Rio de Janeiro to East London flights
East London lies 6,945 km (4,316 mi) south-east of Rio de Janeiro, +5 h on the clock. What the numbers say about getting there, and where to book.
A nonstop flight would take about 9 h 39 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.
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| Rio de Janeiro | East London | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Brazil | South Africa |
| Population | 6.7 million | 478,676 |
| Elevation | 12 m (39 ft) | 48 m (157 ft) |
| Time now | UTC-3 (America/Sao_Paulo) | UTC+2 (Africa/Johannesburg) |
| Nearest large airport | SDU, 2 km out | ELS, 8 km out |
| Postal codes | 20000-000 | 5201–5688 |
Clocks in East London are 5 h ahead of Rio de Janeiro right now, so a 9 h 39 min journey lands 14 h 39 min later by the destination clock.
What changes when you arrive in East London
Crossing from Brazil into South Africa: money changes from the Real to the Rand (ZAR); traffic switches to the left; sockets are AC power s and sockets: British and related types, BS 546, Euro, IEC 60906-1; the dialling code becomes +27; the emergency number is http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q1061257.
Airports at each end
Leaving 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).
Arriving in East London
East London is served by one airport with scheduled flights. The closest large one is King Phalo Airport (ELS), 8 km (5 mi) from the centre, with a longest runway of 6,362 ft, which limits it to short and medium-haul aircraft.
| Airport | Code | From centre | Longest runway | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| King Phalo Airport | ELS | 8 km (5 mi) | 6,362 ft | 435 ft |
One end has no runway over 10,000 ft, so at 6,945 km (4,316 mi) this pair is unlikely to be flown nonstop by a wide-body; expect a connection.
Book a flight to East London
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Staying in East London
Our booking partner lists 380 places to stay in East London. Of the 221 with a star rating, the largest group is 4-star (107), and 1 are five-star. Across 162 properties with at least 50 reviews, the average guest score is 8.3 out of 10. Guests have left 53,507 reviews in total.
Book a hotel in East London
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 East London from Rio de Janeiro?
6,945 km (4,316 mi) in a straight line, south-east of Rio de Janeiro.
How long does it take to get from Rio de Janeiro to East London by air?
About 9 h 39 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds for a nonstop flight. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Rio de Janeiro and East London?
East London is 5 h ahead at the moment (Africa/Johannesburg against America/Sao_Paulo).
Which airports are used for Rio de Janeiro to East London flights?
Typically Santos Dumont Airport (SDU) to King Phalo Airport (ELS).
What currency do I need in East London?
The Rand (ZAR).
Where can I stay in East London?
Our booking partner lists 380 places to stay in East London, 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.