South Africa — Insurance

Standard travel insurance covering private hospital admission is essential — public hospitals are overloaded, while private groups Netcare, Life Healthcare and Mediclinic provide first-world care but bill upfront without a guarantee-of-payment letter from your insurer. Confirm cover for adventure activities, road-traffic incidents and medical evacuation from remote areas.

HIV prevalence in South Africa is among the world's highest (~13% of adults, UNAIDS), so post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is time-critical — start within 72 hours. Private GPs, Netcare 911, and Marie Stopes South Africa clinics dispense PEP, PrEP and full STI panels; the public sector offers the same free but with long queues. Condoms are sold at every Clicks and Dis-Chem pharmacy.