So, I’m no expert when it comes to touring South Africa as I’ve visited only once. As a JJC, it took a while to figure a lot of things out, coupled with the fact that we had only one day to plan our trip! Anyway, it was all part of the adventure and part of what made the trip exciting…
If you’re planning a first visit to South Africa, here’s something to get you started…
Visa
Nigerian citizens visiting South Africa require a visa for entry. Visa fees vary based on the exchange rate and your location. At the time of this writing, applying from Lagos and Abuja cost the same, a total of N20,660 while applying from Port Harcourt costs N40,660. The VFS site contains up to date information regarding this.
Documents Needed for Entry
- Passport + Visa
- Yellow Card: A yellow card is as important as your passport. You would be asked for it everywhere; before you leave the country, at the immigration desk in SA.. you’ll even be asked to present when flying back home.
- Return or onward ticket
- Birth Certificate if you’re traveling with kids.
- Hotel Reservation: It is equally important to hold a valid hotel reservation. You may be refused entry if you don’t have this.
- I tend to take documents used to apply for the visa as well.
Money
- The official currency is the South African rand.
- Travel with cash (R, $, € e.t.c)
- Travel with multiple cards, including a Visa card or a domiciliary MasterCard. My Naira MasterCard was completely useless while my sister’s own worked
Getting Around
Renting a car would pretty much be the best option, I guess but note that South Africans drive on the left, so it might take some getting used to for you to drive around there. If you plan to travel between cities, there are options to fly, take a bus (roads are generally good) or a train.
Safety
As my friend suggests, you’ve got to use your ‘African street sense’ and you’ll be fine! We had no safety issues during our stay.
If you’re traveling as a single lady, consider getting a ring that looks like an engagement or wedding ring. This tip doesn’t apply to South Africa alone but this was the first trip I found the most need for it.
Best Time to Visit
South Africa is a country with different climatic zones and tourism regions. The best time to visit would largely depend on the activities you’re interested in. The seasons in the year are as follows; Spring (September & October), Summer (November to February), Autumn (March & April) and Winter (June to August).The best time for a South African safari is from May to September_October. (i.e. the dry season). The months of May and September are especially lovely as the weather isn’t so cold and the wildlife viewing is excellent.
Thanks Amarachi as always! how does one book the flight and hotel without committing financially? I know on Qatar, you can book on hold for a couple of days but won’t the consulate check and what if they find out the booking has expired? also, for hotels, most of them require you to put in your card details and charge for cancellation, what do you suggest here?
Hello Ramyy, thanks for your comment!
Generally, I use the hold option on Qatar anyway. Luckily, I have not been penalized for this and have received all visas I have applied for.
One exception was my visa to Thailand, where the embassy listed PAID flights as a requirement. I booked a fully refundable ticket in this case with Qatar Airways. It was more expensive than a regular ticket but I received my refund 2 days after cancelling the ticket and booked a regular one after.
For hotels, I always book rooms with free cancellation and pay at property option. This way, there’s no risk. If you are concerned about using your card, it might be good to have a separate card for online transactions. I use a Bitnob virtual card most times.
Now, if this is for SA visa, I know they don’t accept booking.com reservations for hotels (last time I checked). However, you can find hotels with free cancellation policies and book directly with them.