In this post I will talk about all the basics you need to know before traveling to South Africa. Always remember to look at the date of the post and check some essential information such as documents and vaccinations to avoid the risk of the rules having changed.
Visa
Americans need visa. Visa requirements may vary based on the purpose of the visit, such as tourism, business, study or work. Therefore, it is advisable to check specific visa requirements and start the process early by contacting the South African Embassy in the United States or visiting the official South African Department of Home Affairs website for up-to-date information.
Documents
To enter the country, you must have a Passport that must be valid for at least 30 days beyond your departure date from South Africa, the visa, proof of Financial Means, return Ticket, Health Declaration Form (in some cases), proof of Accommodation, letter of Invitation (if applicable).
Vaccine
The only mandatory vaccine for traveling to Africa is yellow fever, which must be taken at least 10 days before traveling to the country. The vaccine is free and offered by the SUS. It is necessary to ask for the international document that proves that you are vaccinated to have on hand at the time of travel. To do this, you must go to one of the designated offices that provide this document.
Currency
The local currency is called rand, represented by the letter R. My tip for getting the best exchange rate is to exchange dollars for Rands at an exchange office in South Africa. As this currency is insignificant in most countries, it ends up being much more expensive if purchased directly at your country, instead of purchasing it there.
Be careful where you exchange money, I did this inside the airport itself, as I knew it was a reliable place and that I was safe.
Time zone
South Africa (GMT+2)
Language
It may seem like a joke, but South Africa has 11 official languages, with English being the most spoken in big cities, followed by Zulu and Xhosa.
Relevant informations:
Credit cards and ATMs: In cities, most restaurants, hotels and stores accept credit cards, but if your idea is to buy souvenirs at fairs and markets, always have cash on hand, as it is rare to find a place that accepts payment by card. Finding ATMs is relatively easy, at gas stations or shopping malls.
Negotiations:
In markets, restaurants and large stores, you can even try to negotiate, but you will hardly be able to reduce anything in the proposed price, whereas when you buy handicrafts or local products at fairs, you are expected to negotiate and depending on the location, you can get an excellent discount.
Sockets:
South African sockets are types D, M and N. The standard voltage is 230 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz. We recommend that you purchase a quality universal adapter and use a converter for hair dryers.
Locomotion:
I rented a car and drove over 5,000 kilometers in South Africa, so my suggestion would really be to rent a car and drive around the country, but if you don't feel comfortable navigating unfamiliar terrain, there are several transportation services available. Keep in mind that traffic is a problem in cities, especially during “rush hour”, so keep that in mind when planning your itinerary. The Uber app is widely used by city residents and considered reliable and safe.
Remembering that in South Africa it is British traffic, that is, the driver drives on the right side of the car and on the left side of the road. It's a little strange at first, mainly because of the arrow, but you get used to it.
In traffic, people are VERY polite, for example, no one stays in the express lane, unless they are actually overtaking and then returns to the normal lane. Furthermore (be careful to do the same), when there is only one lane on the road, it is common for people to pull out onto the shoulder so that someone else can overtake. They flash the lights to pass and after overtaking, they turn on the warning lights for a few seconds as a form of thanks.
Safety
One of the most common questions is whether it is safe to travel to South Africa as a tourist. I was warned by residents that you should not leave anything visible in the car, as it is quite common for people to break windows to steal items. Otherwise, I felt quite safe, even walking around with the camera showing, except at night and in less touristy neighborhoods, where I noticed that the movement was quite strange. Of course, I always recommend common sense and paying close attention to your surroundings, always follow your instincts.
If you want to know more about South Africa, how about reading one of the articles below?
