How we estimate trip costs

Every figure is an estimate for planning and saving, not a quote. Here is exactly how we get it.

The formula

Trip cost = return flight from Johannesburg + accommodation per night × nights + daily spending × days + getting around, plus 20% for surprises, plus visa and entry fees.

• Flights are typical return economy fares from Johannesburg, booked 3 to 6 months ahead, calibrated against published fares and package prices.
• Accommodation is a mid-range room per night. Two people sharing split the room.
• Daily spending covers food, local transport and typical activities per person.
• Styles: Niche assumes accommodation about 15% cheaper and spending about 10% lower, but adds travel to smaller places. Blend sits in between. Some destinations, such as the Maldives (resorts or local islands) and Botswana (fly-in camps or self-drive), use their own settings.
• Exchange rates are about R16.40 per US dollar, R19.30 per euro and R22.30 per pound (mid-2026). Rand moves change real costs.

Visa rules

Visa rules are for South African passport holders travelling as tourists. Each one shows its sources and the month it was checked. Rules that rely on secondary sources, or that changed recently, are marked "reconfirm". We review visa rules monthly and prices quarterly.

What we don't do

We don't sell your data, and commissions from booking links never change an estimate. Nothing on this site is financial or immigration advice.