South Africa Travel Tips: Experiences, Route, Tips

South Africa Travel Tips: Plan your own individual South Africa trip

After eight trips to South Africa by now, it is time to write down my best South Africa travel tips. South Africa is by far the easiest country in Southern Africa for me to travel to. Every time I come back I have a longing to go back.

Are you planning an individual trip to the most beautiful end of the world and still have questions? Here you will hopefully find all the information and answers. From entry to accommodation to safari. I have summarised all my tips here.

From routes for a round trip, the packing list, information on national parks and travel destinations. Tips for a safari to the packing list.

All useful South Africa travel tips

Are you planning your own South Africa trip? Here you will find more tips to help you plan:

• 21 South Africa sights and insider tips

• The most beautiful routes in South Africa (suggestions for 1-3 weeks)

• Tips for driving in South Africa

• Travelogue for 3 weeks in South Africa (first time visitor)

• Best time to visit South Africa

• How much does a South Africa trip cost?

• Recommendation for the best South Africa travel guide

→ All tips for your South Africa trip at a glance

All information for regions and cities:

Garden Route

Comprehensive Cape Town guide with everything you need to know

Cape Town Sightseeing | Tips before your Cape Town Holiday (Planning)

Cape Peninsula and Cape of Good Hope

Panorama Route

Kruger National Park

• Johannesburg

Northern Cape with Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Augrabies Falls and Namaqualand

• Western Cape Roundtrip from Cape Town (with Paternoster and Langebaan)

• Eswatini (formerly Swaziland)

• Addo Elephant National Park

• Tsitsikamma National Park

BOOK WITH TRAVEL SPECIALISTS????
We often receive emails with questions about itineraries and the fear of planning everything on our own. That's why there are travel specialists like DIAMIR. This agency will tailor-make your trip (either individually or as a group trip) so that you have the best experience on the trip. We have also travelled with DIAMIR and can recommend this sustainable provider to you. → Directly to DIAMIR

Why travel to South Africa?

People travel to South Africa to experience adventures, to see animals or simply to switch off. Cape Town is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Culinary delights are world class at affordable prices.

South Africa is the southernmost country on the African continent. The rainbow state offers a variety I have never seen before:

Fantastic beaches on the Indian and Atlantic Oceans, seemingly endless sand dunes and nature and tranquillity in the many national parks (for example in the West Coast National Park). There are numerous opportunities to observe the Big Five live in national parks on safaris (actually game drives). Especially around the Kruger National Park there are numerous opportunities to get very close to animals.

In contrast, there are modern cities like Cape Town and the often underestimated Johannesburg. You should not shy away from a visit to a township. That, too, is South Africa.

South Africa is an ideal destination for an individual trip by rental car.

The whole world in one country

The advertising slogan of the South African Department of Tourism is "The whole world in one country". Already after my first impressions, the slogan was confirmed for me: The country is huge, offering you the most diverse landscapes, regions and cultures. The variety of destinations and attractions seems unlimited.

It is difficult to choose a route. Before my first trip, I also pondered for a long time what we would like to see and which places we would have to cancel due to time constraints.

So that you are not surprised by fully booked tours or accommodation, I have briefly summarised how we prepared our trip to South Africa.

See the most beautiful routes for a round trip in South Africa here.

General travel information, all travel reports and tips such as the best time to travel, travel guides, language, entry, etc. for your trip can be found here in the overview for South Africa.

Best time to travel South Africa

The first thought when planning a trip to South Africa is: When is the best time to travel to South Africa? Summer, autumn, winter or spring?

South Africa is basically a destination that you can travel to all year round. As recommendations vary depending on activities and regions, I have written a separate article on this.

In a nutshell:

• Cape Town, Cape Peninsula, Western Cape: year-round, mild even in winter.

• Northern Cape: Spring, summer, autumn. Very cold nights in winter.

• Kruger National Park: All year round, but for me best in summer (February).

• Garden Route: All year, whale season from November.

Detailed information in the article for the best time to travel with climate in South Africa

Getting to South Africa

Booking flights to South Africa

There is no such thing as the best direct flight at the cheapest price. I prefer direct flights, even if they are often a little more expensive. I find night flights even better. You will save the most money if you book at least 6 months before your departure. Last minute bargains are hard to find these days.

Flights to Cape Town

Direct flights to Cape Town are currently only offered by Lufthansa and Condor. The latter are cheaper, but if you value quality, you should fly with Lufthansa.

Tip for Condor: If you value legroom, I recommend booking Premium Economy Class. Due to the lack of time difference (only +1 hour in winter), you won't have jet lag and can take off directly on arrival.

