Southern Africa · UN member
South Africa: Travel Guide & Requirements
Republic of South Africa · IRiphabliki yeSewula Afrika · Rephaboliki ya Afrika-Borwa
South Africa is a country in Southern Africa with its capital in Pretoria. It has a population of 64.7 million (#24 in the world) and covers 1,219,090 km². The official languages are Afrikaans, English, Southern Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tswana, Tsonga, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu. The currency is the South African rand (ZAR, R).
Where is South Africa? Map of South Africa
Southern Africa, at the southern tip of the continent of Africa.
- Region
- Southern Africa
- Coordinates
- 29° S, 24° E
- Neighbours
- 6 — see list
- Coastline
- 2,798 km
- South Africa
- Neighbours
- Capital
- Largest cities
Map of South Africa showing Pretoria (capital) and the largest cities: Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Pietermaritzburg, Bloemfontein, East London, Vereeniging and Welkom.
Travel requirements
What you need to travel to South Africa
- Passport
Home Affairs lists a passport or travel document valid for no less than 30 days after the expiry of the intended visit, with at least one unused page for entry and departure endorsements, among the documents required to…
- Visa or eTA
Depends on your passport: of 198 passports, 93 need no visa, 105 need a visa from an embassy. Check yours or see South Africa entry requirements for every passport.
- Return or onward ticket
Home Affairs lists a return or onward ticket among the requirements for visitors.
- Proof of funds
Home Affairs says visitors must have sufficient funds to pay for their day-to-day expenses during their stay; it states no amount.
- Travel insurance
No official requirement.
- Vaccinations
Home Affairs lists yellow fever certificates among the requirements for entering South Africa if your journey starts in or passes through the yellow fever belt of Africa or South America.
- Arrival card
SARS says that from 1 July 2026 travellers entering or leaving South Africa must submit their traveller declaration online before they travel, unless they qualify for one of the limited paper-based exceptions.
- Customs allowance
SARS says excess currency is any amount above R100,000, or foreign currency convertible to more than R100,000, and that travellers must obtain written permission from the South African Reserve Bank before entering or le…
- Travel advice
Some caution needed — US and UK advice.
Entry rules: TravelRequirements.info — Entry Requirements Dataset (CC BY 4.0), each rule cited to an official government source. Always confirm with the airline and the official source before you travel.
Before you go
10 things to know before you travel to South Africa
- Safety: South Africa is generally safe for travellers, but some caution is needed: the US State Department rates South Africa Level 2 (“Exercise Increased Caution”), and the UK Foreign Office has no warnings against travel there.
- Best time to go: May and August — when daytime highs in Pretoria are around 24–25°C.
- Money: the South African rand (ZAR) — 1 US dollar is about 16.6040 ZAR.
- Plugs: type C, M and N, 230 V, 50 Hz — standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
- Emergency numbers: Police 10111, Ambulance 10177, Fire 10177.
- Language: Afrikaans, English, Southern Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tswana, Tsonga, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu are official.
- Driving: on the left — speed limits are 60 km/h in built-up areas, 100 km/h outside built-up areas and 120 km/h on motorways.
- Time zone: UTC+2 in Pretoria.
- Capital: Pretoria; the largest city is Johannesburg. About 64.7 million people live in South Africa.
- South Africa is the 25th largest country in the world by area.
