Home / Travel Tips / Travel tips for a first time visitor to South Africa Travel tips for a first time visitor to South Africa How safe is South Africa ? Especially for first time visitors? That was a question that I had often wondered, that I continued to ponder while traveling, and that I mused long after returning home. A view from Top of Africa building in Jburg South Africa does not have a good reputation when it comes to safety…well, that is what the Western media feed the rest of the world with. Much of this is I would say is totally overblown, or based on false pretences. Then again, its reputation didn’t come entirely out of nowhere. South Africa still has problems with crime, including violent crime. The truth? South Africa can absolutely be safe. South Africa is an amazing place and provided you go in with the right positive mindset you’re sure to get the most out of your trip. When a lot of people think of South Africa, they probably think of the final years of apartheid — riots in the streets, violence on every corner, white flight, and how South Africa was on the news every night. But, seriously….you have to remember that this was like twenty years ago. Quite a lot has happened in the past years, and the country has made incredible strides since then. Take it or leave it, I don’t think that any country has improved so much in such a short time as South Africa has. The country is now one of the emerging economic powers of the world, and race relations, though far from perfect, have improved significantly. It was recently overtaken by Nigeria as the biggest economy is Africa. South Africa is an absolutely wonderful, stunningly beautiful, incredibly fascinating country. If you let fear get the best of you, you would miss out on such a wonderful destination. It’s a pretty easy country to navigate, but if you’re a first time visitor to South Africa, these tips will make your trip that much more productive and enjoyable. Before leaving your country As first time travelers to South Africa, it is important you get all your travel documents ready and complete. If you will be putting up with a friend or family, make sure they are aware of your visit. Dont give them a surprise visit. The immigration officer on most occasions is likely to verify your visit from your South African contact. Many travellers (Most especially from Africa & Asia) get deported right on the spot solely due to accommodation problems. Language South Africa has eleven official languages. English is only the fifth most-common one but it is the lingua franca of business, politics, the media, and tourism. Other languages spoken in South Africa are iNebele, isiXhosa, isiZulu and Afrikaans. With so many languages, people often inject words from one while they’re speaking another. Hotel and ticket booking The immigration law stipulates that you travelers on visiting visas to South Africa are expected to have a valid return air ticket and PAID hotel accommodation. You should make sure that the travel dates on your air ticket matches your hotel reservation. For example, if you are spending 4 nights in South Africa, your hotel reservation should also read 4 nights and should be fully paid for before leaving your home country. We have witnessed cases of those that paid for just a few days for hotel with the mind of paying for the remaining days they intend to spend there at the hotel counter. As reasonable as this might sound, it is not accepted in South Africa. This rule applies to all non nationals of South Africa but there are few exceptions for citizens of some countries but these are unwritten/undocumented rules. Money South Africa’s currency is the rand. The current exchange rate for the Nigerian naira is about N16 – N17. It is advisable you change your local currencies from home in order to avoid the problems that come with changing currency in South Africa. There are 4 major banks in South Africa (Ned bank, Absa, Fbn, Standard bank) and only major currencies like the US dollar and the British Pounds are readily available at the banks and bureau exchanges. Your international debit/credit cards would also work in some of the ATMs located all around the city. We are now aware that the GT bank Mastercard and some other banks’ debit cards issued in Nigeria work at any standard bank’s ATMs in South Africa. first time visitor OR Tambo Airport, Johannesburg Arriving at the airport The O. R. Tambo International Airport airports is very modern and fully equipped with basic facilities you will find in major airports in Europe and America. You can easily pick up sim cards at any of the airports for free depending on the network provider or for as low as 6 rand. Your sim card will be registered on the spot as long as you can provide your international passport and you will be able to make calls right there to your loved ones. As it is in most airports around the world, taxis from the airport to your hotel room or wherever you will be staying might be a bit on the high side. You are allowed to haggle your way to a cheaper and most comfortable rate though. What to pack If you are visiting in the summer, you should pack lightweight clothing, beach wear, a hat, sunglasses and plenty of sunscreen. In the winter, pack VERY warm clothing and layers as it can be so cold in the mornings and at night (sometimes minus 2ºC) and many places in South Africa don’t have central heat. While the country is pretty casual, one or two formal outfits are probably a good idea if you’re visiting upscale hotels and restaurants or having business meetings. Feeding Food in Johannesburg for instance is relatively cheap. A plate of rice with salad and chicken in a good restaurant goes for about 150 Rand. 40 rand could also get you same in a moderate restaurant. You’ll find that South African etiquette is similar to etiquette in Western societies – since the country is such a melting pot of cultures, how you should act really depends on who you are with. A handshake is a standard greeting, although people who know each other well might kiss on the cheek. South Africa is cosmopolitan city and you are various dishes from most countries so you don’t have any reason to worry when it comes to feeding. Transportation Because of good infrastructure, travel is relatively easy and convenient in Johannesburg. Air travel is the fastest way to get around in a hurry, but driving is also a good option since the road system is extensive and gas stations are plentiful. Note that they drive on the left side of the road! South Africa also has several high-end bus lines for travelers to go between cities, along with trains (including long-haul, cheap trains as well as more expensive, luxurious trains) A regular taxi station in South Africa A regular taxi park in South Africa We think that you should always bare in mind that like most countries crime does happen, be it is usually petty theft or violent crime. If you take the usual precautions and use common sense you’ll be fine and you’ll get to experience this really beautiful country.
Posted on: Fri, 25 Jul 2014 13:28:21 +0000
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