Several airlines fly to Cape Town with a stopover. South African (Johannesburg), Air Namibia (Windhoek) or British Airways (London), to name but a few.

Read here my tips to find and book cheap flights

How much time should I plan for a South Africa round trip?

How long will you stay in South Africa? According to statistics, a South Africa trip lasts on average 10 - 14 days. Tourists often visit Cape Town with Table Mountain and the Cape Peninsula for 2-3 days and then drive along the Garden Route.

Or you fly on to Johannesburg to explore the Kruger National Park. These regions are home to South Africa's most important sights.

In the meantime I have been to South Africa eight times. Here you can find an overview of the most beautiful routes for round trips in South Africa (all of them travelled by me).

Itinerary for South Africa

I have already done eight round trips in South Africa individually with a rental car. An end is not in sight, the nights trip is in planning.

If you are travelling to South Africa for the first time, you will find that the beautiful destinations in the country are endless. You are overwhelmed with planning the itinerary.

I would definitely advise you to travel by rental car. Driving in South Africa is quite easy, despite left-hand traffic.

Our tip: Book open-jaw flights: Start in Cape Town and fly back to Germany from Johannesburg.

Here is my suggested route for a first trip to South Africa.

Route for 3 weeks

• Flight to Cape Town

• Flight to Johannesburg and Soweto

• Sabi Sabi Game Reserve (Private Game Reserve near Kruger National Park)

• Graskop(Panorama Route)

• Rhino Walking Safaris(Kruger National Park)

• Eswatini (formerly Swaziland)(Mkhaya Game Reserve)

• St Lucia

• Hluhluwe National Park

• Durban

• Flight to Port Elizabeth (optional: Addo Elephant National Park) and along the Garden Route to Cape Town

• Tsitsikamma National Park

• Knysna / Plettenberg Bay with Robberg Nature Reserve

• Mossel Bay

• Swellendam

• De Hoop Nature Reserve

• Hermanus

• Cape Town.

On the first trip we skipped the Drakensberg in favour of St Lucia and Hluhluwe National Park. We chose Knysna instead of Plettenberg Bay. We would do it the other way round today.

Itineraries of further South Africa trips:

1. Trip: Round South Africa with Cape Town, Westcoast National Park, Winelands, Johannesburg, Panorama Route, Kruger National Park, Swaziland, St Lucia, Hluhluwe National Park, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Tsitsikamma National Park, Knysna, Mossen Bay, Swellendam, Hermanus and Cape Town.

2. Journey: Cape Town and Cape Peninsula with Winelands

3. Journey: Cape Town

4. Johannesburg, Soweto, Panorama Route, Kruger National Park.

5. Trip: Cape Town, Cape Peninsula, Sutherland, Kagga Kamma, Springbok (Namaqualand), Augrabies Falls National Park, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Upington.

6. Trip: Cape Town, Cape Peninsula, Addo Elephant Park, Tsitsikamma National Park, Plettenberg Bay, Robberg Nature Reserve, Mossel Bay, De Hoop Nature Reserve, Hermanus, Cape Town.

7. Trip: Johannesburg, Hoedspruit, EcoTraining in Kruger National Park.

8. Trip: Johannesburg & ranger training at Eco Training.

Where will my next trip take me? I don't know yet. The Drakensberg and large parts of the Wild Coast are still missing. As well as many places in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. I liked it so much that I really want to go back.

Nevertheless, I am always drawn back to Cape Town, Table Mountain and the Kruger National Park. Each time I find new destinations.

HOTEL WANTED? ????

For the search for a good hotel we recommend the platform Booking.com. We always book our accommodation on this platform or directly with American Express, as we get additional discounts with the American Express Platinum credit card (see details here, only worthwhile for frequent travellers).

Entering South Africa

For German tourists it is easy to enter South Africa as a tourist.

Do I need a visa for South Africa?

To enter South Africa you only need a passport valid for at least the duration of your trip (at least 30 days after the end of your trip is recommended).

A tourist visa is valid for 90 days. If you are staying longer in South Africa, you can extend your visa by 90 days on the spot.

Vaccinations, first-aid kit and travel insurance for South Africa

If you are coming from Europe, no vaccinations are required for normal tourists to South Africa. For travel to rural areas, the standard vaccinations tetanus, diphtheria, hepatitis A and B, rabies and typhoid are recommended.

For long-term stays (e.g. studies), vaccination against hepatitis B is advised. Always consult a doctor for more information and vaccination advice. Vaccinations should generally be checked before each trip and refreshed if necessary.

