General Information and Advice

Potential view from your motorhome

These pages are intended to provide you with more information about travelling to South Africa.

If you are used to staying on Club Sites you may find camp sites abroad quite different. Facilities and pitches vary from site to site and from country to country. In particular, you should note that there is no six metre rule.

With regard to everyday life and public services, South Africa enjoys world-class transport infrastructure, telecommunications, banking, medical and tourism facilities.

Entry requirements

All visitors to South Africa must be in possession of a passport valid until 30 days after the intended return date from South Africa. A visa is not required by British citizens holding a UK passport for an intended stay of 90 days or less. For more information, or if you hold any other passport, visit the website, or contact your consulate or embassy.

Visas for Swaziland and Lesotho

No pre-approved visas are required. Instead there is a small fee for an entry visa payable at border posts.

Climate

The Cape Coast enjoys a Mediterranean type climate with winter rainfall (June- August). The KwaZulu-Natal coast, Mpumalanga and Limpopo Province are subtropical. In the rest of the country temperatures are moderate, especially on the high interior plateau, with summer rainfall that often takes place in the late afternoon and as thunderstorms. These areas also generally experience rains between November and March with a peak summer rainfall in December and January. Winter is May to August and is a good time for game viewing, owing to the lower density of grasses and less ground water.

What to pack

Most of the time you'll be most comfortable in light, summer-weight clothes but do pack a warm jacket, socks, good shoes and a rain jacket. Pack sunscreen – lots of it – and a hat and sunglasses. Make sure you have at least one cool shirt with a collar for sun protection. Stock up on insect repellent and, if you'll be in a malaria area, ensure you have a cool, long-sleeved shirt and cool long trousers for the evenings. Bring good walking shoes.

South Africa is a casual country, so when going out on the town smart casual wear is appropriate in the majority of places.

Prohibited items

There are now many rules, regulations and laws about what may and may not be included in your carry-on (cabin) baggage on airlines. In general it is safe to assume that nothing that might remotely be considered a weapon will be allowed in the cabin and that this will usually include any kind of knife or sharp implement, down to penknives, knitting needles or even tweezers.

In addition, many airlines now have stringent rules on what liquids are allowed in hand baggage and this particularly has implications for anyone carrying vital medication or those travelling with babies.

It is safest to check for details with your particular airline, both well before and just prior to travelling. (If travelling with South African Airways, please visit ww3.flysaa.com, then select Leisure Travel–Baggage Information–Hand Luggage Info–Important Travel Security Information.)

Electricity

The electricity supply is 220-230 volts AC 50 HZ, with the exception of Pretoria (250V) and Port Elizabeth (200-250V). Most plugs are of the three round pins 15A type. Adaptors are best bought in advance of your trip.

Money

South Africa's unit of currency is the Rand, which is divided into 100 cents. As of 19 December here are ZAR12.68 to the Pound. Bank notes are in denominations of ZAR10, 20, 50, 100 and 200; coins are in the value of 5c, 10c, 50c and ZAR1, 2 and 5. Currency can be bought in advance from your bank or from bureaux de change. Most major international credit cards such as MasterCard, Visa and American Express are widely accepted (but not for fuel or tolls) and you can withdraw cash from cash machines in South Africa, as long as you have your PIN number. Check with your bank regarding charges. Banks are generally open from 0900 to 1530 Mondays to Fridays, and from 0830 to 1100 on Saturdays. ATMs (cash machines) are situated outside most banks, in shopping malls and at most filling stations.

Foreign tourists can have their VAT (value-added tax, at 14%) refunded at the point of departure, provided they present their original tax invoices.

Telephone and postage

South Africa’s international country code is 27. To call the UK from South Africa, dial 00 followed by the UK’s code (44), and then the full UK STD number minus the leading zero. Public telephones are either coin- or cardoperated. Phone cards can be purchased at certain stores, post offices and airports.

Post offices are generally open Monday to Friday from 0830 to 1630 and on Saturdays from 0800 to 1200.

Time zone

South Africa is two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time throughout the year, so it is two hours ahead of UK time during the UK winter and one hour ahead during the UK summer.

Health

A large network of hospitals offers excellent service, but make sure you have adequate health insurance, including cover for medical evacuation. A full and comprehensive medical and personal holiday cover with Europ Assistance is available through Carefree Travel Service.

