Visa:

For an intended stay of 90 days or less and when in transit. Some countries do not require a Visa for entering SA: Check out this website for full details (Dept of Home Affairs) http://www.home-affairs.gov.za/visa_schedule.asp.

Requirements for entering SA:

A valid acceptable Passport or travel document good for a sufficient period to cover the intended stay; A valid Visa, if required; Sufficient funds; A return or onward ticket; At least two blank pages in your passport; Yellow fever certificates are required if the journey starts or entails passing through the yellow fever belt of Africa or South America.

How far will my money go?

With a favourable exchange rate for most international currencies, you will find South Africa a very inexpensive destination. Financial institutions are world-class and there are many banks, bureaux de change and automatic telling machines.

Our unit of currency is the rand which is divided into 100 cents. Coin denominations are 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, R1, R2 and R5, and notes, R10, R20, R50, R100 and R200.

Credit cards and cash

All major credit cards can be used in South Africa, although American Express and Diners Club enjoy less universal acceptance than MasterCard and Visa. In smaller/remote towns, you may need cash.

Road tolls on the major routes between cities can be paid in cash or MasterCard and Visa.

Personal safety tips

Crime exists anywhere in the world, but all that is required of you is to keep your wits about you and take the usual sensible precautions.

Tipping

Tipping is common practice in South Africa for most services. Restaurants accept a standard of 10% - 15% of the bill, although sometimes a gratuity is included.

Petrol station attendant expect a tip of two or three rand for filling up with petrol, checking oil, water and tyre pressure and cleaning windscreens. Hotel porters are tipped two to five rand, as are taxi drivers.

When parking a car in a populated area such as near a shopping centre, street security guards will ask whether they can watch over your car and in return, be paid a small fee of two rand upwards.

Getting around:

Public transport is limited and visitors find car rental the best way to get around. In SA we travel on the left-hand side of the road. For long distances, travel by train or aeroplane and arrange a car rental at your destination.

To experience the diversity of our ‘world in one country’ travel by car, but do take distances into account and arrange to stop over regularly.

Our seasons (set out as the actual weather experienced)

Spring - September to October

Summer – mid-October to March

Autumn – April - May

Winter – June - August