South Africa
Visa
No visa required for stay within 90 days after first entry. The official rule is that once per calendar year you get 90 days when you enter. Note that the day counter doesn't stop when you leave South Africa once you entered. For example if you stay for 7 days and then leave to Namibia for 90 days you are not allowed to return into South Africa. Within the 90 days you can enter and leave as often as you like. We have heard as many different statements about what happens if you do reappear at the border after the 90 days have passed as we asked officials and other travelers: (1) you get 90 days again if you enter by plane from outside the region, (2) you get 90 days again if you enter just before the permit ends, (3) you get one week anyhow, (4) access will be declined.
Trying to extend the 90 days has become a mission impossible. When we called Home Affairs in South Africa once the helpdesk told us it is impossible to extend. The second time they told us to apply through VFS. VFS is a commercial front end for Home Affairs. You have to make an appointment with VFS to appear in person after you fill in a long internet form with all kinds of irrelevant questions. We tried to make the appointment in the first week of May, the first opportunity was mid July! We then decided to change our route and be out of the country within 90 days. Before we left we called the South African embassy in the Netherlands about a longer visa, but they referred us to Home Affairs.
Arrival
From Botswana
Very quick: 10 minutes. Scan of visited countries in passport due to ebola in west Africa.
From Swaziland
Very quick: 5 minutes.
From Zimbabwe (Beitbridge)
Rather disorganized, 30 min.
From Lesotho
Quick. Only a passport stamp, done in 5 minutes. We tried to get an extension of stay, but had no success.
From Namibia (Sendelingendrift, November 2015)
The border crossing from Namibia was interesting, because we had already consumed our 90 days allowance for the year when we tried to enter. We were first asked very explicitely if we had returned to the Netherlands since our last visit to South Africa, and although we denied (which was the truth) we got another 90 days. The lady at immigrations explained that she wasn't allowed to give us 90 days, but that the couldn't do otherwise, because she had a problem with the computer. Including a quick inspection of the car the border crossing took about 30 min.
From Namibia (November 2015)
Thanks to the 3-months stamp we got at our first entry from Namibia this entry was straightforward and done in 5 min: just a stamp and no discussion. No paperwork for the car was needed.
Departure
To Botswana
Very quick: 5 minutes, only passport stamped.
To Swaziland
Very quick: 5 minutes, only passport stamped.
To Lesotho
The border crossing out of South Africa into Lesotho was completed in 5 minutes; we only got a passport stamp. Leaving South Africa into Mozambique took 20 minutes for passport and carnet stamping.
To Namibia (Sendelingendrift, November 2015)
The border crossing back to Namibia took 15 minutes, but was interesting again. We dealt with the same immigration officer who gave us 90 days earlier because of the computer problem. She asked if we would re-enter South Africa before returning to Europe. When we told here we wanted to spend a few more days for shopping and visiting a park she first told us that that wss not possible. Later she came over to us again and after we told her we spent 80 days she said we could stay for another few days, but certainly not 90.
Via Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park to Namibia (Tweerivieren/Nata Nata, November 2015)
Leaving South Africa took 5 minutes without issues, but we had to get an accommodation booking for the park first. The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is partly in South Africa and partly in Botswana and borders Namibia. You can stay in the park for a day and exit where you entered without border formalities. If you want to cross borders you have to stay at least 2 nights. You complete the border formalities of the country you come from when you enter the park and you complete the formalities of the country you go to when you leave the park. Inside the park are no checks. When leaving for Namibia from the park there were no RSA formalities
Carnet
A carnet is required. Was already stamped in Botswana. Within the south African union (RSA, Botswana, Namibia, Swaziland, Lesotho) the carnet is stamped only once. An expired carnet was accepted at the land border crossings.
Insurance
TourInsure used and accepted. The professionally looking windscreen sticker with insurance data that we made was very helpful.
Money
ATM's abundant, VISA and Maestro very generally accepted
Diesel
Outside cities distance between filling stations can be as much as 200 km. About €1 per liter
Corruption
One incident: during regular check of car papers police officer asked: "Do you have something for me?"
Roads
Generally excellent, although you still regularly find unpaved roads for major connections.
Car storage
We have stored the car near Johannesburg,.
Other
VAT return: makes little sense for land border crossings. You first must declare the goods in the country you enter and pay VAT there. With the proving documents you have to return to South Africa to reclaim VAT.
