Useful to know
The practical things visitors ask about most - getting connected, paying for things, driving, and staying safe. If you only read one section, make it the emergency numbers.
In an emergency
Save these before you set out. 112 works from any mobile, on any network, even with no airtime.
- 112Any emergency from a mobile phone (works on all networks)
- 10111Police (SAPS) - nationwide
- 10177Ambulance / medical emergency
Getting a SIM card
Prepaid SIMs are cheap and sold at airports, network stores and most supermarkets. Registration (RICA) is required by law, so bring your passport and something showing an address - your accommodation booking is usually accepted. The main networks are Vodacom, MTN, Cell C and Telkom; coverage is good in cities and along the main routes, patchier in remote areas. Many newer phones can use an eSIM, which you can set up before you arrive.
Download your maps and routes over Wi-Fi before heading somewhere remote - signal drops off fast once you leave the main roads.
Money and paying
The currency is the South African rand (ZAR). Cards are accepted almost everywhere, including small shops and most petrol stations, but carry some cash for markets, car guards and rural stops. Tell your bank you are travelling so your card is not blocked. Use ATMs inside a bank or shopping centre, and never accept help from a stranger at one.
Tipping is customary: around 10% in restaurants, a few rand for petrol attendants and car guards, and R20-R50 a day for a guide.
Driving
Drive on the LEFT. Your own licence is fine for short visits if it is in English and carries your photo; otherwise bring an international permit. Distances are long and rural roads can have potholes, livestock and pedestrians, so avoid driving at night outside towns. The N1, N2 and N3 have toll gates that take cards. Petrol stations are attended - you do not fill up yourself.
During load-shedding, traffic lights (robots) go dark. The rule is to treat the intersection as a four-way stop and take turns.
Load-shedding and power
South Africa has scheduled rolling blackouts, known locally as load-shedding. They come and go in intensity, and most accommodation, restaurants and fuel stations plan around them. Apps like EskomSePush publish the schedule for your area.
Keep your phone and a torch charged, and expect card machines and petrol pumps to be offline occasionally.
Health and water
Tap water is safe to drink in the cities and most towns. The sun is strong year-round - sunscreen and a hat matter more than visitors expect. There is a malaria risk in the low-lying north-east (the Kruger area, the Lowveld and northern KwaZulu-Natal), mainly in the wetter summer months; get medical advice before travelling there.
Travel insurance that covers medical evacuation is worth it if you are heading somewhere remote.
Everyday basics
- Plugs: South Africa mostly uses its own three-round-pin socket, so a universal adapter is safer than assuming. Mains power is 230V.
- Time: SAST, two hours ahead of UTC, with no daylight saving all year.
- Language: there are twelve official languages, and English is spoken almost everywhere you will travel.
- Water is precious - some areas have restrictions. Short showers are appreciated.
Before you travel
Entry requirements depend on your nationality and change from time to time, so check the official source rather than a summary:
We keep this page current as best we can, but rules and conditions change. Check anything critical with an official source before you rely on it.