A budget-friendly break is within your reach - don't believe us?
We checked with a couple of industry experts about what the hot-favourite overseas destinations are - while Mozambique and Thailand automatically spring to mind, there are a few exciting spots that you might not have considered. Why? Well, because they are actually quite pocket-friendly if you're smart in booking and planning your holiday that is
TravelStart confirmed to Traveller24 that the likes of Zambia, Morocco and Vietnam are all hot favourites thus far for 2017.
Similarly, Flight Centre says more and more South Africans are itching to visit Sri Lanka, Bali as well as Egypt this year.
“South Africans are looking for something different. Many love Mauritius, Thailand and Australia and may have travelled there repeatedly, but now they’re looking for something different. That’s where these destinations come in,” says Carlos Luis for Fligth Centre.
Here are the top 18 spots to whet your wanderlust, with surprisingly rand-friendly exchange rates. Where would you like to go next?
Search flights: click here to check your dates
1. Sri Lanka
Exchange Rate: 1 Sri Lankan Rupee equals 0.087 South African Rand
Search Top Pick Stays: Sri Lanka
Top Read: South African's guide to Sri Lanka: Things to do (besides talking about cricket)
Exchange Rate: 1 South African Rand equals 1007.23 Indonesian Rupiah
Search Top Pick Stays: Bali
Top Read: 8 Things to do in Bali (again and again)
3. Maldives
Exchange Rate:1 South African Rand equals 1.16 Maldivian Rufiyaa
Search Top Pick Stays: Maldives
Top Read: Maldives Top 5 activities: It is impossible to get bored
4. Seychelles
Exchange Rate: 1 South African Rand equals 1.03 Seychellois Rupee
Search Top Pick Stays: Seychelles
Top Read: Seychelles: Why it's good for the soul
5. Mauritius
Exchange Rate:1 South African Rand equals 2.65 Mauritian Rupee
Search Top Pick Stays: Mauritius
Top Read: 20 must-do events during your 2017 Mauritius escape
6. Egypt
Exchange Rate: 1 South African Rand equals 1.36 Egyptian Pound
Search Top Pick Stays: Egypt
Top Read: #AfriTravel: Crystal Lagoons adds R5.1bn sparkle to Egypt's 'new capital'
8. Zambia
Exchange Rate: 1 South African Rand equals 582.42 Zambian Kwacha
Search Top Pick Stays: Zambia
Top Read: WATCH: White-water rafting in Africa’s 'adventure capital', would you do it?
9. Morocco
Exchange Rate: 1 South African Rand equals 0.74 Moroccan Dirham
Search Top Pick Stays: Morocco
Top Read: 10 Moroccan marvels you don't want to miss
10. India
Exchange Rate: 1 South African Rand equals 4.87 Indian Rupee
Search Top Pick Stays: India
Top Read: PICS: India covered in colourful kaleidoscope as Holi festival kicks off
11. Vietnam
Exchange Rate: 1 South African Rand equals 1708.73 Vietnamese Dong
Search Top Pick Stays: Vietnam
Top Read: Heading to Vietnam? 5 Quick things you need to know
12. Kenya
Exchange Rate: 1 South African Rand equals 7.81 Kenyan Shilling
Search Top Pick Stays: Kenya
Top Read:
13. Thailand
Exchange Rate: 1 South African Rand equals 2.59 Thai Baht
Search Top Pick Stays: Thailand
Top Read: WATCH: Thailand in 360° Virtual Reality style
14. Russia
Exchange Rate: 1 South African Rand equals 4.30 Russian Ruble
Search Top Pick Stays: Russia
Top Read: Russia to scrap visas for SA travellers from April
15. Brazil
Exchange Rate: 1 South African Rand equals 0.25 Brazilian Real
Search Top Pick Stays: Brazil
Top Read: 7 Most incredible places in Brazil
16. Dominican Republic
Exchange Rate: 1 South African Rand equals 3.58 Dominican Peso
Search Top Pick Stays: Dominican Republic
Top Read: 3 Cheap destinations in The Americas for SA travellers
17. Mexico
Exchange Rate: 1 South African Rand equals 1.41 Mexican Peso
Search Top Pick Stays: Mexico
Top Read: 5 destinations that are still cheaper for South Africans (Despite the Rand drop)!
18. Japan
Exchange Rate: 1 South African Rand equals 8.41 Japanese Yen
Search Top Pick Stays: Japan
Top Read: Japan on the cheap
What to read next on Traveller24:
- How to do a budget Euro trip – and have a unique experience in the process
- Visa-free travel: Where your South African passport can take you
