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.