Sub Saharan Africa

• Travel Summary
• Safety and security
• Local laws and customs
• Entry requirements

• Health
• General
 

• There has been a marked increase in strike action in South Africa in recent weeks, with some demonstrations becoming violent. You should avoid demonstrations, rallies and large public gatherings as a precaution and exercise caution when travelling on highways, where some violence has been directed at truck drivers. Check local media sites for up to date information on strike action or demonstrations that may be taking place in your area.
  
  
• There is a very high level of crime, but the most violent crimes occur in townships and isolated areas away from the normal tourist destinations.
  
  
• The standard of driving is variable and there are many fatal accidents.
  
  
• Most visits to South Africa are trouble-free. See General - Consular Assistance.
  
  
• There is an underlying threat from terrorism. Attacks, although unlikely, could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by expatriates and foreign travellers.  See Safety and Security - Terrorism.
  
  
• You should get comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. See General - Insurance.
  
  
• You should have two blank pages in your passport on arrival.
  

Safety and Security - Terrorism
There is an underlying threat from terrorism. Attacks, although unlikely, could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by expatriates and foreign travellers.

See our Terrorism Abroad page.

Safety and Security - Crime
South Africa has a very high level of crime, including rape and murder (there were several cases of murder involving resident British Nationals during 2009/10). Most cases of violent crime occur in the townships. Consult a reliable tour guide if you visit a township. The risk of violent crime to visitors travelling to the main tourist destinations is generally low. The South African authorities give high priority to protecting tourists. Tourism police are deployed in several large towns. See our Rape and Sexual Assault Abroad page. 

Incidents of vehicle hi-jacking and robbery are common. You should be vigilant of the risks, particularly if driving after dark. Keep to main roads; park in well - lit areas.

During 2007 and 2008 there were incidents involving foreigners being followed from OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg to their destinations by car and then robbed, often at gunpoint. You should exercise particular caution in and around the airport and extra vigilance when driving away. 

There are frequent incidents of car windows being broken and valuables (e.g. handbags) taken whilst cars are waiting at junctions (smash and grab). Keep valuables out of sight.

South Africa actively promotes an HIV/AIDS awareness campaign.  But given the high level of HIV/AIDS in the country, seek immediate medical advice if you are sexually assaulted or otherwise injured. See the Health section of this Travel Advice.

As elsewhere, thieves operate at international airports and bus and railway stations. Keep your baggage with you at all times. Due to theft of luggage at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, you should vacuum-wrap luggage where local regulations permit. You should keep all valuables in carry-on luggage.

Passport theft is common. It is usually opportunistic and non-violent (and increasingly occurs at airports on arrival or departure), although some passports are taken during muggings. Carry photocopies of your passport with you.

Keep large amounts of money, expensive jewellery, cameras and phones out of sight. Do not change large sums of money in busy public areas.

Do not give personal or financial account information details to anyone. There are international fraud rings operating in South Africa, as there are in other parts of the world, who may target visitors, foreign businesspeople and charities.

See our Victims of Crime Abroad page.

Safety and Security - Local Travel
Johannesburg, like other major international cities, has specific risk areas. You should avoid Berea and Hillbrow. There is a high level of muggings around the Rotunda bus terminus in the Central Business District.

In all areas of South Africa, you should be cautious when out after dark.  Streets, even in urban areas, are not brightly lit at night.  Be vigilant at all times in Durban's city centre and beach front area.  Keep to main roads and avoid driving at night when visiting Northern KwaZulu Natal and Zululand, as there have been incidents of hi-jacking and robbery, particularly on isolated secondary roads.

Park in well-lit areas.  Do not pick up strangers.  Do not stop to assist apparently distressed motorists, as this is a technique sometimes used by hijackers.  It is better to report the incident to the police.

Be vigilant on the approach roads to and from Kruger Park where there have been cases of car hijacking.  The local authorities have increased police patrols in this area.

Avoid isolated beaches and picnic spots across South Africa.  Walking alone anywhere, especially in remote areas, is not advised and hikers should stick to popular trails.  Call the police (on 10111 or on 112 from a mobile phone) at the first sign of a threat.

