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South Africa 🇿🇦

backpacking Africa South Africa 🇿🇦Self-drive from Table Mountain to Kruger and the Drakensberg.

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Backpacking South Africa in 2027

A complete guide including when and where to go, costs, transport, itineraries, and practical travel advice.
What a trip here is really like

Backpacking South Africa
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 25, 2026

The steering wheel of my rental car was too hot to touch after an hour parked outside a Karoo farm stall, and that heat sums up how most people see South Africa: behind the wheel, on long and empty roads. Cape Town to Kruger is roughly 1,800 km by road, and long-distance buses skip most of the places worth stopping at. Book the car early, take the zero-excess insurance, and cap your driving at about 400 km a day, because night driving is where trips go wrong (potholes, stray cattle, unlit roads).

What earns the long flight is range. Within two weeks you can climb Table Mountain, track white rhino in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi, hike the basalt walls of the Drakensberg and finish with a tasting in a Stellenbosch cellar. The problems are just as real. Crime in city centers is a daily fact here, so take Uber after dark instead of walking, keep bags off the car seats, and wave away anyone offering to “help” you at an ATM. Do not treat Johannesburg as a default two-night stopover; fly straight on unless you have a full day for Soweto.

Compared with Namibia, the country is greener and much easier for a first-timer, with tarred roads and big supermarkets in every town. Botswana has emptier wilderness, but its safaris cost several times more. South Africa suits self-drivers, hikers and anyone who wants food and wine alongside their wildlife. It is a poor fit if you want to rely on public transport or wander freely after dark.

👉 Get the 📖 Travel Guide of South Africa

Cape Town and the Winelands (Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Cape Point)

Start in Cape Town on a first trip to South Africa. It is the easiest city to find your feet in, with walkable areas like Bo-Kaap and the City Bowl, Uber everywhere, and Stellenbosch’s wine farms 45 to 60 minutes’ drive away. Don’t lock the Table Mountain cableway into a set day, because wind closes it often. Ride up on the first calm morning instead. Skip shark cage diving at Gansbaai: orcas have pushed the great whites out, and sightings are now unreliable.

Garden Route (Mossel Bay, Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, Tsitsikamma)

This is the sociable backpacker corridor, with lively hostels in Knysna and Plettenberg Bay, forest hikes in Tsitsikamma, and the Bloukrans bungee jump off a highway bridge. Knysna is about six hours’ drive from Cape Town, and the Baz Bus runs hop-on, hop-off between Cape Town and Gqeberha. The common error is racing it in two days. Give it four or five. If you want the Otter Trail, apply the moment permits open, since they sell out close to a year ahead.

Kruger and the Panorama Route (Kruger National Park, Graskop, Blyde River Canyon)

Kruger is the big-game draw, and it works well as a self-drive park: tar roads, rest camps with braai stands, and southern gates four to five hours’ drive from Johannesburg. Without a car you pay for every game drive, so rent one in Johannesburg or Nelspruit. Gate times are strict, late arrivals get fined, and the 50 km/h limit makes distances slower than the map suggests. Add a day around Graskop for the Blyde River Canyon viewpoints.

Drakensberg (Royal Natal, Cathedral Peak, Sani Pass)

The Drakensberg is serious hiking country, with basalt walls, San rock art and long days at altitude. It sits three to four hours’ drive from Durban and about five from Johannesburg, and public transport barely reaches the trailheads, so plan on a car. Summer thunderstorms build by early afternoon; start walking at dawn. The Amphitheatre’s chain-ladder route begins at the Sentinel car park on the Free State side, a long detour from Royal Natal. Sani Pass into Lesotho needs your passport and a 4x4.

Wild Coast (Coffee Bay, Port St Johns, Hole in the Wall)

The Wild Coast is the rawest stretch of South Africa’s shoreline: Xhosa villages, cattle wandering the beaches and rondavel hostels around Coffee Bay and Port St Johns. Getting there means an Intercape coach to Mthatha and then a hostel shuttle of about 90 minutes, or a five-to-six-hour drive from Durban. Never drive here after dark, because potholes and loose livestock make the roads dangerous. The coastal walk to Hole in the Wall is the highlight. It suits slow travelers fine with patchy signal and few ATMs.
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Geography and where places are located
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Why go?What sets this destination apart

Wildlife

South Africa puts the Big Five within reach of an ordinary budget, because its national parks have tarred … read more 👉
South Africa puts the Big Five within reach of an ordinary budget, because its national parks have tarred roads, fenced rest camps and full self-drive access. Hluhluwe-iMfolozi in KwaZulu-Natal is where conservationists pulled the southern white rhino back from near extinction, and it is still one of the best places on the continent to see them grazing on open hillsides. Addo Elephant National Park near Gqeberha holds over 600 elephants and is malaria-free, which suits a short trip with kids. From June to November, southern right whales calve close enough to the cliffs at Hermanus to hear them blow. Skip any lion cub petting or “walk with lions” venue: those cubs often end up in the captive hunting trade. I would book one guided night drive inside a national park, since it is the only legal way to be out after the gates close.

