Travel tips for South Africa - what to prepare in advance and what to obey

Table Mountain viewed from V&A Waterfront, Cape Town

1. The Republic of South Africa is a developing country, and the quality of the water is far from ideal here. Tourists in South Africa must avoid drinking tap water. Even when brushing your teeth, rinse your mouth with bottled water, take a shower so that water does not get into your mouth, order drinks without ice in cafes and restaurants. In ponds, rivers, and lakes, one can catch a parasitic disease, so swimming is not allowed.

2. One shouldn't eat dairy products without ensuring that they were kept at the proper temperature.

3. South African friends should always be greeted with respect and warmth, in a group you need to greet each person separately. This applies to both the first meeting and subsequent ones. Locals often greet their friends with a handshake, hugs, patting on the shoulders and back. One should not try to avoid these gestures, as this may be regarded as unforgivable rudeness.

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4. In South Africa, guests are more often invited to someone's house personally than in writing. For example, married tourists may hear a phrase like "My wife invites your wife". Those invited to South Africans are advised to bring some sweets or a bottle of wine as a symbolic gift.

5. When entering the house, shoes must be removed immediately.

6. It wouldn't be superfluous to offer the owners help with serving food, washing dishes and so on - this is always appreciated.

7. Leaving the dining table before others is not accepted. Hosts should invite guests, for example, to another room. Be sure to give way to all who are much older. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

8. It should be remembered that Muslims don't eat pork and don't drink alcohol, and Hindus are mostly vegetarians. Although there are not so many representatives of these faiths as Christians in South Africa, they still can be met. Therefore, if the tourist knows that new friends are Muslims and Hindus, it is important to avoid eating and drinking something they do not accept in front of them. It is also worth remembering about the month of Ramadan (May-June) when Muslims keep the fast during the daytime and eat food only at night, so avoid eating in their presence during the day. Tourists invited to Muslims' houses should expect women and men to eat separately.

9. While talking with South Africans, it is important to be face to face and maintain eye contact, as well as to show interest in the conversation. If the interlocutor notices indifference to the topic of conversation, this may cause offense. If the interlocutor approaches or moves closer, this shouldn't be perceived as a threat. In South Africa, people usually stand close to each other during the conversation, and trying to avoid this proximity can offend a person.

10. It is not recommended to criticize the Republic of South Africa, its culture, politics, etc. It is important to avoid talking about apartheid, discrimination, racism and so on. If the interlocutor starts talking about it, it is better to just listen carefully. If the interlocutor talks about the difficult situation in the country, one should listen with participation and express sympathy - that's how you get in good with a local resident.

11. Eating on the street is not accepted unless it is ice cream.

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12. Asians and whites in South Africa are usually punctual, but punctuality should not be expected from black and mixed South Africans.

13. Do not keep your hands in pockets when talking - this is regarded as disrespect. The V gesture meaning "peace" (index and middle fingers) with the palm turned backward is rudeness akin to the middle finger in Western culture. It is better to avoid gesticulating with your left hand, as many South Africans find this rude. You should always cover your mouth while yawning. Taking something, use both hands.

14. Admiring something that belongs to the South African, for example, at his home, it is important to know where to stop, otherwise the owner will feel obliged to present it. Light praise, on the contrary, is welcome.

15. Spitting on the street is bad manners.

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South Africa guide chapters 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Fantastic City Tours and Excursions in South Africa

Colorful and unique places in South Africa

Tau Tona Mine

From the series “The Most Inaccessible Spots of the Planet”

Some difficult-to-reach places, whose formation was influenced by humans, can be found deep under the earth. Recently, the Tau Tona Mine, located in the Johannesburg area, became the world-famous landmark. This is the largest mine on earth. The ability to reach the mine is not only due to its great depth. One of the distinctive peculiarities of deep mines is very high temperature.

Tourists may only visit the upper parts of the mine. The descent to the lower levels without special equipment is life-threatening. The shafts of the Goldmine reach the depth of 5 000 meters. From the African dialect, Tau Tona is translated as 'the Great Lion'. A very unusual cooling system was developed for the exploitation of the mine.

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Gansbaai Beach

From the series “Dangerous and Treacherous Beaches That Can Be Lethal”

In South Africa there are as many beaches that are dangerous because of the sharks. One must definitely mention the beach, which is located on the territory of the town of Gansbaai. This coastal stretch is also known as the Great White Shark Capital, which can be translated as the World Capital of the Great White Haie. And that's true. For many years, the coast has remained as a habitat for the most dangerous marine mammals. Several inexperienced tourists were injured by the sharks. Many recreational seekers notice the caution signs on the coast as well as not at all.

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Fish Hoek Beach

From the series “Dangerous and Treacherous Beaches That Can Be Lethal”

In the Republic of South Africa you should rather avoid the beach of Fish Hoek, which is one of the most dangerous beaches in the world due to frequent shark attacks. Cape Town's coast has always been the habitat of white sharks. On the Fish Hoek beach, you can encounter these dangerous predators even in the shallows, near the coast. The number of attacks that had fatal outcome is not only the highest in the country but throughout the world.

In order to protect the recreation seekers, the special protection nets were placed on the coast, but unfortunately they can not guarantee full safety. The work of local saviors is anything but enviable - regularly they have to clear the coast of the corpses of the people who were attacked by the predators.

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All unique sightseeing South Africa

Travel tips for South Africa - what to prepare in advance and what to obey

Fantastic City Tours and Excursions in South Africa

Colorful and unique places in South Africa

Tau Tona Mine

Gansbaai Beach

Fish Hoek Beach

Photogallery of sightseeing South Africa

Advices for popular cities of South Africa

Trip preparations to popular regions of South Africa