South Africa
Republic of South Africa
Southern Africa · ZAF
Editorial Snapshot
Why Go To South Africa
South Africa is strongest for travelers who want one trip to combine wildlife, dramatic landscapes, and long road routes that feel varied from region to region. It works best when built around one or two clear priorities such as coastal scenery, park time, or cultural landscapes, rather than trying to turn the whole country into a single fast loop.
Popular For
Things To See
- Cape Floral Region Protected Areas
- Maloti-Drakensberg Park
- iSimangaliso Wetland Park – Maputo National Park
- Robben Island
- Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape
- Barberton Makhonjwa Mountains
Best Months
Know Before You Go
- January and September through November are the easiest broad months in the current brief.
- Most first visits are stronger when limited to one or two regions rather than a full-country circuit.
- This is a country where self-drive planning and a clear mix of park time, coast, or cultural stops matter more than chasing the longest possible route.
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Flights
Hotels & Accommodations
Compare stays across major booking options
Open hotel and accommodation options for South Africa.
Guidebooks
Lonely Planet South Africa, Lesotho & Eswatini
Lonely Planet
Complete regional guide covering wildlife, national parks, cultural sites, and outdoor adventures.
View on Amazon →
Southern African Wildlife
Mike Unwin
Wildlife field guide combined with travel information for safari planning and species identification.
View on Amazon →
The Rough Guide to South Africa, Lesotho and Eswatini
Rough Guides
Fully updated guide with expert advice on wildlife reserves and cultural experiences.
View on Amazon →Tours & Activities
Country Data
Stats At A Glance
Practical travel, safety, climate, and quality-of-life stats for South Africa.
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Pretoria
- Population
- 63,100,945
- Area
- 1,221,037 km²
- Region
- Southern Africa
Languages
- Afrikaans
- English
- Southern Ndebele
- Northern Sotho
- Southern Sotho
- Swazi
- Tswana
- Tsonga
- Venda
- Xhosa
- Zulu
Currency
South African rand (R)
ZAR
1 USD = 16.44 ZAR
Cost of Living (World Bank)
40.5
Price level index (US = 100)
- Groceries
- 32.6
- Restaurants
- 35.6
- Rent
- 13.0
Safety & Peace
higher score = safer everyday environment · derived from World Bank homicide data
lower score = more peaceful · 1.0–3.5 scale
Monthly Climate Averages
These weather averages are based on data for Pretoria (25.70°S, 28.22°E).
LGBTQ+ Friendly
78/100
Traveler LGBTQ score
- Legal protections
- 100/100
- Lived safety
- 36/100
This traveler-facing score is lower than the legal protections score because lived-safety context is weaker, based on broader traveler safety and development conditions.
This score blends legal protections with lived-safety context so strong laws alone do not automatically push a country to the top of the ranking.
- Homosexuality legal✅
- Relationship recognitionMarriage
- Adoption recognition✅
- Anti-discrimination laws✅
- Employment protections✅
- Legal gender recognition✅
- Conversion therapy ban✅
Human Development Index (UNDP)
0.741
High human development
- 5-year change
- +0.009
- 10-year change
- +0.036
- Trend
- stable
- Data year
- 2023
- Gender Dev. Index (GDI)
- 0.996
- Gender Inequality Index (GII)
- 0.388
- Planetary-adjusted HDI (PHDI)
- 0.685
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (12)
- 🏛️
Human Rights, Liberation and Reconciliation: Nelson Mandela Legacy Sites
Inscribed 2024
- 🏛️
The Emergence of Modern Human Behaviour: The Pleistocene Occupation Sites of South Africa
Inscribed 2024
- 🌿
Barberton Makhonjwa Mountains
Inscribed 2018
- 🏛️
ǂKhomani Cultural Landscape
Inscribed 2017
- 🏛️
Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape
Inscribed 2007
- 🌿
Vredefort Dome
Inscribed 2005
- 🌿
Cape Floral Region Protected Areas
Inscribed 2004
- 🏛️
Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape
Inscribed 2003
- 🌍
Maloti-Drakensberg Park
Inscribed 2000
- 🏛️
Fossil Hominid Sites of South Africa
Inscribed 1999
- 🌿
iSimangaliso Wetland Park – Maputo National Park
Inscribed 1999
- 🏛️
Robben Island
Inscribed 1999
Natural Beauty (World Bank)
- Protected land area
- 9.5%
- Forest cover
- 14.0%
Source: World Bank.
Wildlife & Birdwatching
- Threatened mammal species (IUCN)
- 33
- Threatened bird species (IUCN)
- 54
Source: World Bank / IUCN Red List. Higher counts indicate richer biodiversity, typically in tropical rainforest, island, and savannah ecosystems.
Food & Cuisine
34/100
Food and dining score
Built from two layers: dining-scene breadth and open prestige signals. We combine restaurant density, cuisine diversity, distinguished restaurants, and gastronomy-city recognitions from open data sources.
Winter Sports
18/100
Ski infrastructure & alpine pedigree
Combines ski resort depth, ski resort density, and Winter Olympic skiing results. Separate from climate comfort.
Luxury Infrastructure
86/100
Luxury & premium accommodation score
Based on OpenStreetMap luxury hotel density and World Bank international tourism receipts.
US Travel Advisory
Updated to reflect information on driving at night and addition of the terrorism risk indicator. Exercise increased caution in South Africa due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping. Advisory summary: Violent crime is common and includes robbery, rape, carjacking and mugging. There are also "smash-and-grab" attacks on vehicles. Violent crime is more common in the downtown areas of big cities, especially after dark. Kidnapping is a threat in South Africa. Kidnappers target U.S. citizens and other foreign travelers to steal money. Captors often force victims to withdraw cash or give online account passwords before they are let go. Though rare, some kidnappings involve demanding ransom from families. There is risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity, in South Africa. Visit the U.S. Department of State's country reports on terrorism to learn more. Demonstrations, protests, and strikes occur frequently. They can: Start suddenly Interrupt traffic, transportation, and other services Turn violent Due to the risks, U.S. government employees working in South Africa must obtain special authorization to travel to many informal settlements (townships) in and around Cape Town. U.S. mission staff must use fully armored vehicles when visiting and visiting hours are limited to 10:00 -15:00 weekdays only. If you decide to travel to South Africa: Avoid walking alone, especially after dark. Avoid demonstrations and crowds. Do not display signs of wealth, such as expensive watches or jewelry. Drive with doors locked and windows closed. Follow local authority instructions. Always carry a copy of your U.S. passport and visa (if applicable). Keep original documents in a secure location. Avoid visiting informal settlements (townships) unless you are with someone familiar with the area. Avoid driving outside of metropolitan areas at night, due to road hazards such as animals, broken down vehicles, and the potential to become a victim of crime. Stay aware of your surroundings. Stay alert in tourist spots. Have evacuation plans that do not rely on U.S. government assistance. Keep travel documents up to date and easily accessible. Read the country information page for additional information on travel to South Africa. U.S. citizens should always exercise caution when traveling abroad. Use these general tips to stay safe: Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive messages and alerts from the U.S. Embassy. It makes it easier to locate you in an emergency. Review the Country Security Report for South Africa. Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist. Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel and return to the United States. We highly recommend that you buy insurance before you travel. Check with your travel insurance provider about evacuation assistance, medical insurance, and trip cancellation coverage.
Read full advisory →Data current as of August 2026 and subject to change. Travel advisory information is sourced from the U.S. State Department and reflects conditions at the time of data collection, not real-time conditions. Do not rely solely on this information for travel decisions. Always check current government advisories for your nationality. Terms of Use · About our data