There is a good reason so many people want to visit South Africa. And once you’ve been here, you’ll understand why! Not only is it an affordable destination, but there is such a vast variety of things to do. From amazing beaches to wildlife locations, some of the most delicious food in the world, and breathtaking scenery, the rugged shoreline combined with mountains, forests, and deserts—there is a place to visit for everyone.
South Africa is especially known for its great weather and adventure activities. But being lazy next to the beach is also a great option.
Cape Town is especially popular among international tourists and is also one of my absolute favourite destinations, followed by the Garden Route area.
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Destinations
EASTERN CAPE
FREE STATE
GAUTENG
KWAZULU-NATAL
MPUMALANGA
NORTH WEST
WESTERN CAPE
Information
Currency: Rang (R)
Language: There are a total of 11 official languages. All big cities have English as their main language. The other main languages are Afrikaans, Zulu, and Xhosa.
Credit Cards and ATMs: Most retailers all over South Africa accept card payments, and ATMs are found at most gas stations and shopping centres. However, some of the smaller regions will require you to pay cash. Also, take note that certain restaurants or shops only take card payments due to safety reasons.
Plugs: South Africa uses Type D, M, and N, with the standard voltage being 230V. Buy a universal adapter that can be used in South Africa and make sure it has surge protection, as South Africa is known for its ‘load shedding’.
Getting Around
I would highly recommend that when you do visit this beautiful country, you rent a car from the airport. This will make travelling so much easier and will enable you to see so much more.
Places like Cape Town, Durban, and Pretoria have Uber if you are not comfortable driving around in a foreign country.
Major cities like Cape Town and Pretoria also have other bus/train options available, but if you are planning on visiting any other city that is not part of these three main cities, then getting around can be trickier, so having your transport at hand will make it so much easier.
The Best Time to Visit
To be honest, there is no bad time to visit South Africa. If you want to spend most of your days next to the beach, summertime would probably be the best time, which is from December to February.
If your main aim is to do a safari at Kruger National Park, then winter time will be best, which is from June to August. It is not as hot, and the temperatures also don’t drop so low as in the other regions of South Africa.
Durban has more of a tropical climate, so you can still soak up the South African sun during winter.
The cheapest time to visit is during the autumn and spring months. Autumn is from March to May, while spring is from September to November.
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