Beach life

South Africa has two oceans, and they behave completely differently. On the Atlantic side around Cape … read more 👉
South Africa has two oceans, and they behave completely differently. On the Atlantic side around Cape Town, the water usually sits between 10 and 15°C even in January, so Clifton and Camps Bay are for sunbathing and sundowners rather than swimming. Head to Muizenberg on False Bay instead, where the water is warmer and the long, gentle waves make it the best place to take a first surf lesson. The Indian Ocean coast is a different story. Durban’s beachfront is swimmable year-round, Jeffreys Bay’s Supertubes is one of the world’s most famous right-hand point breaks, and Sodwana Bay has the country’s best coral diving. Aliwal Shoal, south of Durban, is the place for ragged-tooth and tiger shark dives. Rip currents are strong along the whole coast, so swim only between the lifeguard flags.

Scenery

South Africa packs a remarkable range of landscapes into a single road trip, from sea cliffs to semi-desert … read more 👉
South Africa packs a remarkable range of landscapes into a single road trip, from sea cliffs to semi-desert to high grassland. Chapman’s Peak Drive near Cape Town crams around 114 bends into 9 km of road cut into the cliff; drive it in the late afternoon when the west-facing light turns the rock orange. In August and September, Namaqualand’s semi-desert floods with daisies, but the flowers stay closed on cloudy days and before about 10 am, so check the weather and plan a late morning start. The gravel Swartberg Pass between Prince Albert and Oudtshoorn climbs through folded red rock and is a better scenic drive than any stretch of the coast. Skip driving the N1 between Cape Town and Johannesburg if you can fly it: it is roughly 14 hours of flat scrub with very little to see.

Backpackers

South Africa has one of the most developed hostel networks in Africa, mostly strung along the coast … read more 👉
South Africa has one of the most developed hostel networks in Africa, mostly strung along the coast between Cape Town and Durban. Expect pools, braai nights, honesty bars and tour desks that can book a shark dive or a township tour in the same sentence. In Cape Town, stay in Gardens or Sea Point rather than on Long Street, where the bars keep dorms awake until 4 am. The Wild Coast has the most character: hostels in Coffee Bay and Chintsa sit near Xhosa villages, and the coastal walk to Hole in the Wall is a classic. In the southern Drakensberg, the hostels around Underberg run 4x4 day trips up the Sani Pass into Lesotho. Hostel common rooms are the best place to find people to split a rental car with, which beats any organized tour on both price and freedom.

Mountains

South Africa’s best hiking is in the Drakensberg, where escarpment peaks rise above 3,000 meters and … read more 👉
South Africa’s best hiking is in the Drakensberg, where escarpment peaks rise above 3,000 meters and trails see far fewer people than anything comparable in Europe. Cathedral Peak (3,004 meters) is a long, hard day hike with a scramble at the top, and summer afternoons bring violent thunderstorms, so start at dawn and be off exposed ridges by early afternoon. In winter, from June to August, snow is common on the high ground. The Cederberg, about three hours north of Cape Town, is a different world of orange sandstone arches and cracks; the Wolfberg Cracks and the Maltese Cross need a CapeNature permit. Lion’s Head in Cape Town is a 90-minute climb with chains near the top and a 360-degree view. On the quieter trails above Cape Town, muggings do happen, so hike in a group rather than alone.

Food

South Africa eats well and cheaply, and its strongest food comes from the collision of its cultures … read more 👉
South Africa eats well and cheaply, and its strongest food comes from the collision of its cultures rather than from any single cuisine. Start with the braai: boerewors sausage and Karoo lamb chops grilled over wood coals, best at someone’s home if you get the invitation. In Cape Town’s Bo-Kaap, Cape Malay kitchens serve bobotie, a spiced mince baked under a savory custard, and sweet, fragrant curries. Durban’s signature dish is bunny chow, a hollowed-out loaf filled with curry; order a quarter mutton and eat it with your hands. Biltong and droëwors from any butcher or petrol station are the road-trip staple. The Saturday morning market at the Old Biscuit Mill in Woodstock is worth a visit. Skip the chain restaurants at the V&A Waterfront: you pay harbor-view prices for food you could get anywhere.

Low cost

Backpacking South Africa costs roughly R630 to 1,080 (about US$35 to 60) a day, if you stay in dorms, … read more 👉
Backpacking South Africa costs roughly R630 to 1,080 (about US$35 to 60) a day, if you stay in dorms, cook some of your own meals and eat out once a day. The weak rand is the main reason your money goes so far: restaurant meals, wine and craft beer cost a fraction of what you would pay in Europe or Australia, and the quality is high. Supermarkets like Checkers and Pick n Pay make self-catering easy everywhere. Car rental is the biggest cost, so split it between two to four people and it comes in cheaper than a hop-on bus pass. If you plan to visit several national parks, the SANParks Wild Card usually pays for itself after a few days of entry fees. Skip packaged day tours from Cape Town to Cape Point, since a shared rental car covers the same route for less money and on your own schedule.

