When budgeting for a vacation, there’s a lot of things you need to factor in. First and foremost, there’s the flight (we do know how to save there) then there’s accommodation, travel insurance, emergency funds, spending money, food and drinks money and your everyday travel costs (e.g. Uber, bus, train) while you’re abroad. It can get pretty expensive!
Now imagine if you have to add a visa to all of these costs we’ve just mentioned.
When we say “visa” we’re not talking about the permission that uBae gives you to go out partying (although we love those) - we’re talking about the “conditional authorization granted by a territory to a foreigner, allowing them to enter, remain within, or to leave that territory” (thank you Wikipedia).
Travel visas can cost anything from R1,000 to as much as R3,000 depending on your destination and the length of your stay and for many, applying for a visa is a really annoying hassle. Thankfully, our celebrities have found a few helpful ways to travel abroad without needing a visa.
Although many South African celebs are quite well-off, they also need to save money where they can, and a lot of them do this by choosing to travel to destinations where South Africans do not need visas to enter. And guess what…
Please Note: These countries do not require South African citizens to obtain visas before visiting for a limited period. If you are not a South African national, you will have to check if your nationality will require a visa prior to entry.
BALI
After taking a break from her role as Mabatho on The Queen, Motsoaledi Setumo and her friends decided to jet off to the beautiful Indonesian province of Bali. While Bali is a favourite destination for many celebrities, we are sure that the visa-free entry must have convinced her and her squad to commit to the Bali vacay. Who doesn't love Bali? All thanks to its low airfares and visa-free entry for South Africans!
BRAZIL
Did somebody say samba?! Brazil home to the largest jungle in the world, some stunning natural sights and of course - endless beaches! South Africans are always welcomed to the South American nation and what’s even more welcoming is the fact that you don’t need to a visa to fly into Rio De Janeiro or Sau Paulo. Simply rock up with a valid passport and a yellow fever certificate, and prepare to be blown away by some of the most beautiful sights on earth. Thando Thabethe had just about the right idea back in 2017!
Brazilians love South Africans! That's why they made it so easy for us to travel there.
Thailand is a country for everybody, especially couples! Amanda Du Pont and her fiance Shawn Rodriques tested the country out as a baecation destination and neither of them was disappointed. Entering Thailand couldn’t have been any easier too. A quick stamp at immigration is all it took - saving time and saving thousands on visa fees! Amanda Du Pont on baecation with her fiance in Thailand - Visit Travelstart for your holiday package today!
ISRAEL
When Black Coffee decided to perform in Israel, he didn’t realize that he was about to face a lot of backlash from his more politics-inclined fans. Despite this, the hitmaker must have enjoyed the vibrant city of Tel Aviv during his brief stay. Accessing Israel was a breeze, too. It’s one of several middle-Eastern nations that don’t require visas for South African nationals.
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MAURITIUS
Pearl Thusi and DJ Zinhle served us heat throughout the summer months after enjoying a beautiful (or should we say bootiful?) friendcation in what is affectionately known as “the continent island”. Flights to Mauritius are not too costly and you can save even more money after realising that you won’t need a visa to visit the French-speaking nation.
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MOZAMBIQUE
When AKA rapped that he was flying to Mozambique just to “brush up on my Português ”, he was, in fact, being quite realistic. It is possible to fly to Mozambique at will as long as you have the budget and a valid passport. Our friendly neighbours have made it easy to enter the country and once you arrive, you have no shortage of options when it comes to fun activities. AKA enjoying one of Mozambique's world class holiday resorts!
Which Other Countries Do Your Favourite Celebs Frequently Visit?
