South Africa travel information and tips

Below you will find comprehensive South Africa travel information that will come in real handy when you plan and prepare your visit to our country.

You will find information about how to get there, how to get around, where to stay and everything you need to know to make your visit go smooth and without problems.

Visiting South Africa is a lot easier then you might think. It offers you all the comforts you may desire against the backdrop of the unspoiled splendour of Africa

Boeing 747 of South African Airways
South Africa travel information - copyright © South African tourism
AIR TRAVEL TO SOUTH AFRICA.... There is more then one way of getting to South Africa. For most of us however, flying remains the fastest and most practical way. Our country is served by more then 70 airlines.

BANKING.... Cashing your traveller cheques and foreign currency,… and using your credit card,… is as easy as in your home country. You will find banks,… “bureaux de change”… and automatic tellers almost everywhere.

BUSINESS.... Yes, there are incredible opportunities to do business and make money in our country. Foreign investor confidence has taken off in South Africa and you are welcome to jump onto the wagon.

CLOTHING AND DRESS....Choice of clothes for your South Africa trip? Can not be to difficult, can it? Nevertheless, you might never know. You will need to bring something smart informal for exclusive occasions. - South Africa travel information

CONVERSION TABLES....In South Africa we converted to the metric system. Weights and measures, miles and kilometres, gallons and litres, Fahrenheit and Celsius, enough to get totally confused. We made it easy for you. Click HERE for more info

CURRENCY and EXCHANGE RATES....The local currency in South Africa is the Rand ( ZAR ). The value of the rand fluctuates from time to time, so do keep track of that. Click HERE for more info

CUSTOMS, PASSPORTS and VISA.... Like every other country, South Africa does have customs formalities that have to be complied with, if you seek to enter the country. The minimum requirement is a passport and visa. It is important that you are fully up to date, as far as all the requirements are concerned. - South Africa travel information

DOMESTIC AIR TRAVEL.... A comprehensive and low cost airline network has made flying easy for everyone in South Africa. Fuss-free and low fares, safe and efficient online booking and easy check in.

DOMESTIC TRAVEL IN SA.... “There are many roads that lead to Rome”, the saying goes. In South Africa there are many ways to travel from the one place to the next. Whether it be by bus, car, train or donkey car, the choice is yours.

DISTANCES.... South Africa is a vast country and you will most likely travel long distances. It is important therefore, to plan and prepare your journeys properly. If you want to know what we are talking about when we say “distances”,... Click HERE for more info. - South Africa travel information

Giraffe silhouette
South Africa travel information - copyright © South African tourism
DRIVING....Even though we drive on the left-hand side if the road, it should be quite easy to adapt to driving in South Africa. Just take it easy, stick to the rules, fasten your seatbelts and enjoy the ride.

ELECTRICITY....Many visitors to South Africa bring electrical appliances (like razors, hairdryers, laptops, battery chargers etc...) along with them. They will want to know more about power in our country, electrical power that is. In our country the standard is 220 / 230 volts at 50 cycles per second.

EMERGENCY NUMBERS.... If you do get into trouble in South Africa, you want help, you want it fast, and you will get it fast. How?.... - South Africa travel information

ENTERTAINMENT.... African entertainment has to be “lived”. Drama, comedy, ballet, opera, choral, with an original indigenous African flavour. You do not want to miss that, when you are in South Africa.

ETIQUETTE....An informal atmosphere and socialising is a major part of the South African way of life. It won’t take long to appreciate this and adjust to it. There are times however when things are somewhat different.

FOOD....It takes a rainbow nation to produce a rainbow rich variety of cuisines, flavoured by a warm African culture. Wining and dining in South Africa, a culinary experience not to be missed.

HEALTH CARE ISSUES.... South Africa has excellent health care facilities, comparable with the best in the world, with highly trained doctors, and fully equipped hospitals. There are some health issues however, that you should be aware of. - South Africa travel information

INTERNET....With a solid internet infrastructure and a comprehensive network of internet café’s in the major centres throughout the country, you are only a mouse click away from getting to your e-mail box or any URL for that matter.

LANGUAGE....South Africa has 11 official languages and scores of unofficial ones besides. But don’t worry, most of us speak English, so you should not have any difficulties communicating.

MALARIA....Malaria is endemic in certain areas in South Africa. The risk of contracting the disease is negligible, provided you take the necessary precautions.

MONEY and COSTS.... Because of a favourable exchange rate South Africa is a relatively inexpensive tourist destination. You will find that your money will go a long way. How far it will go ??... Click HERE for more info.

Golden Gate National Park in the Free State province
South Africa travel information - copyright © South African tourism
NEWSPAPERS.... You will never be left in the dark in our part of Africa. South Africa has a robust and flourishing press that, together with a range of news websites, can measure up with the best in the world.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS and SCHOOL HOLIDAYS....In South Africa it is advisable to pre-book accommodation in game parks, hotels and sometimes even camping sites, during the school holidays. School holidays terms vary slightly for different provinces.

RADIO and TELEVISION.... Although television and radio programming in South Africa is structured to reflect the different language groups in the country,…hotels and other lodgings are able to offer you access to at least one English speaking television and radio channel in your room.

RAILWAYS and TRAINS.... For train enthusiasts there is no better way to see the breathtaking expanse of South Africa’s landscape then by train. You can even go on a genuine steam train tour. Budget and luxury options are available. - South Africa travel information

ROADS and TRAFFIC.... The road infrastructure in South Africa is excellent, so a self-drive tour is a viable option. It’s a huge country and there is so much to see, so plan and prepare your trips carefully. Maps and road travel information are widely available and for those who did not know, we do drive on the left hand side of the road.

SAFETY and SECURITY.... South Africa is a friendly country, but still, crime happens here also, like everywhere else in the world. Great efforts are being made to defeat it, and you will be able to enjoy your vacation with complete peace of mind, if you follow some basic precautions.

SHOPPING.... South Africans are great shoppers, they love it! You will find some of the world’s largest and most modern shopping malls in our country, offering you not only a first class shopping experience, but also excellent places to wine and dine and be entertained.

TAX.... Foreign tourists visiting South Africa can have their value-added tax refunded on departure at the point of departure, provided the total value of the items purchased exceeds R 250.00. - South Africa travel information

TELEPHONE and POSTAL SERVICES.... At virtually all hotels and at most lodgements in South Africa you will have access to a highly developed communications infrastructure, with an extensive landline and satellite phone network and three mobile phone networks. The postal services infrastructure in South Africa is designed to ensure that a modern mail service is within reach of everybody in the community.

TIPPING....Depending on the standard of service you have received, tipping is customary in South Africa for a range of services. Restaurants, hotels, and other lodgements do not usually include a service charge in the bill.

TIME ZONE.... South Africa does not change its clocks during the year. Despite its size it has only one time zone: GMT (or Universal Standard Time) + 2 hours, seven hours ahead of eastern USA standard time, one hour ahead of European winter time and eight hours behind Australian standard time.

TRANSPORT.... Major South African cities are linked by reliable air, rail and road transport services. Each city has its own commuter bus and train service. Long distance buses and trains allow you to relax and enjoy the scenery. Budget and luxury options are available. - South Africa travel information