Jordan

Do South Africans need a visa for Jordan?

Yes — but the smart move makes it almost painless. You can get a single-entry visa on arrival at Amman airport (around 40 JOD) or an e-visa beforehand. But most visitors buy the Jordan Pass instead, and you probably should too.

The Jordan Pass (about 70–80 JOD) waives the tourist visa fee and bundles entry to Petra plus 40+ other sites. Since Petra alone costs roughly 50 JOD, the pass typically pays for itself on that single visit. Two conditions: buy it online before you arrive, and stay a minimum of a couple of nights in Jordan for the visa-fee waiver to apply. Use a passport valid six-plus months. (If your plans are unusual — a very short stay or land-border entry — double-check; you can also check the e-visa option here.)

What it costs (in rand)

Jordan is at the pricier end of the region — budget roughly R700–1,000 a day. Site entry fees are steep (which is exactly why the Jordan Pass is worth it), and the Wadi Rum desert camps and Dead Sea resorts add up. Everyday costs — local food like falafel and mansaf, service taxis, and simpler hotels — are reasonable. A week here, well planned around the Pass, is the sweet spot.

When to go

Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are ideal — warm days, cool evenings, comfortable for Petra and the desert. Summer is very hot (and brutal in Wadi Rum and at the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth). Winter is cold and can be wet, even snowy in Petra, though it’s quiet and atmospheric.

Getting around

Jordan is small and easy. Many visitors hire a car (driving is straightforward) or use a private driver to link the main sights efficiently, since public transport between them is limited. The JETT bus connects Amman and Petra; service taxis cover local routes. In Amman, ride apps work. For Wadi Rum you’ll arrange a 4x4 with a Bedouin camp. Sort the marquee experiences — a Wadi Rum overnight, Petra by night — via reputable tours and tickets.

What to actually do

Petra is the headline — give it a full day at least, and consider Petra by Night. Sleep under the stars in a Wadi Rum desert camp, float in the Dead Sea, walk the Roman ruins of Jerash (some of the best-preserved anywhere), and hike the dramatic Dana and Wadi Mujib reserves. Amman makes a workable base with Roman and citadel sights of its own. It’s a remarkably rich week for such a small country.

Honest take

Jordan punches far above its size, and the Jordan Pass turns a fiddly visa-and-tickets situation into one simple online purchase that saves money — buy it before you fly. Plan around a compact week, go in spring or autumn, and land with a data eSIM so maps and ride apps work from the airport.