South Africa - Facts
South Africa FAQs
Pre-Arrival Boat: All yachts planning to enter SA must register for pre-arrival authorisation notification (PAN) from the MSCC and Department of Transport online through OSASA, prior to arrival. See Clearance for full details.
Pre-Arrival Crew: All travelers to SA must complete an online traveller declaration before arrival in the country. See Customs for more details. Most countries get a 90 day tourist visa on entry into South Africa, although some nationalities do have to get a visa in advance. It should be noted that extensions are almost impossible to get and overstaying your visa has very serious consequences. See Immigration for more details.
Where can I enter? There are 7 ports of entry. Most yachts crossing the Indian Ocean enter at Richards Bay. For ease of departure, Saldanha Bay became a port of entry in July 2024. Click on the anchor symbol in the blue “Explore Country” drop down, to see ports of entry.
Are fees high to enter by yacht? There is a small fee for PAN. See Fees for more details.
What security concerns should I know about? While security in cities and urban areas is of concern, marinas are secure. See Security for more info.
South Africa Facts for Sailors
- The number of cruising boats visiting South Africa has increased substantially over the last decade as the Red Sea route, previously preferred by yachts undertaking a circumnavigation, has mainly been avoided (first due to pirate activity and now due to increasing fees in Egypt).
- All around the world races now include South Africa on their itinerary.
- The best time to transit the South African coast is between November and January when the Indian High dominates and easterly winds blow along the south east coast.
- Safe havens are limited and there is a lack of sheltered harbors and anchorages along the coast, particulary between Durban and East London. Passage planning should be done with care as conditions can change rapidly along the coast.
- The Ocean Sailing Association of Southern Africa (OSASA) was formed in March 2021 by three South African cruisers, supported by South African Sailing, the coastal yacht clubs and marinas, SABBEX and the marine industry. OSASA have transformed the clearance process for foreign yachts and are working hard to improve conditions for yachts along the coast. Find out more here.
- The country’s convenient position and excellent yachting facilities make it a natural stopover, added to which are the many nature reserves that make South Africa an interesting place to visit. One major drawback is the weather and sailing conditions; the waters around the tip of Africa being among the most dangerous in the world.
- As there are yacht clubs in most ports, the clubs are the best source of information on local conditions. The yacht clubs like to be contacted in advance by those wishing to use their facilities. It is not normally allowed to live aboard a yacht, but a concession is made for visiting foreign yachts as a temporary privilege. Most yacht clubs, such as those at Cape Town, Durban and Richards Bay, have their own hauling facilities or work closely with a local boatyard.
- Yacht clubs are also convenient places to leave the boat while visiting the interior. The Zululand Yacht Club in Richards Bay is a good place from which to visit the Umfoloze, Hluhluwe and St Lucia reserves. Kruger Park is approximately 570km by Road from Richards Bay.
- See Yachting Essentials for more details.
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OSASA report that circumnavigators trying to get to Cape Town for Christmas this year have found it to be a long hard slog! Umpteen yachts were stuck hiding around Inhambane along the Mozambique coast, many more were delayed leaving Réunion and Mauritius with bad weather, and Madagascar was a nightmare of bureaucracy and red tape. What should have been 10-12 day passages became 20-24 days to be endured – and that was before even getting to Richards Bay or Durban.
Regular Noonsite contributors Brent Crack and Mary Bevan sent the following as they sailed towards Cape Town leaving False Bay. “Last night was one of those epic nights that only come along ever so rarely. We departed Gordon’s Bay Yacht Club and were immediately into brilliant blue bioluminescence. The water churning along the hulls lit up the surrounding area like a spotlight was on us. About ten miles from the Cape we were joined by a large pod of dolphins, streaming through the phosphorescence as they swam and jumped. They left trails in the glow as they went and were visible a long distance from the boat, 500 meters or more, just by the glow as they swam. And then we went through many huge schools of small fish. The whole sea was glowing, and the dolphins were hunting. The fish were jumping all around us, boiling as they were being chased and eaten. The smell of fish in the air was abundant, just from the shear numbers jumping at one time. Every now and again, larger fish would join the dolphins and dart past, completely visible in the bioluminescence. Words do not adequately describe it. Pictures would not capture it. Memories are all that exist Now we are stuck in drizzly foggy gloom as we slow motor our way up the coast towards Cape Town. Before coming to False Bay, we had never seen dolphins in the bioluminescence, and now we have seen it twice – once on approach to the bay and again on departure.”