Key facts
South Africa at a glance
Languages spoken: isiZulu or Zulu (official) 25.3%, isiXhosa or Xhosa (official) 14.8%, Afrikaans (official) 12.2%, Sepedi or Pedi (official) 10.1%, Setswana or Tswana (official) 9.1%, English (official) 8.1%, Sesotho or Sotho (official) 7.9%, Xitsonga or Tsonga (official) 3.6%, siSwati or Swati (official) 2.8%, Tshivenda or Venda (official) 2.5%, isiNdebele or Ndebele (official) 1.6%, other (includes South Africa…
Geography & history
About South Africa
Some of the earliest human remains in the fossil record were found in South Africa. By about A.D. 500, Bantu-speaking groups began settling into what is now northeastern South Africa, displacing Khoisan-speaking groups to the southwest. Dutch traders landed at the southern tip of present-day South Africa in 1652 and established a stopover point on the spice route between the Netherlands and the Far East, founding the city of Cape Town. After the British seized the Cape of Good Hope area in 1806, many settlers of Dutch descent -- known then as "Boers," or farmers, but later called Afrikaners -- trekked north to found their own republics, Transvaal and Orange Free State. In the 1820s, several…
Read the full history
Some of the earliest human remains in the fossil record were found in South Africa. By about A.D. 500, Bantu-speaking groups began settling into what is now northeastern South Africa, displacing Khoisan-speaking groups to the southwest. Dutch traders landed at the southern tip of present-day South Africa in 1652 and established a stopover point on the spice route between the Netherlands and the Far East, founding the city of Cape Town. After the British seized the Cape of Good Hope area in 1806, many settlers of Dutch descent -- known then as "Boers," or farmers, but later called Afrikaners -- trekked north to found their own republics, Transvaal and Orange Free State. In the 1820s, several decades of wars began as the Zulus expanded their territory, moving out of what is today southeastern South Africa and clashing with other indigenous peoples and the growing European settlements. The discovery of diamonds (1867) and gold (1886) spurred mass immigration, predominantly from Europe. The Zulu kingdom's territory was incorporated into the British Empire after the Anglo-Zulu War in 1879, and the Afrikaner republics were incorporated after their defeat in the Second South African War (1899-1902). Beginning in 1910, the British and the Afrikaners ruled together under the Union of South Africa, which left the British Commonwealth to become a fully self-governing republic in 1961 after a Whites-only referendum. In 1948, the National Party was voted into power and instituted a policy of apartheid -– billed as "separate development" of the races -- which favored the White minority and suppressed the Black majority and other non-White groups. The African National Congress (ANC) led the resistance to apartheid, and many top ANC leaders such as Nelson MANDELA spent decades in South Africa's prisons. Internal protests and insurgency, as well as boycotts from some Western nations and institutions, led to the regime's eventual willingness to unban the ANC and negotiate a peaceful transition to majority rule. The first multi-racial elections in 1994 ushered in majority rule under an ANC-led government. South Africa has since struggled to address apartheid-era imbalances in wealth, housing, education, and health care under successive administrations. President Cyril RAMAPHOSA, who was reelected as the ANC leader in 2022, has made some progress in reigning in corruption.
Location
Southern Africa, at the southern tip of the continent of Africa
Climate
mostly semiarid; subtropical along east coast; sunny days, cool nights
Terrain
vast interior plateau rimmed by rugged hills and narrow coastal plain
Highest point
Ntheledi (Mafadi) 3,450 m
Natural resources
gold, chromium, antimony, coal, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, tin, rare earth elements, uranium, gem diamonds, platinum, copper, vanadium, salt, natural gas
Natural hazards
prolonged droughts volcanism: the volcano that formed Marion Island in the Prince Edward Islands is South Africa's only active volcano
National symbols
springbok (antelope), king protea flower
Driving
Speed limits & road rules in South Africa
The default speed limits in South Africa are 60 km/h in built-up areas, 100 km/h outside built-up areas and 120 km/h on motorways. The legal alcohol limit for drivers is 0.5‰. Posted signs always take priority over these defaults.
- 6060 km/hBuilt-up areasTowns and cities
- 100100 km/hOutside built-up areasCountry roads
- 120120 km/hMotorwaysMotorways / freeways
- International Driving PermitRecognised: 1968 Vienna, 1949 GenevaCarry the IDP together with your national licence
- Driving sideDrive on the leftOvertake on the right
- Alcohol limit0.5‰ blood alcohol (0.05% BAC)
- Seat beltsRequired by law
- Child seatsRequired by law
- Motorcycle helmetsRequired for riders
- Road deaths (2021)24.5 per 100,000 peopleHigher than most countries (median 12.4)
Speed limits: OpenStreetMap wiki — Default speed limits (CC BY-SA 2.0). Road-safety laws: WHO Global Health Observatory. Compare speed limits and alcohol limits by country. Defaults for cars; local signs, weather and vehicle type can lower them.
Safety
Is South Africa safe to visit?
South Africa is generally safe for travellers, but some caution is needed: the US State Department rates South Africa Level 2 (“Exercise Increased Caution”), and the UK Foreign Office has no warnings against travel there.
US State Department
UK Foreign Office (FCDO)Latest update: New information about submitting an online traveller declaration before travelling and information about taking money into South Africa ('Entry requirements' page).
Updated 8 Jul 2026 · Full travel advice
Sources: US Department of State travel advisories (public domain) and UK FCDO foreign travel advice (contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0). Checked daily. Advice can change quickly — always read the official page before you travel.
Weather
Best time to visit South Africa
The best time to visit South Africa is May and August, when daytime highs in Pretoria are around 24–25°C. April, June to July and September are also a good time to go. November is the warmest month (31°C by day), July the coldest (4°C at night), and January the wettest with about 115 mm of rain.
