South Africa Holiday Guide

Safari Holidays to South Africa and Namibia for independent travellers.

Visa and Travel Advice

Introduction

Visitors from the following countries do not require tourist visas for business and tourist purposes for an intended stay of 90 days or less and when in transit:

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, British Islands Bailiwick of Guernsey and Jersey, Isle of Man and Virgin Islands and Republic of Ireland, African Union / Unity Laissez Passer, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxemburg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Spain, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Sweden, Switzerland, Uruguay, Venezuela, United States of America, Zimbabwe.

Visitors from the following countries do not require tourist visas for business and tourist purposes for an intended stay of 30 days or less and when in transit:

Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Gabon, Guyana, Hungary, Jordan, Lesotho, Malaysia, Malawi, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Peru, Poland, Seychelles, Slovak Republic, South Korea, Swaziland, Thailand, Turkey, Zambia, Hong Kong (only with regard to holders of Hong Kong British National Overseas passports and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passports), Macau (only with regard to holders of Macau Special Administrative Region passports (MSAR)), Zimbabwe (only in respect of government officials, including police on cross border investigations).

For visitors from other countries, please check with your nearest South African Consulate about obtaining a visa.

All visitors require a valid passport to enter South Africa. There are several different official sources, each of which give slightly different advice - ranging from no less than 30 days from the date of departure from South Africa (SA High Commission in London) to 6 months from date of departure (Irish Embassy in Pretoria). We therefore advise, if possible, to err on the side of caution and have at least 6 months left on your passport from the end of your holiday. If in doubt, please contact the SA consulate in your country.

The passport must have sufficient pages for entry / exit stamps - AT LEAST 2 BLANK PAGES FACING EACH OTHER. If your passport doesn't have this, then you may not be allowed to enter South Africa.

All visitors must be in possession of a valid return ticket.

Yellow fever certificates are required if the journey starts or entails passing through the yellow fever belt of Africa or South America.

General Travel Advice

Although South Africa has had well-publicised crime problems over the last few years, it is worth remembering that most tourists are completely unaffected, and that there is strong evidence that the situation is rapidly improving.

All travellers are strongly advised to check the latest travel advice from their Government before travel to South Africa:

UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office

US Department of State

For a selection of recommended guide books, please see the South Africa - Recommended Reading - Guide Books section in this website.

Crime

As with every place that you travel to throughout the world, you should be aware at all times of what is going on around you. By adopting a few simple, common sense precautions you will lessen your chances of becoming a victim of any form of crime:

Unfortunately, as is the case in the majority of large towns or cities, pick-pocketing is a problem, so either wear a money belt or keep a hold on your wallet.
Thefts from cars, especially the easily-identifiable hire cars, is quite common, so always lock your car up when you leave it, even if only briefly going into the petrol station to buy a drink, and don't leave anything on show.
Don't flash expensive jewellery or camera equipment around, and keep your bags under the table when at a cafe or restaurant.

Avoid carrying large sums of cash around with you - most places take credit cards, or just take out enough cash from the ATM to cover you for a couple of days. Don't count your money in the open.
Do not allow strangers to assist you in your transactions at an ATM. If the card appears to be stuck, immediately call the number that can usually be found at ATMs for assistance. Be alert at all times. Only use ATMs in areas that are well lit.
Some areas of certain towns, such as Cape Town and Durban, are unsafe to walk in after dark, so check with your host at your guest house for local advice.
Only use recommended taxi firms - ask your guest house host to recommend a company to you.
We also strongly advise against visiting any township on your own, but if you are interested in doing a township tour, there are many reputable operators who can arrange a tour for you.
Use only registered, qualified tour guides.
If you are mugged, do not resist - hand over your valuables, and wait until your assailant is out of sight before heading for the nearest phone.
For safety advice when driving, please see our Driving in South Africa pages on this website.

Medical Considerations

AIDS and HIV is a massive problem in South Africa, with the latest statistics showing that a staggering one in 4 people in South Africa are infected.

It is advisable to take your own set of 'single use' sterile medical equipment with you - small travel kits can be bought from all good chemists and camping outlets.

Don't be afraid of asking to use them if you have to visit a dentist or doctor, especially in more remote areas - people do understand tourists' concerns over this matter, and are not easily offended.

Malaria is prevalent through some areas of South Africa, and it is advisable to check with your doctor before travelling, to find out what malaria tablets you need, and when you need to commence the course.

You should also ensure that your vaccinations are up to date - again, check with your doctor what is required.

Yellow fever certificates are required if the journey starts or entails passing through the yellow fever belt of Africa or South America.

Travelling with Children

For children travelling with friends / grandparents etc but without the parents, the parents would need to supply a letter giving permission for the child(ren) to travel.