TRAVELLING AND LIVING IN SOUTH AFRICA
Based on prevailing regulations for travelling, it is possible for you to stay in South Africa for a maximum of 90 days without a visa although there is a caveat, you must hold a valid passport with some blank pages left therein.
It is also advisable to set plans for a safe stay and comfortable experience in South Africa before you set out for the trip. It is also imperative to travel with appropriate clothes as the world cup will kick off during the winter in South Africa.
You should also not be surprised if all hotel and guests house have been filled, you should therefore prepare in earnest and book your accommodation as soon as possible to avoid embarrassment or delay. When taking inland travels for sightseeing and within the precincts, it is advisable to book duly licensed vehicle or taxi prior to your arrival. You should also do an insurance of yourself and belongings as it has been discovered that insurance in South Africa is quite expensive to say the least. It is also advisable to undergo adequate medical checkup before embarking on the journey.
Travel insurance is also very important. South Africa has one of the best facilities in the world but they are very expensive. It is therefore necessary for travelers to obtain travel insurance from their home countries especially if it can cover them outside their country of origin. This would save them stress and huge medical bills in case of the unexpected.
Check out the travel options in South Africa before you decide to travel. The transportation system in South Africa is quite efficient and reliable and there are various travel options available to tourists. For instance you can decide to travel through by hiring a car, 4×4 campervan or motor home but you must carry a valid driver’s license and use seat belts at ll times. There are also other transportation options such as luxurious buses, Train, and cab services are also available as well as minibus taxis.
Since South Africa is a vast country, driving of long distances may not be appealing for fans out to enjoy themselves, so it is necessary to take some measures to make your experience pleasurable. Precautionary measures should be taken whilst driving in South Africa. Some of which are;
• Driving in South Africa is the same as the United Kingdom. They use right hand vehicles which should be driven on the left side of the road.
• It is imperative for you to adhere strictly to speed limits as there are cameras everywhere. Trespassers will be made to pay a fine and even car hiring companies may debit your account in case of such eventuality.
It will be a wise thing to visit your family doctor and get vaccinations, medications and even drugs before embarking on the trip.
There have been rumours of fake tickets being sold. Ensure you purchase your tickets from FIFA accredited agents to avoid fraud and your photo may also be attached to the ticket. FCO will be available in case of emergency so it is advisable you register your details with them promptly. Also, there is zero tolerance for racism so touts and hooligans will not be allowed to the stadium.
As the venues of the football matches are far way from each other, it is advisable to make pre-planned arrangement for travel. The use of an itinery may also be helpful since you won’t want to waste 17 hours driving from Cape town to Johannesborg as the case may be.
Get familiar with South Africa’s Laws and customs before travelling. You can visit http://www.southafrica.net to obtain up to date information.
It will be quite sensible to arrive at the match venue early because as you can guess, the whole stadium would be packed full and you definitely do not want to be caught in the hullabaloo so leave your hotel early enough to arrive at the venue as soon as possible.