South Africa
South Africa is the perfect destination for the ultimate wildlife experience! Spotting the Big 5 in the Kruger Park was a fantastic experience for us! But the country has much more to offer! How about climbing the iconic Table Mountain in bustling Cape Town, a delicious wine tasting with a view of the zebras or a visit to the Apartheid museum in Johannesburg? We experienced all this (and much more) during our 3-week trip in juli 2023 and collected the most important travel information for your trip to South Africa.
Travel Information South Africa
The Best Travel Route for South Africa
We started our trip in Cape Town and drove the Garden Route to Port Elizabeth. From there, we took a domestic flight to Johannesburg to visit the famous Kruger Park. Although this route is doable by car, it may be better to take the flight if your time is limited. We needed about three weeks for our trip! Curious about our itinerary?
South Africa Itinerary With Rental Car
We rented a car for our trip and think this is a neccesity (and it is quite affordable too). We rented through Sunnycars. They offer an all-in price with full insurance and free cancellation up to one hour before pick-up. In both countries you drive on the left side of the road!
Visa and Entry Requirements
We did not need a visa for entering South-Africa (for a travel period shorter than 90 days). Always check the current entry requirements for your nationality, as they may very at the moment.
Travel Budget and Currency
The currency in South Africa is the South African Rand (ZAR). For us it was quite easy to pay by card, however we would suggest to always have some cash in local currency for places where you can only pay in cash. Be careful at an ATM, especially around the larger airports. We think South Africa is an affordable destination, however it is certainly not as cheap as many Asian countries!
Daily travel budget for South Africa
Accommodation Options Garden Route South Africa
South African Rand Exchange Rate (ZAR) | Revolut
Climate and Weather in South Africa
South Africa is located on the southern hemisphere, so the summer months are around Christmas, whereas the winter is in July and August. There is a difference in climate between Cape Town (south-west) and Johannesburg (north-east). Cape Town is a little cooler and more rainy than the plateau around Johannesburg.
Zuid-Afrika is een van de weinige verre bestemmingen waar je zonder jetlag naartoe kunt, er is namelijk geen tijdsverschil! Wel zijn de seizoenen precies omgedraaid. Qua klimaat zit er een groot verschil tussen Kaapstad en de Tuinroute in het zuid-westen en Johannesburg en het Krugerpark in het noord-oosten. Rondom Kaapstad is het een stuk vochtiger en wordt het ook nooit zo heel heet. De hoogvlaktes rondom Johannesburg zijn juist een stuk droger. Meer info?
Climate of South Africa | Wikipedia
Peak and Low Season
Most tourists come to South Africa in the summer period around Christmas, so this is probable the busiest and most expensive time for a visit. We visited in July during winter months. Although it was still quite busy, at least temperatures were acceptable for safaris. If you’d like to go to the beach, the winter months are too cold unfortunately.
Populaire Attractions
Obviously, the big five is the number one bucket list thing for South Africa. We were lucky and got to see all of them (and more wildlife) in the Krugerpark! We also visited Addo Elephant park, both with our own rental car as a self-drive. Furthermore, the Garden Route and the Panoramic Route contain very nice nature and both Cape Town and Johannesburg are worth a visit!
Mini Guide 3 Active Days Cape Town
Johannesburg City Guide: What To Do?
Best Stops on the Garden Route South Africa: A Complete Guide
Health and Safety
Safety and South Africa, this might be the first question that comes to mind. In the end we think it was not that bad and didn’t have any issues during our trip. However, it is useful to read up on this subject. For example, drive with windows and doors closed, be careful with ATM’s at the major airports and make sure you are at your destination after sunset.
In addition to safety, healthcare may be different from your home country. Therefore, make sure you have good travel insurance and check the current situation carefully before departure. We also recommend that you always take advice from a specialist in advance with regard to tropical diseases and travel vaccinations.
Culture and Traditions in South Africa
We were quite impressed by the culture in South Africa, as it was really really different to our home country in western Europe. At the same time, it was quite confronting too, still seeing the remains of the recent history. We would especially recommend the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg for a quick dive in the countries history.
Internet and Connectivity in South Africa
We had quite a good signal during most of our trip with a local simcard from Vodacom, which we bought at Cape Town airport (location in our Google Maps itinerary). However, we more and more use Esim these days, which is way more convenient.
Looking for a data package? We mostly use the Esim plan from Airalo for connectivity in foreign countries. Use the code MEIKE4854 for a €3,- discount on your first purchase!