If you are heading to Cape Town or are already there, don’t miss the OCC 70th Anniversary lunch and wine tasting, organised by OSASA on December 12th, 2024. All ocean cruisers welcome! Contact Robert Ravensberg, OSASA Cape Town representative and OCC Port Officer for Cape Town at robertravensberg@gmail.com for details and to register your interest.
Advice from OSASA for all yachts arriving in South Africa:
Pressure on available berths
With two large rallies coming in again this year, it is very important that cruisers have a Plan B in place. As with the 2023/2024 season, significant pressure on berth availability is expected. The demand is expected to be greatest in Cape Town, with several marinas and clubs already fully booked.
The 20+ strong fleet of the World ARC arrives in Richards Bay between the 14th and 20th of November, and will depart after a week for Cape Town. They will berth at the V&A Waterfront, and are only expected to leave around the first week of January.
The Oyster World Rally, also with over 20 yachts, will arrive in Durban from around 27 November. After a week, they will also head to Cape Town, and are expected to leave in the second week of January. These two rallies alone will flood Cape Town marinas with up to 50 guest vessels!
As alternatives, consider False Bay Yacht Club (Simon’s Town, already under significant booking pressure), Hout Bay Yacht Club (western shore of the Cape peninsula), and Gordon’s Bay (non-OSASA affiliated and tide-restricted) as alternatives. To check out, consider Saldanha Bay as a departure point, instead of the Port of Cape Town.
Please check out our ports webpage for more information – https://www.osasa.org.za/south-african-ports
CHOLERA OUTBREAK IN INDIAN OCEAN
Due to concerns over a multi-country outbreak of Cholera in Indian Ocean countries, it has been reported that Madagascar has closed to foreign yachts coming from South Africa (August 2024). It has been confirmed by contacts in Nosy Be (Madagascar), however, that yachts from South Africa are being permitted entry, as long as a permit to enter has been obtained in advance.
OSASA have reached out to SA ports to find out if any cholera restrictions are going to put in place and currently all vessels are being allowed into South Africa, however it is always advisable to ensure crew vaccinations are up to date, especially for Yellow fever and Cholera.
A CMA CGM vessel, the 13,000 TEU CMA CGM Belem, lost up to 99 containers due to severe weather conditions while navigating near Richards Bay, South Africa, on Thursday, August 16. The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) has since issued a navigational safety alert to other vessels and asked the public to report any containers that may still be floating in the water.
The Ocean Sailing Association of South Africa (OSASA) have released some interesting statistics concerning incoming yachts from the Indian Ocean last year (2023): Richards Bay welcomed 133 international arrivals (including 20 yachts in World ARC and 13 with the GLWYO rally); Durban 14; East London 2; Port Elizabeth 6; Mossel Bay 1; and Cape Town 64 (including Ocean Race (5), OGR (14) and Clipper (11)). Twenty eight arrivals were UK yachts, 31 from the USA and Canada, 34 South African (mainly sailing the East Coast to Mozambique, Madagascar, etc.), 44 from Australia and New Zealand and 46 from France. Of the remaining 32, the majority were from Europe (Spain, Austria, Sweden, Norway, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Poland), with 1 from India, 1 from Singapore, 2 from Malaysia, and a couple from Brazil. The majority came from the Indian Ocean via various islands.
