Specific tips for traveling to South Africa on your own. Travel to South Africa South Africa independent travel

Due to racial conflicts that have been going on in South Africa for decades, this country is considered unsafe for travelers, but there are always brave souls who are ready to try their fate. Considering that South Africa is a completely different continent, it is better not to engage in amateur activities and buy a package tour in which you will be guaranteed almost complete safety. Your arguments that such tours cost enormous amounts of money are not entirely true. Yes, the pleasure is expensive, but not as much as you say in your question. No, if you stay in the most luxurious hotels, buy individual tours on safaris and other excursions, then even more may come.

The algorithm for traveling on your own is extremely simple: look for great deals from airlines (tourists often get to South Africa via Frankfurt), choose and book accommodation, fill out documents, draw up a travel itinerary and off you go.

Since black people seized power in the country, the situation has changed dramatically and a white person may experience certain inconveniences, and sometimes may even find himself in a situation that will threaten his life and health. Many tourists visit Cape Town, which has a beautiful Botanical Garden, embankment and other tourist sites, but it is better to avoid the residential areas of this city.

The city of Johannesburg is considered the most dangerous for white travelers. In this city, a white tourist can become a victim of robbers or other criminals at any time, not just in the evening or at night (even traveling by car is not a guarantee of safety). Sometimes tourists are kidnapped for ransom.

Be prepared for the fact that not only robberies, assaults and other crimes against persons can await you in South Africa. Every year more and more crimes related to credit cards. You can encounter attempts to write off more money from a card than is allotted everywhere, from small shops to hotels and restaurants. If you decide to take cards with you, then before your trip it would be a good idea to visit your bank to consult on security issues. Sometimes tourists take not one, but several cards and split the entire amount according to the cards.

You should not store valuables in hotels, as thefts are very common there, and this applies to hotels of all categories, not just the cheapest ones. If you lose something from your room, you can’t hope that hotel staff or the police will make efforts to find the loss and those responsible for the theft. Money and mobile phone It is advisable to carry it with you under your clothes. If the room has a safe, then pay attention to how well it is secured.

Tourists are often deceived by taxi drivers who artificially inflate prices in the hope that the tourist will not bargain and agree to go for the initially announced price.

On the streets of South African cities, you can often find drug dealers who feel like fish in water and offer their “product” to almost all passers-by, including tourists. It is not worth entering into any discussions with them, much less buying anything from them, as this can turn into a big problem (such people almost always have weapons with them). Sometimes such individuals cooperate with the police and do everything possible to ensure that tourists fall for their bait.

There are other types of crimes in South Africa, and when going to this country, you must understand that no one will welcome you there with open arms, but on the contrary, they will perceive you as a money bag and a potential victim. In this regard, I advise you to look for suitable package tours, and not organize such a trip yourself.

South Africa, a vacation in which leaves no one indifferent, is one of the most expensive tourist destinations. However, tourists do not regret the money spent, since this country is capable of giving more than you actually expect. A holiday here in 2019 will not only be interesting and varied, but will give you the most vivid memories for a lifetime.

Here you can relax on magnificent beaches surrounded by coral reefs and mountain ranges. Very close to the luxury hotel live in natural environment elephants, lions, rhinoceroses, giraffes and other wild animals, seeing which in such conditions is a real happiness for all romantics and lovers of life.

The highlight of a holiday in South Africa are excursions to nature reserves and national parks. In addition to exciting mini-tours and safaris, tourists are offered:

boat trips,
wonderful fishing,
kitchen with unique food,
excursions to local cellars with wine tasting,
superb surfing and much more.

South Africa excursion

The country's territory is divided into several provinces, which differ not only in size, but also in appearance, climate, history, and ethnic composition.

Very attractive in quality excursion route the capital of the republic is Pretoria (Tshwane), where the largest diamond in the world was once found. In September, jacaranda trees bloom here and decorate the city. The most significant landmark of the capital is considered architectural complex The Union Building, which symbolizes the awakening of national feelings after the Boer War. The residence of the President of South Africa, the State Theater Complex, and the Tshwane Forts are also noteworthy.

One of the most colorful cities is Durban, where you can visit:

various museums,
Center for African Art,
Church of St. Paul.

Near the city is the Valley of a Thousand Hills, where you can meet the Zulu tribe, visit a crocodile farm and a snake sanctuary.

Another popular South African city is Port Elizabeth, located in the Eastern Cape state. Here it is worth visiting the Donkin Reserve Museum, which presents the life of the first British colonists, and visiting the city hall and Fort Frederick. Of considerable interest are the Wezandla Gallery, which displays exhibits of African art, and the Air Force Museum, dedicated to South Africa.

