South Africa Travel Advice

Getting to South Africa

South Africa is situated at the southernmost tip of Africa, the second largest continent in the world. It borders: Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana, Swaziland and Lesotho - which is an enclave. The country is also close to three oceans: the South Atlantic Ocean, the Southern Ocean and the Indian Ocean. Here’s a few estimates of flying times to South Africa.

London to Cape Town direct is about a 12 hour flight
Los Angeles to Cape Town takes around 23 hours
Sydney to Cape Town is about an 18 hour flight
New York to Cape town takes around 20 hours

Penguins on Boulder Beach on the coast of South Africa

Main airports
in South Africa

South Africa has a total of 90 airports with 3 being major international airports. The main ones are; OR Tambo International Airport (Johannesburg), Cape Town International Airport (Cape Town) and King Shaka Airport (Durban).

A plane sits on the tarmac at Cape Town International airport ready for boarding

A solo traveller looks out over the cliffs of Blyde River Canyon in South Africa

Geography &
landscape of South Africa

South Africa has some of the most beautiful, natural landscapes in the world just waiting to be explored. The vast majority of the South African landscape is made of raised plateaus, covered in bushveld and highveld.

South Africa is also home to one of the largest canyons in the world - Blyde River Canyon - and several mountain ranges. The highest point in the country is the Mafadi peak (part of the Drakensberg Mountain Range) which reaches a height of 11,320 ft.

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Culture, religion
and etiquette

South Africa has famously been coined as ‘the rainbow region’ due to the multitude of cultures and religions that live within its borders. Many South Africans have remained in the rural villages they call home, allowing their cultures to survive over the years.

Each area tends to have one or two cultures predominant in that region. Some of the largest traditional South African cultures are; Khoikhoi & San, Zulus, Xhosa, Ndebele, Sotho and Venda. Whilst the strongest of these cultures have survived, the country is inevitably losing many of their traditions as urbanisation and new technologies spread through the area.

As for religion, the vast majority of the country are Christian (about 80%), around 1.5% of the population are of the Islamic faith, 1.2% practice Hinduism and 0.2% practice Judaism.

South Africa has a fascinating yet upsetting past, with special consideration to the Apartheid system. Due to this, many of South Africa’s ethnic groups have not integrated into the wider society even though they have been cohabiting for years.

South Africans can be some of the friendliest bunch of people you’ve ever met. The common greeting is with a handshake or a hug (depending on how well they know each other) engaging with small talk as a matter of politeness.

Same sex marriages are legal in South Africa and the country now has a large LGBT community. However, these are primarily focused around cities. Same sex and interrelatial affection may get more little attention when outside the cities.

Bo Kaap is a traditional area of Cape Town formerly known as the Malay Quarter

A group wave the South African flag at an event

South Africa is known for its wine and vineyards

Top tip!

Make sure you ask for small denominations in the local currency when you change your money. This will greatly help in paying for taxis and snacks etc.

Languages spoken

The first official languages of the country were English and Dutch but now South Africa has an astonishing eleven official languages and several others which are recognised. The current official languages in South Africa are:

English
Afrikaans
Zulu
Xhosa
Southern Sotho
Tswana Venda

Northern Sotho
Tsonga
Tsonga
Swati
Ndebele
South African English

Most people, unless you are really delving into the depths of the African tribes, will speak English. However, do not expect many people to know any other language apart from the above official ones.

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Capital city

Cape Town

South Africa is one of the few countries in the world which has more than one capital city - they have three. The capitals are placed around the country, each holding a separate department of the government. Pretoria is the administrative capital with a population of 741,000, Cape Town is the legislative capital which has a population of 433,000 and Bloemfontein is the judicial capital with a population of 664,000.

Visas

Travelling to South Africa is relatively easy regarding visas. Most nationalities will not need to obtain a visa if the trip is under 90 days. You will only need to present a valid passport with 30 days after the intended departure date remaining, and a return flight ticket. Visitors from the UK, Canada, Australia and the USA do not need a visa, however visitors from anywhere else in the EU will need one. There are a few exceptions to this rule:

Visitors from Cyprus, Hungary and Poland do not need a visa if the stay is under 30 days.
Visitors from Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia will need a visa.

The above should be used as a starting point only. Always be sure to check the official government website for up to date information.

Vaccinations & travel health

The CDC and the WHO advise for the following routine vaccinations to be up to date when visiting South Africa; Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis, varicella (chickenpox), polio and a standard yearly flu shot.

They also recommend all travellers to get the following vaccinations before you visit South Africa; Hepatitis A and Typhoid. Depending on your duration of stay and where you will be going, they may also recommend the following; Hepatitis B, Rabies and Yellow Fever. If you are visiting from a country with a risk of Yellow Fever then you will need a Yellow Fever certificate.

Is it safe to drink tap water in South Africa?

Yes. In fact, South Africa has the third best water in the world in terms of being safe and ready to drink.