South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs (DHA) announced, on 22 December 2023, that due to continued and significant backlogs in processing visa documents, several concessions have been made. Visa applicants across a number of categories, including visitor’s visas and visa extensions which are pending as at 30 November 2023, will be granted an extension to 30 June 2024. If you wish to abandon your application, you must leave the country via a designated port of entry by 30 June 2024 to avoid being categorised as undesirable. See the DHA Accouncement – http://www.dha.gov.za/images/PDFs/Concession_Document_2023.pdf
Load shedding (Planned Power Outages)
If you visit to South Africa you are going to hear about ‘load shedding’ pretty quickly.
As I understand it Load Shedding is a planned power outage; due to power grid and demand issues – areas of each grid/network deliberately have the power stitched off (often for 2 hours a day – sometimes more). This may be locally (daily or weekly) or even nationwide (more rarely).
I thought I’d be fine (the boat is off the grid anyway) – but it is really useful to know the load shedding times of the areas you visit.
Local cell phone towers are without power during load shedding – they have backup batteries to cover this, but these don’t always last the full downtime (and are sometimes stolen anyway) – so if your signal fails this is often the reason (avoid planning critical calls and zoom-meetings where you will need phone/data connection during such times).
Even if power is up where you are – we found ATMs often didn’t work since the hub sever was under load shedding. We found some services at the mall were impossible (eg getting a SIM card – since servers were down at one end or the other). A Dr visit was interrupted while we waited for generators to kick in, Attempts to make online payments for customs duty repeatedly failed, etc., etc.
There are apps that tell you when to expect load shedding by area (ask the locals which zone you are in – each town seems to have multiple areas so the mall is often different from the anchorage/dock areas). Eg Apps such as ‘LoadShedding’ or ‘EskomSePush’. Also community Facebook pages tend to post details.
While many business have their own generators, Some restaurants may pause service (not always)… some shops just close their doors, traffic light junctions revert to 4-way stops, etc.
So … Load Shedding really is something you need to know about and most activities can be made easier if you plan/call ahead so as to avoid, or allow for, load shedding times.
OSASA report on the approaching 2022/23 season: “It looks as if we will have a full season for 2022/3 – both the Oyster World Rally and the continuation of the World Arc are planning to make extensive stops in South Africa at the end of 2022, the Cape 2 Rio leaves again Jan 2023, and the Ocean Race arrives in Cape Town in Feb 2023. The Golden Globe does not call, but passes through a “media gate” off Cape Town, sometime in December.”
Des Cason in South Africa has for many years been an incredible aid to cruising boats tackling this coast and the notorious Mozambique Channel, with his free routing and weather advice. To date he has assisted over 500 yachts. Useful articles by Des can be found in the Cruising Resources/Routing/Indian Ocean pages including these 2 very helpful reports: [https://www.noonsite.com/report/crossing-the-indian-ocean-guide-2020/] and [https://www.noonsite.com/report/madagascar-and-mozambique-channel/].
OSASA [www.osasa.org.za] report that the South African Affiliates Council has had its first planning meeting together with other interested parties, to look at the creation and use of a simplified uniform Port to Port Passage Plan, which will be used by all yacht clubs and marinas to advise both Ports and clubs/marinas of boats travelling along the coast. This will be free and online, sent to each departure and destination port, and hopefully be used by all. It is hope this will be finalised soon.
OSASA also want to remind all incoming yachts to South Africa that it is a LEGAL requirement for ALL yachts (even local ones) who are returning to the country to complete the online registration for Department of Transport, through the OSASA online portal http://www.osasa.org.za. Plus, remember to check your visa viability – not all countries will automatically receive a visa on entry and if you arrive without one (and need one) you will either have to fly back to your home country to get one, or stay on board at all times.
See Clearance for full details – https://www.noonsite.com/place/south-africa/formalities
Download OSASA’s great cheat sheet for a round-up of South Africa port information [https://www.dropbox.com/s/h9hqy0py038fw1n/South%20African%20Coast%20Cheat%20Sheet.pdf?dl=0].
Posted by Mike elsewhere on Noonsite – 09/09/2021
I am currently at the Durban yacht club on a 50 foot cat.
There is not much room in the marina currently. I think I was lucky to get a berth. However the staff here are very good and will do everything they can to accommodate you.
