Mdantsane to Rio de Janeiro flights
Rio de Janeiro lies 6,935 km (4,309 mi) west of Mdantsane, -5 h on the clock. What the numbers say about getting there, and where to book.
A nonstop flight would take about 9 h 38 min gate to gate, based on the distance and typical cruise speed with taxi and climb allowed for; connecting itineraries add the layover on top.
Open Rio de Janeiro in Google Maps
| Mdantsane | Rio de Janeiro | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | South Africa | Brazil |
| Population | 205,504 | 6.7 million |
| Elevation | 278 m (912 ft) | 12 m (39 ft) |
| Time now | UTC+2 (Africa/Johannesburg) | UTC-3 (America/Sao_Paulo) |
| Nearest large airport | ELS, 12 km out | SDU, 2 km out |
| Postal codes | 5221 | 20000-000 |
Clocks in Rio de Janeiro are 5 h behind Mdantsane right now, so a 9 h 38 min journey lands only 4 h 38 min later by the destination clock.
What changes when you arrive in Rio de Janeiro
Crossing from South Africa into Brazil: money changes from the Rand to the Real (BRL); traffic switches to the right; sockets are Euro, IEC 60906-1; the dialling code becomes +55; the emergency number is http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q25648833 / http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q25648834.
Airports at each end
Leaving Mdantsane
Mdantsane is served by one airport with scheduled flights. The closest large one is King Phalo Airport (ELS), 12 km (7 mi) from the centre, with a longest runway of 6,362 ft, which limits it to short and medium-haul aircraft.
Arriving in Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro is served by 2 airports with scheduled flights within 100 km. The closest large one is Santos Dumont Airport (SDU), 2 km (1 mi) from the centre, with a longest runway of 4,341 ft, which limits it to short and medium-haul aircraft. The alternatives are Rio de Janeiro Galeão – Tom Jobim International Airport (GIG, 13 km).
| Airport | Code | From centre | Longest runway | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santos Dumont Airport | SDU | 2 km (1 mi) | 4,341 ft | 11 ft |
| Rio de Janeiro Galeão – Tom Jobim International Airport | GIG | 13 km (8 mi) | 13,123 ft | 28 ft |
One end has no runway over 10,000 ft, so at 6,935 km (4,309 mi) this pair is unlikely to be flown nonstop by a wide-body; expect a connection.
Book a flight to Rio de Janeiro
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Staying in Rio de Janeiro
Our booking partner lists 6,904+ places to stay in Rio de Janeiro (statistics below are from the first 1,000). Of the 761 with a star rating, the largest group is 4-star (613), and 26 are five-star. Across 395 properties with at least 50 reviews, the average guest score is 8.5 out of 10. Guests have left 1,006,829 reviews in total.
Book a hotel in Rio de Janeiro
Live rooms and prices from our booking partner, booked and paid for here. Free cancellation is marked where it applies.
Common questions
How far is Rio de Janeiro from Mdantsane?
6,935 km (4,309 mi) in a straight line, west of Mdantsane.
How long does it take to get from Mdantsane to Rio de Janeiro by air?
About 9 h 38 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds for a nonstop flight. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Mdantsane and Rio de Janeiro?
Rio de Janeiro is 5 h behind at the moment (America/Sao_Paulo against Africa/Johannesburg).
Which airports are used for Mdantsane to Rio de Janeiro flights?
Typically King Phalo Airport (ELS) to Santos Dumont Airport (SDU); Rio de Janeiro also has GIG.
What currency do I need in Rio de Janeiro?
The Real (BRL).
Where can I stay in Rio de Janeiro?
Our booking partner lists 6,904+ places to stay in Rio de Janeiro, bookable on this site.
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.