South Africa offers beautiful natural views, impressive wildlife, vibrant cities and good red wine. With a glass of excellent Stellenbosch red wine in hand, you can enjoy the spectacular sunset in the province of Mpumalanga on the cliff down to the Elephant River, while processing the day’s impressions of the wildlife in the Kruger National Park and looking forward to the visit in the beautiful, lively Cape Town. And all this with a maximum of one hour time difference to Sweden, so you avoid jet lag! Visit printerhall for South Africa Tour Plan.
See trips to South Africa
Population: 56 million
Capital: Pretoria
Language: Afrikaans, English and nine Bantu languages
South Africa has eight sites that are on the UNESCO World Heritage List? Among other things, Robben Island, the meteorite crater Vredefort and the Sterkfontein caves, which were home to some of the world’s first hominids.
there are a large number of shipwrecks along the coast of South Africa? There are those who believe that it is up to one wreck per kilometer. If true, it’s up to 3000!
Read more about currency, transport, price levels and more in connection with your trip to South Africa.
- Population: 54 mill.
- Capital: Pretoria
- Language: Afrikaans, English and nine Bantu languages
- Religion: Christianity and various African religions
- Currency: Stripe
- Surface: 1,219,090 km2
Worth knowing
Time difference
The time difference between Sweden and South Africa can vary, depending on whether it is summer or winter time in Sweden:
Summer: same time as in Sweden
Winter: +1 hour
Transport in South Africa
Bus
Buses in South Africa generally have a high standard that can be compared with European standards. On Albatro’s trips in South Africa, we have of course chosen the best possible standard.
Flights
On our round trips in South Africa, we often fly the longer distances with domestic flights. In that case, the tour guide informs about what applies at check-in at the airport, flight times and the like.
Price level
You can get an appetizer and main course for about 100 rand and up. When it comes to pocket money, you can usually manage with around SEK 120 per day. If you buy extra drinks and the like, we recommend around SEK 120-220 extra per day and person.
Tip
The service industry in South Africa has generally seen low wages and most employees in hotels, restaurants, etc. expect to get tips. In restaurants and cafés, the main rule is that you pay 10 percent in tips. Taxi drivers and piccolor in hotels can be given about 10 rand. Ask the tour guide if you are unsure.
Currency and credit cards
You can buy the South African currency, rand, at home (1 rand = 100 cents). If you do not change at home, you should bring a credit card (Visa or Master Card).
Electricity
In South Africa, 220 or 230 volts are used, and the connectors have three large, round holes. Adapter is needed if you are going to use electrical appliances with Swedish connectors. They are available for purchase in the larger cities and can often be borrowed / rented at hotels and lodges.
At safari lodges / -camps (camp is a kind of tent camp) you usually have access to electricity between certain times of the day, usually between kl. 5-10 in the morning and at 18-23 in the evening. It is therefore not always possible to charge batteries at night.
Telephone and internet
South Africa’s international country code is 27. To call home to Sweden from South Africa, dial 0046, as well as the number you are calling. Mobile phone coverage is generally good in South Africa. Check with your mobile operator about their coverage and prices in South Africa.
Internet access is available at most hotels in major cities and at some major safari lodges / camps. In lodges and camps, however, the connection can be a bit unreliable and relatively expensive.
Drinking water and hygiene
The food is well cooked in both lodges and hotels, and stomach upset is therefore rare. It is safe to drink tap water in most cities, but to be on the safe side, you should not drink tap water, but instead buy bottled drinking water.
Dress
On all trips that include safaris, the day starts early in the animal reserves. The first safari of the day begins immediately after sunrise as it is often chilly outside – especially on an open car safari. Therefore, it is a good idea to bring a warm sweater or jacket. On safari on foot, however, it gets all the hotter. You should always wear full / covering shoes on hiking safaris.
We recommend that you wear khaki, sand-colored or dark clothing. Feel free to avoid strong colors and bring sunscreen, hat / cap and binoculars.
It is mostly possible to hand in your clothes to a laundry service.
Climate and weather South Africa
Here you can read about the climate and weather in South Africa. Read, for example, about the weather in the largest cities of Cape Town and Johannesburg.
JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | CHRISTMAS | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC | |
Cape Town | ||||||||||||
Daytime temperature | 26 | 27 | 25 | 23 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 24 | 25 |
Night temperature | 16 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 15 |
Precipitation (mm) | 15 | 17 | 20 | 41 | 69 | 93 | 82 | 77 | 40 | 30 | 14 | 17 |
Durban | ||||||||||||
Daytime temperature | 28 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 25 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 27 |
Night temperature | 21 | 21 | 20 | 17 | 14 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 20 |
Precipitation (mm) | 134 | 113 | 120 | 73 | 59 | 28 | 39 | 62 | 73 | 98 | 108 | 102 |
Pretoria | ||||||||||||
Daytime temperature | 27 | 27 | 26 | 24 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 22 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 28 |
Night temperature | 16 | 16 | 14 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
Precipitation (mm) | 122 | 106 | 91 | 33 | 6 | 26 | 10 | 10 | 21 | 60 | 117 | 117 |
Johannesburg | ||||||||||||
Daytime temperature | 26 | 25 | 24 | 21 | 19 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 25 |
Night temperature | 15 | 14 | 13 | 10 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 14 |
Precipitation (mm) | 125 | 90 | 91 | 54 | 13 | 9 | 4 | 6 | 27 | 72 | 117 | 105 |
In the area around Cape Town – that is, the southwestern corner of South Africa, it is mainly dry Mediterranean climate with a lot of sun. When traveling to the northeast, the climate undergoes a significant change. The southeast coast is the wettest part of the country, while the rest of South Africa mostly has a subtropical climate. The exception, however, is the mountain regions, where in some areas snow falls during the winter period – that is, between June and August.