New flights from London to Cape Town: a cheaper option for South Africa and Zimbabwe travellers

Norse Atlantic Airways will launch direct flights between London and Cape Town from October 2023 with a three-times-weekly overnight service between the UK (Gatwick) and South Africa (CPT).

The new seasonal service will commence on 28 October with flights operating on Mondays, Wednesdays and Sundays. Air fare prices are currently cheaper than competitors, starting from just £499 in economy and £1,199 in its premium cabin (incl. seats with 43-inch pitch and 12-inch recline). Flights will be operated using Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

Currently, the only direct flights from the UK to Cape Town are operated by British Airways and Virgin Atlantic.

“By breaking the duopoly on this route, we are not only expanding travel options for consumers but also driving down costs and putting the customer back in the pilot’s seat,” said Bjorn Tore Larsen, CEO and founder of Norse Atlantic Airways.

The new flights will depart London Gatwick (LGW) at 20.00 and land in Cape Town (CPT) at 09.30 the following morning, with return services departing Cape Town at 11.45 and arriving at London Gatwick at 21.35 the same day.

Cape Town to Zimbabwe flights: a short skip to a secluded safari

This new flight route is good news for Zimbabwe travellers too: it means that any UK visitors wanting a taste of a secluded safari in a truly natural wonderland can take a short flight to Zimbabwe. Travellers from the UK can now fly from London to Cape Town with Norse, spend a few days soaking up the beach and culture there, and then catch a short flight to Zimbabwe for an authentic African safari.

For the millions of Zimbabweans with family and friends in the UK, this is fantastic news that could enable them to connect with loved ones more often, too.

Here are the main ways to fly from Cape Town to Zimbabwe:

1. Airlink has flights from Cape Town to Harare departing at 10:30 every day

   • From Harare: Explore Harare’s city culture, or rent a 4×4 and drive to Mana Pools National Park, Matusadona National Park & Kariba, or hike in Zimbabwe’s Eastern Highlands.

2. Airlink has flights from Cape Town to Victoria Falls departing at 09:45 every day

   • From Victoria Falls: Enjoy the world wonder that is the enormous Victoria Falls waterfall and choose from the plethora of natural and adventurous activities on offer. Take the short trip to see the big five in Hwange National Park or Chobe National Park.

3. Airlink has flights from Cape Town to Bulawayo departing at 06:50 every day (via Johannesburg OR Tambo)

   • From Bulawayo: Hike around the otherworldly Matobo National Park, see Khami Ruins, or go on a safari in Hwange National Park.

4. Rwandair has flights from Cape Town to Harare departing at 16:10 three times per week

   • From Harare: Explore Harare’s city culture, or rent a 4×4 and drive to Mana Pools National Park, Matusadona National Park & Kariba, or hike in Zimbabwe’s Eastern Highlands.

Norse Atlantic currently best option for flying to South Africa for Christmas 2024

Anyone wanting to take advantage of the summery sunshine in southern Africa for Christmas in December 2024 will jump at the new flight route and its prices.

When we looked for return flights from London to Cape Town departing 21 December and returning on 11 January with one or fewer stopovers, we found that Norse Air was the cheapest option:

• Norse Atlantic (Gatwick): £1192
• British Airways (Heathrow): £1240
• Emirates (Stansted): £1400
• Virgin Atlantic & Airlink (Heathrow): £1600

Zimbabwe travellers could then travel from Cape Town to Harare, Bulawayo or Victoria Falls with Airlink or Rwandair, by booking separate flights.

And there’s no telling whether the new UK-SA route will compel competitors to take this as an opportunity to re-think their prices, hopefully allowing for more affordable air fares all round.

Planning a Zimbabwe holiday?

If you’re planning your Zimbabwe holiday (hooray!), I can recommend Go2Africa, Africa’s Leading Safari Company (and one of our affiliates). Go2Africa has been tailor-making safari holidays for thousands of clients from across the globe since 1998. You can research African destinations, accommodation options, and more. Even better, you can directly contact their safari specialists who can help you get the African experience that’s perfect for you.

Please do visit the Go2Africa website for safari booking resources.

You can also check out Go2Africa’s popular Zimbabwe tours here.

About Great Zimbabwe Guide travel blog

Great Zimbabwe Guide gives travel tips, information and inspiration about Zimbabwe, Africa. We share stories of Zimbabwe’s talented people, world-class wilderness & wildlife safari experiences, all wrapped up in an unmatched climate.

Do you have a question about visiting Zimbabwe? Start with the Quick-reference list of travel advice. 

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