There have been violent attacks on hikers and tourists on Table Mountain. Be cautious when in quieter areas of the Park, especially early in the morning or just before the park closes. Park authorities are attempting to address the problem and recommend that visitors should walk in groups and take precautions.

Mobile phone reception is generally good in major towns and cities but can be intermittent in more remote spots.

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Road Travel
A UK Driving Licence is accepted in South Africa for up to 12 months after entry provided it carries the photograph and signature of the holder.

The standard of driving in South Africa can vary greatly and there are many fatal accidents every year.

On highways overtaking can occur in any lane including, occasionally, the hard shoulder. On single-lane roads the hard shoulder is also sometimes used by trucks and slower vehicles to allow faster vehicles to overtake - it is regarded as a courtesy to acknowledge this, usually with a brief flash of hazard warning lights.  Four-way-stops are commonly found at the quieter intersections - the first vehicle to arrive has priority.  On roundabouts, you should give way to the right, although this rule is often ignored.

Road standards are mostly very good, but some roads in remote areas are less well maintained and potholes may be encountered. You should drive cautiously at all times, obey speed limits and avoid unfamiliar rural areas at night. Thieves have been known to employ various methods to make a vehicle stop, enabling them to rob the occupants. Be aware that one such method is the placing of large stones in the middle of the road.

Flash flooding has damaged some roads in the Cape Provinces.  Seek local advice on which routes are best avoided.

See our Driving Abroad page.

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Air Travel
The EU has a list of air carriers that are subject to an operating ban or restrictions within the community.  Check to see whether this will affect your travel - European Commission Transport - Air.

See Airline Security.

Safety and Security - Political Situation
South Africa Country Profile

Drug-taking and smuggling is an offence. The punishments can be severe. Homosexuality is legal, and the authorities have introduced legislation which bans any discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

See our Your Trip page.

Entry Requirements - Passport validity
You must hold a valid passport to enter South Africa. Your passport must be valid for a minimum period of 30 days from the date of exit from South Africa. South African authorities state officially that only one blank passport page is required for entry. However, visitors have been refused entry and sent back to the UK as some officials are insisting on two blank pages. We advise that you have two blank pages in your passport on arrival.

Entry Requirements - Visas
British nationals visiting South Africa on holiday for less than 90 days do not require visas. After entry, extensions of stay may be sought from the Department of Home Affairs. If you have overstayed without authority you may be required to pay a fine, either on exit or at the nearest South African mission on your return to the UK (or elsewhere). Re-entry to South Africa will not be permitted until the fine has been paid in full. However, serious overstayers may be arrested on departure and detained before appearing in court. In such cases you may face a very substantial fine and then be deported at your own expense.

For information on other types of visas please contact the South African High Commission.

Entry Requirements – Yellow Fever
You must supply a yellow fever certificate issued at least 10 days before arrival in South Africa if you have travelled from a country with yellow fever. This includes when entry is solely to transit through a South African airport. If you do not have a valid certificate, you will be denied entry to South Africa. Click here for further details.

Entry Requirements - Travelling with children
Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country.

Contact your GP around eight weeks before your trip to check whether you need any vaccinations or other preventive measures. Country specific information and advice is published by the National Travel Health Network and Centre, and useful information about healthcare abroad, including a country-by-country guide of reciprocal health care agreements with the UK, is available from NHS Choices.

Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation.

In June 2012 there was a confirmed report of a death due to rabies in the Underberg region of Kwazulu-Natal. A recent rabies outbreak affecting mainly dogs in the Winterton/Bergville area of the province has been ongoing since January 2012 and has so far caused the death of a child.

In the 2010 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 5,300,000 adults aged 15 or over in South Africa were living with HIV; the prevalence percentage was estimated at around 17.8 of the adult population compared to the prevalence percentage rate in adults in the UK of around 0.2%. You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information on how to do this see HIV and AIDS.

