South Africa caters to the backpacker lifestyle like no other African nation and with good reason: It has it all, the white beaches, the mountains, the picturesque towns, the reputation, the news coverage of the 80's that has made it so familiar to anybody alive and with access to a TV... but don't let the history of Apartheid put you off. Officially it's been over for a while now, and although there are deeply engrained problems evident everywhere here, there are too many good points to not go and see for yourself.
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Budget Accommodation in South Africa
South Africa has a plethora of backpacker hostels which are cheap, clean and usually include linen. Some have swimming pools! Cheap hotels are similar in cost but strangely the hostels seem to be of better quality. It's possible to book yourself on a bus which picks up and drops off from the backpackers. Camping is common and hostels will usually let you camp in their grounds for a nominal fee and having a tent is a good idea if you want to any hiking, although there are rest camps in the national parks which ften have cabins as well as camping grounds.
A Traveler's Budget for South Africa
Get yourself a VIP discount card which will give you money off hostels and bus travel first off. Generally you can negotiate bus fares with even the larger bus companies if you want to travel by bus. The Baz Bus caters specifically for backpackers. Many people group together to buy a car to tour the country and sell it again at the end which can work out pretty cheap between three or four. Otherwise you could travel by train, 3rd class works out to be pretty reasonable.
Food is comparatively expensive compared to other African nations but very cheap when compared to other western cities. Try curry in Durban or the fresh fish off Cape Town for local specialities.
Activities for the budget traveller
Spend some time hanging around Cape Town, one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
Go hiking in one of the national parks
Visit the Apartheid museum in Johannesburg for a swift reality check
Surf off the eastern and southern coasts, some of the finest and least busy on the planet.