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Electricity & plugs in South Africa

The sockets in South Africa are type D, M and N. Type D fits a plug with 3 round prongs in a triangle shape. Type M fits a plug which looks like type D, but a little larger. Type N fits a plug with three round small prongs, almost in a horizontal line.

Emergency calls

We always advise travellers to save a few important telephone numbers for the country you are visiting in case of an emergency. The emergency numbers in South Africa are:

112 for any emergency
10177 for the ambulance or fire department (non-criminal accidents)
10111 for the police department
084124 for the emergency response team

Travelling as a single woman in South Africa

These tips aren’t only for single women, but everyone travelling to South Africa. It is well-known that South Africa has a high-crime rate, which doesn’t mean you shouldn’t travel there, it just means you will need to do a little more preparation and have your extra-wits about you!

Most cases of violent crime happen in townships and central business districts in major cities, so if you are visiting these areas, employ a little more self-awareness and possibly hire a guide. Outside of these areas, tourists are much more safe. The South African authorities see tourist safety as a high priority and deploy tourism police in many large towns.

Here’s a few general tips for travelling solo in South Africa.

Be cautious of street beggars. In many countries, they will usually stay in their spot, in South Africa, they often follow you around. The best thing to do is walk briskly past with a confident sense of direction and they will not see you as a target.

The Metrorail system can sometimes feel a little dodgy, so we suggest taking the Gautrain or taxis.

If you are flying to Johannesburg, make sure you wrap your suitcase.

Try to avoid walking alone at night.

Never wear valuables or keep your passport on your person.

Travelling to South Africa with minors

South Africa has strict laws on travelling with minors (those under the age of 18) due to the risk of human trafficking. While the act has been relaxed slightly and documentation is not always requested if your surnames match that of your child, it is down to the individual immigration officer and you should always be prepared. Therefore if you are travelling to South Africa with a minor you must bring a full copy of the original birth certificate as proof of your relation to the child.

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Wifi and internet access

Wifi is commonly available all over South Africa, however can be a little slow and unreliable outside of the cities. Most hotels and guesthouses will provide free wifi, as do many restaurants and cafes.

When connecting to any wifi hotspot, keep an eye out for the AlwaysOn network. In most places they will offer 30 minutes of free wifi per hotspot (after you have signed up of course).

A few internet cafes can also be found in most towns. These charge around R40 per hour ($2.80).

Time zone

Cape Town, South Africa

South Africa (SAST or GMT+2) is one hour ahead of the UK, 8 hours behind Australia and 6 hours ahead of Canada. Daylight savings time is no longer in use in South Africa. To calculate the time difference from your current location visit timeanddate.com.

Getting around South Africa

Bus

The main bus service providing tourist transport is Baz Bus. These buses act as a shuttle for popular routes. You can purchase a one way ticket and hop off whenever you like. This is a great way to meet other backpackers. For local buses, the most widely used companies are Greyhound and Intercape. These are often more expensive than Baz Bus for short journeys but are much cheaper for longer trips.

Aeroplane

Catching domestic flights around South Africa is generally a low-cost and easy way to travel. Popular budget airlines are Mango and Kulula. These airlines run flights regularly to all main airports and some smaller ones.

Minibus taxis

The minibus taxi is used by most of the South African population. These taxis service any journey from travelling around a small town to driving across the country. However, please use with caution. There has been a lot of reports of petty crime whilst using minibus taxis, there is rarely room for large luggage items and the vehicles level of safety can be dangerously low.

Car hire

With all the stunning, interesting and tailored routes for road trips around South Africa, hiring a car is one of the most popular ways to travel. Car hire is particularly attractive due to providing you with the means to explore national parks and more remote areas yourself. As the crime rate in South Africa is particularly high, make sure you lock any valuables out of sight and purchase a decent level of insurance.

Train

Trains are one of the least used modes of transport, especially with locals. This is purely due to the country now relying heavily on the highway. That said, you can often get pretty cheap train tickets between major cities. The major downfall for using the train is the speed. For example, a standard journey from Cape Town to Johannesburg will take around 30 hours, whereas a bus is around 20.

Money

The official currency of South Africa is the South African Rand (symbol ‘R’). They will also accept US dollars, with many of the national parks and tourist attractions only offering US dollar pricing. The South African Rand is split into the following denominations of notes: R10, R20, R50, R100 and R200. Coins are broken down into the following denominations: R1, R2, R5, 10 cents, 20 cents and 50 cents.

We advise to carry some cash as well as cards. Most places will accept debit / credit cards, however if you venture off the beaten track, small shops, markets and stalls will only accept cash. ATMs are easily located in all towns and cities, however if you are heading into a village, we advise to withdraw cash in a nearby town before you go.

South Africa country page

Best time to visit South Africa

Cost of travel in South Africa

Food & drink in South Africa

Safaris in South Africa