Be sure to get appropriate health insurance that fits your travel and personal needs, and have funds available to cover any medical emergency. Visit a doctor at least four weeks before departure for vaccinations. Check out the list of vaccinations needed here. Have in mind that good-quality health care is available in all of South Africa’s major urban areas, and private hospitals are generally of an excellent standard. However, public hospitals are often crowded and understocked.

Pickpocketing and mugging can still take place in popular tourist sites. Be aware of your surroundings and avoid carrying large amounts of money in crowded places like downtown Cape Town. Always use authorized taxi services.

To clarify, your passport should be valid for at least six months from the date of your entry to South Africa. In addition, for any entry, you need to have at least two completely blank facing pages in your passport, excluding the last two pages. Children under the age of 18 must show a birth certificate. Please check to see if you need a visa to enter South Africa here.

The weather in South Africa varies a lot depending on the region. The high season for tourism is between November and March, so make sure to book in advance. Prices can rise in popular vacation spots. Autunm (April-May) and spring (September-October) are sunny and pleasant. This means great wildlife-watching conditions from autumn onwards. If you plan to do whale watching, it’s best around spring. Winter, between July and August, is also ideal for wildlife watching. It’s rainy season in Cape Town and prices are generally low.

English and Afrikaans are widely spoken in South Africa.

In South Africa the power plugs and sockets are type D, M and N. The standard voltage is 230 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz.