Practical Info A-Z

German citizens do not need a visa for stays up to 90 days. Upon entry, a free Visitor's Permit is stamped into the passport.

Entry Requirements

• Passport — valid for at least 30 days beyond the end of the trip and with at least 2 blank pages (strictly checked!)
• Return ticket — may be requested upon entry
• Children: Since 2019, no international birth certificate is required, but a current child passport is mandatory. When traveling with only one parent: bring a notarized consent from the other parent and a birth certificate!
• Yellow Fever Vaccination: Only required when entering from a yellow fever area (e.g., a stopover in a West African country)

The topic of safety deters many potential South Africa travelers. The reality is more nuanced: Millions of tourists visit South Africa every year without incident. However, the crime rate is high, and certain precautions are indispensable.

The Most Important Rules

1. Don't walk through unknown areas: In Johannesburg's CBD, certain districts of Durban, and at night in Cape Town's city center, do not walk alone. Use Uber/Bolt!
2. No flashy jewelry/electronics: Expensive watches, chains, camera around the neck — all invitations. Best to keep your smartphone in your pocket, not on the restaurant table.
3. Car: Windows up, doors locked, valuables not visible. At traffic lights (robots): stay alert, especially at night.
4. Don't drive at night: Outside cities due to pedestrians, animals, and potholes. Within cities due to crime.
5. ATMs: Use only in shopping centers or bank branches, never on the street. Cover your PIN. Do not hand over your card!
6. Beaches: Do not go alone to deserted beaches. Do not leave valuables unattended. In Cape Town: beware of strong currents!
7. Townships: ONLY visit with a local guide. Do not go on your own! With a guide, it is safe and enriching.

What to Do in Case of a Mugging?

It happens rarely, but if it does: Do not resist! Hand everything over calmly. Carry a "dummy wallet" with a little cash. Leave important documents and credit cards in the hotel safe. Store copies of your passport and documents digitally (cloud).

Safe Areas for Tourists

The main tourist areas are mostly safe: V&A Waterfront, Camps Bay, Stellenbosch, entire Garden Route, Kruger Rest Camps, Drakensberg Resorts, Umhlanga (Durban). Johannesburg requires more attention but is manageable in tourist areas (Sandton, Rosebank, Maboneng with guide, Soweto with guide).

Emergency Numbers

Vaccinations

No mandatory vaccinations for direct entry from Germany. Recommended (Robert Koch Institute):

• Hepatitis A (standard travel vaccination)
• Hepatitis B
• Typhoid (for longer stays)
• Rabies (if in contact with wild animals/dogs)
• Tetanus, Diphtheria, Polio (refresh)

Malaria

Malaria area: Kruger region, Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal North Coast. No risk: Cape Town, Garden Route, Johannesburg, Drakensberg. Details see → Chap. Kruger: Malaria & Health.

Tap Water

In major cities (Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban), tap water is drinkable. In rural areas and smaller towns: bottled water.

Sun Protection

The UV radiation in South Africa is extremely high — thin ozone layer in the Southern Hemisphere! SPF 50+ is mandatory, even on cloudy days. Hat, sunglasses, long-sleeved clothing in the bush.

Medical Care

The private hospitals (Netcare, Mediclinic, Life Healthcare) are of international standard. Public hospitals are overburdened. International health insurance with repatriation insurance is mandatory!

The currency is the South African Rand (ZAR). Coins: 10c, 20c, 50c, R1, R2, R5. Notes: R10, R20, R50, R100, R200. Mandela's portrait adorns all notes.

Exchange Rate

1 EUR ≈ 19–21 ZAR (fluctuates). Simple rule of thumb: Rand amount divided by 20 = Euro. So: R200 ≈ 10€, R1,000 ≈ 50€.

Cash or Card?

• Credit cards (Visa, Mastercard) are accepted almost everywhere — hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations. American Express less so.
• Cash is needed for: tips, parking attendants, informal markets, small restaurants, township tours.
• ATMs: Widely available. Use only ATMs in shopping centers or bank branches (safety!). FNB, Nedbank, Standard Bank, and ABSA are the major banks.
• Fees: South African banks charge about 30–60 ZAR per withdrawal. Therefore, withdraw larger amounts less frequently.

