For many South Africans, travel inspiration begins overseas, but Tourism Month is putting the focus closer to home with a simple question: how affordable is it to travel South Africa?
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From road trips and food experiences to heritage, sport and lesser-known local attractions, South African Tourism (SAT) says domestic travel is not about choosing Mzansi over international destinations, but understanding the range of experiences and value available within the country.
Affordability starts with planning
During the Tourism Month Sho’t Left Great Debate at Rosemary Hill, South African Tourism head of domestic tourism Mashoto Mokgethi highlighted the role planning can play in making travel more accessible.
According to Mokgethi, only 11% of South Africans plan their holidays properly, making budgeting and early planning an important part of the affordability conversation.
“Our initiatives are aimed at affordability. Travel Week encourages people to plan and budget for their trips,” she said, adding that South Africa has seen a 4.1% increase in people travelling around the country since last year.
Sho’t Left Travel Week, held from 7 to 13 September 2026, offered domestic travel deals and specials, including flexible options that allowed travellers to book during the campaign and travel at a later date.
Start with what you can afford
For personal finance expert Mapalo Makhu, the first step is understanding exactly what a trip will cost and building it into the household budget.
“Do not be afraid of numbers. If you know a holiday is going to cost R10,000, save R1,000 every month. You have to be intentional about those types of holidays,” Makhu said.
That means looking at travel alongside existing financial commitments rather than treating it as an unexpected expense.
Planning ahead can also give travellers more time to compare accommodation, transport and experiences, potentially allowing them to build a trip around what fits their individual budget.
Sometimes the destination finds you
Travel does not always have to begin with a traditional holiday destination. A football match, food experience, road trip or cultural event can become the reason to explore somewhere new.
Content creator and traveller Fari Sanyika-'Gophari' says digital platforms are increasingly helping people discover places before they travel, with TikTok, comments and maps becoming part of the research process.
“People go on TikTok to check out places, way before they go there,” she said, recalling how a post about a waterfall in Limpopo with a R15 entry fee prompted followers to ask where it was.
Her own travels around Mpumalanga also introduced her to lesser-known destinations, highlighting how domestic travel can sometimes be built around smaller discoveries rather than expensive, long-distance holidays.
Food can be a reason to travel
Food is another way to rethink what makes a destination worth visiting.
At Rosemary Hill, chef Ayanda Seseli used local and indigenous ingredients, fermentation and cultured foods to demonstrate how cuisine can tell stories about heritage, producers and place.
A particular dish, market, producer or food tradition can become the starting point for a wider trip, bringing accommodation, transport, restaurants, guides, attractions and other local businesses into the experience.
Value is more than the price tag
The cost of a trip is only one part of the affordability equation. Travellers also consider what is included, the quality of the experience, when they book and how much they can do once they arrive.
That makes value just as important as price.
For travellers, planning ahead can create opportunities to compare options and build a trip around their interests and budget. For tourism businesses, clearly communicating what an experience includes, and making it easy to find and book, can help travellers understand the value beyond the headline price.
Technology is increasingly part of that process, with social media, reviews, maps, search and AI-enabled planning tools helping travellers discover and compare options.
Looking closer to home
Domestic tourism supports a much wider ecosystem, from accommodation and transport to restaurants, guides, food producers, craftspeople and community attractions.
For South Africans considering their next getaway, the message from Tourism Month is less about choosing domestic travel over international trips and more about looking at what is already within reach.
Sometimes an affordable trip may be a carefully planned holiday, while other times it could be a weekend road trip, a local food experience or a place you have never thought to visit.
