Wikimania 2018/Travel

By and large South Africa enjoys good relations with all nations represented in the United Nations. This means that passport holders from all countries and with the proper documentation (should they come from a country that requires a visa) are welcome to visit and travel in South Africa.

Visiting South Africa

Requirements for all visitors to South Africa:

• A valid and acceptable passport or travel document
• At least two blank pages in your passport (one is required for the visa, the other is required for the immigration stamp when you get into the country)
• A valid visa if required
• Sufficient funds to pay for your day-to-day expenses during your stay
• A return or onward ticket

Visa requirements

For more information see: Visa policy of South Africa on Wikipedia, or the official list of exempted countries on SA Home Affairs

South Africa enjoys particularly strong relations with countries in Europe, Southern Africa, North and South America. Most countries in these regions do not need a visa to enter and travel around South Africa if their stay in the country is less than 30 to 90 days.

Visa-free access

A map of the world featuring countries whose citizens do not need a visa to enter South Africa . Citizens from countries coloured in Aqua are not required to obtain South African visas for visits of up to 30 days. Citizens from countries coloured in Teal are not required to obtain South African visas for visits of up to 90 days. Citizens from countries coloured in grey need a visa to enter South Africa.

Free access (no visa required for stays of 90 days or less)

• Andorra
• Argentina
• Australia
• Austria
• Belgium
• Botswana
• Brazil
• Canada
• Chile
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Ecuador
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Iceland
• Republic of Ireland
• Israel
• Italy
• Jamaica
• Japan
• Liechtenstein
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Monaco
• Namibia
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Norway
• Panama
• Paraguay
• Portugal
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• San Marino
• Singapore
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Tanzania
• Trinidad and Tobago
• United Kingdom
• United States
• Uruguay
• Venezuela
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe

Free access (no visa required for stays of 30 days or less)

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Bahamas
• Barbados
• Belize
• Benin
• Bolivia
• Cape Verde
• Costa Rica
• Cyprus
• Gabon
• Guyana
• Hong Kong
• Hungary
• Jordan
• Lesotho
• Macau
• Malawi
• Malaysia
• Maldives
• Mauritius
• Mozambique
• Peru
• Poland
• Seychelles
• Slovakia
• South Korea
• Swaziland
• Thailand
• Turkey

Passport holders of countries NOT listed above will need a visitors visa or a business visa to enter South Africa to attend the conference.

Applying for a Visitors Visa

Citizens of countries that are not one of the visa exempt countries listed above will require a visitor's visa for South Africa. The following documentation is needed when applying for this visa through a local South African consulate or embassy:

• Valid passport with at least two (2) unused (blank) pages labeled Visa when presented at the Embassy or Consulate; one page for affixing the visa or permit by the embassy/consulate and the other page for endorsement of entry/departure stamp by the South African Immigration Services. Passport must be valid for 30 more days after the intended return date from South Africa.
• Prescribed form BI-84.
• Two (2) passport photos
• Round trip flight itinerary
• Proof of sufficient funds (recent bank statement, credit card etc)
• Proof of hotel accommodation (hotel reservation or a letter of invitation from the host (relative or friend) in South Africa.
• Proof of host’s legal status in South Africa
• Non-refundable fee of $72.00 money order
• Yellow fever certificate is required if applicant passing through yellow fever belt area before entering South Africa.

Costs range from country to country, as do issuing times. Please contact your South African consulate page for specific requirements.

The organising committee will support participants with special visa needs.

Transport

Cape Town International Airport

The conference venues and hotels in the Cape Town central business district are a 20-minute drive from Cape Town International Airport. On arrival, access to ground transport is simple and convenient. There are a number of taxis, coaches, and shuttle services from the airport to the city centre. One of the most convenient ways to travel from the airport to the city centre is to catch the MyCiti bus service that leaves from the Airport roughly every 15 minutes.

While most international carriers fly into Johannesburg, Cape Town International Airport is served by more than 20 international airlines on a weekly basis, linking the destination to global hubs like Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Dubai, Singapore and London.

Travel costs can be lowered by flying via OR Tambo International Airport, in Johannesburg, or King Shaka International Airport, in Durban. Johannesburg is Africa's busiest airport, and one of the few airports in the world with direct flights to all six inhabited continents. Cape Town is a two-hour domestic flight from Johannesburg and Durban and on average there are flights every half hour between the two cities with a variety of domestic carriers. Cheaper options include different bus services linking the cities.

MyCiti bus system

For more infromation about the MyCiti Bus Rapid Transport System see their website

The Airport is conveniently connected to the city centre via a direct, 30 minute long MyCiti Bus route (A01) costing only R53.00 (US$5) per person. The MyCiti bus rapid transit system services most of the city centre and a number of suburbs. It is currently still in the process of being expanded across the city. It is the suggested means of transport for people visiting the city.

Hop on-Hop off sight seeing bus

The ubiquitous red hop on-hop off sight seeing bus can easily be found at or near popular destinations in Cape Town. A day pass allows people to easily access most scenic locations within the city during the day. Users board and disembark multiple buses during the day to visit locations at their convenience. A day pass costs R130 ($12.11) with night tours costing R90 ($8.39).

Light rail

Cape Town Station is situated around 500 meters away from the CTICC and is the hub of the Metrorail Western Cape commuter rail network. The network consists of four lines, all of which originate from Cape Town and connect to the four most populated areas of the city. The Southern Line links to the city's Southern Suburbs and Simon's Town; the Cape Flats Line via Athlone to Retreat; the Central Line via Langa to Mitchell's Plain, Khayelitsha and Bellville; and the Northern Line via Bellville to Paarl, Stellenbosch and Somerset West. The airport is not connected to the railway network.

Taxis

Uber is a popular taxi service in Cape Town due to its reasonable fares and higher quality service. Other options available include the regular and mini-bus taxi services in Cape Town that are readily available. Shared mini-bus taxis are commonly used by local residents. When taking a private taxi, it is recommended that registered sedan taxi services be used, such as Rikkis Taxis, Marine Taxis, or Unicab.

Minibus taxis offer the cheapest transport, and their routes cover the entire peninsula, but they are entirely undocumented for visitors, and are usually overcrowded, badly driven, and sometimes un-roadworthy. Ask a local for help before using until you are familiar.

Car hire

You can hire a car for around R380 a day. An international driver's licence is required in South Africa and the licence must include a photograph as well as the signature of the holder. Driving is on the left hand side of the road, and speed limits are in kilometres. Cash is sometimes required to pay for fuel, as credit cards are not always accepted.

Links

Get around Cape Town with Wikivoyage