. More in our guide to vaccinations for South Africa and entry rules.
Can you pay by card in South Africa?
Yes, almost everywhere. Carry some cash only for tips and rural areas.
Looking for nature without a safari budget?
If what draws you to South Africa is nature rather than the Big Five specifically, it is worth comparing. An 8-day trip to São Tomé and Príncipe, with equatorial rainforest, humpback whales, nesting turtles and empty beaches, starts at €1,250 per person on the ground for our private guided tour, plus flights via Lisbon, and without any of the security precautions South Africa demands. See how much a trip to São Tomé costs.
Discover our 8-day São Tomé and Príncipe tour, compare African safari costs, or contact us for a quote.