⭐ HighlightsStandout locations across the country

  • Table Mountain, Cape Town: The flat top sits 1,085 meters above the city, and on windy days a white “tablecloth” of cloud pours over the edge like slow surf. Walking up Platteklip Gorge takes 2 to 3 hours of relentless stone steps, and the top smells of crushed fynbos and warm rock. Rock hyraxes, the locals call them dassies, sprawl on the boulders near the cable station, completely unbothered by your sandwich. The cable car stops running in strong wind, so go on the first clear morning instead of saving it for your last day.
  • Kruger National Park: Nearly 20,000 square kilometers of bushveld, with tarred roads that let you run your own safari in a hatchback. Mornings start with the crunch of gravel at the gate, the sharp alarm snorts of impala and that dry, grassy smell of elephant dung baking in the sun. The southern section around Skukuza and Lower Sabie has the highest density of animals. Drive slowly; the best sightings happen at 20 km/h.
  • The Amphitheatre, Royal Natal: A sheer basalt
… read more 👉
  • Table Mountain, Cape Town: The flat top sits 1,085 meters above the city, and on windy days a white “tablecloth” of cloud pours over the edge like slow surf. Walking up Platteklip Gorge takes 2 to 3 hours of relentless stone steps, and the top smells of crushed fynbos and warm rock. Rock hyraxes, the locals call them dassies, sprawl on the boulders near the cable station, completely unbothered by your sandwich. The cable car stops running in strong wind, so go on the first clear morning instead of saving it for your last day.
  • Kruger National Park: Nearly 20,000 square kilometers of bushveld, with tarred roads that let you run your own safari in a hatchback. Mornings start with the crunch of gravel at the gate, the sharp alarm snorts of impala and that dry, grassy smell of elephant dung baking in the sun. The southern section around Skukuza and Lower Sabie has the highest density of animals. Drive slowly; the best sightings happen at 20 km/h.
  • The Amphitheatre, Royal Natal: A sheer basalt wall roughly 5 km wide, with the Tugela Falls dropping over its rim in a series of long cascades. You reach the top from the Sentinel car park on a trail that ends with two chain ladders, and the steel rungs are painfully cold in the wind. Up there it is all grass, silence and the occasional bearded vulture riding the updraft.
  • Apartheid Museum, Johannesburg: Your ticket randomly assigns you a “white” or “non-white” entrance, and you walk separate caged corridors before the paths meet. Inside it is concrete, dim and very quiet, with a ceiling hung with nooses for political prisoners executed by the state. Give it three hours; it is the clearest explanation of modern South Africa you will get anywhere.
  • Boulders Beach, Simon’s Town: A colony of endangered African penguins nests among giant granite boulders, and the first thing you notice is the noise, a donkey-like braying, followed closely by the sharp smell of guano. Boardwalks run above the nesting area, but the small swimming cove lets you wade in with them. The water is cold enough to make your ankles ache.
Off the map, the Owl House sculptures in Nieu-Bethesda, the salt-pan silence of the Tankwa Karoo and the traditional fish traps of Kosi Bay are all worth the detour, and I would pick Nieu-Bethesda first.
Spotted a mistake or missing a highlight? Contact us.
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🧭 RoutesHow travelers typically move through the country

The 7-Day Cape Classic


One region, done at an easy pace: a mountain in the middle of a city, estates cut into granite slopes and cliffs where whales surface below your feet. It’s ideal for a first trip, with short transfers and plenty of time for each stop.
  • Climbing Table Mountain and taking the ferry to Robben Island
  • Surf lessons and painted huts at Muizenberg
  • Cycling between wine estates around Stellenbosch
  • Whale watching from the Hermanus cliffs

👉 explore this 7-day route

The 14-Day Safari and Zulu Coast Route


Two weeks in the northeast, covering Johannesburg’s history, Big Five country, a subtropical wetland and basalt mountains. It suits travelers who want wildlife and real hiking far from the Cape crowds.
  • Johannesburg’s Apartheid Museum and Constitution Hill
  • Self-drive game viewing in Kruger
  • Hippos and rhinos around St. Lucia and Hluhluwe-iMfolozi
  • Gorge hiking below the Drakensberg Amphitheatre

👉 explore this 14-day route

The 21-Day Cape-to-Kruger Route


Three weeks that join the country’s two … read more 👉

The 7-Day Cape Classic


One region, done at an easy pace: a mountain in the middle of a city, estates cut into granite slopes and cliffs where whales surface below your feet. It’s ideal for a first trip, with short transfers and plenty of time for each stop.
  • Climbing Table Mountain and taking the ferry to Robben Island
  • Surf lessons and painted huts at Muizenberg
  • Cycling between wine estates around Stellenbosch
  • Whale watching from the Hermanus cliffs

