UPDATED: African Flight Routes – Airlink to Begin Direct Cape Town to Gaborone Route

Travellers wanting to explore Africa’s top safari destinations can access several new flight route connections. International carriers have expanded their connectivity to key destinations across the continent. Easier access between Africa’s cities adds to the appeal of planning safari itineraries across multiple countries instead of a single-country trip, as travellers can now pair different experiences with traditional safari itineraries. It also means reduced travel time, with more quality holiday time at the destination. Take a look at this comprehensive list of the new flights and increased capacity to help you plan your next African adventure.

Airlink to Begin Direct Cape Town to Gaborone Route – 1 April 2025

Travelling between South Africa and Botswana just got easier! South African regional carrier, Airlink, will start a direct route between Cape Town International Airport and Sir Seretse Khama International Airport in Gaborone in April 2025. The flight will leave Cape Town at 10h50 and arrive in Gaborone at 13h00; the return flight will leave Gaborone at 13h45 and land in Cape Town at 16h00. This new route will make multi-destination safaris much more accessible for travellers.

Etihad Airways Increases Flights to South Africa – 30 March

The national airline of the United Arab Emirates, Etihad Airways, has decided to increase its flights between Abu Dhabi and Johannesburg, South Africa, by the end of March 2025. Etihad will operate four flights a week between the two cities on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, with daily flights set to commence on 1 August 2025. The flight departs Johannesburg at 09h55 and arrives in Abu Dhabi at 19h50; the return flight departs Abu Dhabi at 02h20 and arrives in Johannesburg at 08h35.

Airlink Increases Flights for Johannesburg to Lusaka Route – 30 March

Airlink, a regional airline based in South Africa, will boost the number of flights between Jo’burg and Lusaka by the end of March. There will be 21 flights a week, an increase from 13. This is a fantastic update for the African tourism sector, as now travellers have more options for combining South African safaris with wilderness adventures in Zambia. A daily flight leaves Jo’burg for Lusaka at 11h30; Lusaka’s daily flight leaves at 14h15. Extra morning and afternoon flights have been added throughout the week.

Norse Atlantic Airways to Increase London-Cape Town Flights – 1 to 27 April 2025

Norse Atlantic Airways is set to increase its London Gatwick-Cape Town route from three to four flights a week from 1 to 27 April 2025. On Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, Norse Atlantic will depart Cape Town at 11h00 and arrive at Gatwick at 21h40. On Saturdays, Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, the flight will depart Gatwick at 20h00 and arrive in Cape Town at 08h30.

Condor to Increase Flights from Frankfurt to South Africa – 1 November 2025

German airline Condor is set to increase flights from Frankfurt to Cape Town and Johannesburg from 1 November in time for the festive season. Travellers from the German city will enjoy the flexibility of an extra two flights to the Mother City (going from five to seven) and one extra flight to Jo’burg (going from two to three).

ITA Airways to Offer Direct Flights from Rome to Mauritius – November 2025 to March 2026

Beginning on 7 November 2025, ITA Airways will give travellers from Italy the opportunity to fly directly to one of the most popular island destinations in the world!

Mauritius, just off the southeastern coast of Africa, has long been an iconic destination among luxury travellers, popular for its pristine beaches, vibrant cultures, and excellent diving and snorkelling conditions. It’s also a romance capital, as it’s been voted the World’s Best Honeymoon Destination in TripAdvisor’s esteemed Travellers’ Choice Awards 2025.

The route will be operated twice a week on Fridays and Sundays with an Airbus A330neo, and will run until 27 March 2026.

Proflight Zambia to Double Flights for Livingstone to Lusaka Route – 1 April 2025

Proflight Zambia will increase the frequency of its Livingstone and Lusaka flight route from 1 April 2025 to accommodate more safari goers during the high season. The route will now operate twice a day; early afternoon and evening services will help improve links for travellers coming from Cape Town and Johannesburg in South Africa.

The increase in flights will reduce transit times and provide more flexibility for safari goers wanting to visit Victoria Falls and explore Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park.