Packing list for first-aid kit

For trips to South Africa, I always take the most important medicines with me. Even though you can certainly get everything in South Africa, we didn't want to leave anything to chance in case of illness. I always want to have the most important medicine at hand quickly. That's why I had the following with me in South Africa:

• Nasal spray (always in my hand luggage)

• Sinupret (because of a chronic problem with sinuses)

• Hand disinfectant gel (as a substitute for water, as there is often no soap) - but you can also buy it locally.

• Plaster

• Sun cream LF 50

• Electrolyte-glucose powder, e.g. Elotrans

• Aspirin

• Perenterol forte, Lopedium and Imodium akut (for diarrhoea)

View my first-aid kit with printable PDF file

Do I need malaria prophylaxis?

Again and again I receive emails asking: Malaria prophylaxis for South Africa? I always advise you to consult a doctor. Everyone has to sort this out for themselves. I do not take malaria prophylaxis for South Africa.

The Addo Elephant National Park and the private reserves along the Garden Route are malaria-free.

What travel insurance for South Africa?

Many holidaymakers only ask themselves about travel insurance shortly before departure. But then it is often too late. If you are seriously injured in sports or at work shortly before your trip, you might lose a lot of money.

To make sure this doesn't happen to you, you can read here which travel insurance makes sense in advance (luggage insurance, travel interruption insurance, ...).

Money, currency and credit cards

The South African currency is the Rand (ZAR). One Euro is equivalent to about 18 Rand (fluctuates). Download an app to your smartphone to get the latest exchange rates, e.g. Currency for iOS.

Credit cards are almost always accepted. Use a credit card that does not charge any fees when paying or withdrawing money from ATMs abroad. This saves a lot of money.

Change money in Germany?

Never, because the exchange rates are worse and there are fees. Directly on arrival with Credit card (DKB as an active customer is our tip) Withdraw money in local currency. This not only saves a trip to the bank in Germany, but also money.

Caution: In some regions far from civilisation, you must expect to be able to pay only with cash. As a rule, this does not apply to the Garden Route.

More tips on the best travel credit cards we use.

In 2023, the best credit cards are GenialCard from the Hanseatic Bank, the VISA Card the DKB Bank (as active customer) and the awa 7 credit card (???? "Green" product of the Hanseatic Bank). With these cards, you can withdraw money free of charge from ATMs and pay locally without paying foreign fees abroad in foreign currencies! With both credit cards you can make contactless payments and use Apple Pay and Google Pay. Here you will find all tips on the best travel credit card 2023 with comparison.

Sim card for mobile phones

Vodacom has the best coverage in the country. SIM cards are available on arrival at the airport in Johannesburg or Cape Town. You can't miss the shops. Alternatively, MTN has better reception in remote areas (Kruger National Park and Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park).

If you don't want to buy a SIM card, we recommend an eSIM via app. Providers include Ubigi. Sign up in the app and book one of the tariffs offered.

Of course, these are more expensive than local SIM cards. Sometimes, however, you are too lazy to change the SIM card. Then Ubigi is great.

Tip

Service is rarely included in restaurants. Service staff live off your tip. We advise you to tip 10-15% of the amount in restaurants.

When refuelling, you do not have to leave the car. For this service you should tip 2 - 5 Rand. Often they also clean the windscreen.

Car guardswill watch over your car in the car parks. They are also happy to receive a small tip.

Electricity & Power

The voltage is 220 volts, just like ours. However, you need a three-pin adapter. You can get this when you enter the country (Vodacom Store) or in advance from Amazon.

Tips for accommodation in South Africa

Especially during the peak travel season in December/January, it makes sense to book accommodation well in advance. This is also the time of summer holidays in South Africa. Accommodation in the official rest camps in the Kruger National Park or in the Tsitsikamma National Park were almost all fully booked when we planned our trip (in August for December).

Tip: Book accommodation for South Africa (especially in the national parks) at least 6 months in advance, much better 1 year in advance.

You can find accommodation for South Africa at agoda.com and booking.com. Both portals offer a wide range of accommodation for South Africa.

I compared all portals before booking. If an accommodation was fully booked at agoda.com, it was often still bookable at booking.com. It is also worth comparing prices.

We like to book flats via airbnb. Minimum stay is often 2 nights.

Accommodation in National Parks in South Africa and Swaziland

Accommodation in the camps of the national parks can be booked via the official website sanparks.org, even though it is unfortunately very confusing.
Tip: Book at least 6 months in advance. It is also worth staying at least once in a private game reserve.