No visa required for stay within 90 days after first entry. The official rule is that once per calendar year you get 90 days when you enter. Note that the day counter doesn't stop when you leave South Africa once you entered. For example if you stay for 7 days and then leave to Namibia for 90 days you are not allowed to return into South Africa. Within the 90 days you can enter and leave as often as you like. We have heard as many different statements about what happens if you do reappear at the border after the 90 days have passed as we asked officials and other travelers: (1) you get 90 days again if you enter by plane from outside the region, (2) you get 90 days again if you enter just before the permit ends, (3) you get one week anyhow, (4) access will be declined.
Trying to extend the 90 days has become a mission impossible. When we called Home Affairs in South Africa once the helpdesk told us it is impossible to extend. The second time they told us to apply through VFS. VFS is a commercial front end for Home Affairs. You have to make an appointment with VFS to appear in person after you fill in a long internet form with all kinds of irrelevant questions. We tried to make the appointment in the first week of May, the first opportunity was mid July! We then decided to change our route and be out of the country within 90 days. Before we left we called the South African embassy in the Netherlands about a longer visa, but they referred us to Home Affairs.
Arrival
From Botswana
Very quick: 10 minutes. Scan of visited countries in passport due to ebola in west Africa.
From Swaziland
Very quick: 5 minutes.
From Zimbabwe (Beitbridge)
Rather disorganized, 30 min.
From Lesotho
Quick. Only a passport stamp, done in 5 minutes. We tried to get an extension of stay, but had no success.
From Namibia (Sendelingendrift, November 2015)
The border crossing from Namibia was interesting, because we had already consumed our 90 days allowance for the year when we tried to enter. We were first asked very explicitely if we had returned to the Netherlands since our last visit to South Africa, and although we denied (which was the truth) we got another 90 days. The lady at immigrations explained that she wasn't allowed to give us 90 days, but that the couldn't do otherwise, because she had a problem with the computer. Including a quick inspection of the car the border crossing took about 30 min.
From Namibia (November 2015)
Thanks to the 3-months stamp we got at our first entry from Namibia this entry was straightforward and done in 5 min: just a stamp and no discussion. No paperwork for the car was needed.
Departure
To Botswana
Very quick: 5 minutes, only passport stamped.
To Swaziland
Very quick: 5 minutes, only passport stamped.
To Lesotho
The border crossing out of South Africa into Lesotho was completed in 5 minutes; we only got a passport stamp. Leaving South Africa into Mozambique took 20 minutes for passport and carnet stamping.
To Namibia (Sendelingendrift, November 2015)
The border crossing back to Namibia took 15 minutes, but was interesting again. We dealt with the same immigration officer who gave us 90 days earlier because of the computer problem. She asked if we would re-enter South Africa before returning to Europe. When we told here we wanted to spend a few more days for shopping and visiting a park she first told us that that wss not possible. Later she came over to us again and after we told her we spent 80 days she said we could stay for another few days, but certainly not 90.
Via Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park to Namibia (Tweerivieren/Nata Nata, November 2015)
Leaving South Africa took 5 minutes without issues, but we had to get an accommodation booking for the park first. The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is partly in South Africa and partly in Botswana and borders Namibia. You can stay in the park for a day and exit where you entered without border formalities. If you want to cross borders you have to stay at least 2 nights. You complete the border formalities of the country you come from when you enter the park and you complete the formalities of the country you go to when you leave the park. Inside the park are no checks. When leaving for Namibia from the park there were no RSA formalities
Carnet
A carnet is required. Was already stamped in Botswana. Within the south African union (RSA, Botswana, Namibia, Swaziland, Lesotho) the carnet is stamped only once. An expired carnet was accepted at the land border crossings.
Insurance
TourInsure used and accepted. The professionally looking windscreen sticker with insurance data that we made was very helpful.
Money
ATM's abundant, VISA and Maestro very generally accepted
Diesel
Outside cities distance between filling stations can be as much as 200 km. About €1 per liter
Corruption
One incident: during regular check of car papers police officer asked: "Do you have something for me?"
Roads
Generally excellent, although you still regularly find unpaved roads for major connections.
Car storage
We have stored the car near Johannesburg,.
Other
VAT return: makes little sense for land border crossings. You first must declare the goods in the country you enter and pay VAT there. With the proving documents you have to return to South Africa to reclaim VAT.