👉 explore this 7-day route

The 14-Day Safari and Zulu Coast Route


Two weeks in the northeast, covering Johannesburg’s history, Big Five country, a subtropical wetland and basalt mountains. It suits travelers who want wildlife and real hiking far from the Cape crowds.
  • Johannesburg’s Apartheid Museum and Constitution Hill
  • Self-drive game viewing in Kruger
  • Hippos and rhinos around St. Lucia and Hluhluwe-iMfolozi
  • Gorge hiking below the Drakensberg Amphitheatre

👉 explore this 14-day route

The 21-Day Cape-to-Kruger Route


Three weeks that join the country’s two great poles, from Cape Town and Route 62 along the Garden Route to the bush. It mixes headline sights with small towns where the roads empty out.
  • Route 62 through Barrydale to the Cango Caves
  • Lagoons, forests and seal colonies on the Garden Route
  • Soweto and the Cradle of Humankind
  • The Panorama Route and four days around Kruger

👉 explore this 21-day route

🌤️ When to go?Best time to visit South Africa

The best time for backpacking South Africa is September to October, with March to May a close second, because days are mostly dry and warm, school holidays are over and hostel and car-rental prices sit well below their December peak. The country has a split climate: the Western Cape gets its rain in winter, while Kruger, the Drakensberg and Johannesburg get theirs as summer thunderstorms, so the right month depends on which half of the map matters most to you.
  • Summer (November to February): Hot, low 30s °C inland and 25 to 28°C in Cape Town, which stays dry but gets hammered by the southeaster wind. The northeast gets afternoon storms, green bush and newborn antelope in Kruger. Mid-December to mid-January is the local school holiday, when Garden Route beds, SANParks camps and rental cars sell out and prices jump sharply.
  • Autumn (March to May): Settled, sunny weather across most of the country, warm sea on the KwaZulu-Natal coast, harvest season in the Cape winelands and thin crowds apart from Easter.
  • Winter (June to August): Cape Town turns cold and wet as fronts roll in. The interior is dry, with frosty nights near 0°C and sunny days of 18 to 25°C. This is prime safari time in Kruger as the bush thins and animals gather at water. Snow sometimes closes Drakensberg and Eastern Cape mountain passes.
  • Spring (September to October): Whales off Hermanus, wildflowers on the West Coast, still-dry bush for game viewing and shoulder prices almost everywhere.
The risk travelers most often ignore is malaria: Kruger and northern KwaZulu-Natal carry a real risk in the wet months from roughly November to April, so see a travel clinic before a summer safari.
I’d pack a proper fleece and windproof layer even in summer, because Cape Town’s wind and Drakensberg nights cut through a T-shirt fast.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: fair for travelingFEBFebruary: fair for travelingMARMarch: highly recommended for travelingAPRApril: highly recommended for travelingMAYMay: highly recommended for travelingJUNJune: good for travelingJULJuly: good for travelingAUGAugust: highly recommended for travelingSEPSeptember: excellent for travelingOCTOctober: excellent for travelingNOVNovember: highly recommended for travelingDECDecember: fair for traveling
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💰 Costs (as of 2026)Travel costs in South Africa

