Travel information

As South Africa lies south of the equator, the seasons are the opposite of those in Europe. For travellers from Central Europe, the climate is most pleasant during the periods from March to May and August to October. During these months, temperatures are mild, humidity is low and nights are relatively cool. UV radiation is very high all year round in South Africa, so for health reasons you should always make sure you have sufficient protection from the sun.

Make sure you comply with import and export conditions to ensure smooth entry and exit. On entry, you will only be allowed to pass through the “nothing to declare” barrier if you do not exceed the maximum value or quantity for the following items and goods:

• Maximum value of new and second-hand (personal) items: R3,000.
• Maximum quantity of wine per person over 18: 2 litres].
• Quantité maximale de spiritueux ou d’alcool par personne de plus de 18 ans : 1 litre
• Maximum number of cigarettes per person over 18: 200
• Maximum quantity of tobacco per person over 18: 250 g
• Maximum quantity of perfume per person: 50 ml
• Maximum quantity of eau de toilette per person: 250 ml

Customs duty on other goods and objects worth more than R12,000 is 20%.

If you have something to clear, declare it in the “Items to clear” section. These are all objects intended for commercial or advertising purposes.

When you leave the country, you must pay 20% tax on all amounts in rand over 500 rand that you transport.

In the following cities, avoid going into the city centre on Sundays or after shops have closed:

• Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Pretoria.
• Always visit the townships with a well-organised local guide.
• In national parks, don’t leave the marked paths and stay with the group.
• Use well-known, reliable taxi companies.
• Don’t be dropped off by strangers and avoid minibus taxis. Do not hitchhike.
• Close windows and doors when travelling by car. Night-time intercity driving is risky. Do not keep valuables in plain sight in the vehicle.
• Carry credit cards and cash separately, close to your body. To be on the safe side, keep all your documents, valuables and cash you don’t need in a safe in your home.
• Be careful when withdrawing cash from ATMs.Check that you have entered your PIN code correctly and take all printouts and receipts with you.Correct behaviour during police checksIf you drive a hire car in South Africa, you should expect speed checks and checks by the local police authorities or the South African Police Service (SAPS). If you are stopped and fined, you should bear the following points in mind:- Police officers, civil servants or other local employees must not receive any cash from you as part of the roadside check.
• If the fine is justified, go to the nearest police station or the relevant Magistrate’s Court. Only pay at these locations against a receipt.
• Tolls must only be paid at official toll booths, not at a checkpoint. Important information about electricity and telephones when travelling in South Africa Making a phone call in South Africa – Making a phone call in South Africa is very similar to making a phone call at home. Public telephones are coin-operated or use cards that you can obtain, for example, from supermarkets, bookshops, the post office or the airport. Networks for the use of mobile devices are well developed. Reception is also possible in many remote areas. The downside is the high roaming charges levied by many operators. You can avoid them by buying a SIM card locally for around €5. This can be topped up with the amount of your choice, which you can then use to make calls (“Airtime”). Use of electrical appliancesRarely any modern hotel has a suitable electrical socket to power your hairdryer or charger. In South Africa, three-pin round plugs are common. The mains voltage is 240 V, 50 Hz. You can buy adapters for your small electrical appliances before you leave or in South Africa. Adapters can also be hired from the reception desks at some accommodation establishments.

Drinking water in South Africa is regularly checked for impurities and harmful micro-organisms. Its quality complies with World Health Organisation (WHO) standards, so you can drink it without fear. In some regions, the water is even particularly rich in minerals.

You can buy various types of pre-packaged water in supermarkets and grocery shops. If you’re going on a trip or a hike and you need fresh water, here’s what you need to know: Rivers, lakes and streams on the plains can be polluted, especially near populated areas. Mountain springs and streams, on the other hand, may have drinking water quality. If you notice a brownish discolouration, it is humic acid, which has no influence on the quality of the water. To be on the safe side, fresh water should be disinfected. To do this, boil the water for about 10 minutes and add a teaspoon of bleach (1 teaspoon for 200 litres). The mixture should then macerate for at least two hours. An alternative is to expose the water to direct sunlight in a transparent container for six hours.

South Africa’s national currency is the rand, abbreviated to R. There are notes of 10, 50, 100 and 200 rand and coins of 5, 2 and 1 rand. In addition, 50, 10 and 5 euro cent coins are in circulation.

Pay with a credit card – If the regular exchange of cash is too complicated for you, you can pay with a standard credit card or Maestro card. Cashless payments are safe and widespread in South Africa. For your stay in South Africa, free current accounts with an associated credit card, such as the DKB VISA card, are particularly suitable. This card allows you to withdraw the amount you want from over 1,000,000 ATMs worldwide at no extra cost. What’s more, you can easily pay without cash. Other benefits, such as interest or service offers for travellers, are also offered on accounts of this type.

The credit card is also a useful companion when it comes to buying food, going shopping or eating out. Find out before you pay whether your card is accepted. Eurocard, Mastercard and VISA are the most popular, followed by American Express and Diners Club. Only at service stations can you expect to pay in rands. Here, only local currency is generally accepted in cash. If you need cash, you can obtain it from local bank branches. ATMs are also available at the airport and in major cities.

