Capital
of South Africa?
Population?
Provinces?
Which languages are spoken?
What is the climate like in South Africa?
What is the current electricity in South Africa?
Public holidays in South Africa
What health precautions are necessary?
Drinking water?
Malaria?
Medical care?
Clothing?
What forms of public transport are available to
me?
Driving?
How fast may I drive on the roads?
What are the business hours?
Where do I exchange money?
Banking hours?
Credit cards?
Currency?
Is it necessary to pay gratuities?
Are there safety guidelines I should follow?
Firearms?
Do we need visas for the neighboring countries?
As a visitor, do I pay any taxes?
Duty-free?
How do I phone home?
Wild animals?
Capital
of South Africa? 
Pretoria (administrative), Bloemfontein (Judicial), Cape Town (legislative)
Provinces?
South Africa is divided into nine provinces, some of whose names have
changed in recent years. You may occasionally run across references
to the old names. What used to be called the Transvaal is now Gauteng,
the North-West and the Northern Province; the Eastern Transvaal is Mpumalanga;
Natal is KwaZulu-Natal, the Cape Province is divided into the Eastern
Cape, Western Cape & Northern Cape, and the Orange Free is Free
State.
Which
languages are spoken?
South Africa currently has 11 official languages and English is spoken
throughout the country. Others are Afrikaans, Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele,
Northern Sotho, Southern Sotho, Swati, Tsonga, Tswana and Venda.
What is the climate like in South
Africa?
South Africa is blessed with a wonderful climate. The seasons are the
reverse to those in the northern hemisphere. Mid-winter occurs in June
and July, mid-summer in December and January.
Cape Town has cool and rainy winters from May to September and warm, dry summers.
Johannesburg/Gauteng has dry winters from April to August, hot summers with rain (generally in the form of short thunderstorms). The subtropical coastline of KwaZulu-Natal has summer all year round with warm, dry winters, and hot, humid months form December to March.
In the Mpumalanga area the climate is subtropical.
What is the current electricity
in South Africa?
City and town power systems generally operate at 220/250 Volts. Wall
plugs are not compatible with the USA, Europe and the East. Adapters
are obtainable locally.
Public
holidays in South Africa?
01 January – New Year’s Day, 21 March – Human Rights
Day, Friday before Easter Sunday – Good Friday, Day after Easter
Sunday – Family Day, 27 April – Freedom Day, 01 May –
Workers’ Day, 16 June – Youth Day, 09 August – National
Women’s Day, 24 September Heritage Day, 16 December – Day
of Reconciliation, 25 December – Christmas Day, 26 December –
Day of Goodwill
What
health precautions are necessary?
Malaria precautions are recommended for all visitors touring some game
parks in certain areas, especially in the wet season like KwaZulu-Natal,
Swaziland, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Namibia. Preventative medication is
available from all South African pharmacies. They also have the latest
information on recommended medication for the specific areas you will
be visiting.
Drinking
water?
Tap water is safe to drink throughout South Africa. Avoid drinking or
swimming in untreated water.
Malaria?
Please consult your local doctor before traveling to South Africa. This
disease is endemic in the Lowveld (parts of northern provinces &
Mpumalanga) and northern KwaZulu-Natal. The risk is lower in the winter
months, but precautions should be taken. It is always better to practice
preventative measures by avoiding the wearing of perfume or aftershave
lotion. It is also advisable to wear long sleeves and trousers and to
use an inspect repellent at night.
Medical
care?
South Africa has no national health service. You are advised to buy
medical insurance before you arrive in South Africa.
Clothing?
South Africa enjoys long hot summers and clothing is generally informal.
In the more up-market hotels, evening entertainment venues or gala dinners,
smart-casual wear is often required. For the summer months( October-March),
pack lightweight clothing but include a jacket for the occasionally
chilly evening. Neutral colours are best for safaris. Most of the country
is in the summer rainfall region, so it is best to carry an umbrella
or raincoat. Warm clothing is suggested for the winter months.
What
forms of public transport are available to me?
Taxis are available on request only. Your hotel will be able to advise
you of reputable taxi companies. Bus routes are limited to major city
centers and are not usually convenient for international visitors. We
strongly advise against the use of commuter trains. There is no underground
system available in South Africa.
Driving?
Any valid driver’s license is accepted in South Africa, provided
it bears the photograph and signature of the holder and is printed in
English. If your license does not comply, you should obtain an International
Driving Permit before departure. Driving is on the left-hand side. Speed
limits are in kilometers. Wearing seat belts is compulsory. Some South
African highways and roads require tolls.
How
fast may I drive on the roads?
South Africa has an excellent road network of tarred roads with stretches
of gravel roads in more remote areas. Within the cities and towns of
the country, the speed limit is 60 kilometers per hour and on the National
Highways the speed limit is 120 kilometers per hour. Always adhere to
the speed limit as indicated as this may vary from place to place. Please
take special note of the speed limit within all game reserves.
