One of the premier safari destinations in the world, South Africa is home to the epic Big Five of wildlife as well as endless incredible experiences, beautiful destinations and cultural discoveries that will fuel your soul long after your visit comes to an end.
South Africa might just be the gateway between Africa and the rest of the world. One of the most popular countries to visit on the continent of Africa, this beautiful country is quickly rising in popularity with more and more people heading to South Africa each year to experience one of their ultimate bucket list items.
When To Visit: On the whole South Africa is pretty much a year round destination, with lovely warm weather and sunny days across most of the year. Across the country climates do differ though. May to October is considered the best time to visit for prime game viewing, during the dry ‘winter’ season.
Language: South Africa actually has at least 11 official languages, though it might be even more if you take into account dialects from all the different villages. The most common language spoken by South Africans is Zulu (23%) followed by Xhosa (16%) and Afrikaans (14%). English is also an official language in South Africa and widely spoken throughout the country.
International Airport: There are three main international airports in South Africa. The biggest and busiest of them all is O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg, that connects South Africa to every major destination around the world. The other two international airports that you can fly in to include Cape Town International Airport (CPT) and King Shaka International Airport in Durban (DUR).
Capital City: Cape Town
Time Zone: South Africa follows South African Standard Time (UTC +2) all year round.
Currency: The currency in South Africa is South African Rand $ZAR. At that time of writing, $1AUD converts to 10.29ZAR, $1 USD converts to 15.33ZAR and £1GBP converts to 18.85ZAR.
Credit Cards & ATMs: Credit and debit cards are widely accepted across South Africa and ATMs are often available. If you’re visiting more remote locations ATMs can be few and far between or empty, so it’s always a good idea to carry a little bit of cash on you in case of an emergency.
Driving: Always drive on the left side of the road in South Africa.
Power: In South Africa the power plugs and sockets are of type D, M and N. The standard voltage is 230 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz.
Internet Access: You can often find an internet connection in South Africa, although it will depend on where you’re visiting. Wifi in remote locations, such as safari camps and lodges is very slow and temperamental, so expect to be disconnected for at least a little bit of your visit.
Visa Requirements: Visas are not required for stays of up to 90 days for any visitors travelling on an Australian passport for tourism purposes. Visa rules have recently changed for South Africa, so make sure you know the latest information from Smartraveller before you go.
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