The Real Deal: Roundtrip airfare from $1,000 per person

When: Oct. 1 - Nov. 30, 2005

Gateways: New York City; Washington, D.C.; Atlanta; Chicago (add $140); Los Angeles (add $330); additional cities available

Details: The direct 17-hour flight on South Africa Airlines includes a one-hour re-fueling stop, typically in Dakar, Senegal. Additional airport taxes and fuel surcharges total $237 per person. Minimum three-night stay; maximum nine-month stay

Book By: No deadline, but the lowest rates are based on availability, so book early

Contact: South African Airways, 800-722-9675, flysaa.com

Flying roundtrip on South Africa Airlines at the $1,000 base rate should save travelers a few hundred dollars regardless of their choice from six destination cities: Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban, East London, George, or Port Elizabeth. However, comparison pricing reveals that some savings are better than others.

Roundtrip flights between New York City and Cape Town are currently pricing at $1,578 (multiple carriers) for travel in mid-October; $1,249 (Lufthansa) for Johannesburg; $1,491 (multiple carriers) for Durban; $1,429 (multiple carriers) for East London; $1,773 (multiple carriers) to George; $1,484 (KLM) to Port Elizabeth.

October and November are springtime months in South Africa and make a lovely time for exploring the region's exotic wildlife, beaches and countryside as well as its sophisticated dining and shopping offerings. Whet your appetite with Cape Town: The Top 25 from our October issue.