South Africa Travel

Page Updated: Apr 2020

South Africa Travel - South Africa is at the southernmost tip of the African continent. It is bordered by Botswana and Zimbabwe in the north, Mozambique and Swaziland in the north-east and Namibia in the north-west. The Indian Ocean on the east coast and Atlantic Ocean on the west coast join forces on the south coast. South Africa completely surrounds Lesotho.

South Africa is a country of stunning scenery, from mountains and deserts to dramatic coastlines.

South Africa Travel Facts

Formerly: Union of South Africa
Capital: Pretoria (administrative), Cape Town (legislative)
Area: 1,219,912 km2
Population: 48,782,756
Language: English, Afrikaans and 9 indigenous languages

South Africa Money

The local currency is Rand (ZAR).
Locations of Visa ATMs in Johannesburg
Locations of Cirrus/Mastercard/Maestro ATMs in Johannesburg
ATMs are the cheapest way to get local currency in South Africa but be security aware when using an ATM. Also don't wholly rely on getting your local cash at an ATM in South Africa - they are sometimes empty or broken. Read more on money in Africa
There are plenty of banks and ATMs in large South African airports, cities and towns. They may be few and far between in remote rural areas.

Electricity In South Africa

Voltage: 220 V | Frequency: 50 Hz | Power sockets: Type F

South Africa Map

South African Regulations On Travelling With Children

The amendment of child travel regulation of December 2018: Where a child presents a passport which contains the details of his or her parent or parents, an immigration officer shall not require such child to produce an unabridged birth certificate.

So the need for parents of foreign minors to carry unabridged birth certificates when travelling to South Africa will no longer be enforced.

However, the SA Department Of Home Affairs stated - foreign travellers are "strongly advised to carry these documents" that prove kinship. Immigration officials will only insist on these documents "when necessary". Most significantly, foreign travellers will not be refused entry if they do not have these documents, but rather be allowed the "opportunity to prove parental ties and consent".

Exceptions To This 2018 Amendment:

If the child is a South African citizen a birth certificate and consent documents are required.
Where a parent or parents, legal guardian or any other person from a visa required country intends to travel with a child, he or she must, when applying for a visa for such child, a birth certificate and consent documents must be submitted. Affidavit Consent Form
Where one parent, legal guardian or any other person is travelling with a child, he or she may be required by an immigration officer to produce a copy of a birth certificate and consent documents of the child in order to establish the relationship with such child, unless the child is from a visa required country, upon admission into or departure from the Republic.
Any unaccompanied child shall produce to the immigration officer a copy of his or her birth certificate and consent documents.

Getting To South Africa

As of 25 March 2019, O R Tambo International Airport will not accept 'irregular' shaped bags at check-in counters. Read More

The new baggage rules are:

Only regular-shaped bags will be allowed at check-in counters;
This means that the bags must have at least one flat surface to be accepted on the check-in system;
Round or irregular-shaped bags will not be allowed at check-in counters; and
Bags with longs straps will not be allowed at check-in counters.

If you have an irregular shaped bag, go to an airport wrapping station where it can be wrapped into a regular shape with a flat side.

South African Airways

Non-Stop from JFK, New York direct to OR Tambo, Johannesburg.
1-Stop from JFK, New York via Dakar to OR Tambo, Johannesburg.
1-Stop from JFK, New York via Dulles, Washington DC to OR Tambo, Johannesburg.
1-Stop from Dulles, Washington DC via Dakar, Senegal to OR Tambo, Johannesburg.
2-Stops from Dulles, Washington DC via JFK, New York & Dakar, Senegal to OR Tambo, Johannesburg

Delta

Non-Stop from Atlanta to OR Tambo, Johannesburg

British Airways

Non-Stop from Heathrow, London to OR Tambo, Johannesburg

Air France

Non-Stop from CDG, Paris to OR Tambo, Johannesburg

Lufthansa

Non-Stop from Frankfurt to OR Tambo, Johannesburg

KLM

Non-Stop from Schipol, Amsterdam to OR Tambo, Johannesburg

South African Airways

Non-Stop from Heathrow, London to OR Tambo, Johannesburg
Non-Stop from Frankfurt, Germany to OR Tambo, Johannesburg

Emirates

Non-Stop from Dubai, UAE to Johannesburg, SA

Qatar Airways

Non-Stop from Doha, Qatar to Johannesburg, SA

Etihad Airways

Non-Stop from Abu Dhabi, UAE to Johannesburg, SA

Qantas

Non-Stop from Sydney, NSW to to Johannesburg, SA

South African Airways

Non-Stop from Perth, WA to to Johannesburg, SA

South Africa Travel Health

Vaccinations/boosters are strongly recommended for:

Malaria In South Africa

Malaria Map Of South Africa

Prophylaxis is recommended for travel to low-altitude areas of the Mpumalanga Province (including Kruger National Park), Northern Province and northeastern KwaZulu-Natal as far south as the Tugela River. Risk is highest from October to May. The red area indicates a risk of malaria.

Other Health Hazards In South Africa

All hepatitis strains are present.
Bilharzia is present in fresh water.

Getting A Visa For South Africa Visa

No visa is required by US or UK citizens if they have a valid passport and their stay is no longer than 90 days for tourism or business purposes.

A valid passport for South Africa = machine readable, with at least 2 unused/blank pages labeled 'Visa' & must be valid for 30 days after the intended return date from South Africa.