South Africa Travel Guide

Some facts about South Africa

South Africa may well be where it all began for us humans. Scientists generally agree that the very first humans probably evolved in eastern or southern Africa, and the UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Gauteng province nicknamed the 'Cradle of Humankind' is home to the largest concentration of human ancestral remains in the world. This paleoanthropological site includes the Sterkfontein Caves, where the famous 2.3-million-year-old fossil 'Mrs. Ples' and the 3.5-million-year-old 'Little Foot' were found.

Fast forward to today and South Africa remains unique in so many way. It has three capital cities – Pretoria, where you'll find the President's official residence, Cape Town, where Parliament sits, and Bloemfontein, home to the Supreme Court of Appeal. It also has a grand total of 11 official languages, recognising the country's cultural and linguistic diversity following years of apartheid that divided the nation. Both Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, in 1984 and 1993 respectively, for their efforts in fighting apartheid and contributing to the country's transition to democracy.

Practical Info

Culture and etiquette

Religion

South Africans practice lots of different religions, with various branches of Christianity making up the majority of the religious population.

Tipping

A tip of around 10% to 15% is usually expected in restaurants.

Smoking

Smoking is banned in public places like bars, restaurants and public transport.

Jabs, visas and other advice

South Africa has a high crime rate, so it's important for tourists to remain vigilant when they visit the country. We recommend checking the government's website before you go for up-to-date advice on jabs, visas, safety and security.

Emergency numbers

In an emergency, you can call 112. You can also call 10177 for ambulance or fire, 10111 for police, 112 or +22 87 094 9774 for the National Sea and Rescue Institute, and either 10177 or 10111 for Search and Rescue.

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Getting to South Africa

There are plenty of flights from the UK to South Africa. It takes around 11 hours 5 minutes to fly from London to Johannesburg, and 11 hours 35 to Cape Town.

Getting around South Africa

South Africa is a huge country, so if you wanted to visit multiple towns and cities it makes sense to take an internal flight. Flights from Johannesburg to Cape Town take around 2 hours and 15 minutes, and from Johannesburg to Durban it's 1 hour 10.

Flights can be quite expensive, so another option is to hire a car. Road networks were improved in preparation for the FIFA 2010 World Cup South Africa hosted, so roads between major towns and cities are generally in good condition. But be prepared for a long drive if you go down this route – it takes 14 hours to drive between Cape Town and Johannesburg, but there are plenty of interesting places to stop off along the way.

Public transport can be pretty unreliable, but there are buses and trains in most towns and cities. Taxis aren't cheap but are probably the more reliable option of getting where you need to go.