DIRECTIONS
Visas
Most nationalities get up to 3 months entry on arrival. Check with the Home Affairs and your travel agent whether you need to prearrange a visa. Do not show up without a visa if you are required to have one, as visas will not be issued at points of entry. If needed, you can extend your visa in South Africa. With an extension the total amount of time you are allowed to stay is 6 months. Additional information as well as Visa application forms can be found at the Department of Home Affairs , ph: +27 (0)12 810 8911
The Department of Home Affairs is notoriously inefficient, so make sure to apply for visas and visa extensions as early as possible.
Make sure you have 2 blank pages back to back in your passport and that it is valid for at least 30 days after your intended date of departure, or you will be sent back! Make sure you have a return ticket available or they will send you back. If you need to pick up a ticket at the airport have the flight number and details handy and speak with the customs guy, they should check your story out and let you in (be firm). Be wary of arriving with a damaged passport as new security measures might trip up your entry.
By plane
South Africa has 10 international airports, the two major ones being Cape Town International and OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.Durban International Airport is the third biggest airport. Regular Flights from and to: Blantyre, Cairo, Gaborone, Dar es Salaam, Harare, Lilongwe, Livingstone, Luanda, Lusaka, Kinshasa, Maputo, Manzini, Maun, Mauritius, Nairobi, Victoria Falls and Windhoek.
Direct flights also arrive from major European centres, including: Amsterdam, Athens, Madrid, London, Paris, Istanbul, Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich and Lisbon. There are also direct flights from Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Doha, New York, Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Buenos Aires, Mumbai, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Sao Paulo, Singapore, Sydney and Perth. You may also want to have a look at Discount airlines in Africa.
By car
Should you be entering from one of the other countries in Southern Africa you might want to do so by car. South Africa operates a number of land border posts between itself and immediately neighboring countries. The more commonly used ones are:
Botswana border
- Skilpadsnek, (On the N4, 54km from Zeerust.), ? +27 (0)18 366-1469. Open 6AM to 10PM.
Lesotho border
- Maseru Bridge, (15km from Ladybrand on the N8 towards Maseru.), ? +27 (0)51 924-4004. Open 24 hours.
- Ficksburg Bridge, (Just outside Ficksburg), ? +27 (0)51 933-2760. Open 24 hours.
- Sani Pass, (In the KwaZulu-Natal Drakensberg park.), ? +27 (0)51 430-3664. 8AM to 4PM.
Mozambique border
- Lebombo, (On the N4 between Nelspruit and Maputo), ? +27 (0)13 790-7203. 6AM to 10PM.
- Kosi Bay, (R22 between Hluhluwe and Ponta do Ouro), ? +27 (0)35 592-0251. 8AM to 4PM.
Namibia border
- Nakop, (132 km from Upington on the N10 towards Ariamsvlei), ? +27 (0)54 571-0008. Open 24 hours.
- Vioolsdrift, (On the N7 north of Springbok), ? +27 (0)27 761-8760. Open 24 hours.
Swaziland border
- Oshoek, (120km from Ermelo on the N17 towards Mbabane), ? +27 (0)17 882-0138. 7AM to 10PM.
Zimbabwe border
- Beit Bridge, (On N1 approximately 16 km north of Messina), ? +27 (0)15 530-0070. Open 24 hours.
Open times are often extended during South African holidays.. For a full list of entry ports or any additional information see the South African Border Information Service or contact them on +27 (0)86 026-7337.
By boat
Most of the larger cruise lines, such as Princess Cruises offer Cape Town as one of their destinations, but you can also try something different
- RMS St Helena. This passenger/cargo ship is the last working Royal Mail Ship and stops at Cape Town on its way to St Helena.