Cape Town - With the Rand in a not-so-great state at the moment, South Africans could be forgiven for thinking a holiday overseas is out of reach this year.
But with some careful research and a good eye for exchange rates, foreign shores are well within your grasp. To help you out, cheapflights.co.za compiled this comprehensive list of international cheap holiday destinations for South African travellers.
1. Egypt
There’s nowhere in the world quite like Egypt. It’s famous for its iconic ancient sites, like the Pyramids of Giza and the Valley of the Kings. Elsewhere, there’s plenty to keep you busy, from the serene coral-filled waters of the Red Sea to the lively nightlife of Sharm el Sheikh.
Flights to Egypt from R5 413
• Exchange rate: 1.00 ZAR = 0.62 Egyptian Pound*
• Average Hotel Room: R700 per day*
• How affordable is eating out?
Eating out in Egypt 29 percent cheaper than in SA*
• Top Attractions: Blue Lagoon, the Great Pyramids of Giza – a must-see Ancient Egyptian landmark and a river cruise along the life-giving Nile.
• Visa Info: Visa required.
2. Kenya
Kenya lies on the equator, covering an expanse stretching from Lake Victoria to Lake Turkana. Get away from the bright lights of Nairobi, the capital city, and you can hunt down the big 5 on a photo safari, visit the mosques in Mombasa, and explore coffee plantations and tasting rooms. That’s before you get started on natural wonders like Mount Kilimanjaro and the numerous beaches along the Indian Ocean coastline.
Flights to Kenya from R5 191
• Exchange rate: 1.00 ZAR = 7.09 Kenyan Shilling*
• Average Hotel Room: R1 000 per day*
• How affordable is eating out?
Eating out in Kenya is 44 percent cheaper than in SA*
• Top Attractions: Lamu Old Town – a Unesco World Heritage site, the Nairobi National Museum (with its Snake Park, Botanical Gardens and Nature Trail), and the rock art on Mfangano Island.
• Visa Info:No Visa required for tourism or business purposes for a stay of up to 30 days.
Madagascar has been described as the eighth continent, and it’s easy to see why. A biodiversity hotspot, the island boasts flora and fauna that can’t be found anywhere else in the world. Here, you can get up close to more than a hundred types of lemur, and stand under the shadow of majestic baobab trees. And along the coast, world-class beaches and fantastic dive sites lie ready and waiting.
Flights to Madagascar from R6 626
• Exchange rate: 1.00 ZAR = 221.23 Malagasy Ariary*
• Average Hotel Room: R800 per day*
• How affordable is eating out?
Eating out in Madagascar is 51 percent cheaper than in SA*
• Top Attractions: The Ranomafana National Park, The Royal Hill of Ambohimanga – one of the most sacred spots on the island, and Ifaty – a pair of idyllic fishing villages.
Visa required.
4. Morocco
Morocco’s landscape is characterised by rugged mountains and large portions of desert. This wind-swept, untamed terrain adds to the intrigue that the country holds. No trip here would be complete without a wander around the bustling souks and maze-like alleys of Marrakech.
Flights to Morocco from R5 767
• Exchange rate: 1.00 ZAR = 0.68 Moroccan Dirham*
• Average Hotel Room: R800 per day*
• How affordable is eating out?
Eating out in Morocco is eight percent cheaper than in SA*
• Top Attractions: Marrakesh Medina, Rabat’s Oudaias Kasbah neighbourhood and Volubilis – Morocco’s number one Roman ruin.
• Visa Info: Visa required.
5. Tanzania
Tanzania is perhaps best-known for Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain, but there’s plenty more to the country. Visitors who enjoy local music will be enthralled by the traditional sounds of Tanzania, with string based taarab and a hip-hop style known as bongo flava. And beach fans will be in their element, thanks to the sandy stretches that line the Indian Ocean coast.
Flights to Tanzania from R3 244
Exchange rate: 1.00 ZAR = 153.96 Tanzanian Shilling*
• Average Hotel Room: R1 000 per day*
• How affordable is eating out?