Tipping

Tipping is essential in South Africa — many service workers earn the majority of their income through tips.

South Africa uses the Type M plug (three round pins, triangular layout). This plug is almost unique worldwide and not compatible with German plugs. You need an adapter!

• Voltage: 230V, 50Hz — identical to Germany (no transformer needed)
• Adapter: Best to buy in Germany (Amazon: "South Africa Adapter", about 5–8€). Available at airports and supermarkets in South Africa.
• Universal Adapter: If you have a good universal adapter, check if Type M is included — often it is NOT!

Load shedding is South Africa's most frustrating peculiarity: scheduled power outages by the state energy provider Eskom, because the power plants cannot meet demand. Depending on the "stage" (1–8), power is cut in blocks of 2–4 hours, up to several times a day.

What Does This Mean for Travelers?

• Hotels & Lodges: Most tourist accommodations have generators or solar systems. You often won't notice load shedding.
• Restaurants: Larger restaurants have generators. Smaller restaurants sometimes close.
• Traffic Lights (Robots): Go out! At intersections without power, the 4-Way-Stop rule applies. Caution!
• ATMs: Do not work without power. Have enough cash on hand.
• Electric Fences: In some accommodations: security fences are powerless. Not a real risk, but good to know.

Practical Tips

• App "EskomSePush": The most important app in South Africa! Shows the current load shedding schedule for your address. Free.
• Power bank: For smartphone and camera. A good 20,000-mAh power bank is worth its weight in gold.
• Flashlight: Always handy in the hotel room.

Note: Since the end of 2024, the load shedding situation has significantly improved. Many months without outages. However, the infrastructure remains fragile — check the current status before your trip.

In South Africa, driving is on the left. For Germans, the biggest adjustment when driving yourself. The most important tips can be found in → Chap. Arrival: Rental Car & Left-Hand Traffic.

Summary

• Book automatic — shifting with the right hand in left-hand traffic is a recipe for mistakes
• Roundabout = clockwise
• Overtaking = right
• 4-Way-Stop: First come, first served. When in doubt: hand signal, smile, go.
• Minibus Taxis: The white Toyota minibuses stop and go as they please. Keep your distance and be defensive!
• Speed: 60 km/h in urban areas, 100 km/h on rural roads, 120 km/h on highways. There are plenty of speed cameras.

SIM Card

A South African SIM card is dirt cheap and the best option for mobile internet:

• Providers: Vodacom (best network), MTN, Cell C, Telkom Mobile
• Price: SIM card about 5 ZAR + data package (e.g., 10 GB for about 150 ZAR / 8€)
• Where to buy: At the airport (Vodacom/MTN shops) or in any supermarket (Pick n Pay, Checkers, Woolworths)
• RICA: Since 2009, SIM cards must be registered. Passport and address (hotel is sufficient) are required. At the airport, this is done quickly.

WiFi

Most hotels, guesthouses, restaurants, and cafes offer free WiFi. The speed varies: good in Cape Town and Johannesburg, slow to non-existent in rural areas and in Kruger.

South Africa requires a versatile packing list — you might experience beach, safari, and mountains in one trip. Use our packing list generator for a personalized list!

Safari Essentials

• Binoculars (10x42 is ideal) — the most important safari accessory!
• Clothing in muted colors (khaki, olive green, brown) — no camouflage patterns (military), no white, no black (tsetse flies!)
• Long pants and long-sleeved shirts (mosquito protection in the evening)
• Warm jacket/fleece — morning safaris in open vehicles are COLD (5–10°C in winter!)
• Camera with telephoto lens (200mm+)
• Flashlight/headlamp
• Mosquito spray (DEET 50%)

General

• Sunscreen SPF 50+, sunglasses, hat
• Adapter Type M (South Africa plug!)
• Power bank (load shedding!)
• Water shoes (rocky beaches)
• Light hiking shoes (Garden Route, Drakensberg)
• Travel pharmacy (Malarone if planning Kruger)
• Copies of all documents (digital + paper)