Travel advisory · South AfricaSome governments advise against travel to parts of South Africa.The warnings cover only these areas: Alexandra (Johannesburg), Berea, Cape Flats, Hillbrow, Pretoria Central, Sunnyside (Pretoria), Yeoville.Advice depends on your passport. Read your own government's advice before you book.Official advice
- Alexandra (Johannesburg) · avoid non-essential travel · France, Italy
- Berea · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, France, Italy
- Cape Flats · avoid non-essential travel · France, Italy
- Hillbrow · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, France, Italy
- Pretoria Central · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, Italy
- Sunnyside (Pretoria) · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, Italy
- Yeoville · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, France, Italy
Also named by one government: Arcadia (Pretoria) (Spain), Area near Phabeni Gate and Numbi Gate (Hazyview) (France), Atteridgville (Pretoria) (Italy), City centres (general) (Spain), Durban CBD (Germany), Durban marginal neighbourhoods (Spain), Johannesburg CBD (Germany), Mamelodi (Pretoria) (Italy), Marabstad (Pretoria) (Spain), Old city centre (France), Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha) CBD (Germany), Pretoria CBD (Germany), Rotunda bus terminal (Johannesburg) (Spain)
| Government | Advice | Updated | Read the advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (FCDO) | No specific advice against travel; general precautions only | – | Read the advice |
| United States (State Dept) | Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution | May 27, 2025 | Read the advice |
| Canada (Global Affairs) | Exercise a high degree of caution | – | Read the advice |
| Germany (Auswärtiges Amt) | Keine generelle Warnung für das gesamte Land (regional advisories) | Oct 28, 2026 | Read the advice |
| New Zealand (SafeTravel) | Exercise increased caution due to violent crime | – | Read the advice |
| France (Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs) | Vigilance renforcée (zone de vigilance renforcée pour l'ensemble du pays) (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
Checked daily from the governments' published advice; last checked Nov 2, 2026. RoamLedger summarises official advice; it is not advice from any government.
South Africa
Cape Town's mountain, Cape wine estates, Big Five safari reserves and a Garden Route coast make South Africa a varied trip for first-time visitors.
South Africa is the southernmost country in Africa, with nine provinces and coastlines on the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Most travelers come for Cape Town and Table Mountain, the wine estates of the nearby Cape Winelands, the Big Five safari reserves such as Kruger National Park, and the Garden Route, a coastal strip with year-round rain and the country's largest area of forest. The country has twelve official languages, and you will hear English, Afrikaans, Zulu and Xhosa, among others.
The Cape and the bush have opposite seasons, so the month you pick shapes the route. The Cape Peninsula has wet winters and hot, dry summers, and its coast is windy, especially in March and April. Kruger is driest from June to August. Distances are long, so for a first visit, plan on two regions. Johannesburg and Pretoria add the modern history: apartheid, a system of legal racial segregation introduced in 1948, is covered in places such as the Apartheid Museum.
Five things to know before South Africa
- Check your passport has 2 blank pages
South Africa needs 2 blank pages and at least 30 days of validity after you leave. Many visitors are refused boarding for missing pages. UK entry rules
- Complete the online traveler declaration
From 1 July 2026 visitors complete an online traveler declaration before arrival. Check the current form with Home Affairs before you fly.
- Carry the right papers for children
Minors traveling to or from South Africa may be asked for extra documents such as birth certificates or parental consent. Check the rules with Home Affairs before booking.
- Avoid driving after dark and book airport pickups
The UK warns of carjackings at junctions and of criminals following travelers from OR Tambo airport. Keep doors locked, use main roads and arrange a pickup.
- Match each region to its season
The Cape is warm and dry from November to March and wet in winter. Kruger's dry winter, May to September, is best for game viewing. Kruger National Park
South Africa travel guides
Practical guides from writers who live there.
Table Mountain, the peninsula, beaches and where to stay.
Read the guideKruger National ParkBig Five safaris, rest camps, self-drive and the dry season.
Read the guideGarden RouteThe coast road from Mossel Bay to Tsitsikamma by car.