Backpacking South Africa on a budget costs around US$40 to 60 a day if you sleep in dorms, cook most of your meals and travel by intercity coach. You pay in rand, and the exchange rate makes the country cheaper than Botswana or Namibia, though Mozambique, Lesotho and eSwatini usually cost less day to day.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Dorm accommodationUS$12 to 25 per nightA bed in a Cape Town dorm in the City Bowl or on Long Street runs about US$17 to 25, and it goes up in December and January. In smaller Garden Route towns such as Wilderness or Knysna, expect US$12 to 18. To pay less, book a 10- to 12-bed dorm, stay a week to get a discount, or come in the winter months of May to August. Hostels here cost about the same as in Windhoek and less than lodges in Botswana.
MealsUS$8 to 18 per dayIf you shop at Shoprite or Checkers, US$6 to 10 a day covers it: a loaf of bread costs about US$1 and a braai pack of boerewors about US$4 to 6. A quarter bunny chow in Durban costs US$4 to 6, and a kota from a Johannesburg township stand costs US$2 to 4. A sit-down meal with a beer is about US$10 to 15.
Local transportUS$3 to 15 per day (on average)An Intercape seat from Cape Town to Johannesburg
… read more 👉
Backpacking South Africa on a budget costs around US$40 to 60 a day if you sleep in dorms, cook most of your meals and travel by intercity coach. You pay in rand, and the exchange rate makes the country cheaper than Botswana or Namibia, though Mozambique, Lesotho and eSwatini usually cost less day to day.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Dorm accommodationUS$12 to 25 per nightA bed in a Cape Town dorm in the City Bowl or on Long Street runs about US$17 to 25, and it goes up in December and January. In smaller Garden Route towns such as Wilderness or Knysna, expect US$12 to 18. To pay less, book a 10- to 12-bed dorm, stay a week to get a discount, or come in the winter months of May to August. Hostels here cost about the same as in Windhoek and less than lodges in Botswana.
MealsUS$8 to 18 per dayIf you shop at Shoprite or Checkers, US$6 to 10 a day covers it: a loaf of bread costs about US$1 and a braai pack of boerewors about US$4 to 6. A quarter bunny chow in Durban costs US$4 to 6, and a kota from a Johannesburg township stand costs US$2 to 4. A sit-down meal with a beer is about US$10 to 15.
Local transportUS$3 to 15 per day (on average)An Intercape seat from Cape Town to Johannesburg costs about US$30 to 50 if you book early. City minibus taxi rides cost US$0.70 to 1.20, and a MyCiTi trip in Cape Town is about US$1 to 1.50. Distances are much longer than in Lesotho or eSwatini, so the long-haul tickets make up most of what you spend on transport.
ActivitiesUS$0 to 35 per day (on average)Park fees and adrenaline sports are what drive this number up. A return ride on the Table Mountain cableway is about US$25 to 28, and the Kruger conservation fee for international visitors is about US$30 a day. Bloukrans bungee costs about US$80 to 90. I’d skip shark cage diving, since great white sightings at Gansbaai have become unreliable, and spend that money on Kruger instead.
MiscellaneousUS$3 to 8 per dayA 1GB data bundle on Vodacom or MTN is about US$5. People tip car guards US$0.30 to 0.60 and restaurant staff 10 to 15 percent. A bank ATM withdrawal can add US$1 to 3 in fees.
Total Daily BudgetUS$40 to 60 per daySpend 2 days cooking in the hostel, then 1 day in a park or on the cableway, and you end up at about US$45. In Namibia, a similar trip costs more because you usually have to rent a car.
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

✈️ The backpacker research shortcutSouth Africa Travel Guide

An offline-friendly backpacking guide with optimized travel routes, ranked highlights, transport advice, and the best areas to stay.
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The digital guide (457 pages) contains:
✅ 125 highlights, ranked by travel appeal
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✅ Cities, national parks, landmarks, beaches
✅ How to get around
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📅 Plan smarter in minutes, not weeks
✅ Month by month travel advice
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🗺️ Go to the right places, skip the overrated ones
✅ Honest pros & cons of destinations
✅ Top hikes, parks & viewpoints
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✅ Clear “worth it vs skip it” guidance

🛏️ Travel smoothly without rookie mistakes
✅ Best areas to stay
✅ Transport systems explained simply
✅ Common scams & safety advice
✅ SIM cards, money & practical tips

🌍 Understand the country, not just visit it
✅ Culture & traditions
✅ 52 Essential phrases & customs
✅ Festivals worth planning around
✅ Traveler-friendly historical context
✅ Insights that make places more meaningful

📱 Built for real travel conditions
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🛏️ Where to stay?Accommodation types and options

South Africa has a dense hostel network, with dorm beds typically running R250 to 450 (about US$14 to 25) and private doubles from roughly R700 to 1,200 (US$38 to 65), especially in Cape Town and along the Garden Route in towns like Knysna and Wilderness. In Cape Town, the City Bowl around Long Street puts you near Table Mountain trailheads and the loudest bars but gets sketchy after dark, while Sea Point trades nightlife for a seafront promenade and calmer streets with easy minibus taxi links into town. In Johannesburg, leafy Melville is the safer, low-key pick with a strip of student bars, whereas … read more 👉
South Africa has a dense hostel network, with dorm beds typically running R250 to 450 (about US$14 to 25) and private doubles from roughly R700 to 1,200 (US$38 to 65), especially in Cape Town and along the Garden Route in towns like Knysna and Wilderness. In Cape Town, the City Bowl around Long Street puts you near Table Mountain trailheads and the loudest bars but gets sketchy after dark, while Sea Point trades nightlife for a seafront promenade and calmer streets with easy minibus taxi links into town. In Johannesburg, leafy Melville is the safer, low-key pick with a strip of student bars, whereas Maboneng has the street art and weekend buzz but sits in an area where you should take an e-hailing ride at night, and in Durban the Morningside area around Florida Road offers restaurants and relative quiet a short drive from the beachfront.

If you enjoy meeting fellow travelers, consider choosing hostels with high ratings for atmosphere. On the other hand, if you prefer having your own space, a hotel might be a better option.

