South Africans can visit many countries without having the hassle and expense of applying for a visa. These are some of the countries you can enter with no visa.
Africa
Several countries in Africa require no visa.
Kenya
The flight: 4 hours and the country is 1 hour ahead.
Maximum length of stay: 30 days.
Must-see: Maasai Mara National Reserve; Mombasa; The Great Rift Valley and Mount Kenya.
Family-friendly: Go on a family safari or a hot air balloon flight. Don’t miss going on a guided bush walk led by red-robed Maasai warriors or hand-feeding giraffe at the well-known Giraffe Manor.
Vaccinations: Compulsory – yellow fever, if coming from or stopping over in an endemic area. Recommended – hepatitis A, tetanus, typhoid, cholera and meningitis.
Zambia
The flight: 2 hours
Maximum length of stay: Unlimited
Must-see: Victoria Falls; Kafue National Park and the Zambezi River source.
Family-friendly: Make the Luangwa River Cruise a definite on your itinerary. Visit the Saturday Dutch Market in the Kabulonga area of Lusaka. In November, book a tour guide to see the wildebeest migration.
Vaccinations: Compulsory – yellow fever. Recommended – hepatitis A, tetanus and meningitis.
Asia
Maldives
The flight: 7 hours and the country is 3 hours ahead.
Maximum length of stay: 30 days
Must-see: The HP Reef and the Banana Reef. Alimatha Island; Manta Point and the Hukuru Miskiiy (Old Friday Mosque).
Family-friendly: The numerous resorts and the safe shallow lagoons with brightly-coloured fish.
Vaccinations: Compulsory – yellow fever, if coming from or stopping over in an endemic area. Recommended – hepatitis A and typhoid.
Sri Lanka
The flight: 9 hours and the country is 3 hours ahead.
Maximum length of stay: 30 days
Must-see: The tea plantations; Batticaloa and the east coast. The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic; Yala National Park. Unawatuna and south coast beaches. Adam’s Peak night pilgrimage. The ancient ruins of Polonnaruwa and the Sigiriya Rock.
Family-friendly: Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage. The Cultural Triangle and watch a Kandyan dance performance.
Vaccinations: Compulsory – yellow fever if coming from or stopping over in an endemic area. Recommended – hepatitis A, tetanus and polio.
Australia
Fiji
The flight: 18 hours and the country is 11 hours ahead.
Maximum length of stay: 6 months as a tourist.
Must-see: Experience Fiji’s largest isle, Vitu Levu. Visit the Nadi region’s open-air souvenir market and pick up traditional Fijian crafts. Hike the Taveuni Falls. Fly to the Mamanuca islands and visit Monuriki, the island Tom Hanks made famous in Cast Away. See fire-walking on Beqa Island.
Family-friendly: Bouma Falls; boat trip up the Navua River.
Vaccinations: Compulsory – yellow fever, if coming from or stopping over in an endemic area. Recommended – hepatitis A, tetanus, typhoid and polio.
North America
A number of countries on the North American continent welcome tourists to visit with no visa.
Bahamas
The flight: 16 hours and the country is 7 hours behind.
Maximum length of stay: Your passport must be valid for at least six months from date of entry.
Must-see: Sandy Toes and Rose Island, which offers a pristine all-day inclusive private island experience.
Family-friendly: Clifton Heritage National Land and Sea Park. The Ardastra Gardens Zoo and Conservation Centre.
Vaccinations: Compulsory – yellow fever if coming from or stopping over in an endemic area. Recommended – polio, tetanus, hepatitis A and typhoid.
Jamaica
The flight: 15 hours and the country is 7 hours behind.
Maximum length of stay: 90 days
Must-see: Dunn’s River Falls and Dolphin Cove. Montego Bay. Don’t miss the Bob Marley Museum. Visit Martha Brae River, Green Grotto Caves and Lime Cay.
Family-friendly: Chukka River tubing safari. Take a horse-back ride and swim in Sandy Bay. Enjoy a family catamaran cruise that include snorkelling. Have fun on a 120-foot waterslide and giant water trampolines.
Vaccinations: Compulsory – yellow fever, if coming from or stopping over in an endemic area. Recommended – hepatitis A, tetanus, typhoid and polio.
Costa Rica
The flight: 15 hours and the country is 8 hours behind
Maximum length of stay: 30 days
Must-see: Monteverde for cloud forest and rainforest exploration; Manuel Antonio beach. Don’t miss Arenal Volcano and the Corcovado National Park for its mountains, hot springs and waterfalls. National Geographic has called it the most biologically intense place on earth in terms of biodiversity. There are also cultural festival celebrations at various times of the year.
Family-friendly: Zip-lining through Monteverde’s forest canopy. The night-time turtle nesting at Refugio Nacional de Fauna Silvestre Ostional. Learn to surf at Mal País and Santa Teresa, or go white-water rafting on the Río Reventazón or Río Pacuare. Explore the jungle rivers of Tortuguero.
Vaccinations: None
South America
Argentina
The flight: 10 hours and the country is 5 hours behind.
Maximum length of stay: Unlimited
Must-see: Iguazu Falls and the Perito Moreno Glacier up close via excellent and safe catwalk systems. Visit El Chalten and the Mendoza wine province. Go whale-watching in the Golfo Nuevo, see the penguin colony at Punt a Tombo – national protected area. Don’t miss the the Peninsula Valdes Wildlife Sanctuary for birds and marine species.
Family-friendly: Go horse-riding in the Pampas. Visit the Parque de la Costa amusement park and Miramar Beach. Don’t miss the Bioparque Temaiken Nature Reserve and Buenos Aires Zoo.
Vaccinations: None
Note: Before planning a trip, it is advised to check if the countries listed here continue to allow tourists to enter with no visa.