National parks and safaris in South Africa

The hallmark of a holiday in South Africa is its National parks, among which it is worth highlighting the Kruger Park. This breathtaking place is located in the provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga and covers almost 2 million hectares. Here tourists go on exciting safaris and hiking in the middle wildlife, and also try to see the “Big Five” at once. The reserve is divided into 14 ecological zones, each of which represents its own unique nature with different flora and fauna. In addition, the park has camps, lodges and picnic areas. There are restaurants, shops and tourism organizations, offering spectacular excursions.

Another reserve worth mentioning is Cape Good Hope. He serves as the personification of the hope of the Portuguese, who were looking for India in the 15th century. Today this place attracts with its beautiful scenery. The uniqueness of the protected area lies in the fact that, in addition to other animals, penguins are found here. Surprisingly, they were once able to swim to the coast of Africa from Antarctica itself and then settled here forever.

Beach holidays in South Africa

South Africa also boasts its beaches. The Cape of Good Hope has a beautiful coastline that makes for a great holiday. Blue Flag beaches are popular among travelers.

The shores of Clifton, Victoria, and Llandudno, which are reliably protected from the winds by granite rocks and offer tourists a romantic atmosphere and entertainment such as surfing, diving, kiting, and yacht trips, are characterized by excellent reviews.

Resorts such as Cape Town and Durban, which can be proud of their golden shores and rich infrastructure, are worthy of attention. Accommodation here varies: from very inexpensive hostels to luxury hotels.

Coast Indian Ocean gives the impression of coziness and comfort. The beaches here are great for families with children.

Holiday seasons in 2019

Holidays in South Africa are often associated with hot weather, but this is not the case. The climate in this part of Africa is mild and very pleasant, and throughout the year there is sweltering heat, as in neighboring countries, not noted. The climate is more determined by the influence of the oceans.

High season

You can relax at the resorts all year round, but perhaps the most comfortable time to visit the country is from May to July. At this time, it is winter in South Africa: the air warms up to +23oC, and the grass is still low and animals can be seen more easily.

Low season

This is the time of summer (September-March). During these months, the mornings are sunny, and thunderstorms often occur in the afternoon, most of which are observed in the northern regions of the country. On average, the air temperature is recorded around +38°C. However, it is during the summer months that cold waters Atlantic Ocean warm up well and become comfortable for swimming, so beach holiday It is best to do it between November and March. The peak prices for such holidays are observed in December.

Since March 30, 2017, a visa-free regime has been introduced between the Russian Federation and South Africa. Tourists can stay in the African republic without a visa for up to 90 days. The entry stamp will be placed at the border. Apart from a foreign passport and return tickets, no additional documents are usually required. For transit passengers– also no problems.

Below is information that is relevant before the cancellation of visas, or for issuing a long-term visa. Plus some useful details about traveling to South Africa.

On the entire African continent, one of the most attractive places for tourism is South Africa. In this country you can find an enchanting mixture of cultures and customs, modern cities and the blessings of humanity and splendor nature reserves. In order to get to this country of contrasts Russians need a visa, which can be obtained through the consular section of the South African Embassy in Moscow. There are a lot of documents to be collected to submit complete information about the applicant so that a visa to South Africa is already in hand in a short time.

The main feature is a mandatory invitation or a detailed travel plan, which is agreed with travel agency in South Africa itself. The procedure for providing documents and the form that should be filled out is similar to the same when registering for entry into. This is not surprising, because much of the structure of South Africa takes its roots from Foggy Albion.

Types of visas

In addition to the tourist visa, the following types of visas can also be obtained with appropriate justification:

Guest, by invitation from a private person legally residing in South Africa on a permanent basis;
Business, in the presence of a detailed invitation from legal entities or a partner registered in South Africa on a permanent basis and conducting business in South Africa;
Visa for students. Having in hand an invitation or a training agreement from an educational institution from South Africa, you can attend the necessary courses for up to 90 days;
A medical visa is designed for cases where there are supporting documents for the need to undergo a course of treatment in South Africa;
Visa for 90 days for the purpose of marriage;
Research, conferences, participation in sporting events can be carried out upon receipt of the appropriate visa. In any case, a reasoned justification and an invitation from the board organizing the relevant event are required;
A transit visa is needed if you need to visit South Africa only for a transfer while traveling to a third country.

Separately, it is worth noting that holders of diplomatic and service passports do not need to obtain a visa if the period of visiting South Africa does not exceed 90 days. In any other case, an application and all necessary documents are submitted.