Best hostels in South Africa


Best quality hotels in South Africa

🚌 Getting aroundPublic transport and other ways to get around

Most backpackers in South Africa combine intercity coaches with one or two cheap domestic flights, because the distances are huge and passenger rail is too unreliable to plan around. On the Garden Route, many switch to the Baz Bus or a shared rental car instead, since coaches often drop you at highway petrol stations, sometimes after dark and well outside town.
  • Intercape and other intercity coaches: Cape Town to Johannesburg costs roughly R550 to 1,100 (US$30 to 60) and takes 18 to 20 hours. Cape
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Most backpackers in South Africa combine intercity coaches with one or two cheap domestic flights, because the distances are huge and passenger rail is too unreliable to plan around. On the Garden Route, many switch to the Baz Bus or a shared rental car instead, since coaches often drop you at highway petrol stations, sometimes after dark and well outside town.
  • Intercape and other intercity coaches: Cape Town to Johannesburg costs roughly R550 to 1,100 (US$30 to 60) and takes 18 to 20 hours. Cape Town to Knysna runs about 7 to 8 hours for R350 to 650 (US$19 to 36). Seats recline and most buses have charging points, but overnight legs are long and the air-conditioning runs cold, so keep a layer handy. Book on the operator’s website or app at least a week ahead, because fares climb close to departure and during school holidays. Check the exact drop-off point, and arrange a pickup from your hostel if you arrive at night.
  • Baz Bus: a hop-on hop-off minibus that collects you at your hostel door, running from Cape Town along the Garden Route to Gqeberha. A one-way hop-on hop-off pass starts around R2,200 (US$120), and 8- to 21-day travel passes cost roughly US$140 to 200. Book each leg online at least 24 hours in advance, and check the timetable early, because not every section runs daily.
  • Domestic flights: FlySafair, Airlink and Lift fly Cape Town to Johannesburg in about 2 hours for R900 to 2,000 (US$50 to 110) one way when booked 2 to 4 weeks out. The lowest fares exclude checked luggage, which adds roughly R200 to 400 (US$11 to 22), so price your bag in before comparing.
  • Rental car: a compact costs about R350 to 650 (US$19 to 36) a day, with fuel around R21 to 24 per liter. You drive on the left, and the deposit needs a credit card in the driver’s name. One-way drop-off fees can add R1,000 (US$55) or more. Avoid driving outside cities after dark, when unlit roads, livestock and pedestrians make accidents common, and keep bags out of sight with the doors locked at intersections.
  • Uber and Bolt: available in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria and Durban, with short city rides at R40 to 120 (US$2 to 7). Use them instead of walking at night, and match the plate number before you get in.
Skip the long-distance Shosholoza Meyl trains, where delays of several hours are routine, and leave minibus taxis alone unless a local is showing you the route. My advice: fly the Cape Town to Johannesburg leg and spend the day you save on the Garden Route.
In South Africa, the fastest airport-to-city link is Johannesburg’s Gautrain (about 15 minutes to Sandton), while in Cape Town most travelers take Uber or Bolt into the center for roughly R200 to 350 (US$11 to 19).
O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB), about 25 km (15 miles) from Johannesburg’s center and Sandton
  • Gautrain (Airport line) (15 minutes to Sandton, 25 to 30 minutes to Park Station with a change; around R200 to 230 / US$11 to 13): the station sits next to the international arrivals terminal, you pay by tapping a contactless bank card or a Gautrain Gold Card at the gate, and trains run roughly from 5:30 am to about 8:30 or 9 pm.
  • Uber or Bolt (25 to 45 minutes depending on traffic; R250 to 450 / US$14 to 25 to Sandton or Rosebank): book in the app once you land and walk to the signposted e-hailing pickup zone in the parkade, which is the safest choice after the Gautrain stops running.
  • Metered or airport taxi (25 to 45 minutes; R450 to 700 / US$25 to 39): use only the official taxi ranks outside arrivals, agree on the fare or confirm the meter is on before loading your pack, and ignore anyone soliciting rides inside the terminal.
Cape Town International Airport (CPT), about 20 km (12 miles) from the city center
  • Shared airport shuttle (30 to 60 minutes with drop-offs; R200 to 350 / US$11 to 19 per person): book online a day or more ahead so the driver meets you in arrivals, and many hostels on Long Street and in Gardens can arrange one for you.
  • Uber or Bolt (25 to 35 minutes; R200 to 350 / US$11 to 19 to the City Bowl): request it from the app and head to the marked e-hailing pickup area at the parkade, and expect higher surge prices on weekday evenings when the N2 jams up.
  • Metered taxi (25 to 35 minutes; R350 to 500 / US$19 to 28): the official airport taxi rank is directly outside arrivals, cards are usually accepted, and taxis wait for every flight including late-night landings.
⚠️ Prices and routes can change, so take this as a rough guide and ask for local advice when you arrive.
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🔒 Safety (risk Level: medium)What first-time visitors should know

Safety for solo travelers, including women and LGBTQ+ individuals
South Africa is very doable for solo travelers, including women and LGBTQ+ visitors, as long as you treat crime as a real factor: violent crime rates are high, mostly concentrated in areas tourists rarely visit, and the main risks for visitors are muggings, car break-ins and opportunistic theft. Use Uber or Bolt after dark instead of walking, keep your phone out of sight on the street, avoid isolated beaches and hiking trails alone, and lean on hostel staff for up-to-date advice on which blocks to avoid. Solo women travel the Garden Route and Cape Town in large numbers, though unwanted comments happen and drinking alone late in bars is best avoided. The constitution explicitly protects sexual orientation and same-sex marriage has been legal since 2006, with an open scene in Cape Town’s De Waterkant, but rural areas and townships are more conservative, so discretion with public affection outside the cities is wise.


