
Johannesburg is South Africa’s biggest city and the hub for flights to the safari lodges. Most visitors stay in the northern suburbs or near the airport for a night before or after safari.
Finding cheap rooms in Johannesburg is easier when you know where to look. We compare live hotel rates across the top booking sites and point you to the neighborhoods where hotels are cheap but the location is still great.
Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo International Airport is the main gateway for safaris in Kruger, Botswana and Victoria Falls.
The upscale business district with malls, restaurants and the Gautrain to the airport.
Leafy and walkable, with galleries, markets and a Gautrain station.
Airport hotels for late arrivals and early safari flights.
A bohemian area of guesthouses, cafés and bars.
Zoom and pan the map to compare hotel prices by neighborhood; rates come live from the booking sites.


May–September is the dry winter safari season; rates in Johannesburg are often lower on weekends when business travel drops.
Near O.R. Tambo Airport for an early connecting flight, or Sandton and Rosebank for dining and shopping.
The Gautrain rapid rail links O.R. Tambo Airport with Sandton and Rosebank.
Stick to well-reviewed hotels in areas like Sandton and Rosebank, use registered taxis or rideshares, and follow local advice.