South Africa Travel Advice
South Africa Travel Advice
South Africa sits on the southernmost tip of Africa, and is the continent’s most developed economy. From the low coastal plains, mountains rise up in the south and east, with a high plateau just beyond. South Africa is a subtropical country which means warm, dry weather and unpredictable rainfall. With an oceanic coast on three sides, South Africa enjoys generally mild temperatures, with a hot desert climate in the northwest.
Cape Town
Average annual temperature and rainfall:
Passports and Visas
British passport holders travelling to South Africa for up to 90 days do not need a visa. A passport is essential and should be valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay and contain at least two full blank pages for the entry stamp. Many other nationals must obtain visas. If you do not have a British passport, please seek further information from your nation’s immigration department.
One important note for parents is that, if you are travelling to/from South Africa with children under the age of 18, you are required to provide an unabridged birth certificate for all children travelling with you. This applies even when both parents are travelling with their children. In the case of one parent travelling with a child, he or she must produce an unabridged birth certificate and consent in the form of an affidavit from the other parent (issued no more than three months prior to travel date). The official list of requirements can be found here.
Check the foreign office for all the latest travel advice for South Africa.
Health
We hope the information below is helpful, but it is only guidance; requirements change frequently and you MUST check all health requirements yourself with your GP.
- There is a risk of malaria in some areas of KwaZulu Natal, Swaziland, Mpumalanga and Northern Province including Kruger Park and precautions including anti-malaria tablets are advisable.
- If you are arriving to South Africa from a Yellow-Fever risk area you must have a certificate of vaccination, even for those in transit and not clearing South African immigration.
- Please ensure that you are fully up to date with your country of destination’s Covid travel policies. Click here for the latest FCO advice.
More information on the latest health requirements can be found at the Travel Pro Health website.
Insurance
Your travel insurance should provide cover for cancellation and curtailment, medical insurance, lost or damaged baggage and emergency evacuation. We are fortunate to be partnered with Rush Insurance who provide a range of travel insurance policies specifically for the type of trips we offer. We have a dedicated page on their website here.
Money
South African Rand (ZAR) is the local currency. South Africa has a comprehensive network of ATMs most of which accept British bank cards. You are now allowed to take a maximum of 25,000 ZAR into South Africa per person in bank notes, and a maximum in foreign currency equivalent to US $10,000.
American Express, Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted in hotels, restaurants, shops and by car hire companies. However, Debit Cards can be used at most petrol stations except at small petrol stations where cash is required.
Tipping
Tipping is not compulsory, however, if you want to tip because you have received good service, this is a guideline: