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Flights and travel guide to South Africa

If you want to travel in southern Africa then South Africa is a good place to start. While you can fly into any country in southern Africa, most flights will route through South Africa anyway. South Africa is also a good place to get used to traveling in the region. Of course South Africa is not only a jumping off point, it is itself a superb destination rich in culture, fauna & flora and history. South Africa is located at the southern tip of Africa. It is bordered by Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland and Lesotho (which is completely surrounded by South Africa). It is a vast country with widely varying landscapes and has 11 official languages, as well as an equally diverse population. South Africa is renowned for its wines and is the world’s largest producer of gold. South Africa has a strong economy and is an influential player in African politics.

Outsiders’ views of South Africa are colored by the same stereotypes as the rest of Africa. Contrary to popular belief, South Africa is not devastatingly poor with an unstable government that is rapidly going to pot. Although the rural part of South Africa remains among the poorest and the least developed parts of the world and poverty in the townships can be appalling, progress is being made. The process of recovering from apartheid, which lasted almost 46 years, is quite slow. In fact, South Africa’s United Nations Human Development Index which was slowly improving in the final years of apartheid, has declined dramatically since 1996, largely due to the AIDS pandemic, and poverty levels appear to be on the increase. South Africa boasts a well-developed infrastructure and has all the modern amenities and technologies, much of it developed during the years of white minority rule. The government is stable, although corruption is common. The government and the primary political parties generally have a high level of respect for democratic institutions and human rights, although the government’s support of the misrule of neighboring Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe has raised questions about its commitment to human rights and even democracy itself.

Cities

Capitals

Pretoria — The administrative capital of the country
Cape Town — The legislative capital and seat of Parliament. A world-class city named for its proximity to the Cape of Good Hope. Also within a stone’s throw of South Africa’s winelands.
Bloemfontein — Location of the Supreme Court of Appeal, the highest court in non-constitutional matters. The Constitutional Court in Johannesburg became the highest court in constitutional matters in 1994.

Others

Durban — Largest city in KwaZulu-Natal ,second largest in South Africa and popular coastal holiday destination for South Africans.
Johannesburg — The economic heart of Africa and the most common entry point into Southern Africa.
Nelspruit — Capital of Mpumalanga and gateway to Mozambique.
Polokwane — Capital of Limpopo (formally known as Pietersburg) and a good jump off point for visits to the northern parts of the Kruger National Park and Zimbabwe.
Port Elizabeth — Coastal city in the Eastern Cape with Addo Elephant National Park located close by.
Kimberley — Capital of the Northern Cape Province. Famous for its diamonds and "Big Hole".
Upington — Located in the arid Northern Cape province, this city is a good base when exploring the Kalahari desert and the many national parks located in the Northern Cape.

Climate

Climate	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High(°C)	30	30	30	27	25	24	23	26	29	29	32	30
Low(°C)	23	23	21	17	12	8	8	11	16	18	21	22
Precipitation (cm)	16.6	10	3.9	3.5	0.9	0.3	1.6	1.6	2.4	4.9	11.4	11.2

The climate in South Africa ranges from desert and semi-desert in the north west of the country to sub-tropical on the eastern coastline. The rainy season for most of the country is in the summer, except in the Western Cape where the rains come in the winter. Rainfall in the Eastern Cape is distributed evenly throughout the year. Winter temperatures hover around zero, summers can be very hot, in excess of 35 Celsius in some places.

Get in

Visas

Most nationalities get up to 3 months entry on arrival. Check with the Home Affairs and your travel agent whether you need to prearrange a visa. Do not show up without a visa if you are required to have one, as visas will not be issued at points of entry. If needed, you can extend your visa in South Africa. With an extension the total amount of time you are allowed to stay is 6 months. Additional information as well as Visa application forms can be found at the Department of Home Affairs, ph: +27 (0)12 810 8911

The Department of Home Affairs is notoriously inefficient, so make sure to apply for visas and visa extensions as early as possible.

