South Africa had been on my bucket list for ages. Sun, mountains, beaches, culture, history — what’s not to love? So, when it was finally time to visit, we did as much research as possible to get the most out of the trip. If you’ve had your eye on traveling to South Africa, this post will help. I’ll share some useful tips from our three-week visit about everything from travel requirements, safety, culture, and getting around major cities in South Africa.
Travel Requirements
Let’s start with some common questions about South Africa travel requirements.
Do you need a visa for South Africa?
Not everyone requires a visa to visit South Africa. Citizens of the United States, Canada and other visa-exempt countries do not need a visa for short-stay visits. You can check your country’s status here.
Nigerian citizens need a visa to visit South Africa. So we applied at the VFS office in Abuja and received our visa within a week. We applied in September for our December trip. We learned the hard way that if you apply 2-4 weeks before the December rush season, wait times can be much longer (6 weeks or more).
Are there any vaccinations required for South Africa?
No, if you’re visiting from the US, you don’t need to take any special shots to visit South Africa. The CDC recommends that visitors be up to date on routine vaccinations. Malaria is not prevalent in South Africa — especially in the Cape Town region where most tourists stay, so it would be overkill to take preventative medication for malaria.
Visitors from areas where yellow fever is endemic (like Nigeria) may need to present their yellow fever card at their country of departure. We showed ours before check-in in Abuja but weren’t asked for it at the South Africa border.
Safety
Safety is a often a worry for first-time visitors to the African continent.
Is South Africa safe to visit?
Yes, South Africa –particularly Cape Town — is safe to visit. Johannesburg is notorious for knife and gun violence (although we personally never experienced any of this), but Cape Town is pretty safe.
Our Johannesburg Airbnb host recommended that we never walk farther than 2-3 minutes away after nightfall so we pretty much stayed indoors and ordered UberEats at night. We walked over 10 minutes from a restaurant in Sea Point, Cape Town, after dinner at about 9 PM and never felt unsafe.
Like every other country, however, we recommend taking basic precautions. Don’t leave your valuables on display, keep your hands and eyes on commonly pickpocketed items like your phone and wallet, and stay alert in public places.
Money and Spending
Curious what it costs to spend some time in South Africa?
Do I need cash in South Africa?
While it’s always good to have some cash on hand, you can pay for nearly everything with a Mastercard or Visa card in South Africa. Many places accept American Express cards, but the preference is definitely Mastercard and Visa. Some places like the Oranjezitch Market only accept card payments. We only used cash to tip hotel staff or buy from some street vendors.
Are things expensive in South Africa?
South Africa is one of the more expensive African countries, although nowhere as expensive as the United States or the United Kingdom. The Rand (ZAR) is South Africa’s currency and as at February 2025, 1 ZAR = $0.054. To put things in perspective, a grande latte at Woolworth’s Cafe (a mid-range breakfast spot) costs 48 ZAR ($2.61). The Woolworth’s “Proper Breakfast,” which is pretty much an English breakfast is 135 ZAR ($7.33).
How much does it cost to visit South Africa?
It depends on your budget. You can spend anywhere from $2000 to $5000 per person on a visit to South Africa. We’re mid-range travelers in terms of budget and we spent roughly about $50 each on meals per day. Most meals cost between 300 to 500 ZAR ($16-$27) with breakfasts costing generally costing the least.
Flight and accommodation costs will vary depending on your preferred airlines and stays. You’ll find a wide range of options to suit your budget. I’m working on a complete post all about where we stayed during our visit in South Africa. Depending on how long your visit is, you’ll probably spend the most money during your visit on activities and experiences.
Culture & People
Here’s what we thought about South African culture and people.
What are South Africans like?
In our experience, South Africans are not particularly friendly or welcoming. Compared to Rwandans, they can generally be a bit stand-offish, to be frank. Still, whenever we asked for help, they tried to assist and staff is generally polite and willing to help.
Tipping culture in South Africa
Tipping is HUGE in South Africa. Waiters will often bring your bill with a pen or pencil so you can write down your tip amount. Even on POS machines, there’s always an option to add a tip. Of course, you’re not forced to tip, but I certainly felt pressured to every time I paid at a restaurant or store. Coming from a country with little to no tip culture, it was definitely an experience to pay at least 10% more every single time 🥲
🗣️A common phrase you’ll definitely hear: We quickly learned that South Africans say “Yoh” at least once in every couple of sentences. It’s an exclamation, a conjunction, a filler word, and everything all at once. I loved hearing them say it.
Getting Around
Wondering how to get around South African cities?
Is public transportation safe in South Africa?
Everyone told us that public transportation in South Africa is unsafe for tourists, but honestly? The MyCiti buses in Cape Town looked safe to me. I wish we’d tried them. I think it would’ve been challenging, though, since there wasn’t a lot of guidance regarding the routes.
What’s the best way to get around in South Africa?
Uber! For even better service, use Uber Black. You’ll get a nice looking car with air conditioning and top-notch service. Ubers arrived quickly during our stay and accepted card payments without hassle (unlike in Ghana where drivers sometimes asked us for cash payments).
What cities are worth visiting in South Africa?
Johannesburg, Cape Town, Franschhoek, and Stellenbosch are fantastic! We visited all four and loved spending time there for different reasons. Cape Town and Franschhoek were definitely my favorites.
What to Do in South Africa
Enjoy everything South Africa has to offer.
What’s there to do in South Africa?
So much! Whether you like nature, culture, food, or history, there are abundant options for you in South Africa. You can go on an African safari, eat at countless restaurants, visit several museums, and enjoy many other fun activities.
Should I come to South Africa with my kids?
Absolutely! South Africa has so many kid-friendly attractions, it would be a shame to leave your kids behind.
What’s the weather like in South Africa?
South Africa’s weather varies wildly depending on what city you’re in. Johannesburg and the winelands tend to be hotter than the cape (understandably so). It’s always windy in Cape Town and summer or not, the nights are always a bit chilly. Nonetheless, if you’re visiting from the Western hemisphere, you will love the temperate weather in South Africa.
When is the best time to visit South Africa?
Hands-down, November to January, when the weather starts to warm up, is the best time to visit South Africa. The warmer weather allows you to experience the beautiful beaches and spend more time outside in beautiful, sunny weather.
South Africa was one of our most memorable 2024 travel experiences. Do you have any other questions about planning your first visit to this beautiful country? Leave ’em in the comments!
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