South Africa Travel Blog
Indice
I want to clarify a point: this mini guide is ideal for those who travel to South Africa on their own because that’s how I did it. I didn’t pay for a travel agency to set up the route for me, but I let the destination itself do it for me during the 22 days of the trip.
This will depend on your country of birth. For example, I am Chilean and I only needed my passport to travel there. For many countries it is not necessary to apply for a visa if you will stay in the country for less than 90 days (3 months).
This is one of the most frequent doubts for those who visit South Africa, especially if they come from Latin America. Most of the trips from this part of the continent have a stopover in Sao Paulo (Brazil), so the yellow fever vaccine is mandatory. And when I say it is mandatory, it is real. I was asked for the vaccination certificate when I was about to board the plane to Johannesburg and if I had not had the famous paper, I would not have been able to take the plane. So do not take this point lightly.
Itinerary South Africa 15 days
When visiting any African country, one of the main doubts that arise is related to security. Africa is scary. Lack of knowledge, negative news about the continent and stereotypes make most destinations in Africa to be seen as unsafe and dangerous.
Despite government efforts, South Africa is still a country of great inequalities. It is easy to see this with a walk through the streets of Cape Town or Johannesburg, where modern neighborhoods and luxury resorts sit just meters away from dilapidated buildings and families living on the streets.
South Africa’s recent history is one of the most turbulent on the planet. Until the release of Nelson Mandela in 1994, the country lived under the racist Apartheid regime, where people were discriminated against because of their skin color.
As I began this article, I reaffirm that it is not dangerous to visit South Africa. And the same applies to the rest of the continent. It is not necessary to travel with an escort, avoid walking the streets or renounce nightlife when traveling in Africa.
Vacation in South Africa movie
If you are wondering if it is safe to travel to South Africa, the answer is generally yes, however, we must be aware that we are not in Europe and we have to follow a series of recommendations.
If we don’t do anything crazy, touring the best places in South Africa will be a very rewarding experience. In this sense, we must also differentiate the tourist areas of South Africa from the rest. These tourist areas are generally much safer than other less visited places.
Even so, we cannot forget that we are in an African country where there is a significant percentage of the population living in poverty in marginal areas. Avoiding these areas or not driving at night, for example, can help us to avoid scares.
One of the first things you need to know is that in South Africa people drive on the left. If it is the first time you are going to do it, you may find it a bit complicated. Also, it is not like Namibia or Botswana, there is a lot of traffic.
In the safaris you can drive on your own perfectly well. Parks like the Kruger or the Addo Elephant Park, have roads enabled to make the safari with your private vehicle. On the other hand, if we want to go cross-country or to some of the more remote areas, we can only do it with a guide.
Travel to South Africa
This is very important, as temporary or emergency passports cannot be issued at the airport, and travelers who do not meet these requirements will be returned to the airport of origin.
The main health risks in South Africa are dengue fever, malaria (or malaria) and chikungunya. These diseases are transmitted by mosquito bites. To protect yourself, use repellents and wear loose-fitting, light-colored clothing.
Cape Town is the capital city with the highest absolute and relative levels of reported crime in South Africa and one of the highest in the world. Avoid walking on rural trails alone, as well as on Table Mountain.
Durban: The Downtown police station is one of the most crime-ridden in South Africa. Avoid the slums, visits to townships, the beach at night; special caution around Moses Mabida Stadium.
In Johannesburg, it is still a dangerous place, especially at night. The Rotunda bus terminal should be avoided. It is recommended not to visit the townships of Hillbrow, Yeoville, Berea and to be cautious in Bruma.