We stayed at Earth Lodge in Sabi Sabi and Plains Camp (luxury tent) including a sleep out in the tree house of Rhino Walking Tours. The difference to the official rest camps of sanparks is huge.

→ Difference between Restcamp and Private Game Reserve using the example of Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge

Book a rental car and, if necessary, domestic flights in South Africa

For rental cars there are comparison portals such as. Sunny Cars (favourite)Billiger-Mietwagen.de, Check24 (German) or RhinoCarHire.com (English). There you will usually find better prices than directly on the websites of the car rental companies.

Our rental cars for South Africa have for all seven South Africa trips via Sunny Cars from Germany. It was uncomplicated and the cars were relatively new (the first one had only 700 km on the clock) and in top condition.

The good thing about Sunny Cars? You always have the additional driver included. So there are no additional fees. In addition, all important insurances are always included. It doesn't get any better than that!

Here you can find my tips for booking a rental car and here tips for driving in South Africa.

Are you going to Lesotho or Eswatini?

If you are planning a side trip through Lesotho or Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), let your rental car company know. You will receive a document which you have to show at the border when entering the country (in our case Eswatini).

For the distance between Port Elizabeth and Cape Town, there were only 3 of us and we took a smaller car (register car) without automatic transmission. When we picked up the car reserved for us, it was gone and we got a Honda with automatic transmission. Super.

Travel tips: One-way rental when renting a car

If you rent a car in one place and return it in another, you will have to pay a so-called "one-way rental" in South Africa. A round trip was out of the question for us, so we accepted the fees.

Example:
For the rental in Port Elizabeth and the return in Cape Town at the airport we were charged 920 ZAR (approx. 65 Euro) and 1241 ZAR (approx. 78 Euro) respectively.

Here you can find my tips for booking a rental car in South Africa

Plan excursions and activities for your South Africa trip

Tickets for popular excursions and activities in South Africa need to be booked before your trip.

We especially like to book special tours at Airbnb Experiences. Here you will find exclusive tours that you won't find anywhere else.

Examples:

• Walk with Penguins with John and the NGO in Simon's Town (my absolute favourite tour).

• Bicycle tour in the township of Khayelitsha

• Helicopter flight over Cape Town without doors

Check it out, it's really worth it!

Tickets for Robben Island have to be planned in advance. Spontaneous is not an option here, as the tours are of course very popular with locals.

Tip: We did a combined tour with a visit to a township and Robben Island in one day. You can book this tour directly here:

In St Lucia, I was lucky to get 2 places for a night-time turtle tour. At Heritage Tours and Safaris you can check in advance if there are tours (depends on the tides) and secure one of the coveted places.

We had the very rare luck to see an endangered Leaterback Turtle laying eggs. The tour was fully booked and lasted from 10pm - 5am. It was worth it!

Is it worth getting a Wild Card for the national parks in South Africa?

If you are planning to visit more than one national park in South Africa, it might be worthwhile to get a Wild Card. You then pay a one-off lump sum and do not have to pay a new fee at each gate.

The card is not always worthwhile. It depends on whether you are travelling alone, as a couple or as a family. The number of parks to be visited also plays a role.
Read my experience report here to find out whether it is worth buying the Wild Card (with a calculation example).

Safety in South Africa

The same precautions apply as in other big cities. Don't carry jewellery and valuable items around openly. Especially not in townships. On these tours, the guides will point this out to you.

Otherwise: Don't be afraid, it's not that bad. Nor is it as dangerous as many people think. Nothing has ever happened to me on seven trips.

South Africa is no more unsafe than other countries.

Again and again we were advised not to drive in the dark. In the meantime, I know where you can drive at night. In Cape Town, for example, I have no problem driving in the dark. Avoid the "dark corners" of Woodstock and the townships on your own.

Most importantly, don't leave any objects open in the car. We have only now seen so-called "spotters" in Cape Town, even on busy roads and car parks on beaches (Muizenberg). They do nothing but look into cars. If it is worthwhile, the "spotter" informs his comrades.

These spotters often have transmitters in their hands and walk along the parked cars. They check which ones they can open through these transmitters. We saw this in Cape Town on a busy road.

Outside the cities it is safe. In some areas you should refrain from driving after dark. Not because you could be robbed, but because obviously drunk (white) South Africans drive around drunk (our landlady in St. Lucia warned us about this).

Otherwise, my advice to you is: Don't be afraid, people don't "just shoot you" here. Dare to go into townships. I had my best encounters in Soweto and Khayelitsha.

