Are you planning an international holiday to Cape Town, South Africa? There’s no doubt that it is a beautiful destination, but before you embark on your journey, there are a few things that you need to know to ensure that your trip goes smoothly.
Here are six essential things to keep in mind:
Requirements for Entrance
To enter South Africa, you will need a valid passport or travel document for the intended stay, with at least one blank page for endorsements. If required you will also need a valid visa. You’ll also need sufficient funds to pay for your day-to-day expenses, a return or onward ticket, and yellow fever certificates if your journey starts or passes through the yellow fever belt of Africa or South America.
Note that children under 18 years must travel with unabridged birth certificates, and your passport must be valid for at least six months before expiry with at least two blank pages.
Notify your bank of international travel
Notify your bank before travelling to South Africa to avoid any payment problems. Many South African banks are linked to Visa or MasterCard, allowing for global transactions. However, if your bank sees a charge from a location away from home, your issuer may decline the charge. Alert your credit card issuer about your travel to avoid fraudulent charges.
Travel Insurance
It’s essential to have travel insurance when travelling to South Africa. Make sure your insurance covers medical evacuation, repatriation, and transportation, including the fees of private hospital facilities in South Africa. Having travel insurance can give you peace of mind and ensure that you receive the best possible medical attention if required.
Table Mountain Hiking Safety
Hiking Table Mountain is a must-do activity when visiting Cape Town. To ensure your safety, it’s important to follow the safety guidelines provided by the local authorities. You can also book a guided hike to make sure you have an enjoyable and safe experience, we offer various guided tours. It’s also important to stay healthy and fit before your hike by doing regular cardiovascular exercise. We recommend waiting a day or two after you have landed in the Mother City, before embarking on a hike. Although, we do have food along most of our tours, it is important to have something to eat before joining one of our guided hikes. For more hiking safety tips, you can check out this blog post.
Tipping in South Africa
Tipping in South Africa is common practice, and it’s important to know the customary tipping rates. In restaurants, it’s standard to tip 10-15% of the total bill. For bars, people usually leave any small change from the bill for the bartender. When hiring a car in South Africa, you may encounter car guards who will watch your car for you while you run your errands in exchange for a few Rands. It’s also common to tip Uber drivers, petrol attendants, and other service industry workers.
Load Shedding
Load shedding is a term used in South Africa to describe scheduled power outages. These outages are intended to prevent the entire power grid from collapsing due to excessive demand. If you’re visiting Cape Town, it’s important to know the load shedding schedule, which can change regularly. You can download the Eskom Se Push app to stay informed about load shedding schedules and avoid being caught off guard during your holiday.
So there you have it!
Cape Town is an amazing destination for your international holiday, and we want to make sure you have the best experience possible. Remember to bring your passport and let your bank know you’re coming to South Africa so you don’t get stranded without cash. Don’t forget to pack your hiking shoes and ensure you have travel insurance, brush up on your tipping skills and if the lights go out, don’t panic – just whip out your Eskom Se Push app and prepare for a romantic evening by candlelight.
We hope these tips will help you have a fun, safe, and unforgettable holiday in Cape Town. Happy travels, adventurers!