South Africa - Facts

Nov 12, 2025

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.
The South African coast should be taken seriously. 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. See Weather for more details.
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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South Africa was last updated 3 months ago

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