South Africa

Travel tips for South Africa: safety advisories, currency and cash vs. card, tap water, plugs, local phrases, food, and advice from travelers.

Cash and cards

Cards widely accepted. Visa and Mastercard are accepted almost everywhere, allowing many to go mostly cashless. However, visitors should carry small bills (R10-R20) for tipping informal car guards and petrol attendants, or for purchases in rural areas and street markets.

Try the food

  • Biltong: Air-dried, spiced, and thinly sliced cured meat, typically made from beef or game.
  • Bobotie: A sweet and savory baked dish of curried minced meat topped with a creamy egg-based custard.
  • Bunny Chow: A hollowed-out loaf of white bread filled to the brim with a rich, spicy meat or vegetable curry.
  • Boerewors: A thick, coarsely minced beef sausage heavily spiced with coriander and cloves, traditionally cooked over an open fire.

Essentials

Plugs
Type C / Type M / Type N
Voltage
230V, 50Hz
Driving
Left side
Tap water
Usually safe
Emergency
112 (mobile), 10111 (police), 10177 (ambulance/fire)
SIM tip
Purchase a Vodacom or MTN SIM card at the airport arrivals hall, keeping your passport handy for the mandatory RICA registration process.

Etiquette

Tipping 10% to 15% is standard in restaurants, and it is customary to give a small tip of R5 to R10 to petrol station attendants and official car guards.

Airports in South Africa