Eswatini South Africa
Eswatini 
South AfricaLast reviewed July 2026
Crossing the border
Eswatini and South Africa share a land border you can cross by car. Keep your passport, national driving licence and International Driving Permit together, and check opening hours and any toll or vignette requirements before you travel.
Driving rules in South Africa
- Drive on the left.
- Toll roads (e-tolls) on major routes.
- Four-way stops are common.
- 0.05% alcohol limit, strictly enforced.
What to see when you arrive in South Africa
- Table Mountain in Cape Town
- Kruger National Park
- the Cape of Good Hope
- the Garden Route
- the Blyde River Canyon
Once you're driving in South Africa
Destination-specific detail sourced from national road authorities, motoring clubs and rental policies — the things that catch cross-border drivers out.
Driving on a foreign licence
You may drive on a valid foreign licence that is in English and carries your photo and signature; if it is not in English you must hold an International Driving Permit alongside it, and many rental firms ask for an IDP regardless.
Tolls & road charges
Toll roads use manned plazas (cash or card) plus some electronic gantries; the Gauteng e-toll scheme was scrapped in 2024, but routes like the N1, N3 and the short Chapman's Peak (around R36 for 9 km near Cape Town) still charge.
Parking in the cities
In cities, informal car-guards in reflective vests watch your car for a small tip (a few rand), while malls and paid lots use ticket machines; always park in secure, well-lit areas to deter break-ins.
Fines & camera enforcement
Speeding fines start around R250-R400 for minor excess and rise to R1,500+ for serious cases, with handheld phone use and seatbelt offences also fined; many fines are camera-issued and passed on by the rental firm, and roadside officers occasionally seek cash, which you should decline.
If you have an accident
Phone 10111 (police) or 112 from a mobile for injuries; you must stop, exchange details and, even with no injuries, report the crash in person at the nearest SAPS police station within 24 hours to get a case number.
Driving in the capital
Johannesburg's 80 km ring road (N1 Western, N3 Eastern, N12 Southern bypasses) is heavily congested at peak hours; keep doors locked and avoid stopping, and treat malfunctioning traffic lights ('robots') as four-way stops.
Sources: expatica.com · aa.co.za · topauto.co.za · globalpetrolprices.com