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| Visa | A passport with a validity for at least 6 months is required for all nationalities. No visas are required for travellers from Commonwealth countries, Japan, the USA and the European Union for visits of up to 90 days. For all other nationalities, contact the South African consulate or embassy in your country. Transit passengers continuing their journey by the same or first connecting aircraft provided holding onward or return documentation and not leaving the airport. | | Time | GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) + 10 hours | | Electricity | 220/230V (250V in Pretoria), 50Hz | | Weights and Measures | Metric | | Health | Vaccinations
When travelling from with yellow fever infected areas, a vaccination is required. Recommended vaccinations are diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis and hepatitis A. From October till May, malaria is present in South Africa. Medicines against this disease are recommended depending on itinerary and length of stay. Bilharzia (schistosomiasis) is endemic in the north and east and may be present elsewhere. Avoid swimming and paddling in fresh water. Swimming pools, which are well chlorinated and maintained, are safe. For more information, please contact the nearest vaccination center before departure.
Water and Hygiene
Tap water is considered safe to drink in urban areas but may be contaminated elsewhere and sterilisation is advisable. Milk is pasteurised and dairy products are safe for consumption. Local meat, poultry, seafood, fruit and vegetables are generally considered safe to eat.
Medical Care
Medical facilities are excellent. Health insurance is recommended. A leaflet on health precautions is available from the South African Health Commission. | | Communication | The emergency telephone numer is 10111 for police and 10177 to summon an ambulance. The international access number for South Africa is 09. When placing an international phone call, you have to dial 09 plus the country code. | | Money | The currency in South Africa is the South African Rand (ZAR). If you would like to know the most recent exchange rate for this country's currency, go to the Oanda website. Especially Visa and MasterCard, are widely accepted. More and more ATMs will give cash advances, but you shouldn't rely on this service away from major centres. Most banks change travelers' cheques in major currencies, usually at a commission of around 1%. Although the First National Bank has a higher minimum charge, it takes a lower commission so it might be cheaper when you're changing a few cheques. Keep a few exchange receipts, as you'll need them to reconvert your Rands when you leave. South Africa has introduced new coins and notes, but old coins are still common so it's hard to become familiar with what you're paying. Banking hours are from 0830-1530 Monday to Friday, 0800-1130 Saturday. | | Links | Oanda Currency converter
Official tourism website of South Africa
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