South Africa
Last checked:
- Capital
- Pretoria (executive), Cape Town (legislative), Bloemfontein (judicial)
- Currency
- ZAR · South African rand
- Languages
- English, Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, and 8 other official languages
- Plugs
- Type M, N, C · 230 V
Emergency numbers
Top 5 places
- Table Mountain · Cape Town
Flat-topped mountain above the city, reached by cable car or busy marked hiking trails.
- Kruger National Park · Mpumalanga / Limpopo
Large game reserve for self-drive or guided safaris with the Big Five.
- Cape Peninsula and Boulders Beach · Cape Town
Coastal drive to Cape Point via Chapman's Peak, with an African penguin colony at Boulders.
- Cape Winelands · Stellenbosch / Franschhoek
Historic wine estates with tastings and Cape Dutch architecture an hour from Cape Town.
- Garden Route · Knysna / Plettenberg Bay
Coastal road trip of lagoons, forests, beaches and whale watching (in season).
Getting around
Ride-hailing app
Uber / Bolt
Widely used in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban and other cities. Book only in the app, check the plate and driver photo, and avoid pickups at minibus taxi ranks, where riders have been robbed.
Trains
Gautrain
Fast rail link between OR Tambo airport, Sandton, Johannesburg and Pretoria. Paid with a Gautrain card or contactless bank card (varies).
Public transport
MyCiTi
Cape Town bus rapid transit, including an airport route and Atlantic seaboard routes. Uses a myconnect card.
Car rental
Car rental
Best way to tour the Garden Route, Winelands and Kruger. Drive on the left, keep doors locked and windows up at junctions, and avoid driving at night outside cities.
Buses
Minibus taxis
Shared minibuses used by most locals. Cheap but poorly regulated with a poor safety record; UK and Canadian advice discourages them for visitors.
Buses
Domestic flights
Several daily flights connect Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban; often quicker and safer than long drives.
Money and cash
Currency: ZAR · South African rand
Cards and tap-to-pay are accepted in most shops, restaurants and petrol stations, and tips can usually be added on the card machine. Carry small notes and coins for car guards, petrol attendants and markets. Use ATMs inside malls or banks, cover your PIN and never accept help from strangers at an ATM. Change money only at banks or in secure malls.
Tipping
Tipping is expected in South Africa and matters to workers' incomes, as base wages in service jobs are low. Leave 10-15% in restaurants and small tips for car guards, petrol attendants and hotel staff.
| Restaurants | 10-15% for table service. Bills include VAT but usually not a service charge, so the tip is on top. You can add it on the card machine. |
|---|---|
| Cafés and bars | Round up or a small tip for table service; not needed at self-service counters. |
| Taxis and ride apps | 10% or rounding up is common; Uber and Bolt have in-app tips. |
| Hotels | Porters roughly R20-40 per bag; housekeeping about R20-40 per day, left daily (varies). |
| Tours and guides | Expected on safari: sources suggest about R200-500 per person per day for guides and less for trackers, plus lodge staff tip boxes (varies by lodge). |
| Food delivery | A small tip in the app or cash is common. |
Service charge: what’s true
Service charges are not normally added for small tables. Some restaurants add a service charge for large groups (varies); it should be noted on the menu and shown on the bill. If it is there, you do not need to tip again.
Pressure tactics to watch for
Card machines are brought to the table and ask you to add a tip before you enter your PIN; check the total and whether a service charge is already included. Car guards in public car parks are informal workers who expect R5-10 when you leave; it is customary, not a fee. Be firm with anyone at an ATM offering to 'help' you.
Useful phrases
- Can I have the bill, please? Can I have the bill, please?
- Is service included? Is service included?
- Dankie. Thank you (Afrikaans).
Etiquette
- Greet people before getting to business; a handshake is normal and a short 'How are you?' is expected.
- Petrol stations are full service: an attendant fills your car, so stay in the car and tip them.
- Tip car guards when you return to your car; they watch vehicles in many car parks.
- South Africans often say 'just now' or 'now now' for timing; 'just now' can mean later.
- Ask before photographing people, especially in townships and rural villages. Visit townships only with a reputable local guide.
- Bargaining is fine at craft markets and with street sellers, not in shops.
Scams and how to handle them
ATM 'helpers' and card swaps
Where: Street ATMs and busy shopping areas
How it works: A stranger offers to help when your card 'gets stuck', watches your PIN, swaps your card and empties your account.
How to avoid it: Use ATMs inside malls or banks, cover your PIN and refuse any help. Call your bank immediately if your card is retained.
Followed from the airport
Where: OR Tambo (Johannesburg) and other airports
How it works: Criminals spot arriving travellers and follow them to their hotel or home to rob them.
How to avoid it: Use a pre-arranged hotel or tour transfer, travel in daylight and keep valuables out of sight.
Fake e-hailing drivers
Where: Airport arrivals halls
How it works: Unregistered drivers pretend to be Uber or Bolt drivers and offer rides.
How to avoid it: Book only in the app and check the plate, car and driver photo before getting in.
Fake police and 'blue light' gangs
Where: Roads, especially at night
How it works: Criminals in unmarked cars with blue lights or at fake roadblocks stop drivers to rob them.
How to avoid it: Do not stop for unmarked vehicles; drive on carefully to a police station or busy petrol station.
Tyre deflation and roadside traps
Where: Roads near airports, malls and highways
How it works: Criminals scatter nails or throw stones at cars to make drivers stop, then rob them.
How to avoid it: If safe, drive on slowly to a busy, well-lit place before stopping.
Online romance and dating app lures
Where: Dating apps
How it works: Victims have been lured to meetings and kidnapped or robbed.
How to avoid it: Meet in busy public places, tell someone where you are, and be wary of romance or job offers online.
Safety
- Violent crime levels are high, especially in city centres after dark. Do not walk at night; use app rides or booked transport.
- Keep car doors locked and windows closed, especially at traffic lights (smash-and-grab), and keep bags out of sight.
- On Table Mountain, hike in groups of four or more on busy marked trails in daylight.
- In Cape Town, use the M3 or N2 from the airport rather than smaller roads such as the R300.
- Do not resist robbery or carjacking.
- Pickpocketing and bag snatching are common in markets and busy tourist sites.
How widely English is spoken
English is the common language and widely spoken in cities and tourism; fewer people speak it in some rural areas.
Sources
- GOV.UK Foreign travel advice: South Africa, safety and security
- Government of Canada: South Africa travel advice
- Wikivoyage: South Africa
- Hootling: Tipping in South Africa
- Wikipedia: List of emergency telephone numbers
We check these guides against official and well-known sources, but rules and prices change. Spot something out of date? Email support@tourits.app.