List of documents

The initial package of documents required for any visa contains:

A foreign passport with two blank visa pages and a validity period that exceeds the validity of the visa received by one month;
Completed application form (you can download it;
One photo 3x4 cm pasted into the application form;
Confirmation of booking of tickets in both directions.

Filling out the form is done only in English using one black pen (including signature). A sample form for filling out the form can be viewed. If you are not sure that the applicant will be able to independently fill out all the items without errors, then it is better to contact a translation agency that can help with this. Moreover, you need to contact the bureau in order to transfer to English language all supporting documents such as the child's birth certificate or any applications that will be required for individual visas. In fact, only a bank statement cannot be transferred. Your version of answers is sent to the bureau, respectively, for all questions of the questionnaire; for this purpose, all questions in the questionnaire are duplicated in Russian, so that there will be no problems with interpretation and understanding.

The photo requirements are standard, as in most consulates around the world - 3.5 by 4.5 cm. Take a photo shortly before submitting documents, against a light background, full face and without any elements that will hide the face or part of it. Digital photos should not be processed, so you should refuse the services of those photographers who offer to correct your photo.

When submitting documents, proof of ticket reservation is provided. There is no need to buy them back, because it may happen that a visa will be refused. Fully purchased tickets will only need to be shown upon receipt of a visa in order to pick up your passport.

Additional documents

Confirmation of solvency

For tourists and guests, you must confirm your solvency or indicate a sponsor who will cover all costs for the period of your stay in the country. Confirmation may be a bank statement about the status of accounts, a receipt for the purchase of currency, or confirmation of the purchase of traveler's checks for the required amount. The required amount of money can be approximately calculated from the condition of spending 100 USD per day per person.

For employees, it is mandatory to provide a certificate from their place of employment indicating the average monthly and average annual earnings. A letter from the company indicating the length of service in this workplace and confirmation of the provision of leave sufficient for the entire period of stay in South Africa on the requested visa. Completed and approved Form 2-NDFL. Civil servants (freelancers) or those working under contracts will need to provide a certificate from the tax office confirming registration.

Pensioners confirm their income only by providing a pension and an extract from the pension fund on the status of provision. Students who provide a student card must indicate a sponsor in the person of close relatives who will cover all travel expenses. Confirmation in this case is the same bank statement or receipt for the purchase of currency and traveler's checks for the required amount, a letter of sponsorship and copies of all significant pages in the civil passport.

Invitation

Whether it is a visiting trip, a business trip or training, you must provide an invitation from an individual, enterprise or educational institution. The more detail the purpose of the visit is covered, the better. A mandatory item in the invitation must be information about the inviting party, indicating all contact details. Students who require a visa to study must provide a letter from the South African institution confirming the invitation and acceptance of the student.

Birth certificate for minors

In case of obtaining a visa, children under 18 years of age must obtain their own passport for them, even if the parent has one entered in their passport. The birth certificate must be translated into English and the translation must be certified either by a translation agency or by a notary. Also, statements from the remaining parents and guardians about their consent to the child’s departure, or other official documents that would explain the absence of these permissions, must be attached.

Yellow fever vaccination certificate

This is one of the most important requirements for any visitors and those wishing to obtain a visa to South Africa. However for Russian tourists who travel directly from the Russian Federation, no such certificate is needed.

Submitting an application and documents. Cost and terms

You must submit both an application and a complete package of documents at the same time. You can use the mail or contact directly the consular section of the South African Embassy in Moscow. For each applicant, including each minor, documents are packed into separate envelopes. Before sending documents by mail, the consular fee is paid in order to enclose a receipt for payment in the envelope. When visiting the consulate in person, you can pay the fee on the spot in rubles.

One of my most memorable two-week trips so far last years there was a trip to South Africa. I visited the famous Victoria Falls, which is located on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe. I spent the whole day in Botswana's Chobe Park. There was a memorable trip to the highest pub in Africa, which is located in Lesotho. The few days spent in the kingdom of Swaziland were also unforgettable. But, perhaps, the first place in terms of the number of bright and memorable events on this trip was taken by the Republic of South Africa.

In this note I want to talk about all the places that I managed to visit there. To start general information about country. The Republic of South Africa (Republic of South Africa) is a state in the southern part of the African continent. In the north it borders with Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe, in the northeast with Mozambique and Swaziland. Inside the territory of South Africa there is the enclave state of Lesotho.

Length coastline is 2,798 km. South Africa has an area of 1,219,912 km², the country is the 24th largest in the world (after Mali). The highest point in South Africa is Mount Njesuti in the Drakensberg Mountains. South Africa has a variety of climate zones, from the dry Namib Desert to the subtropics in the east near the border with Mozambique and the Indian Ocean coast.

