South African Embassy, Vienna
Sandgasse 33, 1190 Vienna, Austria
Tel.: +43 1 320 6493
Fax: +43 1 320 6493 51
Emergency No: +43 664 7550 3585 FOR EMERGENCIES ONLY (NOT FOR VISA RELATED ENQUIRIES)

Business Hours Embassy
Mon-Fri 08.00-12.45; 13.30-16.30
Visiting Hours Consular Section
Visa, SA Citizen Services
Mon-Fri 08.30 - 12.00

Visiting South Africa

The tourism industry in South Africa is well established with an exciting sector of emerging entrepreneurs. The country is strong on adventure, sport, nature and wildlife, and is a pioneer and global leader in responsible tourism.

Top 10 Reasons to Visit South Africa

  • Affordable - during these tough times, who doesn’t want an affordable holiday? In SA, you can even afford luxury and have spending money for shopping and other treats!

  • Natural Beauty - South Africa’s scenic wonders are legendary. From Table Mountain to God’s Window, our mountains, forests, coasts and deserts will sooth your soul and delight you.

  • World-class facilities - Whether you opt for Afro-chic or authentic Africa, you’ll find it easy to get around, find a comfortable place to stay, have a great meal, connect.

  • Adventure - South Africa is the adventure capital of the world. With over 130 adventures and counting, there is something for everyone from mountain walks to shark cage-diving!

  • Good Weather - in sunny South Africa, our great weather invites you to enjoy the outdoors, play golf year-round and take advantage of the nearly 3000km coastline...

  • Rainbow Nation - the Rainbow Nation celebrates all its African and immigrant cultures. We're known for our friendliness across the country.

  • Diverse Experiences - Go almost anywhere in South Africa and experience the ultimate combination of nature, wildlife, culture, adventure, heritage and vibe – you’re spoilt for choice, so pack it in!

  • Wildlife - Warning! Watching wildlife is addictive. First you start with the Big Five, then you'll soon be looking for whales, penguins, meerkats, wild dogs, birds, dung beetles...

  • Freedom Struggle - discover a nation’s struggle for freedom whilst following the footsteps of Nelson Mandela, Hector Pieterson and many other celebrated revolutionaries.

  • Responsible Tourism - in South Africa you can travel with care as you explore our protected areas, contribute to social and conservation projects, buy recycle art and stay green.

courtesy of SA Tourism

Top 10 Attractions in South Africa

  • Cape Town & Cape Peninsula - are famous for scenic beauty; celebrity beaches; Table Mountain; whale-watching; world-class shopping, nightlife, food & wine; and a laid-back atmosphere

  • The Winelands - discover the joys of SA’s award-winning wines and cuisine along any of the beautiful Cape wine routes, taking you through green valleys and historic towns

  • Garden Route - known as South Africa’s Eden, the famous Garden Route traverses an area rich in natural beauty and charm, attracting adventure-seekers and outdoor enthusiasts

  • Johannesburg - South Africa’s pulsating African heartbeat is felt in the ‘City of Gold’ with its endless opportunities for shopping, entertainment, freedom tours and eating out

  • Kruger National Park - this world-renowned park of nearly 2 million hectares features 16 ecosystems. Spot the Big Five on a 4x4 game drive or walking safari

  • Durban beachfront - for those with fun and sun on their minds, SA’s sunshine city has something for the whole family - golden beaches, surfing and a marine park

  • Robben Island - the island’s most famous prisoner, Nelson Mandela, has turned this institute of brutality into a symbol of the triumph of the human spirit over enormous hardship

  • Soweto - South Africa’s largest and most famous township was a hotbed of anti-apartheid activity. Visit Freedom Struggle sites and eat at a shebeen or township restaurant

  • Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve - Most famous for God’s Window, the panoramic splendour of the Blyde River Canyon makes it ideal for scenic drives and hiking trails

  • Wild Coast - rugged and untamed, the Wild Coast offers deserted beaches, dolphins, horseback and hiking trails, cosy hotels, golf, gambling, mystical history, Xhosa heritage and the Hole-in-the-Wall

courtesy of SA Tourism

Top 10 Experiences in South Africa

  • Scenic Splendour and Serenity - South Africa is blessed with spectacular scenery and natural landscapes - soaring mountain peaks and passes, dense and ancient forests, miles of unspoiled coastline, rivers to sooth or thrill you, and rolling flower fields and grasslands of every hue. Places to be still, places to inspire you, places to explore or to simply revel in the joyous gift of nature.

  • Wine Tasting - with wine regions stretching from the western to the far northern Cape and the edge of the Karoo you can almost taste your way around South Africa. Sample at well-known estates or seek out little-known gems – our Port and Brandy routes are renowned too. Where there’s fabulous wine, great food is never far behind. Oenophiles, gastronomes and sybarites – don’t miss our winelands.

  • Five-star Safari - at our finest award-winning safari lodges in Mpumalanga, Limpopo and the Eastern Cape, the bush equals bliss. Luxury on call, impeccable service and cuisine, soothing spa’s and superlative wildlife encounters add up to safari adventures that will exceed your wildest expectations.

  • Struggle Sites - South Africa’s struggle for democracy continues to inspire and touch the lives of millions. Visit our top struggle sites and museums and be a part of our journey to freedom as you walk in the footsteps of some of the greatest living freedom icons in history.

  • Magnificent marine life - where else can you sail beside a whale, go eye-to-eye with wild Tiger sharks, cage-dive with Great Whites, be charmed by urban penguins, snorkel beside whale sharks and be entranced on a moonlit beach as new-born turtle hatchlings make their bid for life in the ocean?

