South Africa Travel Guide

Accommodation – Hostels will cost you about 120-150 ZAR per night for a 10-20 bed dorm, or around to 250-300 ZAR per night for a 4-8 bed dorm. A private double room will cost between 300–450 ZAR. Free WiFi is standard, and many hostels also include free breakfast. You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you have a tent, most will let you camp on their grounds. If you are looking for a hotel, budget hotels range from about 750-1,200 ZAR for a twin or double in big cities and get cheaper in more rural areas. For a hotel with free breakfast, expect to pay at least 900 ZAR. Use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates. Airbnb is also an option around the country, though it’s most commonly available in larger urban areas. Prices for shared accommodation start around 300 ZAR per night, while an entire home or apartment will cost at least 800 ZAR (though average prices are closer to 1,800 ZAR). For those traveling with a tent, camp grounds can be found all around the country. Expect to pay between 90-400 ZAR per night, depending on the facilities and location.

Food – Restaurants in South Africa are pretty cheap. A meal at Nando’s or another fast-food chain will cost you about 50 ZAR per person. At a nicer restaurant, a 3-course meal with a wine costs about 225 ZAR per person. Expect to pay around 30 ZAR for a beer and 9 ZAR for a bottle of water. A bottle of wine at a restaurant or bar will cost 50-120 ZAR (for the bottle, not a glass!). The low-cost alternative to eating out is to buy groceries. A week’s worth of groceries for one person will cost around 500 ZAR. If you want to keep costs low, avoid expensive items like chicken, beef, and cheese.

Transportation – Greyhound and Baz Buses offer the most reliable public transportation and cost anywhere from 25–700 ZAR. A bus from Cape Town to Johannesburg, for example, will cost around 500 ZAR. Train rides are less common but more comfortable and safer than buses. Fare for a first class sleeper carriage is around 200–300 ZAR, depending on the distance. If you plan on exploring a lot a small car can be rented for as little as 260 ZAR per day, including insurance and the fee to drop it off in a different city. Public transportation is available in the larger cities, though it is notoriously unreliable (and I actually wouldn’t recommend taking buses or vans within the cities). If you’re just trying to get around a big city, I recommend downloading the Uber app instead of taxis. Absolutely do not hitchhike!!

Activities – There are so many activities to choose from in South Africa. Hiking and nature-based activities are generally free (or close to it). Entrance fees to game reserves usually run about 100-300 ZAR per person. Full-day tours can cost anywhere from 400-2,000 ZAR, depending on what you’re doing. White water rafting, for example, will cost at least 550 ZAR (prices will vary depending on how long you go for, as multi-day tours are available). Diving will cost around 1,900 ZAR for a two-tank dive. In order to ensure that you’re getting the cheapest prices, book these through your hostel.