Think Africa is out of reach, just too far away to land a reasonable rate? Not so, not when there’s the right fare sale. Consider Lufthansa’s deals to this eternally fascinating continent. The globe-girdling German flag carrier has been flying to Africa for ages, and knows it well.

Sample fares are each way, but you’ve got to make a round-trip purchase to get them. Make that purchase no later than Sept. 15, and do so no later than 14 days in advance of departure. Fly outbound May 20 through Aug. 8. Return May 22, 2011 through Feb. 7, 2012. That’s a very large window. These sample fares do not include taxes or fees.

San Francisco flights to Accra (usually $4,238 roundtrip) are $1,004 one way. San Francisco flights to Cape Town (usually $4,061 roundtrip) are $995 one way. San Francisco flights to Johannesburg (usually $4,061 roundtrip) are $967 one way.

Search and compare more cheap flights to Africa.

Story by Jerry Chandler

(Image: [Paul] )