Lufthansa Group expands Cape Town and Windhoek flights for summer 2027

The Lufthansa Group is increasing its Southern Africa flight offering for the northern summer 2027 season, with more flights to Cape Town and additional services to Windhoek from Munich. The changes give travellers from Europe more options for reaching South Africa and Namibia during the popular travel period.

Lufthansa will increase frequencies on its Frankfurt–Cape Town route, while Discover Airlines will add two weekly flights between Munich and Windhoek, bringing the route to five weekly departures. Swiss leisure airline Edelweiss will also increase its seasonal Zurich–Windhoek service to three flights per week from July 2027. Lufthansa Group's summer 2027 schedule is available for booking, although travellers should check individual dates and flight availability before making plans.

What travellers need to know

• Cape Town: Lufthansa will increase the number of flights from Frankfurt during summer 2027. The airline has not specified the revised frequency in its schedule announcement.
• Windhoek from Munich: Discover Airlines will operate five weekly flights from April 2027, including two additional departures on Mondays and Thursdays. Combined with its Frankfurt services, Discover Airlines will offer 12 weekly flights to Windhoek from Germany.
• Windhoek from Zurich: Edelweiss will start its seasonal flights on 16 March 2027, increasing the service to three flights per week from July.

The expanded schedules offer more flexibility for travellers planning trips to Cape Town or Namibia, particularly those looking for direct flights from Germany or Switzerland. As flight frequencies vary by season, it is worth checking the timetable for your intended travel dates before finalising an itinerary.

 

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Travel Alert: Sani Pass closed until further notice due to heavy snowfall

update 09 June 2026

Authorities have provisionally reopened Sani Pass on 07 June 2026 following the recent heavy snowfall. However, conditions remain challenging, with snow and ice still present in some areas. Travellers are urged to exercise extreme caution and ensure their vehicles are suitable for mountain driving conditions.

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The famous Sani Pass—the sole road link connecting South Africa and Lesotho over the Drakensberg escarpment in KwaZulu-Natal—has been closed to all traffic effective immediately. This closure follows severe winter weather conditions and heavy snowfall on the Lesotho side of the mountain route.

Current conditions and safety advisory

Due to significant snow accumulation and icy road surfaces, travel through the pass has been deemed highly hazardous.

• Vehicle restrictions: The closure applies to all vehicles, including 4x4s and overland transport.
• Travel  advice: Motorists and travellers intending to cross the border via this route are strictly advised to postpone their trips. Do not attempt to approach the pass until authorities officially declare the route safe for transit.

KwaZulu-Natal on the Sani Pass Lesotho Border Post

Pics: @kzncogta pic.twitter.com/fmKJHqrkog

— Nhlanhla Mabaso (@_NMabaso) June 5, 2026

Government response and monitoring

According to Senzelwe Mzila, spokesperson for the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), provincial disaster management teams have been deployed to the area. These units are currently assessing the severity of the snow blockage, monitoring regional weather patterns, and standing by to provide emergency assistance to any stranded travellers as required.

Key takeaways for travellers

• Check border status: The Sani Pass port of entry operations are affected by this closure. Ensure you verify border accessibility before undertaking any travel toward the area.
• Monitor updates: Road clearance operations will depend entirely on weather conditions on the upper escarpment. Monitor official COGTA communications or local KwaZulu-Natal traffic updates for reopening announcements.
• Alternative routes: Consider utilizing alternative, low-altitude border posts (such as Ficksburg Bridge or Caledonspoort) to travel between South Africa and Lesotho, though these should also be checked for localized weather disruptions.

 

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