Are you planning a trip to South Africa? Here's everything you need to know before you go

 

Hey, it's Peter from Australia, a full-time traveler. I travel all around the world because that’s my childhood dream.  I’ll share with you all my tips and experiences to help you travel well in South Africa.

Welcome to South Africa: A Land of Diversity and Wonder

South Africa is the southernmost country in Africa. It is home to over 60 million people and 3 capital cities

• Cape Town

• Pretoria

• Bloemfontein

It is famous for its incredible scenery, gorgeous coastline, abundant animal life, and fantastic food.

Visa Tips: Check Before You Go

As an Aussie, I didn't need a visa to visit South Africa for up to 90 days, but it's a really good idea to check the official government website before you go to make sure you're up on your visa requirements.

Language and Local Culture

There are 11 official languages, and English is one of them. So as long as you speak enough English to get by, you should be fine. I found the locals love to involve us in the local language.

One of my amazing local guides was getting us involved in the term “yebo”. And every time I would agree with her or taste some great food. She was like, How is it?, I was like yebo!

Now there are some really cute South African isms to look out for. Just now is sort of like, I'm coming to your house or I'm leaving just now. When did you leave? Just now. That's like, sort of whenever I get around to it.

  

They say shame. And that might be if you do something cute—maybe see a cute little granny or you say something sweet. They might be like, Oh, shame.It's like a really cute sort of empathy thing.

Another one I love is they call the traffic lights robots, which is so cute. And one to keep your ear out for is “lekker”.That means good.

Currency

The local currency is the South African rand. Now to help us figure everything out while I was there, I have the free app XE currency downloaded to my phone and I have South African Rand downloaded so I can use it offline.

  

Seasons and the Best Time to Visit

South Africa's seasons are the same as they are for us in Australia and New Zealand. You have your cold months in the middle of the year and your warmer months at the end than the start of the year.

I have visited twice, once in May and once in July, and I slightly preferred my May visit just because it was a little bit warmer. Typically, May to September is going to be your peak time for spotting great animals.

The Importance of Local Guides

Both times I visited and all the places I have visited, I have had a local guide or driver with us, and I highly recommend you do the same. You learn, you experience so much more, and you feel so much more connected.

So I have had a few different guides and I'm going to make sure I list the contact details for every single guide I've had down below.

• Cape Town https://littlegreybox.net/go/escape-t...

• Cape Town https://littlegreybox.net/go/springbo... 

• Jo'Burg https://littlegreybox.net/go/springbo... 

• Jo'Burg via WhatsApp +27 79 241 0828 or zandi.aahaah@gmail.com

And if you do book them, let them know that I told you about them because they will absolutely love that.

Safari Adventures: Two Unique Experiences

Before my first visit to South Africa, I was really nervous about safety. I'd heard a lot of the stories; I'd seen a lot of things. So I was very scared once I got there. But after I connected with my guides and started going out, I started to relax.

The second time I visited, I had no worries whatsoever because I knew what to expect and what to do. All I can do with you is share my personal experience, and it has been nothing but positive. That's because I've always had a guide or driver with me, and I always listened to them. Listen to your guides and follow those basic safety things. So hopefully your experience will be just as wonderful as mine was.

On both visits, I went for around 7 to 9 days and managed to do a safari and a visit to Cape Town and Johannesburg. But South Africa is huge, and those are the only 3 places you can visit. 

I've done 2 safaris on my trips to South Africa, and each one offered something different. The first one was mind-blowing. I flew from Cape Town, Skukuza Airport, to do a stay with Lions Sands River Lodge, and the game drives took place on the Sabi Sands game reserve, which is right next to Kruger National Park. The key thing to note about this area is its free range. It is absolutely huge. I was nervous that I wouldn't see all the animals.

Now Lions Sands River Lodge is incredibly luxurious. The service is second to none. The accommodation is stunning, and the food is spectacular. I cannot recommend it highly enough and I'm so glad that was my first safari experience because it lived up to everything I had ever wanted it to be.

The second experience was also amazing, but this time I flew from Johannesburg to Hoedspruit and from there I was picked up by the guys from the Kapamaa Buffalo Camp on the Kapama Private Game Reserve. So the key thing here is that it is fenced, and all of the animals are contained within it.

Packing Essentials for Your Trip

If you are going in that May to September peak period, make sure you pack lots of layers. I found it's been very cold in the early mornings and the late evenings when I'm on my game drives.

A couple of other things you might want to bring with you.

Make sure you've got plenty of sunscreen, maybe a really good hat. You can jam on your head and stick on there. if the sun's going to be out so that it doesn't go flying off when you drive.

And most importantly, guys, I want to talk about safety because this is a question I get asked a lot.

Are the lions going to launch at you when you come up to them in the car?

No, they're not. It's going to be fine. I was really scared, too, but the guides explained to me that these animals grow up around the cars and the people. They get used to seeing it. Whatever they tell you to do, just listen, and you will be totally fine.

Cape Town

I had two vastly different experiences when I visited Cape Town The first time, I guess because it was my first time, I was more focused on the history of Cape Town and the history of South Africa, and it was also raining.

  

The second time I went. It was suns out. It was so fun. Everyone was feeling summery, happy, and outdoorsy, and it just changed the whole energy for us. With that great weather, I was able to explore the coastline more. I was able to go out and do more day trips, and it gave us a chance to really experience Cape Town properly. 

One of the things that blew me away about Cape Town was how beautiful the coastline and the scenery are, how gorgeous the people are, and how delicious the food is. Prepare yourself to eat a ton of good food.

Johannesburg

If you are going to Jo'burg, expect it to be a really big city. You're going to have to drive a fair bit to get to lots of different places. My favorite place to go in Jo'burg is Soweto, and you should absolutely go there with a local guide.

My local guide took us to Nelson Mandela's house. Then I tried traditional African food. It was so tasty. And then I went on a walk around the streets and visited some of the local shebeens or local bars. And that, for me, is the heart of Jo'burg. That connection and laughing with the locals and just getting to know them and having a great time.

Foodies

There are so many different cuisines to try.I have to insist that you find somebody who can hook you up with some local African food. There were so many foods I got to try in Soweto that I had never tried before.

I got to see Bunny Chow being made, and I got to see Mogodu Mondays, which is where they take the unfavorable cuts of meat like tripe, trotters, feet, claws, snouts, hinds, and all kinds of things. And they turned that into delicious dishes. But I didn't eat it.

Clothing Tips for Changing Weather

During the daytime, I found myself wearing summer dresses and sandals. But once that sun started to go down, I really needed to bundle up a little bit for the jacket on, rug out, and get a little warmer. So I kind of packed a mix of everything. 

I had some hiking boots, jeans, jumpers, and jackets, especially for the safari portion. I recommend you pack some really comfortable shoes because you're going to be on your feet all day.

Hope You Enjoyed my tour😊