It is essential to pre-book accommodation in South Africa well in advance for game parks, hotels, self-catering villas & apartments and even campsites if you are planning to visit during the school holiday season. Many places along the coast are booked a year in advance for the December and January peak holiday season.

It is worth noting that on public holidays banks are closed, shopping hours are often reduced and shops close for Good Friday, Christmas day and New Year's day.
School holidays are slightly variable for the coastal and inland provinces.
 

Public Holidays and School Holidays - 2007

1 January - New Year's Day
21 March - Human Rights Day
6 April - Good Friday
9 April - Family Day
27 April - Freedom Day
30 April - School holiday
1 May - Worker's Day
16 June - Youth Day
9 August - National Women's Day
10 August - School holiday
24 September - Heritage Day
16 December - Day of Reconciliation
25 December - Christmas Day
26 December -Day of Goodwill

School Holidays for the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Northern Cape, and Western Cape - 2007

2 December 2006 - 16 January 2007
31 March - 15 April
30 June - 15 July
22 September - 30 September
1 December – 15 January 2008

School Holidays for the Free State, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, North West and Limpopo - 2007

2 December 2006 - 9 January 2007
24 March – 10 April
23 June – 15 July
22 September – 30 September
1 December – 8 January 2008
 

Visas:

No visas are required for visitors who are nationals of the EU, USA, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Israel, Brazil, Argentina, Singapore and Japan. A three month temporary visitor’s permit is issued. However, it is advisable to check with your nearest South African embassy or consulate. A valid passport with two empty pages is essential. You may need to have a return fare or deposit money at customs to cover a fare home (refundable once you leave the country). They may also require you to show sufficient funds to support your visit.

South Africa has at least consular representation in most countries. Link to South African Embassies and Tourist Offices around the world.

South African Diplomatic Missions Abroad

USA

South African Embassy Washington
3051 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington, DC 20008
Tel: (202) 2324400
Fax: (202) 2651607
Link to Website
Email: safrica@saembassy.org

South African Consulate General New York

333 East 38th Street, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 213-4880
Fax: (212) 213-0102
Email: sacg@southafrica-newyork.net
South African Consulate General Los Angeles

6300 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 600, Los Angeles, CA 90048
Tel: (323) 651-0902
Fax: (323) 651-5969
Email: sacg@southafrica-newyork.net
South African Consulate General Chicago

200 South Michigan Avenue, 6th Floor, Chicago, IL 60604
Tel: (312) 939-7929
Fax: (312) 939-2588
Email: sacongenchicago@worldnet.att.net

Canada

South African High Commission Canada
15 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, K1M 1M8
Tel: (613) 744-0330
Fax: (613) 741-1639
Email: rsafrica@southafrica-canada.com

Australia

Rhodes Place, Yarralumla, Canberra, ACT 2600
Tel: (02) 6273-2424

Ireland

2nd floor, Alexandra House, Earlssort Terrace, Dublin 2
Tel: (01) 661-5553

UK

South Africa House, Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DP
Tel: (020) 7925-8910
 

What to Pack

Holiday Kit List

Pack sensibly and streamline your luggage to the bare essentials for your own comfort.  Aim to keep your bags as light and compact as possible, especially if you are planning to use small aircraft transfers. 

Choose practical, casual, comfortable wash and wear clothing. If you are planning to dine in upmarket city hotel restaurants and golf clubs a jacket and tie may be required. Hotels provide efficient same day laundry services, frequently within a few hours.

South African Safari Holiday Quick List

Cotton shirts
Casual, lightweight cotton shorts and long pants (neutral coloured clothes are best for safari holidays)
A warm jacket and a fleece for evening or early morning game drives (it can be chilly!)
Comfortable walking shoes
Swim wear
Personal toiletries
Sunscreen lotion
Binoculars, camera and accessories
Sunglasses (UVB resistant)
Wide brimmed hat
Copies of passport, traveller’s cheques, credit cards

Essential items for your safari in a malaria area:

Long sleeved shirts with a high neck, long trousers and socks
Mosquito repellent – spray and stick form (to spray on mosquito net and clothes)
Anti-malaria pills

Essential items for your beach holiday

Windbreaker
Sarong or beach towel (if not provided)

Tips for Packing Light

Most people come back from holiday wishing their luggage had been a bit lighter. Aim to streamline to the bare essentials and keep your suitcase sleek and slender.

1. Do some research. Contact the hotel, lodge, B&B or self catering house where you've booked and find out if they have a hairdryer, iron, beach towels, and bath towels – leave the cumbersome stuff that is best left at home.
2. Find out about the climate and only pack what will be suitable.
3. Choose a neutral colour (like brown or black) as a basic and pack accessories and other items that harmonise.
4. Obey the numbers rule and pack for less than one week - one shirt per day, one layering fleece and jacket, one pair of pants for every two days, two pairs of shoes and underwear for every day. Utilize the laundry services of the hotel, the local Laundromat or do it yourself if you're travelling for more than a week.
5. Pack travel-size toiletries - decant into small containers if necessary.
6. Scrutinize everything on your bed before packing. Be ruthless and ditch whatever isn’t needed – you’ll be glad you did!
 

© Safarinow.com