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 and 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.

Please note that anyone travelling to South Africa should have a valid return ticket and a valid passport.  There are several different official sources, each of which give slightly different advice - ranging from no less than 30 days after the expiry of intended visit (SA High Commission in London) to 6 months from date of entry (Irish Embassy in Pretoria). We therefore advise, if possible, to err on the side of caution and have 6 months validity from the date of entry. If in doubt, please contact the SA consulate in your country.  The passport must also have sufficient pages for entry/exit stamps - AT LEAST 2 BLANK PAGES FACING EACH OTHER. 

PLEASE NOTE: Travel Butlers have made every effort to ensure that the information displayed here is correct and accurate, but the onus still remains with the traveller to verify the information with their local consulate or embassy.

South Africa requires all travellers journeying from yellow fever risk countries to show proof of yellow fever vaccination by means of a valid yellow fever certificate.  This also applies to those who have travelled to low risk countries such as Tanzania and Zambia or have transited through a yellow fever risk country.

The certificates, which are valid for 10 years, must be approved by the World Health Organisation, and should be administered at a yellow fever approved vaccination centre at least 10 days before departure to South Africa, as the vaccine only offers protection 10 days after administration.  Failure to produce a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate at a South African port of entry could lead to refusal of entry, or quarantine until the traveller’s certificate becomes valid. Quarantine will not be longer than 6 six days.  Those who have an exemption certificate due to medical reasons will be allowed entry, but will be required to report any fever or other symptoms to the health authorities, and will be placed under surveillance.

Countries for which a yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for entry into South Africa are Angola, Argentina, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Colombia, Guinea-Bissau, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, French Guyana, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guyana, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Suriname, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, and Zambia.

The Western and Eastern Capes are malaria free, as are Johannesburg and around Sun City, so you don’t have to worry about malaria if you are just visiting these areas. 

Malaria is, however, prevalent through some other areas of South Africa – namely the Kruger National Park, the Lowveld around Hazyview and other areas of Mpumalanga and Limpopo, and the northern part of KwaZulu-Natal.  If you intend travelling to these areas we recommend that you take precautions against malaria and also use an insect repellent at all times.

You should also ensure that your vaccinations are up to date.

Although as a country South Africa is vast, it is relatively easy to drive around and see many highlights in a 2 or 3 week holiday.

In General

South Africans drive on the left hand side of the road, and all signposts are written in English. It is law to wear a seat belt at all times, and using a mobile phone when driving is prohibited. 

All drivers must have a valid driving licence from their country of residence. If the license is not printed in English, then you will need to obtain an International Drivers Licence.  You must carry your driving licence with you at all times when driving in South Africa. If you licence doesn't have a photograph on it, then you must also carry your passport with you so that you can be identified as the legal holder of the driving licence. Please note that the various car hire companies have different regulations regarding the length of time that you need to have held a driving licence, so it is advisable to check with your hire car company about their requirements.

When asking for directions, you may be surprised to get the response "turn left at the next robot..." - no, you have not suddenly been transported into a Star Wars film, rather a 'robot' is the South African term for traffic lights. South Africa is also home to the 4 way stop sign.

The general speed limit is a comfortable 120 km/h on the tar roads outside of towns.

Road Conditions

The main roads and highways are generally maintained in an good condition, and are straight, long and fast.  There are very few roads in South Africa where you would need a 4WD.  Even in the self-drive National Parks and safari areas such as Kruger or Hluhluwe, the roads are good and a 2WD can adequately cope with the odd bit of unevenness.

Many of the major main road are toll roads, in order to help maintain them in their present good condition.  Tolls range from a few Rand to over R50, and you can pay either by cash, or some toll booths will take Visa or MasterCard credit cards. The toll roads are clearly signposted, and give you plenty of warning, so that you can get your money ready. However, if you do not feel like parting with any money, you can always take the alternative route which will be signposted as a non-toll road, but in general this will be longer.

