Orientation
Know before you go
The practical basics for planning a trip — each one source-cited.
Currency
South African Rand (ZAR, symbol R)
The rand is divided into 100 cents. Cards are widely accepted in cities; carry some cash for rural areas and markets.
Verified · 1 source
Facts last reviewed Aug 24, 2026.
Time zone
SAST — UTC+2, all year
South African Standard Time is two hours ahead of UTC and does not observe daylight saving, so the offset never changes.
Verified · 1 source
Facts last reviewed Aug 24, 2026.
Dialing code
+27
Dial +27 to call a South African number from abroad, then drop the leading zero of the local number.
Driving
On the LEFT
South Africa drives on the left in right-hand-drive vehicles. A foreign licence in English (or an international permit) is accepted for visitors.
Verified · 1 source
Facts last reviewed Aug 24, 2026.
Electricity
230V / 50Hz — plug Type M
The standard plug is the three-round-pin Type M. Types C, D and N also appear, so a universal adapter is worth packing.
Verified · 1 source
Facts last reviewed Aug 24, 2026.
Main airports
Johannesburg (JNB), Cape Town (CPT), Durban (DUR)
O. R. Tambo in Johannesburg is South Africa's busiest airport and its main international gateway — the second-busiest in Africa after Cairo — with Cape Town International next and King Shaka serving Durban.
Verified · 2 sources
- GovernmentAirports Company South AfricaAirports Company South Africa
- MediaList of the busiest airports in AfricaWikipedia
Facts last reviewed Aug 26, 2026.
Best time to visit
Safari May–Sep · Cape Town Nov–Mar
Seasons are reversed in the southern hemisphere. The dry winter (May–September) is best for safari; the warm, dry summer (November–March) suits Cape Town and the coast.
Verified · 1 source
Facts last reviewed Aug 24, 2026.
Flying from the Gulf
Dubai → Johannesburg, Cape Town & Durban — direct
Emirates operates 56 direct flights a week between Dubai and South Africa's three international gateways: four daily to Johannesburg, three daily to Cape Town and a daily service to Durban. South Africa keeps the same clock all year, two hours behind the UAE, so no day is lost to jet lag.
Verified · 2 sources
- OperatorEmirates arrives in Cape Town with a third daily service and its newest aircraftEmirates
- OperatorEmirates and South African Airways enhance codeshare agreement, building on 28 years of partnershipEmirates
Facts last reviewed Aug 26, 2026.