It is very quiet here re tourists. Most services are back to normal now with plenty of food and fuel.
Moving on to Cape Town on the next weather window.
I wouldn’t recommend cruising anywhere unless you are fully vaccinated against Covid19
Previous to Durban we were in Reunion which was the only Island in the South Indian excepting cruising yachts. Well worth spending some time there with a lot more to see and do.
The marina there is also quite full, so you may have to tie up to the wall as we had to.
Cheers Mike
Excellent experiences in Cape Town,SA, with contractors for repairs.
The friendly and save RCYC is a good place to relax and to make repairs .
Action Yachting in the Club (acyot@iafrica.com) with his expierented manager David Barnes with the repair of my hull/keel section did a great craftmanship to moderate and fair prices.
Associated Rigging makes a rigg check for free and a good job.
If dfficult problems with engine ,electric, electronik or SSB( operates the only working SSB digipeater between Saint Helena and CT) appear call Colin Porter (+ 27 (82) 343 2444) . He will find a professional solution.
Arnold Schaefer,Germany,SY Incroyable
Posted on OSASA Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1356933018022241
Some recent activity around the S African coast – always stories to tell!
Catamaran 1 left Richards Bay bound for Tanzania, and was t-boned by a fishing boat in the Mozambique Channel, necessitating a swift return to RBay where she is still sitting, waiting repairs.
Catamaran 2 left Richards Bay also bound north, only to hit a whale in Maputo Bay! Also smart return to RBay for repairs!
Then a yacht arrived in RBay directly from Malaysia, having left there in a hurry to return home to SA when Malaysia said everyone had 30 days to leave. A long long passage with damage to the boat when they lost one mast, but they limped into RBay – only to be refused clearance by Immigration because they have two dogs on board and did not have import permits. Have had to sail on to Cape Town in order to put the dogs in quarantine with the State Vet – only quarantine facilities are at Johannesburg and Cape Town airports.
So, current rules are you can IMPORT pets only by air.
However, OSASA is in protracted discussion with the State and National Vets to determine what the rules are for pets “in transit”, which will remain on board and not be allowed off the boat. Watch this space!
A word of warning about entering South Africa. Please ensure you have registered on http://www.OSASA.org.za before leaving your last port of call- this is not a optional extra, it is a real necessity! See the Formalities page for all the correct information: https://www.noonsite.com/place/south-africa/formalities/
Peri peri net is still in operation on 8101usb, from 06h50b (04h50gmt)
At the moment we have Robin, (Riptide), on the natal coast and Andrew, (-Easy Rider) in Cape Town…..can give good weather info.
If I want to sail from SA to UK stopping St Helena and Cabo Verde are there restrictions
Visa extension.
As a new rules apply from December 2019, and new systems on the South African borders, visiting neighboring countries will NOT give you extra 3 months visa.
The only options are to fly back to you country or apply for extension.
As we were rebuilding our engine, we were running out of time and flying back to Australia is expensive business. We did apply for extension in Durban couple of weeks before our visa expires.
Process is frustrating and officials, well, no comment there…
Paperwork plentiful, clerks working for the visa company incompetent with no people skills.
On lodging application and fork R4000 for 3 of us, up to 8 weeks waiting started with no guarantee at the end.
Good part is, with the receipt from the department we were LEGAL in the country while waiting.
We were in Richard’s Bay at that time, sail down to EL and received email that our Visas were granted.
Tricky part is, had to pick a visas from the place of lodgement so one of us had to fly back to Durban.
After couple of cold beers in East London we didn’t think much about stupidity, incompetence, frustration, money spent, time wasted. All good
The Royal Cruising Club Pilotage Foundation (RCCPF) has come out with a free passage planning guide from South Africa to the Caribbean Sea https://rccpf.org.uk/pilots/177/South-Africa-to-the-Caribbean
There are two sides to every story. The Customer emailed the Ullman Sails representative categorically stating that he “received two attached documents that I did not open them”. Those documents reflected the quotation and on the 2nd page under “terms and conditions” it is clearly stated that VAT is not included in the quoted price. The Customer failed to read these documents.
the mail is also a disaster.
