Egypt

Do South Africans need a visa for Egypt?

Yes, but it’s straightforward. South African passport holders can get a visa on arrival — a sticker bought on landing — or an e-visa online before travelling. Both run around US$25 for a single entry and give a 30-day stay. The e-visa saves you the airport queue; for visa on arrival, carry US dollars in cash. Use a passport valid six-plus months, and you can apply for the e-visa online here if you’d rather arrive sorted.

One useful quirk: if you’re only visiting the Sinai resort strip (Sharm el-Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba), you can often get a free entry stamp for around 15 days — but it does not cover the pyramids, Luxor or the Nile. If your trip includes those, get the proper visa. Confirm the current rule on arrival, as it changes.

What it costs (in rand)

Egypt is great value — budget roughly R300–550 a day for comfortable budget-to-midrange travel. Local food (koshari, ful, fresh bread) is cheap, domestic transport is inexpensive, and even a Nile cruise or a guided Luxor day is well-priced compared to equivalents elsewhere. Tipping (baksheesh) is woven into daily life, so keep small notes handy. The main extras are entry tickets to the big sites and any organised tours.

When to go

The cool months from October to April are the most comfortable, especially for Upper Egypt (Luxor, Aswan) and the desert, which are punishingly hot in summer. December–January is peak around the big sights. Summer (May–September) is fierce inland but fine for the Red Sea, where diving and resort life carry on year-round.

Getting around

The overnight train between Cairo and Luxor/Aswan is a classic, comfortable way to cover the Nile valley; domestic flights save time for longer hops. A Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan doubles as transport and accommodation. In Cairo, the Uber and Careem apps are the easiest, fairest way to get around the traffic. For the temples and tombs, a guide adds a lot — and is cheap to arrange. Sensible tours and tickets can save queueing at the big sites.

What to actually do

The headline acts deliver: the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx on Cairo’s edge, and the Egyptian Museum’s treasures. Then take the Nile south to Luxor — the Valley of the Kings, Karnak, and the temples around Aswan, ideally by cruise. Add the Red Sea (Dahab is the relaxed, affordable diving base) and, if you have time and the desert calls, the White Desert or Siwa Oasis. It’s one of the densest concentrations of world-famous history anywhere.

Honest take

For sheer bucket-list history at a reasonable price, Egypt is hard to beat, and the visa is a non-issue. Expect to be hustled a bit at the big sites — a good guide and a firm, friendly “no thanks” go a long way. Carry US dollars and small notes, and land with a data eSIM so you can sort rides and tours on the move.