South Africa is easy to travel in independently: good roads, English spoken everywhere, high-standard accommodation and food, and prices well below Europe. The reputation for danger is not baseless but is concentrated in specific places and situations, and it should not be the reason to skip the country.
Entry
Most European, British, American and Australian passport holders receive a 90-day visitor permit on arrival, free of charge. Passports must be valid for 30 days beyond departure and must contain at least two blank facing pages, a rule that is enforced. Travelling with children under 18 may require an unabridged birth certificate and, where only one parent travels, consent from the other.
Safety
Violent crime statistics are high but overwhelmingly affect residents of poor areas, not visitors in tourist districts. The practical rules: do not walk in city centres after dark, use metered taxis or ride-hailing apps at night, keep phones and cameras out of sight in crowded streets, never leave anything visible in a parked car, keep car doors locked and windows up at traffic lights in Johannesburg, and use ATMs inside shopping malls rather than on the street. If robbed, hand things over without resistance. Visit townships with a resident guide rather than alone. Hiking on Table Mountain is safer in groups; muggings on quiet paths do occur.
Driving
Drive on the left. Roads are good and self-drive is the standard way to see the country. Watch for pedestrians and livestock on rural roads, do not drive intercity at night, and treat minibus taxis as unpredictable. At four-way stops the first to arrive goes first. Slower vehicles pull onto the shoulder to let you pass and expect a hazard-light thank you. Fuel stations are attended, take cash tips, and many still prefer cards over cash for the fuel itself.
Load shedding
Scheduled national power cuts have been a feature since 2008, managed in stages and published in advance through apps such as EskomSePush. Hotels and larger restaurants have generators or batteries; traffic lights often do not, so treat dark intersections as four-way stops. The situation has improved but should still be planned around.
Money
The currency is the rand. Cards are accepted almost everywhere including small shops, and contactless is standard. Tipping is expected: 10 to 15 percent in restaurants, around 10 rand for a car guard, and a daily amount for safari guides and trackers. Notify your bank before travelling.
Health
No vaccinations are required unless arriving from a yellow fever country. Malaria prophylaxis is recommended for Kruger, the Lowveld and northern KwaZulu-Natal, mainly in the wet summer; the Cape, the Garden Route and the Drakensberg are malaria free. Tap water is safe in cities. Private healthcare is excellent and expensive, so carry insurance. The emergency number is 10111 for police and 10177 for ambulance.