Full official government travel advisory (live updates)
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✈️ VisaWhat travelers should know about visas

Citizens of the US, UK, EU countries, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and many others can visit South Africa visa-free for up to 90 days as tourists. Your passport must be valid for at least 30 days beyond your planned departure and have at least two blank pages for entry stamps. If your nationality needs a visa, apply through the Department of Home Affairs eVisa portal or at a South African embassy, consulate or its official application center before you travel.

source: dha.gov.za
⚠️ Visa requirements can change over time, so always check the latest visa requirements with the official embassy or government website before you travel.

🎒 What to pack?Packing essentials for the trip

Packing for South Africa means planning for real cold as well as heat: winter nights from June to August drop near freezing on the Highveld and in the Karoo, and most hostels and guesthouses have little or no heating. Cape Town gets its rain and wind in winter, while Johannesburg and Kruger see afternoon thunderstorms in summer, so a light waterproof layer earns its space year-round. The sun is fierce even on cool days, and hiking trails on Table Mountain or in the Drakensberg are rocky enough to justify proper shoes instead of sneakers. Locals dress casually, but cover up a bit more for church visits, rural villages and township tours, and pack a Type M or N plug adapter, since the large three-pin South African socket fits few foreign chargers.

Apart from this country specific advice, I have also crafted a general packing list that should help on any trip. authorOver the years, I've learned the importance of packing minimally. It's so much easier to jump on the back of a truck or squeeze yourself into the last spot of a minibus without that supersized backpack. If you're headed to a warm destination, leave your winter jacket at home; for colder regions, opt for thin thermal underlayers. Instead of packing your entire wardrobe, bring just three sets of clothes, as laundry facilities are available everywhere.

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🙋 FAQCommon questions before visiting

Trip Planning

Planning a backpacking route through South Africa can be tricky — you need to balance must-see places, travel times, budget, and how long to stay in each destination. Our free personalized South Africa itinerary planner creates a route based on your travel style, trip duration, and interests, so you can spend less time researching and more time exploring.



Personal tip: I normally search on good rating for atmosphere (for meeting people) and location (for easy exploring). Cleanliness as a bonus.


Travel Essentials

No vaccinations are mandatory for most visitors to South Africa, but make sure routine shots (MMR, tetanus-diphtheria, polio) are up to date, and hepatitis A and typhoid are commonly recommended, with hepatitis B and rabies worth considering for long stays or work with animals. A yellow fever certificate is required only if you arrive from, or transited for more than 12 hours through, a country with yellow fever risk. Malaria is present in the Kruger National Park area, parts of Limpopo and Mpumalanga, and far northern KwaZulu-Natal, so ask a travel clinic 4 to 6 weeks before departure about antimalarials if you plan a safari there.


vaccination requirements
When I first started traveling, I often spent part of my first day in a new country hunting for a local SIM card. While this can still be slightly cheaper, it also takes time and planning.

These days, it's much simpler to install an eSIM before leaving home. Once you arrive in South Africa, you can activate it immediately and have mobile data from the moment you land — which is especially useful for ordering transport or navigating away from busy airports.

There are many providers nowadays, and price differences are usually small. I personally go with Holafly, as it offers excellent network coverage throughout the country and strong global coverage, so you can manage multiple countries from a single app.


