South Africa
Things To Know
- Highlights – Safari, Cape Town, Wineries, The Garden Route, whale watching.
- Language – Afrikaans, English, and 9 other official languages.
- Currency – South African Rand (ZAR)
- Power Outlets – South Africa uses power plug, and socket types C, D, M & N. The standard voltage is 2s0 V, with a standard frequency of 50 Hz. I always travel with a universal adapter to ensure I can keep all my devices and batteries fully charged.
- Safety – South Africa is a generally safe country to visit. Be alert for petty theft in the cities.
- Water Safety – Tap water in major urban areas, such as Cape Town, is safe to drink and cook with. When in rural parts of the country, drink only filtered or bottled water. I travel with a LARQ purifying water bottle to be safe.
- Transportation – Uber is available throughout most cities and towns in South Africa.
Best Time To Go
For Safari, the dry season in South Africa runs from May to September. The best time to visit the parks and Game reserves for safari. During this time, the animals congregate around waterholes and rivers. Much of the vegetation has died down, which also makes for easier game viewing. As this is winter, mornings and nights are cold, but the days are generally pleasant. May and September are wonderful because it is not quite as cold. Especially in September, the wildlife viewing is excellent.
The Garden Route can be visited all year long. The summer months (November – April) are the warmest months to visit. However, the crowds spike during this time, especially over the Christmas school holidays. The best time to visit the Garden Route with fewer crowds is from February to April. Be aware that the Garden Route can see rainfall at any time of the year.
The best time to visit Cape Town‘s beaches is during peak summer, from December to February. The winter months of June – August are a wonderful time to visit the Cape Winelands, go for a hike, or enjoy whale watching.