In South Africa, there is a risk of contracting malaria, especially during the rainy season from December to March. The areas at risk are mainly the eastern regions of KwaZulu-Natal and the provinces of Mpumalanga and Limpopo, home to popular tourist destinations such as wildlife reserves and the Kruger National Park. To protect yourself against the transmission of malaria by mosquito bites, wear mosquito nets, clothing that covers your skin and sturdy footwear, and use anti-insect preparations such as Anti Brumm Forte or No Bite.

Avoid aftershaves and other cosmetic products containing perfume. Mosquitoes are particularly active in the evening and at night. So close your tent carefully when you’re camping. Before you leave, make sure you have sufficient malaria prophylaxis. Your doctor may prescribe appropriate medication such as Lariam or Malarone. Other useful information can be obtained from pharmacies or directly in South Africa.

The other known health risks in South Africa are HIV infection and bilharzia, which are widespread. The latter can be contracted, for example, when the water level is low in stagnant water. There are many cases of tuberculosis in South Africa, but the risk of contagion for tourists is low.

For your trip to South Africa, it is advisable to take some cash with you in addition to your credit card. If you don’t exchange euros until you arrive in your destination country, you can take advantage of exchange rates there that are often much more advantageous. Official bureaux de change can be found in international airport terminals and in most major cities. It is not possible to change large denominations of 200 and 100 rand everywhere.

Things to bear in mind when exchanging cash in your destination country – Prefer official bureaux de change and bank branches, as the risk of counterfeit 200 rand notes is lower there. To exchange cash, you will need your passport.

Some South African countries have their own currency, for example Swaziland and Lesotho. Here, you should think ahead to the exchange if you need cash on your visit.

Tipping is common practice in South Africa. The amount depends on the type of service. To find out approximately how much you should tip, consult the following list:

• The average tip in a restaurant or bar is 10%. If you were very satisfied, you can give a little more.
• When you’re out and about with your car and you park it, security guards or car park wardens sometimes ask you whether they should look after your vehicle while you’re away. If you accept the offer, you will need to set aside at least 2 rand, depending on how long you will be away.
• At South African service stations, you’ll find other traditional services, from window cleaning to checking tyre pressure, coolant and oil levels, and refuelling. Reward this service with around 2 rand.
• At South African airports, you can use the services of a baggage handler. The usual tip is 5 rand per bag.
• Street newspaper vendors have a long tradition in South Africa. When you buy a newspaper, give the seller a few extra centimes or simply round up the price.
• There are other opportunities to call on more or less important services. It could be a taxi ride, a haircut, a spa treatment or help carrying your shopping. In such cases, it is customary to reward the service rendered with a small sum of money.

Ventilated clothing that covers a large part of the skin is important during your stay in South Africa. Don’t underestimate the power of the sun at these latitudes. The right headgear complements the sun protection provided by your clothing, especially at midday.

In addition, always apply sun cream and drink enough, at least more than in France. This will help your body cope with the sun and heat. Increased exposure to UV rays and heat is to be expected, especially by the sea and in high-altitude urban areas such as Johannesburg. Sturdy footwear – ankle-high if possible – will protect you from snake bites when out hiking. You can find information on the South Africa travel season on this site.

Thanks to a well-developed medical infrastructure, medicines and medical care are available on site. Nevertheless, you should carry with you all the medicines you need to take regularly for the duration of your stay. Anti-tick products such as Bayticol and mosquito repellents to protect against tick fever and malaria are necessary. Choose products that can be applied to both skin and clothing to increase protection. Products for diarrhoea and headaches are also part of a well-stocked travel pharmacy, as are disinfectant and bandages.

A few precautions will help you avoid falling ill. Be sure to eat clean food. Although there are meticulous controls on drinking water and food in South Africa, only drink boiled or packaged water if you are unsure of the quality of the water where you are. Food should be well cooked and you should avoid raw fruit.

In principle, you should be examined by your family doctor or a specialist in tropical medicine before leaving for South Africa and seek advice on the measures to be taken. In addition to the important prophylaxis against malaria, the following preventive vaccines are recommended. Hepatitis A and B, polio, typhoid, diphtheria and tetanus. Il n’y a pas de vaccination obligatoire, sauf si vous venez d’une région touchée par la fièvre jaune. In this case, you must present official proof of vaccination against yellow fever.

Tourists from Germany, Switzerland or Austria do not need a visa for their holiday in South Africa. On entry, you will receive a “visitor’s visa”, which generally allows you to stay for up to 90 days.

To obtain a “visitor’s visa”, you must meet the following conditions: You must hold a valid passport or a provisional passport. It must be valid for more than 30 days after your planned departure date. It is important that there are at least two blank pages in the document for annotations.

If you are travelling with children, you must present a full birth certificate for each child and a passport that meets the same requirements as an adult passport. The birth certificate must be legalised and translated into English. You can also request an international birth certificate for your child from the citizens’ registration office in your place of residence.

Since 1.6.2015, additional rules have applied to minors travelling alone or accompanied by a legal guardian. To enter the country, a letter of consent is required from all legal guardians who are not travelling with the child. To be on the safe side, you should find out beforehand whether additional documents are required in certain cases.