South Africa
Uber and Bolt cover the major cities. Most local businesses use WhatsApp for communication.
🚖Rideshare & Taxi
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The most widely available rideshare service globally. Works in 70+ countries.
Widely available in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban.
European rideshare with cheaper fares than Uber in many cities. Also offers scooters.
Often cheaper than Uber.
🗺️Navigation & Maps
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Works almost everywhere except mainland China. Offline maps are critical when roaming.
Reliable.
📱Messaging
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The dominant messenger in Europe, Latin America, India, Middle East, Africa.
Universal for bookings, tours, drivers.
🍱Food Delivery
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Wide coverage in US, UK, Japan, Australia, parts of Europe and LATAM.
Major food delivery in cities.
Is South Africa one stop of several?
Add your other destinations and get one combined app list, with the adapters and currencies for the whole trip.
The practical basics
Power & plugs
- Plug type
- C / D / M / N
- Voltage
- 230V
- Frequency
- 50Hz
- Type C: Two round pins. Used across most of Europe, South America, parts of Asia and Africa.
- Type D: Three large round pins in a triangle. Used in India and South Asia.
- Type M: Three large round pins. Used in South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland.
- Type N: Two or three round pins, used in Brazil and South Africa.
Type M is the large historical plug — many South Africans carry multi-adapters.
Tipping
Tipping is widely expected; 10-15% is standard in restaurants if no service charge is added. It is also customary to tip car-guards, petrol attendants, and porters a few rand.
CurrencyZAR
Etiquette and scams to know
✓ Do
- Greetings matter; take time to say hello and ask how someone is before getting to business
- Use a handshake on greeting, sometimes a three-part African handshake among locals
- Respect the country's diversity of cultures and 12 official languages
- Be patient and polite in queues and with service staff
- Ask permission before photographing people, especially in townships or rural areas
- Drive on the left and be courteous with the 'hazard flash' thank-you on the road
✕Don't
- Do not walk alone in unfamiliar areas at night or display valuables openly
- Avoid discussing apartheid or race casually or insensitively with strangers
- Do not leave bags, phones, or laptops visible in a parked or moving car
- Avoid assuming wildlife areas are safe to explore on foot without a guide
⚠️ Common scams to know
- ATM 'helpers' who distract you and swap or skim your card; never accept assistance at machines
- Fake or unmetered taxis overcharging tourists, especially from airports
- Staged car troubles or 'flat tyre' setups that lead to roadside theft
- Smash-and-grab thefts at traffic lights where bags are visible inside the car
This page was last reviewed in September 2026. Apps launch, rebrand and pull out of countries all the time, so confirm anything your trip depends on. Spotted something out of date? Tell us — here's how we check.