Travel Guide To South Africa

Indian Embassy in South Africa

Embassy of India

852, Francis Baard Street, Corner of Frances Baard Street and Eastwood Street, Arcadia - 0083,

Pretoria, South Africa

Tel: +27 12 342 5310

Indian nationals travelling to South Africa require a Visa. Here are the documents that are required to establish proof of identity:

• Valid Indian passport
• Voter ID issued by Government of India
• Fully completed application form- 11 (DHA- 84)
• A day to day itinerary covering your stay in South Africa
• Vaccination certificate
• Two recent photographs
• Original confirmed return ticket
• Proof of hotel reservation
• Photocopy of PAN card issued by Government of India

Birthplace of greatest activist and politician Nelson Mandela, South Africa is officially known as ‘Republic of South Africa,’. The country is rich in mines and minerals and is home to almost 90% of the platinum metal and 41% of the gold available on the planet Earth.

South Africa is also famous for its wildlife, glorious beaches, vineyards, national parks and magnificent mountains. It is an ideal destination for adventurous travellers that offers safari and diving with white sharks.

Travelling to South Africa is one of the best experiences and is highly recommended. South African people are highly friendly as they all come from different cultural backgrounds and going anywhere in South Africa is highly rewarding all due to its pristine beauty.

There are various places that you can visit in South Africa, and every one of them has a unique vibe.

Addo Elephant National Park

One of South Africa’s largest parks, the Addo Elephant National Park is famous for its brown- coloured elephants. It is in the Eastern Cape region of South Africa. Many other animals can be seen in this park, such as -

• Ostriches
• Antelopes
• Warthogs
• Lions
• Spotted hyenas

Garden Route

Garden Route is home to numerous lagoons and lakes and offers pristine views of the scenic south-eastern South African coast.

Simon’s Town and Boulder’s Beach

Simon’s Town is one place you cannot miss if you are near Cape Town in South Africa. One of the famous attractions of this town is Boulder’s beach, which is not only renowned for its beautiful white sand and crystal-clear water, but it is also home of approximately 20,000 penguins. 

Hermanus

If you like social animals such as whales, then Hermanus is the place for you. It is located on the southern coast of Africa near Garden Route and is famous for shore-based-whale-watching. Southern whales migrate to this region each year to mate and breed. Benches, tour boats, and telescopes are also available to give you the different views of whale raising their flukes in the sea breezes.

The most convenient way of reaching South Africa is via air. All major cities in South Africa have an airport. Tambo international airport is the largest in the country located in Kempton Park, Johannesburg.

Direct flights are available from Mumbai to South Africa. There are several one-stop flights available to Johannesburg via Abu Dhabi and Dubai as well.

South Africa is a year-round destination. However, visiting South Africa in different seasons, allows you to explore a variety of experiences such as -

• Blooming scenes of wildlife, flowers, and whales in between May and October (spring and winter)
• Birding and visiting Winelands in Cape Town between November and April (autumn and summer)

When visiting South Africa, there are many things you would need to pack. Apart from essentials such as clothes and footwear, you may also pack the following items:

• Hiking shoes
• Insect repellent
• Power adapter
• Basic toiletries
• LifeStraw 
• Leather sandals for sandy beaches
• Bathing suits, sunscreen  
• Travel insurance (for medical emergencies)

The dining scene in South Africa offers many lip-smacking delicacies that you must try while visiting the place:

Bobotie

This traditional dish from Cape Malay comprises gently spiced minced lamb topped with an egg, and milk, browned in the oven. It’s a dinner time staple in South Africans.

 Chakalaka

It is impossible to find South African barbeque(braai) without Chakalaka. The recipe is a scrumptious concoction of baked beans, curry, peppers, and carrots.

Apricot Blatjang

Apricot Blatjang is the South African chutney, which is made up of dried apricots. It goes well with cheese, even with Bobotie. However, not all chutneys qualify as blatjang.

A holiday in South Africa without shopping is incomplete. From a pair of leather shoes to artisanal toffee and natural skincare products, these locally available shopping essentials are worth buying.