To the east, the terrain rises rapidly to form the Drakensberg Mountains and into a large inland plateau called the veld. South Africa is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in Africa and has the largest proportion of white, Asian and mixed populations on the continent. The country has rich mineral resources, is also the most economically developed in Africa and has a relatively strong global position. South Africa is a country that developed nuclear weapons and subsequently voluntarily abandoned them. Source Wikipedia

Well, now let's move on to the sights.

1. Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park

2. Isimangaliso Wetland Park

Isimangaliso Wetland Region - national park in the east of South Africa in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. The park includes a variety of natural complexes that are constantly under the influence of coastal currents and storms. In 2008, the park changed its name from Saint Lucia to Isimangaliso. The park contains four wetland zones protected by the Ramsar Convention, with total area 2137.32 km². Since 1999, the park has been included in the list of objects World Heritage UNESCO.

3. Dragon’s mountain or Drakensberg

Mountain system located in South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. Minerals: platinum, manganese ores, gold, coal, tin ores, etc. A variety of plant and animal world The Drakensberg Mountains are represented, among other things, by rare or endemic species. Most of Gore is included in the Drakensberg Park - natural object UNESCO World Heritage Site.

4. Blyde River Canyon

I am adding a little more information about this place, because it is very beautiful. This one is unique natural monument located in the province of Mpumalanga. Over millions of years, the Blyde River has carved a twenty-six kilometer long gorge through the red sandstone. The most high point The canyon, Mariepskop, has a height of 1944 meters above sea level, the lowest point where the river leaves the canyon is 560 m above sea level. The depth of the canyon is about 1400 meters. Blyde River Canyon is the third largest in the world (after the Grand Canyon in the USA and Fish River Canyon in Namibia).

At the very beginning of the canyon, at the confluence of the Blyde River and its tributary Treur, whirlpools and waterfalls knocked out cylindrical holes in the sandstone, called "Bourkes" Luck Potholes. They were named so in honor of Tom Burke, a prospector who predicted that large deposits of gold would be found in the area.

The “Three Rondavels” located next to the canyon are very beautiful, huge round sandstone rocks with a conical “roof”, very similar in shape to giant rondavels, traditional African huts.

5. Kruger National Park National Park)

This is South Africa's most famous national park. Located in the northeast of the country between the Limpopo and Crocodile rivers. To the east, the park borders Mozambique. It is part of the Kruger to the Canyons Biosphere Reserve, established in 2001. The total length of the park from north to south is 340 km. The three main parts of the park (northern, central and southern) are formed by the Olifants and Sabie rivers. The Kruger Park is home to elephants, hippos, giraffes, white rhinoceroses, lions, leopards, crocodiles, and 17 species of antelope. It has one of the largest concentrations of wildlife in the world.

When I was going to Africa, everyone scared me of various infectious diseases and said that I must definitely get all kinds of vaccinations. To confirm this, I came across similar information on the Internet a couple of times.There was also information of another kind.

So they wrote that you need to take pills regularly for malaria, also for yellow fever and other diseases. I checked this information and found out that vaccinations are really necessary. But only if I came from a country in which some kind of disease was rampant. And since we don’t have such a disease, no one will demand anything. And my task is to wash my hands before eating so as not to spread the infection.

As for malaria, it is a different matter. So malaria is normal in South Africa. And those who wish can take pills to save themselves. Then I began to find out more and found out that these tablets are strongly recommended to be taken only by children and pregnant women who come to South Africa during the malaria period in the country. This is usually from October to March. I personally am not pregnant or a child, so I didn’t take the pills, especially since I was flying in April, and the pills have terrible contraindications and side effects. And they don’t save you from illness, but you will only be able to bear it easier if you get sick.

I took with me various types of sprays and a set of tablets for different occasions. Such a standard set - from diarrhea, from the head, from poisoning and so on. And I didn’t have to smear myself, especially since there are also pharmacies at every turn and medicines are cheaper than in Russia. If I had known, I wouldn’t have taken so many pills, but I was a little scared.

The water in Cape Town is good. It's clean and tasty. They drink it without fear. And from the tap. Hence the poor sales mineral water, and in general you need to look for it and it’s expensive. It's cheaper to drink juice, or beer.