Road Signs (or rather Road Non-Signs)

Something else to be aware of during your self-drive holiday through South Africa is the erracticness of road signs, and the inconsistencies between them and the published road maps. You may think that the route you are about to embark on is easy to follow, but certainly in the more remote areas, roads suddenly appear that are not marked on maps, or the road numbers and town names are completely different from what you are expecting. 

Speeding 

Speed cameras operate in cities and towns.  If you are caught on camera, the fine will go straight to the hire car company, who will simply debit your credit card with the amount. A more common speeding trap is on the outskirts of towns, where traffic police wait for the unsuspecting driver to come racing out of the built up area.

If you are caught speeding by traffic police, there is no such thing as an on-the-spot fine.  If you are asked by the officer to pay a cash fine, simply refuse - this is one of the more popular tourist scams happening in some areas at the moment. The correct procedure is for your details to be taken down, including your passport number, and to issue you with a speeding fine ticket.  You have up to 60 days to pay your fine.  All you need to do is go to the nearest Post Office, buy a Purchase Order for the fine amount, and send it REGISTERED POST to the required address.  It is advisable to retain your receipt for both the PO and the registered post, as this is your record that you have paid your fine, just in case there is a problem when your passport is checked at the airport when you are leaving the country. 

Petrol

It is worth noting that none of the petrol stations in South Africa are self-service. When you pull into a petrol station, you will generally be waved to a free petrol pump by an enthusiastic attendant, who are all dressed in smart uniforms and generally welcome you with a big smile. Do make sure that he waves you to the correct pump, however, as you do not want him putting petrol in your diesel car. 

As a matter of course, while the car is being filled up, they will clean your windscreen for you - and take great care in making sure even the smallest dirt mark is wiped away.  If you are really lucky, they may clean all the other windows as well!  It is customary to tip around R5 to the petrol attendants, but you may wish to tip more if they check the oil, water and tyres or if your car is exceptionally dirty!  

The majority of the larger petrol stations will take overseas credit cards, but some of the smaller ones may not.  You will generally find an ATM on site so that you can withdraw cash if necessary, but in the more remote places, even this facility may not be present.  You should therefore always ensure that you have sufficient cash whenever you pull in to fill up with petrol - just in case!

Border Crossing

If you want to drive across the border from South Africa into one of the neighbouring countries, then you need permission from your hire car company in the form of a letter including the vehicle registration number and chassis number. This must be presented at the border post, and a permit will be issued which must be carried at all times.  There may be a fee payable as well.

People and Animals 

Outside of town areas, it is a common sight to see people walking along the side of the roads, especially schoolchildren who sometimes have a long journey on foot to get to and from their school.  In addition, livestock are generally not fenced in, and have a tendency to wander wherever they feel like.  Don't be surprised to go over a hill or round a bend in a road to find a herd of cows crossing the road in front of you, or several goats grazing right at the roadside. During the day, it is easy to see and avoid people and animals, but at night it is more difficult, and extra care should be taken.

The 11 official languages are Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, Pedi, English, Tswana, Sotho, Tsonga, Swati, Venda and Ndebele. Whilst many visitors will hear at least a couple of the tribal languages during the course of their stay, it is possible to travel extensively and comfortably with just English as a language.

South Africa's currency is the Rand (R). South African bank notes come in R10, R20, R50, R100 and R200 denominations. There are 100 cents to R1, and coin values are 1c, 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, R1, R2 and R5.

South Africa is not an exceptionally cheap destination to visit, nor is there any reason why it should be.  The country is still struggling to address the imbalances between the richest and poorest segments of its society, and this has meant costs have increased as a minimum wage and improved employee rights have been introduced, and taxes have risen to ensure clean water and electricity are available in the poorest areas of the sprawling townships. 

The strengthening of the Rand, which is essentially a vote of confidence in the economy of South Africa, has compounded the increase in local prices, and many visitors returning to the region are astonished to see how much prices have increased. Prices for accommodation and car hire may now be approaching the levels we see in Europe and North America, but accommodation and service standards are generally far higher. 

Food and drink remain inexpensive - it is certainly possible to spend R700+ on an outstanding meal for 2 in a fashionable restaurant in Cape Town or one of the other large cities, but by and large a decent meal for 2 including a bottle of wine will cost less than half that amount.

