Flying to East London
Routes we sell to East London. Search your dates for live fares.
Johannesburg (JNB)
about 1 hour 35 minutes · Non-stop
Cape Town (CPT)
about 1 hour 35 minutes · Non-stop
Best time to fly
Weather, crowds and fares move together in East London. These are the trade-offs.
December to March
Summer — warm and humid, the main beach season.
April to June
Autumn. Mild, settled and quiet.
July to September
Winter — cool but rarely cold, with the year's cheapest fares.
October to November
Spring, warming up ahead of the December rush.
Before you go
Domestic flight
No passport or visa needed within South Africa, but you will still need a valid photo ID to board.
Currency
South African rand (ZAR). Cards are accepted almost everywhere.
Wild Coast roads
The coastal routes north-east are scenic but slow, and some access roads are gravel. Check your hire agreement before committing to one.
Quiet season
Outside December and Easter the city is genuinely uncrowded, which is much of the appeal.
About East London
East London sits where the Buffalo River meets the Indian Ocean and is the country's only river port. It is a quieter coastal city than Durban or Gqeberha, with good beaches and a slower pace.
Most visitors are here for family, business, or as the starting point for the Wild Coast — the stretch of undeveloped coastline running north-east towards Port St Johns and Coffee Bay.
Getting in from the airport
King Phalo Airport (ELS) is about 10 km from the city centre, around fifteen minutes by road. Car hire and e-hailing are both available; a car is close to essential if you are heading for the Wild Coast.
Flying to East London, answered
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