HolaFly eSim

Culture & Customs

South Africans are warm and informal, and showing interest in people’s lives goes a long way in the country, but some customs matter. Do accept a braai invitation and bring meat or drinks to share, and don’t interfere with the fire or the grill unless the host asks, because the person running the braai owns it. Do give and receive things with your right hand (or both hands as a sign of respect), and always ask before photographing people, especially in townships and rural villages, where visits are best done with a local guide who lives there. Don’t make casual jokes about race, apartheid or politics; these remain raw topics, so listen more than you comment. Expect flexible timing, as “now now” can mean anything from minutes to an hour. Women may get persistent attention in bars and on the street, and a firm, polite no is the norm, while LGBTQ+ travelers will find cities relaxed but should keep public affection low-key in conservative rural communities.
Trying traditional food is always a great way to experience the culture. Here are some must-try dishes for South Africa.
  1. Braai: the South African barbecue, cooked over wood or charcoal and built around lamb chops, steak, chicken and boerewors. It is the default way to socialize across every community, with Heritage Day nicknamed “National Braai Day”.
  2. Bobotie: spiced minced meat baked under a savory egg custard, usually served with yellow rice and chutney. It comes from the Cape Malay kitchen and mixes curry spices with dried fruit, a reminder of the slaves and settlers brought from Southeast Asia.
  3. Bunny chow: a hollowed-out quarter, half or full loaf of white bread filled with curry. Durban’s Indian community created it, and locals eat it with their hands, using the bread plug to scoop.
  4. Pap and chakalaka: stiff maize porridge with a spicy relish of beans, tomatoes, peppers and onion. Pap is the everyday staple for millions of South Africans and turns up at nearly every braai.
  5. Biltong: air-dried, spiced strips of beef or game such as kudu, thicker and more tender than jerky. Sold everywhere from butchers to petrol stations, it is the national road-trip snack.
  6. Potjiekos: a slow stew of meat and vegetables layered in a three-legged cast-iron pot over coals and left untouched for hours. The dish traces back to the Voortrekkers and is still cooked at weekend gatherings.
  7. Malva pudding: a soft, spongy apricot-jam dessert soaked in a warm cream sauce and served with custard. It appears on almost every traditional restaurant menu.
Tap water in South Africa’s major cities, including Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria and Durban, is treated to a high standard, and most locals drink it straight from the tap. In some smaller towns and rural areas, aging infrastructure has led to contamination problems, so ask your host there or use a filter bottle. Bottled water is widely available, but in the cities you can safely skip it and save money and plastic.
The main language in South Africa is Zulu. Backpacking is way more rewarding if you know a bit of the local language, so I'd suggest brushing up on the basics just in case your Zulu skills have become a bit rusty.

Want to understand locals better?
The complete Travel Guide for South Africa includes 52 essential words and phrases — greetings, thank-yous, ordering food, transport, numbers, and common local expressions you'll actually hear.

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English is the main language of business, tourism and signage across South Africa, so in Pretoria, Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban you will rarely hit a communication problem. Younger people and hostel staff speak it fluently, often with a lot of local slang mixed in. In rural areas many people speak Zulu, Xhosa, Sotho or Afrikaans at home, and English becomes more basic, especially among older residents. Afrikaans helps most in small towns of the Western and Northern Cape, while a simple Zulu “sawubona” (hello) or Xhosa “molo” earns instant warmth, and the Google Translate app covers Afrikaans, Zulu and Xhosa.

Money & Payments

The local currency of South Africa is ZAR (R).
Cash and cards are both easy in South Africa, with ATMs from Standard Bank, FNB, Absa, Nedbank and Capitec found in every town, mall and airport. Local machines charge foreign cards anywhere from nothing to about R70 (US$4) per withdrawal on top of your home bank’s fees, so take out larger amounts less often, and always decline the machine’s offer to convert into your home currency. Use ATMs inside banks or shopping malls during the day, shield your PIN, and never accept help from strangers at the machine, as card skimming and distraction scams are common. Visa and Mastercard, including contactless payment, work almost everywhere in supermarkets, restaurants, hostels and fuel stations, but you will need cash for street food, craft markets, minibus taxis, car guards and small rural shops. There is no need to bring US dollars or euros beyond a small emergency reserve, since rand from ATMs gets better rates, and if you do exchange, use a bank or an airport bureau, never anyone on the street.
Tipping is expected in South Africa, and 10 to 15 percent is standard in restaurants and bars, often more for great service, since many waiters earn little beyond tips (check whether a service charge was added for groups). Leave R5 to 10 (US$0.30 to 0.60) for petrol attendants who fill up your car and for the informal car guards who watch parked vehicles, and around R10 to 20 per bag for hotel porters. On safaris and guided hikes, budget roughly R100 to 200 (US$6 to 11) per person per day for the guide and a similar amount shared among the tracker or lodge staff.

🧩 Nearby countriesNearby backpacking alternatives

📸 PhotosWhat it looks like on the ground

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Photographed by: Johan Kruseman

We 💚 feedbackWhat to know before planning your trip

South Africa asks for a bit more planning than most countries in the region, and it pays that back fast. The downside is distance: the country is huge, and road days will eat into your schedule unless you pick two or three regions and skip the rest. A small bonus is that tap water is safe to drink in the main cities, which saves you money and plastic. The fear that tends to linger is that you will spend the whole trip anxious and locked indoors. You won’t. Copy what locals do (drive in daylight, take Uber at night, keep your phone out of sight in city centers) and most of your days will be spent on trails, game drives and long lunches.

✈️ When did I visit South Africa?
I have visited South Africa, before and after my Zimbabwe trip in 2001. Originally written after my visit, this guide has been kept up to date with input from locals and recent travelers (last update: 25 October 2026)

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in South Africa, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



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👋 Meet the founderWho’s Behind Take Your Backpack?

Johan, backpacker and founder of TakeYourBackpackHi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.

This site is built on a combination of firsthand travel experience and carefully curated insights from other backpackers. Many guides are based on places I’ve personally visited, while others bring together tips, observations, and practical advice shared by trusted travelers I’ve met along the way.

The goal is to provide realistic, experience-driven guidance — not generic itineraries — so you can explore destinations with better context, clearer expectations, and more confidence.

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