Here are some must-have local South African artefacts that you can lay your hands on:

Wooden Indalo Bags

Indalo is in Cape Town and produces a variety of products, including wooden Indalo bags. Besides being used as a beach towel, these bags can also serve multiple purposes such as–

• Post-beach dresses
• Unique throw for your sofa
• Scarves
• Flowing skirts

Zulu Ceremonial Spoons

Representing the Ubuntu spirit of South African people, Zulu ceremonial spoons make the perfect souvenir. You can buy these spoons from curio stores.

Toffee from Darling Sweet

If you have a sweet tooth, then you must try the handcrafted toffee from Darling Sweet. These toffees are available in different flavours such as -

• Bird’s eye chilli
• Red wine
• Chocolate
• Sour fig

Thava Indian Restaurant

Location:   The Avenue & Grove Rd, The Gardens, Johannesburg, 2192, South Africa

Contact:  +27 11 728 2826

Bihari

Location:  Southern Sun Hotel, Main Rd, Newlands, Cape Town, 7725, South Africa

Contact: +27 21 674 7186

Malis Indian Restaurant

Location: 77 Smiso Nkwanyana Rd, Morningside, Durban, 4001, South Africa

Contact: +27 31 312 8535 

While travelling to South Africa, you may need emergency medical attention. For that, there are several healthcare centres, where you can get immediate medical help, including:

Netcare Greenacres Hospital

Location:   Cnr Cape Rd &, Rochelle Rd, Greenacres, Port Elizabeth, 6045, South Africa

Contact: +27 41 390 7000

Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital

Location:  26 Chris Hani Rd, Diepkloof 319-Iq, Johannesburg, 1864, South Africa

Contact: +27 11 933 8000

Netcare Jakaranda Hospital

Location: 213 Middelberg St, Pretoria, 0132, South Africa

Contact: +27 12 421 6700

In case of a medical emergency, having a travel insurance policy can not only help you take care of the medical bills but also tackle several contingencies including misplaced luggage, flight cancellation and rescheduling.

The official currency of South Africa is South African rand.

Basis of Local Communication

South Africa has 11 official languages. These are-

• Ndebele
• South African English
• Northern Sotho 
• Sotho 
• Siswati 
• Tsonga 
• Tswana
• Venda
• Xhosa
• Zulu
• Afrikaans

Zulu is the most common language in South Africa, spoken by more than 23% of the population. Apart from Zulu, the locals also speak Xhosa (16%) and Afrikaans (14%). South African English (9.6%) is the fourth common language in the country.

The following medical expenses are covered: 

• Travel insurance includes medical expenses, repatriation, and emergency medical evacuation. Even dental care expenses such as acute anesthetic treatment of teeth are covered.

“Deductible”means a cost-sharing requirement under this policy, that provides that the insurer will not be liable for a specified rupee amount or percentage of claim amount or number of days or number of hours, as specified in the policy schedule and which will apply before any benefits are payable by the insurer. A deductible does not reduce the sum insured and is applicable per event, upto the specified limits mentioned.

