Those of you who are a little less familiar with South Africa may have a few questions: what's it like? How do I get around? Is it safe? Is it expensive? We got you.
About South Africa
Getting around
South Africa is BIG. We have national parks the size of Wales.
Public transport is not always available. So, if you are planning on doing some unguided, non-tour group travel, we advise renting a car. The roads are wide and generally safe.
For shorter trips around Cape Town and surrounding areas, Uber and Bolt are the way to go. It is A LOT cheaper to get around than it is by taxi in Europe. (From Cape Town International Airport to Cape Town City Centre will cost around 140 Rand.)
Your hotels might also have travel options and for day trips and guided tours, transport is generally included and organised.
For long-distance travel, flying is advised. You are likely only here for a short time and spending 16 hours travelling by car from Cape Town to Johannesburg is tiring and will cost you much the same as a two-hour flight.
Pricing
If you want to live like absolute royalty, it will be pricey but, in general, bang for the buck here is outstanding and promises a good quality holiday.
South African currency is called the Rand.
1 Euro will get you about 16 to 17 Rand.
1 Pound will get you 20 Rand.
A good three-course meal for two in a mid-range restaurant will cost you approximately R600/£30/€35 with a good bottle of wine!
90% of places take cards. But it's always a good idea to have some cash on you in case (you never know when a street vendor selling beaded creations may catch your eye).
More average prices here
Communication
You can purchase a SIM card for a local network at the airport. The local networks to use are Vodacom (part of Vodafone) and MTN. Mobile internet here is grand and you may need it for apps like Uber and Google Maps. Wifi is not always freely available. You can also use your own network for a roaming bundle but that can get pretty pricey.
Security
Yes, South Africa is safe. Especially for tourists. South Africa does have some pretty shocking crime statistics and locals do deal with serious crimes daily. However, crime tends to be localised to specific areas and tourist hotspots are generally secure. Like anywhere in the world, a certain level of awareness is needed - there is a lot of crazy inequality in SA, which forces desperate people into crime. So, don't be silly. If something feels dangerous or dodgy, best to listen to your gut and leave the situation.
Climate
April is beautiful and mild - personally, our favourite time of the year. It is early Autumn though, so while you can expect days between 24-28 degrees, do pack a warm layer or two and a jacket or coat.
Things To do!
The vast, beautiful country has a lot to offer. Here are just a few options.
We've split them up into things to do in the Western Cape (the province Cape Town is in) and the rest of South Africa.
Coming to South Africa?
So, for some of you it's going to be a big trip. We get that, and we are so thankful you'd travel so far for us. To help as much as possible, here are a few need-to-knows.
The Western Cape
The Western Cape is the fourth biggest province in South Africa and nearly double the size of Ireland! Man, this place is cool - from the metropolitan city of Cape Town to some adorable ass penguins in Simon's Town. From Kalk Bay bars and shopping to the thrill of driving over Chapman's Peak. Then there's the deserts of the Karoo, the grand mountains of the Overberg, the ancient arches of the Cederberg and the lush forests of the Tsitsikamma and Knysna, along the epic Garden Route. Are you sold yet?
The Western Cape
The Rest of South Africa
As mentioned, this place is pretty big. Most South Africans haven't seen it all - but the bits we have seen have been pretty spectacular.