Overall it is probably fair to say that South Africa is a good value destination with world class attractions rather than being just a cheap place to visit.

Price Guide

Night in a good bed and breakfast (per person sharing): R600-R800

Night in an exceptional small guest house or hotel (per person sharing): R1,000-R1,500

Night in an international 5* hotel (per person sharing): R2,500-R4,500

Night in a private game reserve (per person sharing): R1,800-R7,000

Night in an air-conditioned room in a National Park (per person sharing): R450-R650

Mid-range car hire (Toyota Corolla or similar) per day: R500

Petrol (gas): R12-R15 per litre

Lunch in a bar or informal restaurant for 2: R200

Dinner in a formal or fashionable restaurant for 2: R700

Glass of wine in a Waterfront bar in Cape Town: R25-R45 per glass

Bottle of beer in a bar: R12-R15

Full day of organised tours (per person): R800

One thing that does surprise visitors to South Africa is how much the weather conditions vary across the country.  Because the country is so vast, there are distinct climatic zones as you go across the country.   If you watch the weather forecast on the news in the evening, it is amazing to learn that tomorrow's weather is going to be warm and wet in Cape Town, hot and sticky in Durban, hot and dry in Kruger, and just very pleasant in Jo'burg! 

The Western Cape

Around Cape Town, the Cape Winelands and the Garden Route, average daytime temperatures in the SA summer months are very pleasant, ranging between 14°C up to 26°C. On most days you will have 11 hours or more of sunshine, extending into warm evenings with the very occasional rain shower. The summer south-easterly 'Cape Doctor' wind, however, can when it feels like it blow into an uncomfortable gale.

In the winter months (June to August), daily temperatures range between 7 to 20°C, but the bracing sea breeze can make the temperature feel colder, and this is also the main rainy season.  Snow can fall on the highest mountain peaks.

Around Johannesburg and Sun City

Johannesburg has a pleasant all year round mild climate. Partly due to its elevation of over 1,750m above sea level, Johannesburg is fortunate to have warm summer days and pleasant summer evenings, with average temperatures around 25°C. Although this is the rainy season, rarely does the weather feel too humid. 

In the winter months, the temperatures are around 18 to 20°C with crisp, clear nights.

Around Kruger National Park

Summers are extremely hot and humid. Temperatures can soar over 40°C and this is also the rainy season. However, many animals give birth during the height of summer, so it is an excellent time to visit if you want to see lion cubs at play or wobbly zebra foals following closely behind their mothers.

The winter months are substantially cooler and dryer, and generally better for game viewing.  Water is scarcer, so the animals are more reliant on waterholes, so game-viewing around these areas is particularly good. The bush is also much drier, making it easier to spot the animals too!

The Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal 

The Eastern Cape coastal regions enjoy pleasant warm summers, with an average daily temperature of 21°C and around 7 hours of sunshine.  Winters are cooler. Certain areas along the Eastern Cape will have rain all year, albeit it sporadic.

KwaZulu-Natal has a sub-tropical climate, with hot and humid summers and mild dry winters.  Average daily summer temperatures are around 22°C, with high rainfall during January and February adding to the humidity. Hardly any rain falls during the mild winter months, and average daily temperatures are normally around 13°C.  It can snow in the Drakensberg during winter.

The international dialling code for South Africa is +27, followed by the regional code and then the number.

Mobile phone coverage is generally extremely good throughout South Africa. Overseas visitors can use their own mobile phone with 'international roaming' enabled (remember to activate this before leaving home), but this can be extremely expensive - a much cheaper (and easy) option is to switch to using a local provider during your stay in the country - the 2 main mobile phone providers are MTN and Vodacom.

The South African power is 220 - 240 volts, 50Hz, which is delivered through a 3 pin round socket. Although the socket is 3 pin, it is not the same as a UK socket, so an adaptor will be needed. Most airport shops sell adapters for foreign plugs, or they can be bought in selected hardware shops in larger towns.

South Africa Standard Time is 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+2) and they do not operate Daylight-Saving Time.