Singapore Airlines to Increase Flights to Johannesburg – April and June 2025

Singapore Airlines will increase its weekly flights to Johannesburg from seven to 10 in April and then to 12 in June. Operated with an Airbus A350-900, flights will depart from Singapore daily at 01h30 and arrive in Johannesburg at 06h10, and depart from Johannesburg at 13h45 and arrive in Singapore at 06h10 the next day. Extra flights will take off on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

New Flight From Johannesburg to Dar es Salaam with SAA – January 2025

South African Airways (SAA) has announced a new flight route from OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg to Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. This route will be operated daily, with flights departing Johannesburg at 22h00 and arriving in Dar es Salaam at 02h30 the following day. The return flight leaves Dar es Salaam at 05h10 and arrives in Johannesburg at 07h55. This relaunch is part of the airline’s plan to have a stronger presence on the African continent. Welcome news for safari goers, this will give travellers more options to combine visiting South Africa with a Tanzania safari.

Increased Flights to Tanzania from Turkish Airlines – June 2025

Travellers wanting to visit Tanzania will have more flight options come June 2025 thanks to Turkish Airlines. The Istanbul-based airline has announced a huge expansion of its flight services to the East African nation, with 14 weekly flights to Kilimanjaro International Airport, 14 weekly flights to Zanzibar, and 10 weekly flights to Dar es Salaam. These increased flights (twice daily to Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar!) is in response to Tanzania’s growing tourism sector, with more and more international travellers wanting to visit iconic destinations including the Serengeti, Mount Kilimanjaro, and the island paradise of Zanzibar.

New Flight Options for Harare and Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe – Last Quarter of 2025

Transvaal Africa, a new Zimbabwean start-up airline, plans to take to the skies to connect more people to Harare and Victoria Falls in the last quarter of 2025 with three leased Boeing aircraft. Regional routes will include Harare to Johannesburg, South Africa; Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; and Lagos, Nigeria. Safari travellers will be delighted to know that Transvaal Africa aims to land at Victoria Falls Airport, too. Charter flights between Victoria Falls and South African cities, Johannesburg and Cape Town, are in the airline’s plans. International travellers can benefit from flights to the falls from Berlin, Shanghai, and the Middle East.

KLM Increases Seasonal Connectivity to Cape Town Until March 2025

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines will increase its capacity to Cape Town with two additional flights per week on Tuesdays and Sundays – from 27 October 2024 to 30 March 2025 This takes the Dutch carriers offering to nine weekly flights into Cape Town for this period, providing even more flexibility and options for its passengers.

Delta Expands Service to Nigeria – January 2025

The Delta Airlines New York-JFK to Lagos, Nigeria route has shifted from a daily to three times per week, as of 16 January 2025. Tourism between the U.S. and Africa will see improved service and flight connectivity from U.S. carrier Delta Airlines. The carrier announced plans to restart its service to Nigeria from New York-JFK, and fleet upgrades for its Ghana and South Africa service have been confirmed.

Safari Skies to Launch Cape Town to Madikwe Route – May 2025

Wish you could skip the Joburg layover when travelling from Cape Town to Madikwe? Private charter flights company, Safari Skies, has announced the launch of direct flights from Cape Town to the Madikwe Game Reserve. Set to begin in May 2025, this will make combining a Cape Town beach vacation with an African safari so much simpler. Located in the North West Province of South Africa, Madikwe is home to the Big Five as well as luxurious safari lodges and camps.

ASKY Airlines Expands its Network

The Togo-based airline, ASKY, is working to make regional travel on the continent more accessible with additional non-stop regional routes, which is great news for travellers wanting to have multi-destination African safaris. With the African travel market continuing to grow, ASKY is another airline that has decided to capitalise on this expansion. To accommodate the extra flights, the airline is adding its first Boeing 787s to its fleet in 2026. ASKY is also looking to add new destinations to their network in eastern and southern Africa, including Kigali, Rwanda; Zanzibar, Tanzania; and Lusaka, Zambia.

Air Traffic Recovery Across Africa

Passenger demand is a key driver for new route connections, adding to the availability of affordable flights, with air travel for African airlines inching towards 2019 pre-pandemic demand. International Air Transport Association (IATA) data shows that air travel for Africa rose 9.5% in December 2023 compared to December 2022.

African destinations are seeing increased interest from international travellers, with independent travellers driving leisure flight route recovery in Central and West Africa, according to travel analytics firm ForwardKeys. Its air ticketing data painted a healthy picture for international arrivals in popular safari destinations towards the end of 2023, with double-digit growth for Tanzania (+15%), Rwanda (+15%), and Namibia (+10%).

Connectivity to the continent is receiving a positive outlook, said Julia Simpson, President and CEO of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), who emphasized the growing desire for African destinations, noting that search trends reveal “an undeniable appetite for travel to destinations across Africa.”