Entry Requirements
Visa requirements for South Africa depend on which passport you hold. Check the Traveller visa tool to see whether your passport needs a visa and, if so, how long you can stay.
Check if you need a visa for South AfricaEmergency Numbers
- General
- 10111 (police)
- Ambulance
- 10177
- Fire
- 10177
Currency
- Name
- South African Rand
- Code
- ZAR
- Symbol
- R
ATMs widely available in cities and tourist areas. Cards accepted almost everywhere in Cape Town, Johannesburg, and the Garden Route. Cash preferred in rural areas and informal markets. Good value for money — the Rand is relatively weak against major currencies.
Power Outlets
- Outlet types
- Type M (3-pin large round), Type C, Type N
- Voltage
- 230V
- Frequency
- 50Hz
Time Zone
SAST (UTC+2) — no daylight saving
Best Time to Visit
May–September is the dry season in Kruger and the East — best for wildlife viewing (vegetation is thinner and animals congregate around water). Cape Town and the Garden Route are best October–April (summer/dry). May–October is whale season on the Western Cape (Southern Right Whales at Hermanus). Year-round is broadly viable across different regions.
Tipping Customs
| Venue | Typical | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurants | 10–15% | Service charge rarely included — 15% is generous |
| Safari guides and trackers | R200–400 per day per vehicle | — |
| Petrol station attendants | R5–10 — petrol stations are all full-service; tipping is standard | — |
| Supermarket car guards | R5–10 — informal car park attendants who watch your car and guide you out | — |
Dress Code
- Casual throughout most of the country
- Smart casual for Cape Town's Waterfront and Johannesburg's Sandton restaurants
- Warm layers for Kruger evenings and the Drakensberg
Social Etiquette
- South Africa has 11 official languages (Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, English, and 7 others) — the linguistic diversity reflects its extraordinary cultural complexity
- Apartheid ended officially in 1994 — Nelson Mandela's Robben Island (Cape Town), Soweto, and the Apartheid Museum (Johannesburg) are among the world's most important historical sites
- Braai (barbecue) is not just a meal — it is a social institution; an invitation to someone's braai is a significant gesture
- Load shedding (scheduled power cuts) can affect daily life — download the EskomSePush app to check schedules in advance
Local Laws
Laws change. Verify current rules with your country's official travel advisory before departure.
- LGBTQ+ rights: South Africa was the first African country to legalise same-sex marriage (2006) and has strong constitutional protections — the most LGBTQ+-progressive country on the continent, though some rural areas are conservative
- Cannabis: decriminalised for personal use (2018) but not fully legalised — smoking in public is illegal
- Crime: petty theft and carjacking are realities in major cities; follow standard urban safety precautions and ask locals for area-specific advice
Common Phrases
| English | Local | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello (Zulu — most spoken language) | Sawubona | sah-woo-BOH-nah — literally 'I see you' — one of the most beautiful greetings in the world |
| Hello (Afrikaans) | Hallo / Goeie dag | HAH-loh / KHOO-ee-ah dahkh |
| Thank you (Zulu) | Ngiyabonga | ngee-yah-BOH-ngah |
| Thank you (Afrikaans) | Dankie | DAHN-kee |
| Cheers! (South African) | Oogy wawa! | OO-ghee WAH-wah — South African drinking toast |
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