Make sure you have 2 blank pages back to back in your passport and that it is valid for at least 30 days after your intended date of departure, or you will be sent back! Make sure you have a return ticket available or they will send you back. If you need to pick up a ticket at the airport have the flight number and details handy and speak with the customs guy, they should check your story out and let you in (be firm). Be wary of arriving with a damaged passport as new security measures might trip up your entry.

By plane

There are plenty of airlines offering flights to South Africa from major UK airports including London Heathrow, Birmingham, Manchester, Aberdeen, Belfast, Glasgow, Cardiff, New Castle, London Gatwick. South Africa has 10 international airports, the two major ones being Cape Town International and OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. Regular flights arrive from major centres throughout Africa including: Blantyre, Cairo, Gaborone, Dar es Salaam, Harare, Lilongwe, Livingstone, Luanda, Lusaka, Kinshasa, Maputo, Manzini, Maun, Mauritius, Nairobi, Victoria Falls and Windhoek.

Direct flights also arrive from major European centres, including: Amsterdam, Athens, Madrid, London, Paris, Istanbul, Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich and Lisbon. There are also direct flights from Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Doha, New York, Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Buenos Aires, Mumbai, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Sao Paulo, Singapore, Sydney and Perth. You may also want to have a look at Discount airlines in Africa.

There are regular flights arrive in South Africa from major centers throughout Africa including: Blantyre, Cairo, Gaborone, Dar es Salaam, Harare, Lilongwe, Livingstone, Luanda, Lusaka, Kinshasa, Maputo, Manzini, Maun, Mauritius, Nairobi, Victoria Falls and Windhoek.

Cape Town to Gaborone, Maun, Mauritius, Walvis Bay, Windhoek, Johannesburg
Johannesburg to Dar es Salaam, Gaborone, Kilimanjaro, Lusaka, Maputo, Mauritius, Maun, Maseru, Nairobi, Seychelles, Swaziland, Victoria Falls, Walvis Bay,Windhoek, Zanzibar

Direct flights also arrive from major European centers, including: Amsterdam, Athens, Madrid, London, Paris, Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich and Lisbon. There are also direct flights from Abu Dhabi, Bangkok, Dubai, Doha, New York, Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Buenos Aires, Mumbai, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Sao Paulo, Singapore, Sydney and Perth.

By car

Should you be entering from one of the other countries in Southern Africa you might want to do so by car. South Africa operates a number of land border posts between itself and immediately neighboring countries. The more commonly used ones are:

Botswana border

Skilpadsnek, (On the N4, 54km from Zeerust.), +27 (0)18 366-1469. Open 6AM to 10PM.

Lesotho border

Maseru Bridge, (15km from Ladybrand on the N8 towards Maseru.), +27 (0)51 924-4004. Open 24 hours
Ficksburg Bridge, (Just outside Ficksburg), +27 (0)51 933-2760. Open 24 hours.
Sani Pass, (In the KwaZulu-Natal Drakensberg park.), +27 (0)51 430-3664. 8AM to 4PM.

Mozambique border

Lebombo, (On the N4 between Nelspruit and Maputo), +27 (0)13 790-7203. 6AM to 10PM.
Kosi Bay, (R22 between Hluhluwe and Ponta do Ouro), +27 (0)35 592-0251. 8AM to 4PM.

Namibia border

Nakop, (132 km from Upington on the N10 towards Ariamsvlei), +27 (0)54 571-0008. Open 24 hours.
Vioolsdrift, (On the N7 north of Springbok), +27 (0)27 761-8760. Open 24 hours.

Swaziland border

Oshoek, (120km from Ermelo on the N17 towards Mbabane), +27 (0)17 882-0138. 7AM to 10PM.

Zimbabwe border

Beit Bridge, (On N1 approximately 16 km north of Messina), +27 (0)15 530-0070. Open 24 hours.

Open times are often extended during South African holidays.. For a full list of entry ports or any additional information see the South African Border Information Service or contact them on +27 (0)86 026-7337.