It is generally advised that you should not swim in rivers in the eastern and northern regions, as the bilharzia parasite is found in these areas. Malaria is endemic in the Lowveld areas of South Africa (parts of Limpopo Province, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal). Prevention is the key and the most crucial elements of this are covering up and using insect repellent. Pack light clothes with long sleeves and long legs and once on the tour use any window and door screens with which your motorhome is equipped, or sleep under a mosquito net. When using insect repellent, be careful to re-apply it as directed by the medical notes accompanying the treatment you choose.

Do not leave your motorhome’s outside light on for long periods, as this will attract insects. Burning citronella candles can help to keep them away. Mosquitoes appear mainly in the evening.

You may also wish to take phrophylactic drugs as a precaution against malaria. If so, consult your doctor well in advance, as you may need to begin any such medication some time before departure. Be sure to ask your doctor about any possible side effects. Seek medical advice before travelling and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up to date.

NHS Direct (0845 46 47) can also provide you with advice on any vaccination requirements for South Africa.

The Sun

Do wear sunscreen and a hat whenever you are out of doors during the day, particularly between 1000 and 1600, regardless of whether there is cloud cover or not. Sunglasses are also recommended wear, as the glare of the African sun can be strong.

Water

High-quality tap water is available almost everywhere in South Africa. In some areas, the water is mineral-rich, and you may experience a little gastric distress for a day or two until you get used to it. Bottled mineral water, both sparkling and still, is readily available in most places.

Smoking

Law prohibits smoking in most public spaces, including airports and railway stations. Most restaurants have designated smoking and non-smoking areas.

Safety

Most parts of the country can be safely visited by tourists, provided they take basic common-sense precautions, e.g. not walking alone in deserted areas at night, not exhibiting photographic equipment or jewellery or large amounts of cash and, in traffic, maintaining a safe following distance. In large towns, lock your car doors when driving and ensure that your windows are up as some petty crime does take place at traffic lights.

Do not leave personal items and baggage on the seats. Do plan your route in advance, use maps and park in well-lit areas. Picking up of hitchhikers is not recommended. As in the rest of the world, South Africa has its share of criminals, so take the basic common-sense precautions.

If you are in doubt as to the safety of a particular area or attraction, contact the National Tourism Information and Safety Line on 083 123 2345. This number may also be used for assistance in replacing lost documents or reporting incidents. Alternatively, phone to ask a police station on 10111, to ask for advice.

Shopping

Modern shopping malls, arts and crafts routes and markets, flea markets, roadside stalls and informal vendors provide a wide variety of goods, curios and shopping experiences. South Africa’s fashion, gold and diamond jewellery, and art are much sought-after, as are the traditional handcrafted items such as Zulu beadwork, carved chessboards, painted ostrich eggs, colourful woven baskets, handbags and soft furnishings, mohair or sisal rugs, traditional wooden masks and carvings, pottery and leatherwork. Remember too the world-renowned Cape wines, exotic fruit liqueurs, brandy, rooibos (redbush) tea, dried fruit, biltong (dried meat snacks) and chutney. Most major shopping centres are open Monday to Friday from 0900 to 1700 and on Saturdays until 1300. Many shopping malls operate extended shopping hours including Sundays and public holidays.

Tipping

Tipping is not compulsory in South Africa but is appreciated as recognition of good service. In restaurants it is usual to tip waiting staff 10-15 per cent of the bill. It is also commonplace to tip your ranger and tracker on game drives (about ZAR50-ZAR75 per day is average). At service stations, pump attendants will fill your tank for you and will offer to wash your windscreen – a tip of whatever small change you have available is appreciated (typically two or three rand). In many areas parking attendants will offer to assist you in parking your vehicle and watching over it while you are away – again, a tip of two rand or so is appreciated.

Bringing goods into the UK

You are entitled to the allowances shown below:

200 cigarettes; or 100 cigarillos; or 50 cigars; or 250g of tobacco
60cc of perfume
2 litres of still table wine
250cc of eau de toilette
1 litre of spirits or strong liqueurs over 22 per cent volume; or 2 litres of fortified wine such as port or sherry, sparkling wine or other liqueurs
£145 worth of all other goods including gifts and souvenirs.

If you want to bring back more, you will have to declare it to customs on your way back and pay Customs duty and VAT. For more information, visit the Customs website and select the “Travel home page” icon.