Entry requirements:
For tourist visits to South Africa of less than 90 days, holders of a British passport (ordinary, diplomatic or service) are exempt from the requirement to obtain a visa in advance. A 90-day residence permit will be issued at the border upon entry into South African territory.
Passports must have at least two blank pages and remain valid for a further 30 days after the planned date of departure from South Africa. Otherwise, travellers will be refused entry on arrival.
Vaccinations:
No vaccinations are compulsory, but certain vaccinations are recommended; ensure that you are up to date with your routine vaccinations as well as those required for all the geographical areas you will be visiting.
An update of the diphtheria-tetanus-polio (DTP) vaccination is strongly recommended, as is the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination, as the region is at high risk; a tuberculosis vaccination is also advisable.
Depending on local travel conditions, vaccinations against typhoid fever, meningitis and viral hepatitis A and B may be recommended.
A rabies vaccination may also be recommended in certain cases, depending on the circumstances and locations visited. Seek advice from your doctor or an international vaccination centre.
Malaria
Malaria-endemic areas (classified as Zone 3 in terms of resistance) remain in the provinces of Mpumalanga, Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal, on the borders with Mozambique, Swaziland and Zimbabwe, particularly in the Kruger Park region.
Malaria is a (potentially serious) parasitic disease transmitted by mosquito bites. There are two complementary forms of malaria prevention: protection against mosquitoes and drug treatment. Standard measures to protect against mosquitoes in the evening and at night are strongly recommended.
General preventive measures to protect yourself from mosquitoes:
Wear loose-fitting, lightweight, light-coloured clothing that covers the skin;
Use skin repellents: see the "Health" section for more information at https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/south-africa
Prefer protected accommodation (mosquito nets, electric repellents, coils, air conditioning, etc.);
Eliminate potential mosquito breeding sites (containers of stagnant water such as saucers under flower pots, guttering, tyres, etc.).
To protect yourself from gastrointestinal or contact-based infections:
Wash your hands regularly with soap and water or hand sanitiser, especially before and after meals or using the toilet;
Ensure food is of good quality and, above all, that it is cooked thoroughly;
Avoid eating raw or undercooked food (fish, meat, poultry, milk);
Peel fruit and vegetables or wash them thoroughly (with clean water);
Avoid raw vegetables, shellfish, reheated dishes and cold buffets;
In urban areas, tap water is safe to drink. However, in rural areas, drink only bottled water or beverages, or water that has been made safe to drink (by filtering, boiling or, failing that, using a disinfectant);
Avoid ice cubes and ice cream, as well as fresh fruit juices, raw vegetables and unpeeled fruit;
Only consume pasteurised or boiled milk.
