Great visa-free travel destinations for South Africans

Targeting visa-free destinations is an ideal way for budget-conscious holidaymakers to reduce the cost of travel, because sometimes visas can be quite pricey and if travelling with family, these costs can mount up fairly alarmingly.

Surprisingly, there are very many countries that do not require any visa at all to cross their borders, or, else, visas are issued on the spot at the border crossing.

The Henley & Partners Passport Index, which ranks passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a visa, recently released its global ranking for 2023.

South Africa was ranked 54 out of 199 passports, with a visa-free score of 106 – meaning there are 106 countries South African passport holders can easily access without a visa, or obtain one on arrival.

These tourist visas are provided either free of charge or for a small fee, and are valid for a limited and specific period, usually 90 days.

Briefly touching on a few “visa-free” destinations open to South Africans, one can travel to distant locations, such as Qatar, Ireland and Thailand, or else fairly nearby places like Mauritius and Seychelles, or even take a road trip to our neighbours Botswana and Mozambique.

A big favourite of South African holidaymakers has over the years been the Indian Ocean island paradise of Mauritius.

Justifiably called “heaven on Earth”, this island is blessed with a balmy tropical climate; about 100 laid-back beaches; warm sublime, azure, smooth, Indian Ocean waters lapping its shores; spectacular lagoons and beautiful coral reefs (some protecting great swimming and snorkeling areas). It is a short four-hour flight away from South Africa.

For something different, the Okavango Delta in Botswana is an ideal destination for wildlife enthusiasts.

Not only home to the big five and various other animal species, but there is also great bird watching and exciting freshwater fishing that equals any found anywhere on the planet.

Amongst holidaymakers, island destinations are high on the list of places to visit. The warm Indian Ocean offers great island destinations from which a traveler can choose.

Seychelles with its many islands each offering something unique to the visitor, the volcanos (both active and dormant) on Réunion, the low-lying blissful islands of the Maldives, and South Africa’s favourite holiday island, Mauritius, with its stunning beaches and family-friendly accommodation, all are within easy reach of the republic.

Further afield, an amazing island-hopping experience awaits anyone boarding any of the huge passenger liners cruising the Caribbean.

Travelling somewhat further to the east are Singapore and Thailand (especially Phuket) and the island of Bali in Indonesia. Each of them offers rather special holiday experiences.

There couldn’t be a greater contrast between Qatar and Ireland.

While Ireland is recognised as the “emerald isle” and has a great variety of historic and natural tourist attractions, Qatar is a dry, desert nation which blends the old with the new seamlessly. Both these destinations have incredible experiences awaiting visitors crossing their borders.

Not usually found on the average holidaymaker’s wish list is the small Central American country of Costa Rica. For very good reason it is popular with North American visitors.

It is rugged, largely covered in dense rainforest jungle and has coastlines on both the Caribbean and Pacific, and is world famous for its beaches, volcanoes, and stunning biodiversity. It has a great tourist infrastructure.

Finally, it is recommended that visitors to the above countries check the Flight Centre Travel Group’s free Travel News information hub, which allows anyone to search for any country and get up-to-date entry requirements.

It’s always best, however, to consult one-on-one with a Flight Centre travel expert and the relevant embassy, as the entry requirements can and do sometimes change from day to day. Also, remember that some countries may still have certain COVID-19 restrictions in place.

See full list of visa free travel destinations here