South Africa

The southernmost country on the African continent, renowned for its varied topography, great natural beauty, and cultural diversity, all of which have made the country a favoured destination for travellers. From unparalleled wildlife to incredible landscapes, passing through the pintoresque wineyards of the Western Cape, a visit to South Africa offers plenty to be excited about. This country is colourful mix of cultures, reason why South Africa is nicknamed “rainbow nation”, just as an example the country has 11 official languages and many more unofficial ones.

Highlights

National parks

“Lion – South Africa Safari – Djuma Game Reserve – Sabi Sand – Kruger National Park” by David Berkowitz is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Cape Town and the Cape

Winelands

“Vineyard in Franschhoek, South Africa” by miquitos is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

“Stellenbosch vinyard” by Dave Bezaire is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

Safaris and wildlife

“Elephants – South Africa Safari – Djuma Game Reserve – Sabi Sand – Kruger National Park” by David Berkowitz is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Natural wonders

“Augrabies Waterfall – South Africa” by South African Tourism is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Coastal landscapes

“langebaan paradise beach” by Werner Bayer is licensed under CC BY 2.0

When to go

South Africa is actually a year-round destination, with varying regional climates and wildlife opportunities. It is, therefore, not an easy task to define a single best period of the year to visit South Africa, it depends on the areas you are visiting and what you are planning on doing. Anyway, all things considered, September is probably the best month to travel to South Africa to experience a combination of the whole the country. It is getting warmer in much of the country, plus you have the highest chance of seeing breaching whales and wildlife with their young in national parks. The winter season (June to August) is generally dry and cool, with snow falling in the mountainous regions, although days are short; while autumn (March to May) is usually warmer and also dry with days getting shorter and the temperature cooling as it gets closer to winter. Summer (December to February) is generally hot, often with convection thundershowers in the late afternoon in the northern areas but not in the Cape, which clear quickly to reveal pleasant evenings. During springtime (September to November), the weather is pleasant in most areas but it can be rainy.

For specific activities such as whale watching, the best time is from July to September when migratory whales arrive along the southern coastline; while birdwatchers should plan for a spring or summer holiday, offering a substantially greater range of species.

Western Cape: enjoy temperate weather with dry conditions from October to April. Temperatures peak between December and February, which is the most popular time. The best time for a hiking holiday in the Cape area is from late April to early June when the days are crisp and clear.

Northern Cape: mainly semi desert, that can be split in 2 areas: The west, which experiences rain from April to September and pleasant summer weather with hot days and chilly nights. The east, comprising the areas around southern part of the Kalahari Desert, suffers from very hot days with brief but refreshing afternoon thundershowers in the summer months, making the autumn months the best time to visit.

Limpopo: situated on the northern tip of South Africa, this area enjoys long sunny days and mostly dry weather year round. During summer months, the heat is often interrupted by a short afternoon thunderstorm. Winter mornings and evenings can get quite cold.

Gauteng: summer days are warm and wind free and winter days are crisp and clear. Johannesburg has a delightfully mild climate, neither humid nor too hot. The nights can be chilly particularly in winter and the rainy season is in summer rather than winter.

Free State: situated centrally in South Africa’s interior highveld plateau, experiences summer rainfall, peaking in January in the north-east and in March in the south-west. Winters are also characterised by moderate to severe frost and irregular snowfall, particularly in the higher-lying areas.

Mpumalanga: home to many wildlife destinations. The area enjoys summer rainfall, which means the best time to see wildlife is during winter, when the grass is shortest and visibility is best. Daytime temperatures are fairly pleasant year-round, rarely below 8°C in winter.

Kwazulu-Natal: has a very mild climate with rainy season during summer, with a low averages of 12°C in winter, and an max averages of 28°C during summer. Sea temperatures are also relatively stable, averaging 21 degrees year-round, making it a water sports destination year-round.

Eastern Cape: the second largest province in the country experiences warm summers with cool nights. Winters are mild. Rain depends on the specific area of the province although it is possible year-round. The east sees the most rain during the summer while the west is wetter during the winter.

Birdwatching: South Africa offers luxurious birdwatching with over 840 species. The Cape is different from the rest of South Africa and is the only part of the country that has winter rainfall. A great many intra-African and Palearctic (Eurasian) migrants augment South Africa’s bird species list in the austral summer. These birds are largely present from October through March (basically the southern summer), but naturally the exact arrival and departure dates of these migrants varies from species to species.

Practical information

Currency

The South African Rand is the official currency. Typically, 14 to 20 Rand per Euro and 12 to 18 Rand per US Dollar.

Language

The most common language spoken as a first language by South Africans is Zulu (23 %), followed by Xhosa (16 %), and Afrikaans (14 %). English is the fourth most common first language in the country (9.6%), but is understood in most urban areas and is the dominant language in government and the media.

Visa

In general, a visa is needed for any visit to South Africa for any purpose. However, several countries are exempted from visa control, which means that citizens from those countries do not need to get a visa. Visas are not issued at South African ports of entry, and airline officials must insist on visas before allowing passengers to board, so make sure you comply with the visa requirements for your nationality before departure. Visas are typically issued with a validity of 90 days, while exempted countries are given visa-free stay in the country for either 30 or 90 days, depending on the country.

