South Africa is the southernmost country in Africa, with a huge coastline of more than 2.500 km / 1.550 miles. That’s a lot! It’s also a place where you’ll find an eclectic mix of people, cultures, religions and languages. If I think about it, I can honestly say that South Africa is a country like no other. A complete South Africa vacation combines adventure with spirituality, wildlife and culture.
Most tourists visit South Africa for its landscape, safari, beaches and city life as well. In one word: variety. This is something I can say about the country’s capitals as well because… yes, there are 3 of them! Cape Town (legislative), Pretoria (administrative) and Bloemfontein (judicial). Interesting, right? Except for the capitals, some of the best places to visit in South Africa include Johannesburg, Kruger National Park, The Garden Route, Cape Peninsula, Stellenbosch and more.
Ready to pack your bags and start your adventure? Good news, I have lots of precious information about the most popular places in South Africa for you in my articles below. Check them out!
If the answer is yes, I recommend checking out all my articles about this unforgettable country here, so you will be fully prepared to visit South Africa.
Currency
South Africa’s currency is the South African Rand (ZAR). 1 USD is equivalent to around 14.50 South African Rand.
Visas
Oops! All visitors need a passport, plus you have to apply for a visa for South Africa as well (unless you’re coming from a visa-exempt country). You can do so at the South African embassy or consulate in your country in person. Or you can apply for an e-visa (very limited eligible countries can apply online at the moment) - more information on southafricavisa.com
Languages
There is not one, but 11 South African official languages, out of which Zulu is the most common, spoken by 23% of the population. If you’re visiting the cities, you’ll mainly hear Afrikaans being spoken, but English is also very popular, so you can easily get around while you visit South Africa.
Vaccines
No vaccines are officially required for entering South Africa except for a yellow fever vaccine in case you’re coming from endemic zones in America or Africa.
Electrical Plugs
South Africa runs on 230V and 50Hz. For the plugs, type C has two round pins, type D has three in a triangle, and both types M and N have three round pins.
SIM Cards
There are some things to keep in mind here. First, your phone must be unlocked and compatible with GSM networks. Second, you must register the freshly bought SIM with RICA to activate it, so you need to present your passport and proof of residence (booking confirmation from your hotel). If this sounds too complicated, you can use B4I Travel South Africa.
Religions
The dominant South African religion is Christianity (68% of the population).
Best Time to Travel
It is said that the best time to visit South Africa is from May to September and Cape Town from November to January, although these are definitely year-round destinations.
