Smart Self-Managed Tours

Country guide

South Africa

A photograph of South Africa
Photograph · Dietmar Rabich · CC BY-SA 4.0

Nine provinces and 2,798 kilometres of coast, running from the South Atlantic round to the Indian Ocean, wrap 1,221,037 square kilometres and more than 63 million people. It has three capitals rather than one, which is fair warning about how spread out everything else is. Cape Town sits under a mountain in the southwestern corner and is the reason most first visits happen; Johannesburg inland is the economic centre and the airport nearly everyone arrives through; Durban on the Indian Ocean coast is the warm-water city. The game reserves are a separate journey again, hours from any of the three.

Cities

Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.

Practical information
Language spoken
12 official languages; English is widely used in visitor services
National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
Dialling code
+27
International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
Currency
South African rand (ZAR)
Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
Emergency number
112 from mobile · 10111 police · 10177 ambulance
Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
Plug type
Type M and N · 230 V
Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
Tap water
Not recorded
Water conditions and restrictions vary by municipality

Planning a visit

  1. January: seasonal closure recorded
  2. February: seasonal closure recorded
  3. March: seasonal closure recorded
  4. April: no seasonality data recorded
  5. May: no seasonality data recorded
  6. June: seasonal closure recorded
  7. July: seasonal closure recorded
  8. August: seasonal closure recorded
  9. September: seasonal closure recorded — this month
  10. October: seasonal closure recorded
  11. November: seasonal closure recorded
  12. December: seasonal closure recorded

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

Filter the list

5 places match
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Category

Historic monuments 2 Museums 3 Places of worship 0 Nature sites 0 Viewpoints 0 Food and drink 0 Markets and shopping 0 Entertainment 0 Nightlife 0 Family attractions 0 Art and culture 0 Activities 0

Typical visit duration

Up to 1 hour 2 1 to 2 hours 3

Interests

History 5 Art 0 Museums 3 Nature 3 Sea and beach 2 Viewpoints 1
  1. Bo-Kaap Bo-Kaap
    01 45 min

    Bo-Kaap

    Bo-Kaap is a historic residential neighbourhood on the slopes of Signal Hill above central Cape Town.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Cape Town
  2. St. George's Cathedral St. George's Cathedral
    02 45 min

    St. George's Cathedral

    St George's Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral on Wale Street in Cape Town city centre and the seat of the Archbishop of Cape Town.

    • High
    • Historic monument
    • Cape Town
  3. Liliesleaf Farm Liliesleaf Farm
    03 1 hr 30 min

    Liliesleaf Farm

    Liliesleaf Farm is a liberation-history museum in Rivonia, northern Johannesburg. The property served as an underground headquarters for the African National Congress during the early 1960s.

    • High
    • Museum
    • Johannesburg
  4. Sci-Bono Centre Sci-Bono Centre
    04 1 hr 30 min

    Sci-Bono Centre

    Sci-Bono Discovery Centre is an independently entered science museum located in Newtown, Johannesburg. It operates with its own exhibitions and visitor programme, distinguishing it from other institutions in the precinct.

    • Notable
    • Museum
    • Johannesburg
  5. Workers Museum Workers Museum
    05 1 hr 30 min

    Workers Museum

    The Workers' Museum occupies a former municipal compound in Newtown, Johannesburg. It preserves the history of migrant labourers who constructed and sustained the mining city from the late 19th century onward.

    • Notable
    • Museum
    • Johannesburg

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·

Common questions

How long should a first trip to South Africa be?

Ten to sixteen days is suitable for one South African region or a two-hub trip. Cape Town, Johannesburg, safari areas and the Garden Route are far enough apart that flights or long road days must be part of the plan.

What entry documents are needed for South Africa?

South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs publishes visa-exempt country information. Confirm the passport-specific rule, allowed stay and any transit requirement there before travel.

What is the best way to travel around South Africa?

Johannesburg and Cape Town are the largest air hubs, with domestic flights connecting major regions. Parks and rural routes often require driving or arranged transfers, and urban public transport differs substantially by city.

When is a practical time to visit South Africa?

March to May and September to November are broad shoulder periods, but Cape weather and inland safari seasons do not follow one calendar. Wildlife goals, road conditions and the chosen coast should determine dates.

What money and payment basics apply in South Africa?

South African rand (ZAR) is the recorded currency. National figures for visitor card acceptance and transaction fees are Not recorded; confirm payment and deposit terms with lodges, rental firms and remote operators.

What practical safety details should I save for South Africa?

From a mobile phone, 112 is the general emergency route; police use 10111 and ambulance services 10177. South Africa uses Type M and N plugs at 230 V, and tap-water guidance is Not recorded nationally here.