Read the guideCape WinelandsStellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl as day trips or a base.
Read the guideJohannesburgMuseums, Soweto and the gateway to Kruger.
Read the guideVisas and entryVisa-free stays, passport pages, the traveler declaration and papers for children.
Read the guide
Destinations in South Africa
Hostel beds, cheap eats, buses and free sights.
- Bed a night
- ZAR 350
- Food
- ZAR 250
- Transport
- ZAR 50
- Sights
- ZAR 100
A 3-star room, casual restaurants, public transport and one paid sight a day.
- Bed a night
- ZAR 900
- Food
- ZAR 600
- Transport
- ZAR 250
- Sights
- ZAR 500
A 4-star room, good restaurants, taxis and a guided tour.
- Bed a night
- ZAR 1,800
- Food
- ZAR 1,200
- Transport
- ZAR 700
- Sights
- ZAR 1,500
When to go
- Rainy days
- Best
- JanuaryRain13 rainy daysHigh29°Low18°Hot, dry, busyJanuaryRain
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 120 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, dry, busy
- FebruaryRain13 rainy daysHigh28°Low18°Warm, dryFebruaryRain
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 129 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, dry
- MarchClear9 rainy daysHigh28°Low17°Warm, calmMarchClear
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 79 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, calm
- AprilClear7 rainy daysHigh25°Low14°Mild, autumnAprilClear
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 66 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, autumn
- MayClear3 rainy daysHigh23°Low11°Cooler, rainMayClear
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 16 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cooler, rain
- JuneClear1 rainy dayHigh20°Low8°Wet, coolJuneClear
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 6 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, cool
- JulyClear1 rainy dayHigh20°Low7°WettestJulyClear
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 4 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wettest
- AugustClear1 rainy dayHigh24°Low10°Wet, whalesAugustClear
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 2 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, whales
- SeptemberClear2 rainy daysHigh28°Low14°WildflowersSeptemberClear
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 11 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wildflowers
- OctoberClear6 rainy daysHigh29°Low16°Mild, windyOctoberClear
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 52 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, windy
- NovemberRain12 rainy daysHigh29°Low17°Warm, dryNovemberRain
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 100 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, dry
- DecemberRain16 rainy daysHigh29°Low18°Holidays, busyDecemberRain
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 125 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Holidays, busy
Average daily high and low in Cape Town, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in South Africa
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
26
- Feels like
- 20°
- Humidity
- 22%
- Wind
- 23 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
South Africa
10:37 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today27°12°0%Monday: Cloudy. High 27°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue31°11°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 31°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed32°15°0%Wednesday: Clear. High 32°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu34°18°6%Thursday: Cloudy. High 34°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 6%.
- Fri27°12°0%Friday: Clear. High 27°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat23°10°8%Saturday: Cloudy. High 23°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Sun20°9°4%Sunday: Clear. High 20°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 4%.
Updated 06:28 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 16.69 ZAR
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Festivals by month
- JanCape Town Minstrel CarnivalCape Town
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Before you go to South Africa
South Africa FAQ
Do I need a visa for South Africa?
Not for stays up to 90 days on US, UK, EU, Canadian and Australian passports. Your passport needs 2 blank pages and 30 days of validity after departure.
Do I need to complete anything online before I arrive?
Yes. From 1 July 2026 everyone entering or leaving by air, land, sea or rail submits an online traveler declaration before traveling. Use the Home Affairs link on the UK advice page.
When is the best time to visit South Africa?
For Cape Town and the Garden Route, November to March. For Kruger, May to September, when the bush is dry and animals gather at water. April and October work for both.
How many days do I need in South Africa?
Two weeks covers Cape Town, the Winelands and a few days in Kruger by flight. Add four or five days to drive the Garden Route.
Is South Africa safe to visit?
Most visits go smoothly, but crime is high. Avoid walking or driving after dark in unfamiliar areas, keep car doors locked, and visit townships with a local guide.
Can I drink tap water in South Africa?
In the main cities tap water is treated and generally safe. In rural areas and some towns ask your host, and follow any local boil notices.