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South Africa, the country Bernie (my Travel Buddy) calls home, was love at first sight for me. I believe everyone should visit this wonderful country once in their life. But beware, you might lose your heart to this beautiful country as I did.
The country offers almost everything a single traveller, package tourist, nature lover or active holidaymaker could wish for. For example, it has great weather, beautiful beaches, magnificent national parks, the best wine, tasty food, and breathtaking landscapes.
In this series of articles, I want to share valuable information about this extraordinary country to make your next trip to South Africa unforgettable.
It is good to know that you can travel to South Africa alone, in organised groups, or a combination of both.
Organised group tours are more enjoyable when booked in small groups. These tours are planned to the last detail; for example, the tour operator organises all accommodations, vehicles, and excursions. On-site, you can expect a local tour guide who speaks most of the travellers’ language.
However, you can easily plan your own trip from home. There any many helpful travel guides and internet forums that can assist you to plan your trip.
Because South Africa is in the southern hemisphere, the seasons are opposite to those of countries in the northern hemisphere.
In principle, South Africa can be visited at any time of the year. However, it is a very large country with different climate zones. There are thus better and less ideal times to travel to each region and to participate in the available activities.
This article gives you a more detailed overview of the best times to travel in the different parts of South Africa.
A direct flight from Germany to Johannesburg takes between 10 and a half and 11 and a half hours.
There are also direct flights from Germany to Cape Town airport, although you can take a connecting flight, depending on your final destination.
Flights should be booked about three months in advance or even earlier, particularly during the school holidays in South Africa.
Portals like Skyscanner are the best to find the cheapest flight.
PRO TIP! Avoid landing at an airport in South Africa late at night, as the areas around airports are often unsafe.
No special vaccinations are needed for travelling to South Africa. However, if you are entering from a yellow fever area, you must provide proof of vaccination.
Standard vaccinations are recommended for a trip to South Africa. If you have any doubts, please check with your doctor.
Malaria prophylaxis is recommended for visiting the northern parts of the Kruger National Park and some other high-risk areas in South Africa (please check with your travel clinic).
Sadly, South Africa has one of the highest car hijacking rates in the world. So you might ask what is the safest way to get around in the cities.
You can buy a SIM card immediately upon arrival at Cape Town or Johannesburg airports. The cell phone stalls are located just before you enter the arrivals hall. It is really hard to miss.
If you want to be prepared before leaving home and want to avoid struggling with SIM cards while travelling, you can get an e-SIM from providers like Holafly. This will enable you to be connected to the internet as soon as you land in South Africa.
We highly recommend that you book a rental car before home. The cheapest way is via comparison portals.
We prefer using Check24 and have only had good experiences with them. Most of the time, the rental company was Europcar and had offices in the terminal building.
You need an international driving license. To date, neither me nor my family or friends have ever been asked for it by officials, but it is compulsory and could lead to inconvenience in the event that you do get stopped and checked.
This is a question that regularly causes tempers to flare. The crime rate in South Africa is very high.
Read more about this topic here.
One should, as everywhere else worldwide, be street smart by:
Unfortunately, many travellers report having issues with luggage tampering and theft. Therefore, always make sure you have locks on your luggage.
Read the following article “Luggage theft at airports: how to keep your bags safe from criminals when flying”.
When refuelling, you can stay in the car, and the windscreen is often cleaned. Here you should give between 2 and 5 rands.
Car guards look after your car in almost parking areas and are happy to receive a small tip.
They regularly also offer to help you unpack your trolley and appreciate a small tip for this service.
Cape Town arguably has the most beautiful spots to watch the sunset in South Africa.
The best sunset spots in Cape Town are:
South Arica is a wonderful destination that is as easy to travel to as many European or North American countries.
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