International travellers sometimes ask us what is the best adaptor for South Africa. Here are our recommendations to remove the device charging pain point from make your travels to South Africa.
The best standalone travel adaptor for South Africa - Type-M
We recommend you use a Type-M travel adaptor. Type-M is the default plug socket in South Africa, and sometimes this is the only option available. They are more sturdy & connect solidly in the South African socket, ensuring faithful charging.
Advantages: Compact solutions, reliable and some a truly universal.
Disadvantage: Can only connect one device at a time. Even if you buy and travel with several adaptors, your hotel room might not have enough sockets available.
Choosing your Type-M travel adaptor
Not all Type-M travel adaptors are made equal. Double-check the connecting side. Some adaptor have a “looser” connection where your plug struggles to stay fully inserted, especially if your power brick or device has some weight. Nothing more frustrating that discovering in the morning that your devices are not charged because the plug shifted a wee bit and disconnected.
Good Type-M travel adaptors can be found in South Africa for under R100. So buying a bunch here is a good option. See below how to buy them online and get them delivered to your hotel or pick up point.
Using a power strip instead of adaptor?
Instead of a travel adaptor, consider buying a South African power strip, multiplug, extension. They mostly have a Type-M plug and come in multiple options, so check the compatibility of your devices.
Where to find South Africa power strip & Type-M adaptors
It’s unlikely you will find South Africa power strips in your home country. We suggest instead you buy online from Takealot.com (South Africa’s Amazon) and get it delivered in advance to your first accommodation.
Takealot deliver nearly everywhere nowadays, but if your first accommodation is really in the Bundu, opt for delivery at a Takealot pickup point and pick it up there along your way. While you're at it, you may want to pick up a copy of the Southern African classic book and collector's item “Don’t Die in the Bundu”.
If you don’t like what you received, their return process is pretty seamless and no questions asked. As for all online shopping, check the reviews and availability at a Takealot warehouse to ensure prompt delivery before your arrival in South Africa.
Another option: Using a Universal to Universal travel adaptor
You can also use a Universal to Universal adaptor, especially if you already have one from previous international travel. In our experience the plugging side has too many moving parts, making them more fragile but more importantly they usually connect to the Type C or Type N “Europlugs” which are in use but not ubiquitous in South Africa. As a South African travelling in South African hotels, we occasionally find ourselves in a bind when no Europlug is available in the room.
Stay in hotels which provide adequate plug sockets
This isn’t practical, as most accommodation do not disclose what plugs are available in rooms. Rooms in the same hotel might have different plug sockets. Even the usual hack of using the TV socket might not work, depending on the way the TV is connected and height of the plug.