South Africa, resting at the bottom of the enormous African Continent, is a land of great diversity and beauty: tropical coastlines and arid deserts; carpets of dazzling daisies and Big Five safaris; proud tradition and first-class infrastructure and is the perfect holiday destination. A South Africa holiday caters for all, from a truly African safari in Kruger National Park, to gourmet fare in the cosmopolitan and breathtakingly beautiful Cape Town.

Hike through dramatic mountains in the Drakensberg or taste a variety of wines at the elegant, colonial wine estates of the Cape. Accommodation in South Africa is as unique and varied as its landscape; you can enjoy luxury lodges in remote wilderness areas, beach front hotels or even intimate guest-houses located in the heart of wine country.

Passports & Visas

Entry requirements
All visitors to South Africa must carry a passport valid for at least 30 days after their date of departure from the country. Travellers requiring a visa must ensure their passport has at least one blank facing page. You may also need to prove that you have enough money to cover your stay. If you plan to leave and re-enter South Africa you'll need a multiple-entry visa to get back into South Africa.

Visa extensions
Applications to extend the term of a visa must be made at the famously inefficient Department of Home Affairs. There are offices in the major towns.

Health

Apart from malaria in certain areas, traveling on your South Africa holiday generally poses no medical threat.Malaria prophylactics are recommended for travellers to Mpumalanga and northern KwaZulu-Natal. These are available from South African chemists, but you should consult your local pharmacist regarding malaria.

If you have any concerns, please consult your own doctor. For travellers entering South Africa within six days of leaving a yellow fever risk area, a yellow fever vaccination certificate is required. Apart from this, there are no compulsory inoculations.The only other health threat is the hot African sun. You should not underestimate the effects of the sun; it is quite common for visitors to lose a day of holiday to sunstroke through overindulgence. Plenty of sun cream, a good sun hat and gradual adjustment are recommended. Tap water in South Africa is free and safe to drink. If you want to pay, however, bottled water is also available.

South African medical services are good in urban areas and in the vicinity of game parks and beaches, but are limited elsewhere. Doctors and hospitals may require immediate cash payment, but usually accept major credit cards. You should secure medical cover on your travel insurance before arriving in the country. Major hotels have contracts with physicians and dentists, but you should bring along supplies of specialised medication you may require. Alternatively, you can buy medicines at pharmacies, and emergency pharmacies are open all night.

Safety

Despite South Africa's terribly high crime rate, most visitors to South Africa come and go without incident. Crime is probably the most serious problem facing the country, but it is highly concentrated in the poor African and coloured townships, and in Johannesburg. Precaution rather than paranoia is the way to remain safe.The greatest danger to your personal safety is probably on the roads, where South Africans mix drinking and driving to an atrocious extent.

The following advice may be of use:

• Dress down, and try not to look like a tourist.
• Don't wear jewellery, fashion sunglasses or expensive watches.
• Know where your valuables are.
• Carry your bag under your arm.
• Don't let groups of strangers get too close to you.
• Lock all car doors at all times in the city.
• Take the bare minimum of accessories to the beach.
• Keep your passports, plane tickets, jewellery of value and large sums of money in safe custody.

What to Pack

Pack clothing to suit the season and location of your visit. South Africa is coldest during a Cape Town winter or at night-time on the Highveld. The days can be very warm at any time of year though, so bring plenty of cool clothing. In summer, don't forget beach wear. Remember a sun hat, particularly if you're going on safari, and sun protection cream. If you're heading into a malaria risk area you'll find full-length clothing useful (just make sure it's not too heavy) as well as spray-on mosquito repellent.

Bring practical shoes - you'll probably be doing a fair amount of walking. Bring hiking boots if you plan on doing mountain trails longer than a single day. Posh hotels and city clubs may require collared shirts, so bring a set of smart clothing if you plan on being glamorous.

The most practical items to pack are:

• Khaki, brown, white and beige colours
• Light cotton tops and cotton trousers/shorts in summer
• Safari trousers and warm tops for evenings and cooler days
• Swimwear, snorkel, mask, fins, sun lotion
• A hat, sunglasses and sunscreen
• Plastic sandals, to protect feet against injury from sharp coral or stone fish
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Camera film and batteries