• Medical Expenses (inclusive of Repatriation and Emergency Medical Evacuation), Daily Allowance in case of hospitalization, Compassionate Visit benefits, the following will not be payable for Any pre-existing condition, Routine examinations, Expenses for rest or recuperation at spa/ health resort/ sanatorium, Pregnancy (including childbirth, miscarriage, abortion or related complications ) or treatment relating to the removal of physical flaws or anomalies (cosmetic treatment or plastic surgery).
• Cosmetic surgery, unless such cosmetic surgery is rendered medically necessary as part of treatment for accidents and burns whilst being abroad.
• Suicide, attempted or wilfully self inflicted injury or illness, mental disorder, anxiety, stress or depression, venereal disease, alcoholism, drunkenness or the abuse of drugs, or any loss arising, directly or indirectly, from any injury, illness, death, loss, expense, or other liability attributable to HIV and/or any HIV related illness including AIDS and/or any mutant derivative or variation thereof however caused.
• Treatment which could be reasonably delayed until the Insured’s return to India, which will be decided jointly by the treating Physician and the Emergency Assistance Service Provider and shall be in accordance with accepted standards of medical care.
• The Insured taking part in naval, military or air force operations; war and nuclear perils.
• Insured engaging in air travel unless he or she flies as a Fare Paying passenger in an aircraft licensed to carry passengers.
• Participation of the Insured in winter sports, mountaineering and such other professional sports or any other hazardous or potentially dangerous sport for which the Insured members are adequately trained, physically fit and using proper equipment. and that too only if specifically agreed and mentioned in the policy schedule.
• Hazardous occupation, or if engaged in any criminal or illegal act.
• Medical Expenses in respect of Experimental, investigational or unproven treatments or treatments which are not consistent with or incidental to the diagnosis and treatment of the positive existence or presence of any Illness for which confinement is required at a Hospital. Any Illness or treatment which is a result or a consequence of undergoing such experimental or unproven treatment.
• Naturopathy treatment.
• Non Allopathic treatment e.g. - Ayurvedic, Yogic, Homeopathic, Unani treatment(s).
• Under no circumstances shall this insurance contract be deemed to provide cover and no liability be incurred to pay any claim or provide any benefit hereunder to the extent that the provision of such cover, payment of such claim or provision of such benefit would expose us to any sanction, prohibition, or restriction under United Nations resolutions or the trade or economic sanctions, laws or regulations of the European Union, United Kingdom, United States of America & India

You can avail the Travel Insurance online and enjoy the benefits offered by ICICI Lombard General Insurance (Bharti AXA General Insurance*)

Loss of passport and documents:

Reimbursement of actual expenses incurred in connection with obtaining a duplicate or fresh passport or reasonable cost of replacing/obtaining the stolen documents/ tickets if the passport belonging to the Insured / Insured Person be lost

Home Fire Insurance Contents & Home Burglary Insurance (contents):

Cover against any loss or damage of the Contents at Home of the Insured in India caused by Fire and Allied perils or through burglary and/or housebreaking while the Insured is on a trip abroad.

Hijack Distress Allowance

Payment of distress allowance in case of hijack of a common carrier for more than certain number of hours whilst on the trip. You can easily avail the allowance by filing a claim online through Travel Insurance cover online process.

Medical Expensesinclusive of Repartration  and Emergency Medical Evacuation

If you are sick or injured during the journey, your medical expenses can prove to be costly. In such cases,  Travel Insurance cover greatly helps. The insurance company also offers a cashless settlement with the network hospitals or you can also opt for the reimbursement process within 30 days of hospitalization.

Legal Expenses

Payment of legal costs and expenses incurred by the Insured towards claims from third Parties for compensation in respect of death or disablement arising due to an injury whilst on a trip abroad.

Personal Accident

Payment of compensation if the Insured sustains accidental bodily injury during a trip resulting in death or Permanent Total Disablement or Permanent Partial Disablement within 12 months of occurrence of such injury.

Trip Cancellation/Or Interruption

Payment towards the non-refundable prepaid payments incurred on the trip being cancelled and additional cost of transportation in case of Interruption: due to medical problems, personal employment problems or natural disasters or other listed reason in policy wordings.

Trip Delay

 Reimbursement of additional expenses if trip is delayed beyond a period, due to airline problems, medical problems, personal employment problems or natural disasters.

 Daily Allowance in case of Hospitalisation

 Payment of daily allowance for the days the Insured is hospitalised beyond a specified number of days, as mentioned in the Policy Schedule, for which a valid claim is admissible under the Policy whilst on a trip abroad.Emergency Accommodation

 Payment of compensation for the additional cost of emergency accommodation if the Insured/ Insured Person could not stay in the accommodation originally booked due to ­fire& flood, earthquake, storm, hurricane, explosion, outbreak of major infectious diseases.

During a trip there are chances of unfortunate events such as loss of checked in baggage, medical emergency, loss of passport that can spoil your international trip, be it business or leisure. Travel insurance can protect you from such events ensuring that you are left stuck in foreign land.