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Passports must be valid for at least 30 days beyond the period of intended stay. An onward or return ticket is required, as well as sufficient funds and documents needed for further travel. Note that visitors to South Africa must have at least one blank (unstamped) page in their passport, each time entry is sought; these pages are in addition to the endorsement/amendment pages at the back of the passport.
Americans: United States nationals need a valid passport, but no visa is needed for stays of up to 90 days for business or tourist purposes.
UK nationals: British nationals
need a valid passport, but no visa is needed for stays of up to 90 days if passport is endorsed British Citizen, British Dependent Territories Citizen, or British Overseas Territories citizen. Those whose passports state British National (Overseas) may stay up to 30 days without a visa. All others require a visa. Visa extensions are possible if applied for at least 30 days before expiry date.
Canadians: Canadian nationals need a valid passport, but no visa is needed for stays of up to 90 days for business or tourist purposes.
Australians: Australian nationals need a valid passport, but no visa is needed for stays of up to 90 days for business or tourist purposes.
Irish nationals: Irish nationals require a valid passport, but no visa is necessary for a stay of up to 90 days for tourist or business purposes.
New Zealanders: New Zealand nationals require a valid passport, but no visa is necessary for tourist/business stays of up to 90 days.
Health
Travelers arriving in South Africa from infected areas require a yellow fever vaccination certificate; otherwise no vaccination is required. There is a malaria risk in the low-lying areas of the Northern Province and Mpumalanga (including the Kruger National Park) and northeastern KwaZulu Natal, and precautions are advised when traveling to these areas. There is a high prevalence of HIV/AIDS. Tap water is safe in urban areas but sterilization is advisable elsewhere, as there are periodic outbreaks of cholera in the poor communities of rural South Africa, particularly in Northern KwaZulu Natal, Mpumalanga, and Limpopo provinces. Drug-resistant TB has been reported throughout the country. Food poisoning is rare. Medical facilities in South Africa are good, but medical insurance is strongly advised as private hospitals expect cash upfront and public hospitals are best avoided.
Safety
Visitors to South Africa should be aware of the country's high incidence of crime. Although this tends to be concentrated in pockets throughout the country, for example in the township areas, opportunistic crime is fairly widespread. Travelers should always be aware of these risks and exercise the necessary precautions. Doors should be locked when driving and one should not walk alone at night in city streets, isolated beaches or remote areas. Berea and Hillbrow in Johannesburg are high-risk areas and visitors should be cautious in these areas. There have been recent incidents on hikers walking on Table Mountain and Lions Head in Cape Town so visitors should avoid hiking alone. Travelers should practice vigilance when using ATMs and not display unnecessary signs of wealth (e.g. mobile phones, money, expensive jewelry) on the streets. It is worthwhile noting that the South African authorities do give high priority to the protection of tourists.
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