For the latest safety advice and travel warnings, check with the German Foreign Office.

Everything about safety in South Africa summarised

The question we are asked most often is about safety.

Cape Town and the sights are quite safe thanks to video surveillance. We have never been in a funny situation. Use common sense and follow these rules:

1. 1Avoid wearing obvious jewellery.

2. Ask locals which neighbourhoods to avoid after dark. Take UBER from A to B. Even short distances you would normally walk.

3. Avoid hiking up Table Mountain. The number of muggings increases.

4. Never go into a township without a tour or locals.

5. Be confident and don't stare haphazardly at maps on the street.

6. Do not leave items in the open in your car.

How much does a trip to South Africa cost?

As I am often asked about the budget for planning a trip to South Africa, I have started to write down all the expenses of all my trips. This list is constantly being added to as I visit South Africa once a year to explore new regions.

Costs of a South Africa trip (with prices to plan)

More South Africa travel tips for your road trip

You need an international driving licence

When I arrived, only the rental car company asked to see my international driving licence. Many people think you don't need one at all. Since I don't feel like arguing with the police, I had an international driving licence issued in advance for 16 euros.

For more information, see my tips on driving in South Africa.

Save money by having the right credit card

You can pay with all major credit cards in South Africa. I use a free VISA card with no fees for withdrawals and payments. My tips on money when travelling and my recommended travel credit card can be found in detail here.

Make sure that the credit card limit is not too low. If you rent a car, you will need to pay a deposit. Expenses add up quickly on location if you hardly ever pay with cash.

In 2023, the best credit cards are GenialCard from the Hanseatic Bankthe VISA Card the DKB Bank (as active customer) and the awa 7 credit card (???? "Green" product of the Hanseatic Bank). With these cards, you can withdraw money free of charge from ATMs and pay locally without paying foreign fees abroad in foreign currencies! With both credit cards you can make contactless payments and use Apple Pay and Google Pay. Here you will find all tips on the best travel credit card 2023 with comparison.

Secure your important documents

I printed out all booking confirmations before I left. In some areas there is no electricity or internet. To be on the safe side, I scanned all the important documents for the trip and also copies of my passport and driving licence and saved them on Dropbox.

South Africa Packing List

For South Africa, you should pack some things that you tend to neglect on other trips. Mornings and evenings can be very chilly, especially during game drives, and depending on the time of year, it can also be rainy. Pack at least a warm jumper and jacket. You should bring clothes in muted colours (no bright or white clothes) if you plan to go on many game drives. Animals do not like bright colours like pink and red.

From October to May Kruger Park and the eastern Mpumulanga region there is an increased risk of malaria. If you want to be absolutely sure that nothing will happen to you, pack Malarona (or alternatives) as a prophylaxis. Consolidate with a doctor for this. I don't use anything against malaria in South Africa.

It is also helpful to pack your clothes with No Bite for clothing for clothing. Mosquitoes like black. Make sure you wear light-coloured clothes (including your socks) and wear long clothes.

I didn't carry Malarone and sprayed myself with normal Autan Tropical. It was quite enough for me.

If you don't have a camera with a telephoto lens, it's a good idea to buy binoculars. a pair of binoculars make sense. Binoculars are especially useful in the Hluhluwe National Park, where you will find wonderful vantage points with wide valleys. You can buy a cheap pair at Decathlon, which is enough for a start.

If you want to observe animals regularly, you will buy professional ones like the STEINER binoculars Ranger Xtreme 8x56 I mentioned. It's really worth it, as even the best camera with a telephoto zoom often can't get as close to animals as you'd like.

• View binoculars at Decathlons (enough to get you started).

• My professional Steiner Ranger binoculars

A USB charger powerbank with integrated torch for your mobile phone, the batteries for your GoPro and extra batteries for your camera should also be packed. In South Africa and also in Swaziland we had no electricity for 3 days at a stretch.

Have you thought of everything else and does your equipment cover the most important things? How many kilos of luggage are allowed and what kind of luggage do you take?

Here you can see my checklist and also print it out to check off. A detailed packing list for safaris in Africa can be found here.

Checked off your packing list?

Have you ticked off all the items on your checklist? Then you're ready to go! I wish you a lot of fun and an unforgettable time!

Are you planning your trip to South Africa? Here you can find more travel tips:

Kruger National Park: Everything you need to know

Travelogue of my first South Africa trip

Garden Route all highlights with suggested itinerary

Panorama Route and Blyde River Canyon: All you need to know

Cape Town Sights

All tips for your South Africa trip at a glance