What
are the business hours?
Monday to Friday: business hours are form 08h30-17h00.
On Saturdays shops and post offices are open in the morning.
There are extended shopping hours on Saturdays at certain of the larger shopping malls.
Where
do I exchange money?
The best rate of exchange for foreign currency is available at banks
or Bureaux de Change. Foreign money can also be exchanged at all international
hotels. The exchange rate will not, however, be as favorable as that
offered by banks. It is advisable to exchange money in cities or major
airports, as it tends to go much quicker.
Banking
hours?
Monday to Friday: 08h30-15h00
Saturdays: 08h30-11h00
Credit cards?
All Major credit cards are widely accepted, with some restrictions in
small towns and rural areas. ATM’s (Automatic teller machines)
are situated outside most banks, which offer a 24-hour service.
Currency?
The monetary unit is the South African Rand (ZAR) Denominations: Note
R200, R100, R50, R20 and R10. Coins: R5, R2, R1. Click
here for current Exchange Rates. (sourced from Nedbank)
Is
it necessary to pay gratuities?
Tips in restaurants are not included in the bill. A 10% tip is suggested.
For the individual travelers it is suggested that porters at the airports
and hotels are tipped. It is also customary for the local guides and
drivers to be tipped at your discretion. Should you need guidance in
this respect, please contact your concierge or any of “Adventures
Across Africa” staff who would be happy to assist you.
Are
there safety guidelines I should follow?
It is sensible to take the same precautions in our major cities as you
would in any of the world’s metropolitan areas. Be observant,
and do not draw attention to yourself by flaunting an expensive camera,
jewelry, or large amounts of cash. Deposit valuables in your hotel’s
safety deposit box. Do not leave your baggage or hotel guest key unattended.
Don’t stroll the streets after dark, and when returning to your
hotel late in the evening, use the main entrance. Lock your car doors,
and keep the windows closed. Keep personal items and luggage in the
trunk, rather than on the seat of the car. Plan your route in advance,
and use maps. Park in well-lit areas, and do not pick up strangers.
There are criminals in South Africa (just like everywhere else) so take
the basic common-sense precautions.
Firearms?
You may bring firearms into the country for hunting purposes with a
temporary permit valid for the duration of the hunt. No prior clearance
is required, but you should contact the airline at least 2-3 weeks before
departure for specific details.
Do
we need visas for the neighboring countries?
Should your tour of South Africa include visits to Swaziland, Lesotho,
Namibia, Botswana or Zimbabwe, please ensure that you have the correct
visas for these countries and ensure that you have a multiple entry
visa for the Republic of South Africa.
As a visitor, do I pay any taxes?
Foreign visitors are required to pay Value Added Tax, but may claim
a refund on purchased goods at points of departure. A 14 % Value Added
Tax is added to the price of most items and services. You can claim
VAT back on goods priced higher than R250 at the airport of departure.
The original tax invoice, and VAT refund control sheet, your passport,
and the item are required.
Should you require information on the procedures you need to follow, please contact the V.A.T. Refund Administration Offices at Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town Airports.
Duty-free?
You can buy duty-free goods at the Johannesburg and Cape Town Airports.
| Australia | 0961 | Germany | 0949 | Luxembourg | 09352 | Saudi Arabia | 09966 |
| Austria | 0943 | Hong Kong | 09852 | Malaysia | 0960 | Spain | 0934 |
| Belgium | 0932 | India | 0991 | Mexico | 0952 | Sweden | 0946 |
| Canada | 091 | Iran | 0998 | Netherlands | 0931 | Switzerland | 0941 |
| Columbia | 0957 | Iraq | 09964 | New Zealand | 0964 | Singapore | 0965 |
| Cuba | 0953 | Ireland | 09353 | Norway | 0947 | Taiwan | 09886 |
| Denmark | 0945 | Israel | 09972 | Poland | 0948 | Thailand | 0966 |
| Finland | 09358 | Italy | 0939 | Portugal | 09351 | Turkey | 0990 |
| France | 0933 | Japan | 0981 | Romania | 0940 | UK | 0944 |
| Greece | 0930 | Korea | 0982 | Russia | 097 | USA | 091 |
The international code for South Africa is 27, which should be preceded by the international prefix. When dialing from outside South Africa, omit the 0 at the beginning of the area code, but use it when dialling within the country, When in South Africa, you may need the following numbers: Local directory enquiries – 1023, International directory enquiries – 0903, Emergency Number – 10111, or 112 from a cell phone.
Wild animals?
Look from a distance, respect their space, don’t feed them and
you will get on just fine. Don’t walk in areas where there is
big game, unless a ranger accompanies you.
