Violence and Crime
Historically, Sierra Leone and Liberia have had high crime rates, and travelers should be cautious, especially if traveling alone. South Africa has also earned a reputation as dangerous, with carjackings and muggings common. Throughout the continent, pickpocketing and theft are prevalent.Africa, as a region, is actually far more expensive than you might expect. Despite its generally low cost of living, as a traveler you're likely find yourself spending more than you anticipated. Many countries are not visited by many tourists, and as such, the travel infrastructure is limited.
Best time to visit Africa. The best time to visit Africa tends to depend on wildlife - with May to October being popular months in the game-rich plains of East and Southern Africa. In the north, the desert winters are chilly and the summers hot - spring and autumn are much more pleasant.
Here are 10 basic steps to make your dream African trip a reality.
- 01 of 10. Decide Where to Go.
- 02 of 10. Decide When to Go.
- 03 of 10. Book Your Tours and Lodging.
- 04 of 10. Book Your Flights.
- 05 of 10. Buy Travel Insurance.
- 06 of 10. Check Your Visa Requirements.
- 07 of 10. Organize Travel Medication.
- 08 of 10.
Violence and Crime
Historically, Sierra Leone and Liberia have had high crime rates, and travelers should be cautious, especially if traveling alone. South Africa has also earned a reputation as dangerous, with carjackings and muggings common. Throughout the continent, pickpocketing and theft are prevalent.Best time to visit Africa. The best time to visit Africa tends to depend on wildlife - with May to October being popular months in the game-rich plains of East and Southern Africa. In the north, the desert winters are chilly and the summers hot - spring and autumn are much more pleasant.
The air travel (bird fly) shortest distance between United States and South Africa is 14,396 km= 8,945 miles. If you travel with an airplane (which has average speed of 560 miles) from United States to South Africa, It takes 15.97 hours to arrive.
Essential Vaccinations
Although you should read the CDC's specific advice for your intended destinations, four vaccinations are recommended for all countries in Africa: yellow fever, hepatitis A, hepatitis B and typhoid. You must get all four vaccinations before departure.Unfortunately, there aren't any roads that lead to Africa and given the distance of over 5000 miles across the North Atlantic Ocean, the best way to get to Africa is by aeroplane. If you flying to South Africa, the flight times vary but the most direct flight from New York to Johannesburg is 14 hours 50 minutes.
South Africa - Money
| Dining out | Typical price range (Rand) |
|---|
| Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant | 55.00 - 100.00 R |
| Meal for 2, Mid-range Restaurant, 3-course | 250.00 - 400.00 R |
Most coastal countries in West Africa are considered safe for travel, including Cameroon, Benin, Togo, The Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Equatorial Guinea; this includes inland regions of these countries. Offshore, Cabo Verde and São Tomé & Príncipe could just be the region's safest destinations.
A vacation to South Africa for one week usually costs around R9,426 for one person. So, a trip to South Africa for two people costs around R18,852 for one week. A trip for two weeks for two people costs R37,704 in South Africa.
Low-cost: US$50-75 (AUD$69-103) a day per person, per day if you're eating cheap meals, not renting a car and doing some cheap to moderately priced sightseeing. Mid-range: US$100-150 (AUD$138-207) per person, per day will cover moderately priced meals and sightseeing.
I will qualify my previous marks by conceding that, in some respects, Zambia is very expensive indeed. Fuel is a case in point. At the moment, unleaded is about 9500 kwacha per litre, which makes it even more expensive than the UK, unbelievably.
So, a trip to South Africa for two people costs around R18,852 for one week. A trip for two weeks for two people costs R37,704 in South Africa. If you're traveling as a family of three or four people, the price person often goes down because kid's tickets are cheaper and hotel rooms can be shared.
South Africa's currency is the South African rand. When traveling in South Africa, it's smart to carry both ZAR and US dollars. Many of Africa's national parks will only accept US dollars for their entry fees, and some tourist activities, like safaris and other tours, will require that you pay and tip in USD.
For most first time international travellers to South Africa we would recommend 8-12 days as a starting point, as South Africa has an extensive variety of attractions on offer. Cape Town cannot be justified in less than 4 days. A night (or two) in the nearby Cape Winelands or Whale Coast is a great add-on.
While meal prices in South Africa can vary, the average cost of food in South Africa is R306 per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in South Africa should cost around R122 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner.
The best time to visit South Africa's parks is from May to September. This is the Dry season and animals congregate around waterholes and rivers. As this is winter, mornings and nights are cold. May and September are wonderful because it is less cold and, especially in September, the wildlife viewing is excellent.
Here are First Car Rental's top ten choices for the most beautiful places to visit in South Africa.
- Boulders Beach, Western Cape.
- Blyde River Canyon, Mpumalanga.
- Paarl, Western Cape.
- The V&A Waterfront, Cape Town.
- Pringle Bay, Western Cape.
- Cape Point, Western Cape.
- Tsitsikamma National Park, Eastern Cape.
South Africa - Money
| Common grocery items | Price (Rand) |
|---|
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) | 12.00 R |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | 47.00 R |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) | 12.00 R |
| Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle) | 15.00 R |
How Safe Is Cape Town Overall? St. Louis, Missouri, USA had more murders per 100,000 people than Cape Town last year. There is definitely crime and extreme inequality, but that's true everywhere and most Cape Town crime occurs outside of main tourism areas and does not involve tourists.
The long-haul flight to South Africa takes over 11 hours direct. The total flight duration from London to Johannesburg or London to Cape Town is 11 hours and 30 minutes.
Thailand. Thailand is one of the cheapest countries to visit on a budget. It's beautiful, well set up for travel, and incredibly cheap. Visitors can see everything from jungle to temples, white beaches, and amazing blue water.
How long to spend in Africa. We arrange trips to Africa which vary in range from just five nights, all the way up to two or three months and everything in between. The most common duration for a decent safari trip is 10-18 nights in Africa, plus your travel time.
