South Africa

Always carry a copy of your passport photo page and the page with your visitors permit or residence permit for South Africa. South African officials may ask for ID and proof of residence at any time. Keep your passport in a hotel safe or another secure location. Do not carry it with you unless you need it for official identification.

Illegal drugs, including cannabis, carry severe penalties. Whilst the personal consumption of cannabis is considered legal, all other drug possession, use or smuggling illegal drugs, including when transiting through the airport is illegal.  

British nationals have been arrested for attempting to carry illegal drugs, including cocaine, cannabis and khat, to the UK. You should expect a long jail sentence and heavy fines for possessing, using or smuggling illegal drugs, including when transiting through the airport.   

Airports in South Africa have excellent technology and security for detecting illegal items. This is also used to scan the baggage of transiting passengers.

Same-sex sexual activity is legal. It is illegal to discriminate based on sexual orientation. See our advice for LGBT+ travellers.

It is illegal to buy, sell, kill or capture any protected wild animal or trade any of its parts without a permit. Trading ivory or rhino horn is banned. Anyone caught buying or trafficking banned goods will be prosecuted.

Heavy rainfall often causes widespread flooding. There is a year-round risk of flooding across South Africa. Always check weather reports and news for hazards before you start your journey. For alerts and forecasts, see the South African Weather Service. 

Wildfires can happen in rural and urban areas during hot and dry weather including Cape Town and in the Table Mountain National Park. Follow evacuation orders if requested. If you see a wildfire, move to a safe place away from vegetation and smoke. If you are inside a building or a car and judge it is safe to stay there, close all vents and windows.

In South Africa there have been local and nationwide power cuts caused by shortages and extreme weather. Whilst there has been a significant reduction in planned power cuts (‘loadshedding’), they can still happen and affect:

• private accommodation, including hotels and airbnbs
• availability of mobile phone networks and wifi
• shops
• banks and ATMs
• public lighting
• traffic lights
• security systems such as alarms and electric fencing
• petrol stations
• water

There may be higher risk of crime where security systems or public lighting do not work.

You should: 

• ask your accommodation provider how they manage planned power cuts
• check for planned cuts on the Eskom website or ‘loadshedding’ apps
• follow the advice of local authorities if there are water restrictions, including bans on drinking tap water

To prepare for long power cuts:

• write down emergency contact numbers
• plan how you’ll let relatives and friends know where you are
• carry a power bank with extra charging cables
• carry a torch or other portable lighting
• ensure you have enough medicine and first aid supplies
• find nearby safe places that may have back-up power such as hotels, hospitals and police stations, in case you need help
• read our advice If you are affected by a crisis abroad

Across parts of South Africa, there have been water shortages. Follow the advice of local authorities if there are water restrictions in place.