🇿🇦 Travel facts South Africa
✓ Last checked:The most important practical answers for your trip to South Africa — entry, tipping, plug type, customs and more. Compactly verified, with source references.
| Capital | Pretoria/Cape Town |
|---|---|
| Language | English + 10 others |
| Currency | Rand (ZAR) |
| Timezone | UTC+2 |
| Flight time from Germany | approx. 11–12 hours |
| Emergency number | 112 (from mobile) · Police 10111 · Emergency 10177 |
| Plug | Type M/N/C · 230 V / 50 Hz · Adapter needed |
| EU / Schengen | not an EU country · not Schengen |
Do I need a visa for South Africa?
Passport required; visa-free for up to 90 days.
Passport with 2 blank pages, valid for at least 30 days beyond your stay (strictly checked). Binding information: German Federal Foreign Office.
How much should I tip in South Africa?
10–15 %
Hotel: Safari guide approx. 10–15 USD/day, lodge team approx. 5 USD/day (pool fund)
Taxi: 10 % or round up; petrol attendant 10–20 ZAR
Which plug adapter do I need in South Africa?
Adapter needed: plug types M / N / C, 230 V / 50 Hz.
Type M (three round pins) dominates — South Africa adapter required.
Can you drink tap water in South Africa?
Partly — varies regionally, when in doubt, drink bottled water.
Drinkable in major cities; better to use bottled water in rural areas.
What can I bring back from South Africa to Germany?
Non-EU country: When returning to Germany, goods up to €430 (by air travel), 200 cigarettes and 1 litre of spirits are duty-free.
Will my mobile phone work in South Africa?
No EU roaming — pre-book eSIM or buy a cheap local SIM on-site.
Card or cash — how do you pay in South Africa?
Rand (ZAR); cards accepted almost everywhere — carry little cash, use ATMs only in malls/banks.
What should I know about health in South Africa?
Travel health insurance with repatriation recommended; check vaccination/health advice with the German Federal Foreign Office or Tropical Institute.
Sources & Note
Information from the perspective of German citizens, as of August 2026, without guarantee. Entry and security information may change at short notice — binding is the German Federal Foreign Office (South Africa travel advice) . Health information does not replace medical travel advice.