  • Cultural Encounters - experience cultural interactions that are real and inspiring. Whether you spend a day in a Zulu village or a city township; a week in a Xhosa household or escape to a typical South African farm, you’ll find South Africans are friendly and their day-to-day lifestyles and customs accessible. Short or long stay – you’re welcome!

  • Outdoor Rush - beautiful weather, spectacular locations, awesome scenery, and record-breaking, mega-thrill adventure mixed in – that’s how we’ve earned the title the Adventure Capital of the World.

  • Urban Rhythm - feel the energy of our cities, catch the beat of Afro-pop, hip-hop or jazz at a shebeen or all-night club, play in our casino’s, visit our museums, be entertained in our theatres. Shop, dine and follow the pulse of our rhythm to your next urban African adventure.

  • Your South African Feast - from traditional comfort food to Michelin-star dining; a hearty shebeen buffet or a gourmet banquet beneath a star-strewn African sky, let your taste buds take you on a journey of discovery with mouth-watering South African soul food.

  • Indulge your senses - relax and rejuvenate the South African way. Cocoon yourself in calming treatments and soothing therapies. Scented traditional balms made with indigenous oils and ingredients will have you stress-free and feeling like African royalty in no time.

courtesy of SA Tourism

World Heritage Sites

South Africa has eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, each an area of extraordinary beauty or importance to humanity. From Robben Island to the Cradle of Humankind, visiting one or more of our heritage sites is a must.

1 Cradle of Humankind in Gauteng
This area close to Johannesburg boasts the richest evidence of human evolution over the past 3.5-million years and has yielded the remains of some of the oldest hominids, the early ancestors of the human race. http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/915, https://www.gauteng.net/neighbourhoods/cradle-of-humankind 

2 Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape in Limpopo
This Iron Age site showing evidence of a highly advanced indigenous society that existed centuries before European colonialism spread across Africa. This is where the famous golden rhinoceros and many other artefacts were found.
http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1099, https://www.southafrica.net/gl/en/travel/article/uncover-a-new-ancient-history-at-mapungubwe

3 Robben Island in the Western Cape
This famous landmark in Table Bay is where Nelson Mandela and many other Freedom Struggle heroes were imprisoned. Guided tours are done by previous inmates, which together with the location, history and prison conditions make for a highly emotive experience. http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/916, www.robben-island.org.za

4 The Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape in the Northern Cape
A remarkable mountainous desert in the north-west of the country that is uniquely owned and managed by the Nama communities. https://www.southafrica.net/gl/en/travel/article/a-dry-spectacle-at-the-richtersveld-cultural-and-botanical-landscape

5 uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park in KwaZulu-Natal
South Africa's highest mountain range, has exceptional scenic beauty, a diverse habitat harbouring a number of endangered plant and bird species and a concentration of historic rock art paintings. An ideal place for adventure activities ranging from hiking trails to mountain climbing. https://www.southafrica.net/gl/en/travel/article/there-s-magic-in-the-mountains-of-the-drakensberg

6 Cape Floral Region in the Western Cape
The Western Cape's fynbos (indigenous flowering shrub land) is one of the richest and most diverse floral areas in the world. Around 70% of its floral species occur nowhere else on the planet. Table Mountain National Park, which is part of this remarkable wilderness area, has more plant species in its 22 000 hectares than Britain or New Zealand. http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1007, https://www.southafrica.net/gl/en/travel/article/south-africas-cape-floral-region

7 iSimangaliso Wetland Park in KwaZulu-Natal
One of the largest estuary systems in Africa, it's acclaimed for its exceptional biodiversity and over 520 bird species. Here you’ll find the world's highest sand dunes, golden beaches, coral reefs, wetlands, mangrove swamps, woodlands, coastal forests and grassland.  http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/914, www.isimangaliso.com

8 Vredefort Dome in the Free State
The world's biggest meteor crater dates back two million years when a gigantic meteorite 10km in diameter hit the earth. Today this site is the oldest and largest clearly visible meteorite impact site in the world.  http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1162, www.vredefortdome.org

9 ‡Khomani Cultural Landscape in the Northern Cape

The large expanse of sand contains evidence of human occupation from the Stone Age to the present and is associated with the culture of the formally nomade ǂKhomani San people and the strategies that allowed them to adapt to harsh desert conditions. They developed a specific ethnobotanical knowledge, cultural practices and a worldview related to the geographical features of their environment. The ǂKhomani Cultural Landscape bears testimony to the way of life that prevailed in the region and shaped the site over thousands of years.

https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1545, https://www.southafrica.net/gl/en/travel/article/the-khomani-desert-san-sa-s-ninth-world-heritage-site

10 Barberton Makhonjwa Mountains in Mpumalanga

Barberton is a geological mecca, luring international geologists and biologists to probe the earth’s beginnings and some of its earliest life forms. It is here, in the beautifully preserved ancient rocks, that some of the earth's earliest life forms began.

https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1575, https://www.southafrica.net/gl/en/travel/article/the-wonders-of-barberton

Meetings, Incentives and Events (MICE)

There are a range of international convention centres, tourism industry organisations and convention bureaus that promote South Africa’s rapidly growing conference and conventions sector. Few other destinations offer the variety of meeting and incentive options available in South Africa. This is one of a handful of countries that has played host to most of the major sports world cups including the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and the Cricket and Rugby World Cups.

http://businessevents.southafrica.net/

You can contact the Embassy on any tourism related  questions on vienna.tourism@dirco.gov.za

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