Get around

By plane

South Africa has a well established domestic air travel infrastructure with links between all major centers. There are multiple daily flights to all the major airports within the country. The low cost airlines (1 Time, Kulula, Mango) are usually the cheapest and prices can be compared online. It is also worth comparing with the SAA rates as they usually have online specials which are very reasonable.

Stay safe

South Africa has some of the highest violent crime rates in the world but by being vigilant and using common sense you should have a safe and pleasant trip — as hundreds of thousands of people have each year. The key is to know and stick to general safety precautions e.g. don’t walk around in deserted areas at night, don’t advertise posession of money and expensive accessories.

Do not accept offers from friendly strangers. Do not wear jewellery or expensive watches. Do not wear a tummy bag with all your valuables. Distribute your valuables in inside pockets and other pockets. Do not carry large sums of money. Do not walk by night in deserted places. Don’t make it obvious you are a tourist - conceal your camera and binoculars. Do not leave your valuables in plain sight when driving in your car, as "smash and grab" attacks do sometimes occur at intersections, and keep your car doors locked, and windows closed. Know where to go so that you don’t have to reveal you’re lost or need a map — simply all the obvious "I am a tourist" signs.

Visiting the townships is possible, but don’t do it alone unless you really know where you’re going. Some townships are safe while others can be extremely dangerous. It’s best to go with an experienced guide. Some tour companies offer guided visits to the townships, and this is perfectly safe.

South Africa has very few earthquakes, cyclones, tornadoes, floods, terrorist incidents or contagious diseases (with the notable exception of HIV).

Please also note that taking an evening stroll, or walking to venues after dark can be very risky! It simply is NOT part of the culture there, as it is in Europe, North America or Australia. It is best to take a taxi (a meter cab - not a minibus taxi) or private vehicle for an "evening out". The same applies to picking up hitchhikers or offering assistance at broken-down car scenes.

Important telephone numbers

The National Tourism Information and Safety Line, ☎ +27 (0)83 123-2345. Operated by South African Tourism

From a fixed line

107 - Emergency
10111 - Police
10177 - Ambulance
082911 - Netcare911and The National Sea Rescue Institute

From a mobile phone

112 - All Emergencies
082911 - Netcare911 and The National Sea Rescue Institute (You only need to dial 911 from Vodacom mobile phones)

Make International Call at Local Rates from South Africa

Just Dial 087 805 5762 and follow prompts.
Supported On: Vodacom, MTN, Cell C and Telkom.
Countries: USA, UK(Landline), India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, China, Hong Kong and many more.

Wildlife

One of the main reasons travelers visit South Africa is to experience the outdoors and see the wide range of wildlife.

When driving in a wildlife reserve, always keep to the speed limits and stay inside your car at all times. On game drives or walks, always follow the instructions of your guide.

Ensure that you wear socks and boots whenever you are walking in the bush; do not wear open sandals. A good pair of boots can stop snake and insect bites and avoid any possible cuts that may lead to infections.

In many areas you may encounter wildlife while driving on public roads, monkeys and baboons are especially common. Do not get out of the vehicle to take photos or otherwise try to interact with the animals. These are wild animals and their actions can be unpredictable.

Sometimes you might find yourself in the open with wild animals (often happens with baboons at Cape Point). Keep your distance and always ensure that the animals are only to one side of you, do not walk between two groups or individuals. A female baboon may get rather upset if you separate her from her child.

Always check with locals before swimming in a river or lake as there may be crocodiles or hippos. Most major beaches in KwaZulu-Natal have shark nets installed. If you intend to swim anywhere other that the main beaches, check with a local first. Note that shark nets may be removed for a couple of days during the annual sardine run (normally along the KwaZulu-Natal coast between early May and late July). This is done to avoid excessive shark and other marine life fatalities. Notices are posted on beaches during these times.

Keywords: travel guide, travel to south africa