Your complete student travel guide β airports, visas, cities, climate & programs
ποΈ Capital
Pretoria
π Region
Africa Β· Southern Africa
π₯ Population
63,100,945
π Area
1,221,037 kmΒ²
π Calling Code
+27
π Timezone(s)
UTC+02:00
Official Language(s)
Currency
R South African rand (ZAR)
Largely temperate. Seasons are reversed from the Northern Hemisphere. Cape Town has a Mediterranean climate (hot, dry summers; wet winters). Johannesburg has warm summers and cold, dry winters.
Plug type(s) used in South Africa:
Tipping is appreciated and generally expected for good service.
Cards are widely accepted. Cash is useful for smaller vendors and markets.
Exercise increased caution. Be vigilant in cities, particularly after dark. Avoid displaying valuables. Use reputable transport. Carjacking and opportunistic theft occur β research your specific area thoroughly.
Community development and social impact programming across South Africa
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U.S. Department of State
β οΈ Travel Advisory π Visa InformationOpens on travel.state.gov
Register your trip and locate emergency contacts before you depart.
π U.S. Embassy Directory β Register Your Trip (STEP)STEP alerts you during emergencies and helps the embassy locate you.
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