For certain countries, the South Africa e-Visa is available allowing eligible citizens to complete the online application process without having to go to an embassy or consulate. The plan is to make this available to more countries in the future.

ATM & credit card

South Africa has a developed banking system. There is no shortage of ATMs to be found in or near bank branches, shopping centres and supermarkets. It is worth knowing that there have been reports of ATM scams, in which people offer to help others use an ATM, and then rob them. There is nothing complex about South African ATMs; if someone offers to lend a hand, be wary. Visa and Mastercard payments are widely accepted. Note that gas/petrol stations may not accept cards payments.

Opening times

In general, businesses are open on weekdays from 8:00 to 13:00 and 14:00 to 17:30. Offices are closed on Saturdays and Sundays, although shops are open until 13:00 and banks until 11:00 on Saturdays. Shopping centres and large supermarkets tend to open everyday of the week and up to 21:00. Cafes typically open from 8:00 to 17:00, while restaurants may only open for dinner, 18:00 to 22:00. National parks and game reserves open at sunrise and close at dusk.

Time: GMT + 2hours.

Main airports

Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport (the busiest and largest airport on the African continent, located 30 minutes driving-distance to the centre of Johannesburg)

Cape Town Airport (the second busiest airport in South africa and with plenty of internal connections)

Durban King Shaka Airport (is a relatively new airport, opened in May 2010)

Port Elizabeth Airport (the fourth busiest airport in South Africa)

Public transport

With regards to train travel, Shosholoza Meyl offers intercity services connecting every province in South Africa and Premier Classe affordable quality services running between Cape Town and Johannesburg or Durban. In addition, panoramic trains covering domestic and international routes are also an interesting option. For example, The Blue Train is a luxury train service connecting Pretoria with Cape Town and Kruger National Park while Rovos Rail and Shongolo Express offers glamorous internal train travel with included safaris in the route and stops such as Victoria waterfalls, Zimbabwe.

Travelling by bus in South Africa offers connections to any town at a very affordable price, with several companies and services on offer. Commuter buses and minibus-taxis are available for short distance travels, the latter being cheaper but less safe. Additionally, the BazBus service, kind of a minibus service for tourists serving the most popular routes, is also an interesting option. Although slow for long distances, they are convenient for short connections on popular routes.

Renting a car is especially worthwhile in South Africa, where public transport is limited in and between major towns and non-existent in rural areas, and it opens you possibilities to explore the country at your own pace. You will find many of the main roads and highways are in good shape and road signs are clear and easy to follow although people and animals walking along the road is a common sight in South Africa. It is important to keep your windows and doors locked when driving through urban areas, and especially when stopped at a traffic light. Major international rental companies and some local companies offer rental services on most major towns. For certain aereas of the country, renting a 4×4 with camping equipment is an interesting option. Companies like Britz offer this service.

Things to avoid

Trying to feed and touch wild animals, walking around in certain areas after dark (ask at your accommodation), wearing expensive-looking clothes and jewellery, using public transport and venturing outside tourist environments, forgeting to lock your car doors and close the windows when driving inside major towns.

Food

South African cuising reflects the diverse range of culinary traditions from the various cultures across the country and brought during colonial times. Dutch, French, Indian and Malaysian flavours and techniques continue to make their way onto the menus of restaurants and into the homes of locals all over the country. Today’s menus in South africa typically consists of plenty of red meat (grilled or roasted), potatoes, rice, and vegetables. “Bobotie” (a Cape Malay version of Shepherd’s Pie), “Potjiekos” (an Afrikaans stew cooked in a three-legged cast-iron pot), “Melktert” (milk tart) and “Vetkoek” (fried bread stuffed with curried mince or chicken mayo mixtures, also smaller versions are eaten as fritters with butter and jam) are some well known dishes.

Electricity and plug types

All power sockets in South Africa provide a standard voltage of 230V with a standard frequency of 50Hz. Plugs are typically Type C (European with two-round pins) or Type M (with 3 large round pins and used only in South Africa and other African countries, requires an adapter). Type N can also be found, but Type C plugs can be used on these without the need for an adapter.

Health and insurance

Everyone can access public healthcare in South Africa, regardless of nationality or immigration status. However, it primarily serves those who cannot afford to take out private health insurance. The majority of expat residents take out a private insurance policy so they can receive the best healthcare available in the country. Visitors will need to provide proof that they have taken out private health insurance to cover them in case of medical emergencies during their stay. Pharmacies are accessible in most places and medicines are generally relatively affordable. The following vaccinations are recommended for travel in Africa: routine vaccinations such as measles, mumps, rubella, polio, tetanus, diphtheria, etc, Hepatitis A and Typhoid.

In South Africa, malaria is mainly transmitted along the border areas. The regions of Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal are endemic for malaria. Malaria transmission is seasonal, with cases starting to rise in October, peaking in January and February, and waning towards May. Check your itinerary with a travel practitioner for the need to bring anti-malarials for your trip.

Other

It is customary to tip good service in South Africa. An acceptable amount is 10-15%. You do not have to tip if you see a service charge added to your check; however most wait staff depend on tips to make up for the lower wages they receive.

You can make your reservations at the accommodations located inside national parks at SANParks. Note that the most popular parks you will need to book well in advance.