Vistors from certain countries may require a visa. Information on visa requirements can be obtained from travel agents, a South African Embassy or trade mission abroad or the Department of Home Affairs in Pretoria, Private Bag X114, Pretoria, 0001.  Phone: 012 314 8911 .  Fax: 012 314 8516.  Visas are not issued at SA border posts. Visitors intending to re-enter the country after visiting neighouring countries in Southern Africa should apply for a multiple-entry visa. Visa extensions may be obtained from the Department of Home Affairs.For more information click on the VISA link.

The duty-free allowances are: 400 cigarettes, 50 cigars, 250 g cigarette or pipe tobacco, two litres of wine, one litre of spirits or other alcoholic beverages, 50 ml perfume, 250 ml Eau de Toilette, and gifts, souvenirs and other goods with a value of R1250.00 or less.  Customs charges are payable before leaving the customs hall.

No immunization is required for visitors entering the country other than for those who have left an area infected by yellow fever.  In such cases, visitors will need a valid international yellow-fever vaccination certificate.  Visitors planning to visit areas, which may be affected by malaria, should check the necessary precautions in advance.  For Mpumalanga and northern KwaZulu-Natal, a malaria prophylaxis is most advisable. Extra care should also be taken when drinking water in rural areas and eating local tropical food. It is advisable to drink only bottled water in rural areas. Should medical assistance be required, well equipped clinics are available. AIDS/HIV are very prevalent in Africa, avoid having unprotected sex.

Traffic laws are strictly enforced and seat belts must be worn. The speed-limit is 120 km/h on freeways and 60 km/h in residential areas.

Most national routes are covered by South Africa's cellular phone networks, and cellular telephones are available for hire at the major airports.

Bigger towns and villages have internet cafes. Internet access is usually also provided by most  accommodation establishments for a certain fee.

For international calls to South Africa the code is +27 followed by the area code prefix (the first 0 in the area code should not be dialed).  For calls from South Africa the international access code is 00, and international dialing codes can be found in South African telephone directories

Banking hours are Monday – Friday (09h00 – 15h30) and Saturday (08h30 – 11h00). Automatic teller machines (ATM's) are open 24 hours and are located throughout the country.

The currency of the country is the rand (R).  Bank-notes are in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 rands.  The international symbol for the currency is ZAR.  All major credit cards are accepted widely throughout the country, except for the purchase of petrol.  Traveller's cheques should be purchased in Sterling, US Dollars or Euros and can be exchanged at any commercial bank or foreign exchange outlet.

South Africa has 11 official languages: Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu.  English, accepted as the business language, is spoken by most South Africans.  French, German and Italian are also spoken in most of the larger hotels.

Left hand drive. Visitors must be in possession of a valid international driver's license. In general, hired vehicles may not be driven into neighbour countries without written permission by the rental agencies. Large petrol station complexes, with shops and restaurants, are situated along the major tourist routes.

South Africa is well served in terms of airports. Apart from airstrips found on game reserves and rural areas, South Africa's main national airports are situated in the following cities:  George, Port Elizabeth, East London, Durban, Kimberley, Bloemfontein, Upington, Nelspruit.

The topography of the country and the cold Benguela current of the west coast and the warm Mozambique current of the east coast have a moderating effect on the climate, which varies widely.  Despite regional differences, the winters are predominantly mild and snow is limited to the high mountain peaks.  The mean annual rainfall is just over 500 mm but rain is very unevenly spread through the country.  The Western Cape has a Mediterranean climate with warm, dry summers and a winter rainfall.  On average, Cape temperatures in summer vary between 14°C and 25°C, and in winter from 6°C to 17°C.  The Cape interior, the Free State and Gauteng have hot summers (temperatures regularly exceed 30°C) with afternoon thunder-showers and cold, frosty winters.  KwaZulu-Natal has a subtropical climate with high humidity in the summer months.  Mpumalanga and the Lowveld have mild winters.

The cities and larger towns have numerous shopping malls with department stores and speciality shops.  There are arts and craft markets throughout the country.  South Africa is well known for its gold and diamonds. Jewellery, leather goods, African curios, antiques, ceramics and clothing are among the attractions.  Many shops in the metropolitan areas are open on Sunday, and later in the evenings.  08:00 to 18:00 in the bigger cities. Smaller villages normally closed between 13:00 to 14:00, Mondays to Fridays.  08:00 to 13:00 on Saturdays.  Major shopping centers open on Sundays.

BOTSWANA: McCarthy's Rest - 8 AM to 4 PM  /  Makopong - 8 AM to 4 PM  /  Ramatlabama - 7 AM to 8 PM  /  Skilpadshek - 7 AM to 7 PM  /  Kopfontein - 7 AM to 10 PM  /  Stockpoort - 8 AM to 4 PM  /  Groblersbrug -  8 AM to 6 PM  /  Pontdrift - 8 AM to 4 PM  /  LESOTHO: Maseru Bridge - open 24 hours  /  Ficksburg Bridge - open 24 hours  /  Sani Pass - open 8 AM to 4 PM  /  MOZAMBIQUE: Lebombo - open 6 AM to 10 PM  /  Kosi Bay - open 8 AM to 4 PM  /  NAMIBIA: Nakop - open 24 hours  /  Vioolsdrift - open 24 hours  /  SWAZILAND: Oshoek 7 AM to 10 PM  /  ZIMBABWE: Breit Bridge - open 24 hours.

When planning a trip, take note that most shops, businesses and public services are closed on a public holiday.

01 January - New Year's Day  /  21 March - Human Rights Day  /  April - Good Friday  /  13 April - Family Day  /  27 April - Freedom Day  /  01 May - Workers Day  /  16 June - Youth Day  /  09 August - Women's Day  /  24 September - Heritage Day  /  16 December - Day of Reconciliation  /  25 December - Christmas Day  /  26 December - Day of Goodwill

As in most countries of the world, travelers are advised to take the necessary safety precautions.  It is not advisable to walk alone in deserted streets, especially after dark, and only taxis booked through a reputable taxi company should be used.  Visitors should try to avoid attracting unnecessary attention by not carrying bulky camera bags or wearing expensive jewellery.  All valuables should be locked in the hotel's safety deposit box.  Ideally, traveler's cheques or credit cards should be used, to avoid carrying around large amounts of cash.  By exercising reasonable care, visitors can ensure an enjoyable stay in the country.