South Africa

Passports & Visas:

A full passport is required and we recommend it should be valid for six months after the intended date of return.  Currently, 30 days is the legal requirement but this can change at short notice and is out of our control.  Equally important please note that visitors to South Africa must have at least two free adjacent pages in their passport for endorsements.

Holders of a full EU passport do not require a visa for a holiday visit to South Africa.  It is advisable to check with the South African High Commission/Embassy before departure.

Health:

No vaccination certificates are required from visitors from Europe entering South Africa.  However visitors from yellow fever zone must have a valid certificate.  Immunisation against Polio, Hepatitis A and Typhoid are recommended.

Visitors to the eastern lowveld of Mpumalanga and Northern Province, the Kruger National Park and the game reserves in KwaZulu-Natal (this includes Hluhluwe) should take a course of anti-malaria tablets. These are usually taken before, during and after your stay.  We advise you to speak to your G.P. before departure.  In a malaria region to avoid mosquito bites use insect repellent, preferably one containing “DEET”.  Wear long sleeves and long trousers after sunset. Other useful advice is to use mosquito nets, screens and coils, and avoid wearing perfumes and after-shaves.

The bilharzia parasite is present in streams, rivers, lakes and dams in some of the northern and eastern part of the country.  Visitors should not drink from or bathe in these waters.  Tap water is safe to drink and health regulations control street food vendors.  Please refer to "Health Advice for Travellers" guide for further information on precautions.

While South Africa boasts excellent medical facilities, visitors should ensure they take out insurance to cover the cost of treatment should the need arise.

Currency:

The currency is the Rand (SAR), based on the decimal system with 100 Cents to the Rand.  Paper currency is issued in 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 Rand denominations.  Coins are issued in 1, 2 and 5 Rand and 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 Cents.  All currency must be declared on entry.   The amount of cash you can bring into the country in South African Currency is restricted to SAR 5000.

Most major credit cards are honoured in South Africa, but visitors are advised to check with their own banks before leaving home.  When travelling anywhere abroad, it's safer to keep the bulk of your money in the form of travellers cheques.  South African Rand travellers cheques are recommended.

Weather:

South Africa’s climate covers a wide spectrum of different weather zones.  The seasons are the reverse of those in the UK, with midwinter in June and July and midsummer in December and January.

The Western Cape has a Mediterranean climate with warm, dry summers and cold wet winters, while the temperate northern areas have hot summer days ending in spectacular evening thunderstorms and frosty clear dry winters.  Durban and the KwaZulu-Natal coast enjoy a sub-tropical climate, which means plenty of sunshine year-round.  Summers are hot, thundery and humid.  June and July when the humidity is low, are ideal months to visit Durban and the coast.  There is no general rainy season although most rainfall is during the winter with the exception of Cape Province which has higher rainfall in the summer months. 

Temperatures range from 0C/32F to 20C/68F in winter (April to September).  In summer (October to March) the average temperatures range between 15C/60F and 35C/96F.

General information about South Africa:

Location : Southern Africa
Local Time : GMT+2
Capital : Cape Town (legislative) Pretoria (administrative) Bloemfontein (judicial)
Area : 1,221,037 sq km
Population : 43.7 million
International dialling : 00 27
Departure tax : All taxes included in your air ticket.
Flying time : approx 11 hours from the UK
Language : Afrikaans, English, many African languages inc Xhosa, Zulu
Electricity : 250V AC50HZ Pretoria 220/230 V AC50 Hz elsewhere
Water : Tap water is quite safe to drink throughout South Africa
Driving : Driving is on the left. International Permit required.
Airports : Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg all international
Business Hours : Banks: 0830 - 1530 Mon-Fri, 0800-1130 Sat   Offices: 0830-1630 Mon-Fri Shops: 0830-1630 Mon-Fri, 0830-1230 Sat.  In the main centres opening hours are likely to be longer. Hours vary from province to province.
Trade : Exports – Gold, minerals, diamonds, metals and metal products, food
Imports : Machinery, transport equipment, manufactured goods, chemicals, oil.

Clothing:

During the South African summer lightweight clothing is the norm.  Warmer clothing is required for winter, a jumper or jacket may be needed, particularly in the evenings.  Rainwear is required in the Northern Provinces during summer and in the winter months in the Cape Provinces.  On game drives try to wear neutral colours – brown, beige or khaki – to help blend in with the background.  Bright colours and white may disturb the animals.  A warm sweater, is advisable as it can be chilly in the early mornings and after dusk.  Strong shoes are advised for safari visits.  Also on game reserves wear long sleeved shirts and trousers in the evening to reduce the chances of mosquito bites.  Wear a hat to avoid sunstroke. Please ensure that upon entry into the country that all sports/walking shoes are clean and free of mud as they may be confiscated to be disinfected which may take several days and will incur a charge to the owner.

Sport in South Africa:

Rugby, hockey and netball season is April to September (mid July departures are best for schools. Tournaments are plentiful for rugby and hockey at Easter).  Cricket, athletics and swimming season is October to March (school tours are best between October and mid-December - later December tours without billets against clubs are possible).

Spending Money :

To help you plan your budget here is the average cost of some holiday items.  This list is a guide only, prices may vary depending on the service provided and the location.  A typical three course meal £5-£8.  A Crayfish dinner £14.  Bottle of wine in a restaurant £3- £5.  A beer 60p. A Gin & Tonic 70p.  Cup of tea/coffee 40p.  Hamburger £1.50.  Pack of 20 cigarettes 80p.  35mm roll of film (36 exposures) £3.20.  Theatre Ticket £2.40-£6.  Cinema Ticket £2.  Litre of Petrol 36p.