If you need emergency medical assistance during your trip, dial 10177 and ask for an ambulance. You should contact your insurance/medical assistance company promptly if you are referred to a medical facility for treatment.

Our Travel Health pages offer further advice on how to stay healthy when overseas.

General - Insurance
You should get comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling, including cover for medical evacuation. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake especially extreme adventure sports or wildlife activities. Remember that failure to declare a medical condition could render a policy invalid. See our Travel Insurance page.

See our When Things Go Wrong page.

General - Registration
Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency.

General - Money
There are limits on the amount of currency you can bring into South Africa. For cash in the form of South African Rand, the limit is 10,000ZAR. For combinations of cash in other currencies, the limit is US$10,000 (or equivalent). Any amount higher than this should be declared on entry to South Africa.

There is a high incidence of credit card fraud and fraud involving ATMs.  You should be vigilant to ensure your PIN is not observed by others when withdrawing money from an ATM.  Refuse offers of assistance from bystanders.  Do not change large sums of money in busy public areas.

Closely protect any documents containing details of credit cards, PINs or bank accounts.

General - Consular Assistance - Statistics
One hundred and fifty two British nationals required consular assistance in South Africa from 1 April 2011 - 31 March 2012, including for 77 deaths, 21 hospitalisations and 17 arrests.

General - Contact Details

British High Commission, Pretoria

Consular Section:
255 Hill Street,
Arcadia 0002,
Pretoria

Postal Address:
PO Box 13611 or 13612,
Hatfield,
Pretoria 0028

British nationals who require consular assistance can visit the Consular Assistance section at the High Commission building in Hill Street during public opening hours:

8:00 - 13:15 Monday to Thursday

8:00 - 12:30 Fridays.

Priority will be given to emergency cases and those who have booked appointments. To book an appointment or to contact the Consular Assistance Section by telephone please call 012 421 7500 and follow the voice prompts or email pta.helpforbritishnationals@fco.gov.uk.

Telephone enquiries:
(Local time): Monday-Thursday: 07:45-15:45; Friday: 07:45-13:00;
(GMT): Monday-Thursday: 05:45-13:45; Friday: 05:45-11:00.

Tel: 012 421 7800
Fax: 012 421 7877
E-mail: Consular Enquiries

Regional Passport Processing Centre:

Tel: 0044 208 082 4743;
Fax: 012 421 7877;
E-mail: Passport Enquiries

Passport Applications can no longer be made in person to Pretoria. All applications must be sent by Post or Courier to Pretoria Regional Passport Processing Centre. All applicants should visit www.fco.gov.uk and click on passports and how to apply in South Africa for full details.

Visa Section:

Tel: 0861 837 221 (from within South Africa)
Tel: +27 11 399 6373 (from outside South Africa)
Fax: +27 12 421 7888
E-mail: Visa Enquiries

Opening hours:
The addresses and operating hours for UK visa application centres in South Africa are available here: http://www.vfs-uk-za.com/contactus.aspx


British Consulate-General, Cape Town

15th Floor,
Norton Rose House,
8 Riebeek Street,
Cape Town 8000

Postal Address:
British Consulate-General,
PO Box 500,
Cape Town 8000

Office Hours:
(Local time): Monday-Thursday: 08:00-12:30 and 13:15-16:30; Friday: 08:00-13:30;
(GMT): Monday-Thursday: 06:00-10:30 and 11:15-14:30; Friday: 06:00-11:30.

Consular Enquiries:

Tel (Switchboard): 021 405 2400;
Fax (Consular): 021 405 2447;
E-mail: Consular Enquiries

Consular Section:

Opening hours by appointment only:
(Local time) Mon-Thu: 09.00 - 14.30
(Local time) Fri: 09.00 – 12.00
Unless in an emergency, consular assistance in Cape Town is by appointment only. Please contact the Consular Section to make an appointment.
Please note that only emergency travel documents (ETDs) can be issued in Cape Town. Cape Town is not a passport or visa issuing office.  

Website:  http://ukinsouthafrica.fco.gov.uk/en/