South Africa FAQs

When is the best time to visit South Africa?

South Africa is a year-round destination, and the best time to visit depends on your priorities. The best season for an African beach holiday is summer (November to mid-March). The southern regions are summer destinations, with low summer rainfall.

Temperatures reach 28 to 30°C (82 to 86° Fahrenheit) or higher during this time and the warm waters of the east coast make for almost year-round swimming. Safaris in the Kruger region are best in the dry winter months from May to September or October when the vegetation is sparse so game viewing is easier, and the temperatures are milder.

Southern Right and Humpback whales visit South Africa's shores, particularly those of the Whale Coast between June and November every year. Although, if you're lucky, you may even see them as early as May and as late as December.

Namaqualand, in the Western and Northern Cape provinces, becomes a floral phenomenon in spring (mid-August to mid-October), when the desert-like terrain is transformed into a carpet of flowers, drawing thousands of visitors.

What side of the road do cars drive on in South Africa?

The left-hand side.

Will I need an international driver's permit to drive in South Africa?

Yes. You will need to arrange this in your home country.

What is the local currency and how should we manage carrying our money?

The local currency is the South African Rand. Most large towns and all cities have a wealth of places where you can exchange cash or traveller's cheques on arrival. Most credit cards (Amex, Mastercard, Visa and Diners) are widely accepted in shops, restaurants and hotels. Please note that credit cards are not accepted at filling stations.

What is the normal luggage restriction on flights in South Africa?

Most scheduled and charter flights in South Africa have a luggage restriction of 20kg per person. For charter flights it is imperative that luggage comprises soft bags only.

Is it safe to hire a car and to self-drive?

Certain parts of South Africa such as Cape Town, the Cape Winelands and the Garden Route, are excellent self-drive destinations. The roads are very good and very well signposted which makes for easy navigation and enjoyable independent travel.

If you book a self-drive holiday in South Africa through Go2Africa, we'll provide you with car hire, detailed and accurate driving directions, as well as unique overnight accommodation.

At Go2Africa we have done a lot of driving around South Africa and we have put together some hints and tips about road safety in South Africa.

What is public transport like? Can we use it?

Where possible, it's best to avoid using public transport altogether. Public transport in South Africa is generally unreliable, and most of the routes serviced do not include many areas that tourist would want to visit.

At night, public transport is irregular and is not always safe. If you don't want to drive yourselves, there are many reputable taxi companies to contact. Alternatively, either we or your hotel can easily arrange safe and reliable transport for you.

What is a car guard?

In most parking areas in South Africa, either in the streets or in designated parking lots, you'll see men (and less frequently women) dressed wearing bright orange, green, or yellow traffic bibs. They're there to watch your car while you go off shopping, to the beach or wherever else you are headed. These individuals are not paid a wage. It's customary to tip them a small amount of money when you return to your car, depending on how long you've been parked there.

What is customary to tip in restaurants?

10 percent is customary and 15 percent for excellent service.

How can I be certain that my valuables will be safe where we are staying?

Most hotels and lodges will have safes for your valuables either in your room or at reception.

What is the difference between the private and public reserves in South Africa's Kruger Park?

In a nutshell, the private reserves are large concessions of land with fewer lodges inside and less people visiting them at a time. They're home to private lodges which are more luxurious and more expensive than the accommodation in the public reserves.

The lodges on the private reserves generally include all meals and guided game drives in their cost, and on these reserves, the rangers are often (though not always) allowed to go off the road to follow large animals.

In the public sections of the park, accommodation is cheaper, more basic and usually of a self-catering nature. Kruger rest camps are a great option for self-drivers who are on a budget.

Unlike the private reserves, all areas within the park boundary are subject to strict park laws. Driving in the park's public areas is only allowed on the network of tarred and dirt roads. Under no circumstances may you drive off-road (no matter how intriguing the animal-sighting).

Game drives in public areas can be much busier than in private areas. An animal sighting in a public area could lead to anywhere from one to 10 vehicles excitedly converging on the same spot. private reserves guests enjoy game drives that are carefully organised to make sure you enjoy the wilderness with minimal vehicle interference.

Read more about the Kruger Park proper, private reserves and private concessions.

Which reserves are malaria-free?

All game reserves in Madikwe, the Pilanesberg and the Eastern Cape are malaria-free.

Can I bring my children on safari?

Yes. There are several extremely child-friendly lodges with excellent children's programmes. However, even child-friendly lodges generally don't allow children under the age of six to go on the guided game drives for safety reasons. If you stay in the national park, however, and do your own game drives in your own closed car, then you can safely take children of all ages with you.

What is the difference between a scheduled and private tour or transfer?

A scheduled tour or transfer departs at a fixed time and there'll be other people in the vehicle with you. Scheduled tours and transfers are non-private. On a private tour or transfer you and your party of travellers are all alone with the driver and guide and you can dictate the time of departure, arrival and other details of the tour to suit yourself as you see fit.

What electricity voltage do South African plugs require?

SA plugs have a voltage of 220 to 240V and a frequency of 50 Hertz. The plugs have three round-prongs.

Is there electricity at the safari lodges?

This depends on where you're staying, but most lodges do have electricity. Those which do not have electricity usually have a generator or another source of power. Charging your camera will, therefore, be no trouble.

What is the standard tipping procedure?

Tipping is entirely at your discretion but we recommend the following guide:

• Transfers - US$2 per person
• Restaurants - 10 percent for good service and up to 15 percent for exceptional service
• Game lodge staff - US$25 per stay
• Rangers/ trackers - US$10 per person per day

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