7 Essential World Cup South Africa Travel Tips

Going to see football in South Africa this year? You aren’t alone! South African tourism has become steadily more popular, so many feel that the country is now ready for tourists to come and spend their South African Rand.

However, many travelers are unprepared, with this being the first visit for many… So we have put together some world cup travel tips with South Africa travel advice. If you have already booked your world cup package and accommodation, we don’t want you feeling left out in the cold. Book your flight, buy South African Rand, check into your hotel and remember our seven essential world cup South Africa travel tips:

1. Check out other tourist destinations - don’t miss out on seeing the rest of South Africa tourist sights just because the world cup is on: maybe check out the costal port town of Durban, or check out the Tourist Office for a list of places to try, so you don’t feel that you have wasted your trip if the England football team doesn’t do quite as well as we hope!
2. Take warm clothing - South Africa is in the Southern Hemisphere, so it will be winter there when the world cup is going on. In Johannesburg, it can sometimes get below freezing at night in June/July, so make sure that you take appropriate clothing with you.
3. Leave plenty of time for moving around the country and getting to your match - the road and rail systems in South Africa are already under pressure, with a train from Johannesburg to Cape Town taking around 26 hours. Plan your trips around South Africa and make sure you leave plenty of extra time to minimize the risk of missing football matches.
4. Be vigilant - The culture of South Africa is very different to the UK, and despite the large police presence, you could still be taken for a rough ride by fraudsters or criminals, with South Africa having an annual murder rate of 37 per 100,000 people, compared to the UK’s 2.03. Don’t drink to excess to ensure that you stay fully in control. If you are unsure about anything, including promises of black market match tickets, stay on the safe side and don’t take a risk.
5. Vaccinations – The NHS recommend that you get vaccinations for the following before travelling:
   • typhoid
   • hepatitis
   • meningitis C
   • tetanus, diphtheria, and polio (which are combined in one vaccine)
   See the NHS website for all the up to date information.
6. Stay in large groups – keeping in a large group should ward off petty criminals and keep you safer on the streets. However, do watch out for pickpockets, as they can occasionally target larger groups of tourists. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has a help page to assist you in making sure that your trip goes as smoothly as possible.
7. Use a travel money card to avoid high exchange rates and keep your money secure – The FairFX Anywhere Card - www.fairfx.com - is an ideal way of getting great South Africa Rand exchange rates (6 to 10% better than airport travel money booths). At the moment FairFX are offering their Anywhere Card free-of-charge subject to a minimum load of just £10 which gets added to your balance.

Keep our travel advice for South Africa in mind as we’re sure that you’ll enjoy the trip of a lifetime. Just remember, make sure that you don’t end up having the cost of your trip spiral: buy South African Rand before you go, make a budget, and stick to it. You will have already paid enough for your tickets to the football in the South Africa World Cup 2010, and there is no need to break the bank. Tourism in South Africa is comparatively cheap, but make sure that you don’t spend over your budget.

Aside from all this, do make sure you still enjoy your trip!

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Wednesday 24 March 2010, 12:01pm

Tags: foreign currency, south africa, south african rand, south africa travel, travel tips, world cup travel