The song really gets it right; getting to Africa is not that easy. It is clear that it is not as difficult as for Dr. Aibolit, but at least it is tedious. First I flew two and a half hours to Frankfurt. Then twelve hours to Cape Town. If it were during the day, then of course you would watch films in English (if, of course, you knew the language), read, and eat three times. But at night it’s hard to endure all this. I don't like to sleep sitting up. The plane was full. Most of them were Germans, so it was not possible to capture another seat. But I didn’t sleep normally for three days, so I could barely fly. And the biggest disadvantage of South Africa is that it’s just a journey, you just can’t get there, and that’s a shame. The cost of a ticket is not that high; if you fly for a month, you will understand how much cheaper African life is compared to ours. But we, as tourists, are already accustomed to flying to Thailand or Australia. So we’ll adapt and fly to Africa normally.

The people of Cape Town are spoiled. They have good weather. So in the summer it rarely gets above thirty. Usually it's twenty-five. In winter, locals complain about the weather - it gets cold and temperatures can reach ten degrees. And the winds are strong. Sometimes, of course, it is cloudy. But in general, local African utilities can rejoice, and ours can envy them - there is no heating or air conditioning here, they don’t need it. It turns out that Africans are saving. It is thanks to the climate that Africans can live in cans, or in kennels that are made of plywood, tin, and so on. They may even spend the night right on the street, waiting for a lost foreign tourist. The hunting season for tourists begins at six o'clock in the evening. Although, to be honest, if a tourist does not know any safety rules, then he can run into trouble even during the day - South Africa is generally not a place for having a nice stroll and taking pictures of everything around. You can read about how a tourist should behave in the country right at the airport - do not resist if you are robbed, humbly give everything, try to remember what the robber looks like. But the last point is somewhat dubious. It is unlikely that whites will be able to distinguish blacks from each other. Especially if the robbery took place at night. I studied the poster. And I try to follow these rules.

To begin with, it’s generally worth practicing, because when we come on vacation, we’re used to relaxing and not thinking about anything. And all the locals have not been in a relaxed state for a long time. The poster also said that if you are robbed with a weapon, then they are professionals. They usually don't kill people after a robbery. They calmed me down, what to say. And in general, anything can happen here, and even relatives will have to look for a clause in the policy about evacuating the body to their homeland at the expense of insurance.

Rands are not a currency, but...We are used to the fact that currency can be sold and bought almost anywhere and at any time of the day or night, with a minimum commission and without unnecessary formalities. But in South Africa everything is different. Here everything goes like this: banks work only a couple of hours a day, in large shopping centers There are points that work at a later time, then even there you will not get past bureaucratic procedures - and there is some unrealistic percentage for the exchange. They will also ask you to say everything related to your personal data - telephone number, passport, address of the hotel where you live. All this takes time, so be prepared to spend some time in exchange office. Moreover, no one is in a hurry here, which sometimes infuriates. So it turns out that for each exchange you can pay up to ten euros. The last thing you will be asked to do is sign a declaration - it says that you say that everything is correct and that you undertake to keep the receipts for two years.

Yeah, I’ll set aside a special shelf at home for these receipts. Suddenly the local special forces will come to my house and check all the receipts to see if I have them. INYou cannot export or import rands. You can change them only if you have a certificate stating that you bought them. And this is where we remember our wooden ruble, when we only bought the dollar as a means of saving.

That's why it's not a currency. Rubles are a convertible currency in comparison. But in South Africa they don’t know this fact and don’t take our rubles.
Here are some tips for you - immediately change some amount at the airport, the rate there is lower than at exchange offices in shopping centers, and even then you may encounter a situation where there is nowhere to change money at all. Unofficially, of course, it is possible to reach an agreement, but is it necessary - anything can happen. As for plastic cards, they work, but that’s a different story altogether.

The next piece of advice is that if you find a decent exchanger with a normal exchange rate, then change the entire amount that you may need here - otherwise you will pay a commission every time. And this commission is generally unrealistic - it consists of a percentage of the currency being exchanged, plus a fixed payment, and you will probably make a mistake and they will give you less money than you think. And try to prove something to someone here.

As for ATMs, they can only be used in exceptional cases and with great caution. And preferably only in large shopping centers. If the ATM doesn’t give you the card, you just need to fly and look for someone who services the ATM and, moreover, urgently call Russia and block the card. You can really lose your money there.

There are specialized credit card scammers here. There are even special ATMs that are part of the scope of work of these scammers. Therefore, it is better to apply all safety measures. Starting from typing a PIN code if suddenly someone is standing behind you and ending with asking for help when withdrawing money from the card. And in general, do not talk to those of a different race. Save yourself.

I’m tired of scaring, and therefore I’ll think about how interesting it is to write about adventures and travel in general in this very beautiful and unusual country. But first, sleep B-)