- Jan31°C18°C
- Feb31°C17°C
- Mar30°C15°C
- Apr27°C12°C
- May24°C8°C
- Jun21°C5°C
- Jul21°C4°C
- Aug25°C7°C
- Sep29°C11°C
- Oct31°C14°C
- Nov31°C16°C
- Dec31°C17°C
Best time Good Less ideal
Before you go
Plugs, voltage & emergency numbers in South Africa
Plugs & sockets
230 V, 50 Hz · Standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
Emergency numbers
Save the local numbers before you travel — 112 or 911 may not connect here. All countries →
Sources: Wikipedia — Mains electricity by country and List of emergency telephone numbers (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Ski resorts
1 ski resort in South Africa
- 1 km of slopes
- 6 lifts
- up to 2,918 m
Biggest: Tiffindell
National parks
24 national parks in South Africa
- 50,239 km² protected
- oldest from 1926
Largest: Kruger National Park · Greater Kruger National Park · Addo Elephant National Park
Currency · 26 October 2026
South African rand exchange rates today
South Africa uses the South African rand (ZAR, R). One US dollar buys 16.6040 ZAR; over the last 30 days the ZAR has lost 1.8% against the dollar.
What other currencies cost in ZAR
Currency converter
Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0), 26 Oct 2026. Banks and exchange offices add a margin.
World rankings
Where South Africa ranks
How South Africa compares with the rest of the world — open any card for the full ranking.
Airports
Airports in South Africa
641 airports and airfields — 11 large, 51 medium and 527 small, plus 51 heliports. 23 have scheduled passenger flights.
Borders
Neighbouring countries
South Africa borders 6 countries along 5,244 km of land borders. Coastline: 2,798 km.
Military
South African armed forces
South Africa ranks #33 of 145 in the Global Firepower military strength ranking, with a defence budget of $3.2 billion (2025).
People
Population & society
Religion
Largest cities: Johannesburg (10.3 million), Cape Town (4.9 million), Durban (3.2 million), Pretoria (2.8 million), Port Elizabeth (1.3 million)
Economy
Economy
Main industries
mining (world's largest producer of platinum, gold, chromium), automobile assembly, metalworking, machinery, textiles, iron and steel, chemicals, fertilizer, foodstuffs, commercial ship repair
Export partners
China 19%, USA 8%, Germany 7%, India 7%, UK 6% (2023)
Top exports
gold, platinum, coal, cars, iron ore (2023)
Travel tools
Handy before every trip to South Africa
Next public holiday
Election Day — Wednesday, 4 November 2026. Then Day of Reconciliation (16 Dec).
South African passport
Ranked #96: 61 countries visa-free, 33 with visa on arrival, 5 with an eTA and 28 with an eVisa.
South African passport photo
Exact size, head position and background for South Africa's passport and visa photos — make one free with AI checks.
Calling South Africa
Dial +27 before the local number. Internet domain .za.
Climate footprint
439.8 million tonnes of CO₂ in 2024 — 6.87 t per person.
Entry requirements
Visa rules for every passport visiting South Africa: visa-free stays, eVisas, visas on arrival and documents to bring.
News
Latest travel news about South Africa
South Africa moves to resume visas for Rwandan passport holders within 12 months
South Africa has begun technical work to resume issuing visas to holders of ordinary Rwandan passports, restricted since 2014. The two countries' for…
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Japan has published a list of 63 countries and regions whose nationals do not pay the visa application fee. Honduras is among the American countries …
Botswana Places Third in Africa for Remote Workers but Lacks a Nomad Visa
A new 2026 ranking puts Botswana third in Africa for remote workers on safety grounds, but the country has no digital nomad visa. Travellers working …
Frequently asked questions about South Africa
What do I need to travel to South Africa?
How long must my passport be valid for South Africa?
Where is South Africa?
What is South Africa known for?
What is the capital of South Africa?
What language is spoken in South Africa?
What currency does South Africa use?
What is the calling code of South Africa?
Which countries border South Africa?
How strong is the South African passport?
What is the speed limit in South Africa?
Is South Africa safe to visit?
When is the best time to visit South Africa?
What plug type does South Africa use?
How many airports does South Africa have?
Sources: CIA World Factbook (public domain); World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0); names, languages and currencies: mledoze/countries (ODbL); flag: flag-icons (MIT); coat of arms: Wikimedia Commons (file page); exchange rates: Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0); airports: OurAirports.