Don. t expect to receive anything, even registered when shipped from overseas.
I lost 2 credit cards, registered mail lost.
I was extremely well received in the Yacht Clubs of South Africa.
This country has strong contradictions and some business relationships were surprising.
I had a very bad experience with the local sailmaker in Simon’s town: Ullmann’s Sails. (They gave me a) misleading quotation, my debit card was debited for more than asked, refusal to handle the problem, threats and a very un-polite attitude.
As for the quality of the product (trampoline), they first denied a big mistake (10cms error on 200cms)and said that my boat was crooked, while it was symmetrical within one cm. They agreed to fix the problem, but I never received any excuse either for the wrong overcharge, VAT not specified as excluded from the quotation, never refunded, neither for the technical mess.
I was even told that I was dishonest. I strongly advise cruisers to avoid this company, at least the Cape Town branch.
Ullman Sails are not my favourite, either… Had a stackpack order completed by them and it literally fell apart when we got to Grenada – seems they did not bother to use UV – resistant thread when sewing the panels. How much more would that simple fact have cost them and us? Instead, we had to have the whole stackpack resewn in Trinidad, at our expense. Grrh!
Concerning Pets in South Africa:
You don’t need to get a pet import permit if your pet stays aboard during your stay in South Africa. I have gone through the trouble of applying for the pet import for our cat, which is not easy. You need for example a South African postal address. During this process, I learned from a South African State Veterinarian that no import is needed if the cat stays aboard. The cat is then “in transit”.
So when we cleared into Richards Bay, I did not mention the Pet Import permit but said the cat is in transit and stays aboard. This was no problem, the quarantine officer only wanted to see the cat’s documents (vaccination). I know other sailors who entered with a cat and without the pet import permit and they had no issues. (Experience in Richards Bay, Nov. 2017).
If anyone would like to know more about our experience or reference to the state veterinarian, please feel free to contact us, evibettac(at)web(dot)de.
Enjoy your stay with your cat in South Africa!
This refund is a hoax – don’t plan on getting anything but a disappointment! The best option is to pay cash for labour and no VAT.
Further to my comment about a lost customs claim refund posted December 2014 subsequently all the documentation was returned to me last year stating the claim was invalid because it had not been submitted in time. In fact, it was submitted on 12 May 2014 the day before our departure and was lost by customs. I recommend that all yachts should be very careful if they hope to have a claim for a VAT refund on capital purchase to be refunded.
I practised as a barrister – and a solicitor – in South Africa for many years. Yacht Silvercloud has it exactly right. Show your teeth and you’ll have no further trouble. You can threaten them with your embassy too – its a lot cheaper than a lawyer!
The SA authorities are mostly run by disgruntled whites or unqualified blacks. They seem to make their own laws outside the real laws. Use a good maritime lawyer and they will back down quickly. There is no need to involve any yacht club or make payments to private yacht clubs as that is not law. Nor can they insist on anything other than international laws pertaining to visiting boats. Right at the beginning of the real law foreign registered boats are excluded. Insist on your rights or take them on.
We left South Africa in May 2014 and put in a claim for a customs refund on over 200,000 rands for goods supplied which was worth about $3000.We waited 3 months and contacted the refund company who had no knowledge of our claim. After repeated emails and letters we have not received anything and now regard it as lost by South African Customs (SARS)
Having investigated the above comment it appears that this regulation/inspection only applies to commercial boats over 7m. The author operates a charter boat out of Richards Bay.
We were informed by a South African Maritime Safety Authority yesterday that any foreign vessels arriving in South Africa without or with lapsed safety certificates will need to undergo a SAMSA safety inspection. The requirements are set out at http://www.samsa.org.za/category/social-tags/checklist and http://www.samsa.org.za/content/small-vessels. They informed us that we would need to unpack everything so that they can inspect all bulkheads, frames and stringers.