Eating out in Tanzania is nine percent cheaper than in SA*
• Top Attractions: Ruaha National Park, Pemba Island and Lake Manyara – home to almost 300 different species of birds and flamingos in the wet season.
• Visa Info: No Visa required.
Landlocked Uganda packs a lot in to a small space. It’s situated in the African Great Lakes region, and is also home to part of the Nile basin. Safaris are big business here – you can tick off the big 5 in one of the many national parks, and hang out with mountain gorillas in their natural habitats. On the whole, Uganda is still pretty much off the beaten track, so get here before everyone else does.
Flights to Uganda from R5 513
• Exchange rate: 1.00 ZAR = 233.45 Ugandan Shilling*
• Average Hotel Room: R850 per day*
• How affordable is eating out?
Eating out in Uganda is 29 percent cheaper than in SA*
• Top Attractions: Ssese Islands, Kampala and the Ndere Centre that aims to “rekindle, rehabilitate, galvanize, promote and sustain the positive sense of pride, confidence, self-radiance and efficacy of the Ugandan person as a contributing member of the global human family.”
• Visa Info:
Visa required.
Bosnia and Herzegovina, also known as the “heart shaped land,” prides itself on an unmatched level of hospitality and a unique blend of eastern and western culture. Recent years have seen more and more tourists visiting and, as such, it’s becoming easier and easier to get around and explore.
Flights to Bosnia & Herzegovina from R9 160
• Exchange rate: 1.00 ZAR = 0.12 Bosnia-Herzegovina Convertible Mark*
• Average Hotel Room: R850 per day*
• How affordable is eating out?
Eating out in Bosnia & Herzegovina is 25 percent cheaper than in SA*
• Top Attractions:Sutjeska National Park – 17,500 hectares of untouched wilderness, the 16th-century monastery situated alongside the Buna river and The Humac Museum which hosts a collection of ancient relics.
• Visa Info: Visa required.
8. Bulgaria
Bulgaria, located in southeast Europe in the most northeast part of the Balkan Peninsula, is a melting pot of ancient cultures and modern lifestyle. Visit the Danube River and the Black Sea coast, where you’ll stumble upon intriguing festivals, local traditions and a profound spiritual heritage that has been passed from generation to generation.
Flights to Bulgaria from R6 048
• Exchange rate: 1.00 ZAR = 0.12 Bulgarian Lev*
• Average Hotel Room: R600 per day*
• How affordable is eating out?
Eating out in Bulgaria is 44 percent cheaper than in SA*
• Top Attractions: The Rusenski Lom Nature Park and the Ivanovo Rock Churches/Monasteries, Balchik – the home of Bulgaria’s most popular botanical gardens and the National Folk Art Festival in Koprivshtitsa.
• Visa Info: Visa required.
9. Estonia
It is possible to fly, sail, ride or drive to Estonia from anywhere in Europe, which makes it a popular travel destination for international and European travellers. Its capital, Tallinn, is the best preserved medieval city in Northern Europe. It’s easy to while away the hours just wandering around, taking in the atmosphere.
Flights to Estonia from R8 404
• Exchange rate: 1.00 ZAR = 1.70 Estonian Kroon*
• Average Hotel Room: R850 per day*
• How affordable is eating out?
Eating out in Estonia is 15 percent cheaper than in SA*
• Top Attractions: The Karksi Village Museum, Luke Manor Park – one of the few manor parks in South Estonia where the original plan has been preserved in pristine condition and the Mihkli Gild where professional artists collaborate to work and share their skills with the public.
• Visa Info: Visa required.
• Exchange rate: 1.00 ZAR = 19.22Hungarian Forint*
• Average Hotel Room: R800 per day*
• How affordable is eating out?
Eating out in Hungary is 15 percent cheaper than in SA*
• Top Attractions: The caves of Aggtelek Karst and Slovak Karst in the Aggtelek National Park in northeast Hungary, its thermal springs and the Hungarian National Museum.
• Visa Info: Visa required.
* All figures accurate at the time of publishing.
Adapted from a press release for IOL