South African
Tourism runs a state-of-the-art global call centre, based in
Johannesburg and connected to local lines in a number of countries,
that offers information across the spectrum on traveling to
South Africa.
For English, the centre operates around the clock, seven days
a week, 365 days a year. For European languages, the centre operates
from 09:00 to 19:00 local time, and for Mandarin from 13:00 to
21:00 China time.
Depending on your nationality,
and whether you are planning a vacation, to work or to
study, you may or may not require a visa to visit South
Africa. Visa
enquiries
should
be
made
at the
South
African
Consulate
in your country of origin, or at the department of home
affairs in South Africa. A list of countries that require
visas to enter South Africa is available on the Department
of Home Affairs website.
All travelers entering South Africa are required to have
a passport valid for at least 6 months after the date of
entry.
Health
South Africa is a relatively
safe destination from a health perspective. The water
quality is good, purchased food is of a hygienic standard
and you are not likely to contract any diseases or sickness
while on your travels.
Inoculations
If you're an adult, you won't need any inoculations unless
you're traveling from a yellow-fever endemic area (the
yellow fever belt of Africa or South America), in which
case you will need certification to prove your inoculation
status when you arrive in South Africa. You should have
the required inoculations four to six weeks before you
travel
to South
Africa.
Hepatitis B inoculations are recommended for children up
to the age of 12 who have not completed the series of injections
as infants.
Medical Help
Medical facilities in cities and larger towns are modern
and of a high standard. In rural
areas the clinics and hospitals
mainly deal with primary health needs, and will
not offer the more sophisticated medical care. Nevertheless,
you will find trained medics, doctors and nurses around
the country, so help
is never
very far away. It is recommended
that you make sure you have adequate medical insurance
in place
before
you
enter
the
country.
Malaria
Most of the main tourist areas in South Africa are malaria-free.
However areas like the Kruger National Park,
the Lowveld of Mpumalanga and Limpopo, and the northern
part of KwaZulu-Natal may pose a malaria risk in the
summer months. Many local people and some travelers
do not
take malaria prophylaxis, but most health professionals
recommend you do. Consult your doctor or a specialist
travel clinic for the latest advice concerning malaria
prophylaxis, as it changes regularly.
For your own comfort and safety, `always use
mosquito repellent, wear long pants, closed shoes and
light long-sleeved shirts at night, and sleep under a
mosquito net in endemic areas (the anopheles mosquito,
which carries malaria, operates almost exclusively after
dark). It is advisable to avoid malarial areas if you
are pregnant.
Drinking the water
High-quality treated tap water is available
almost everywhere in South Africa and is generally pleasant
tasting and safe to drink.
Bottled mineral
water, both sparkling and still, is readily available
in most places. Drinking water straight from rivers and
streams is not recommended if you are
downstream from a human settlement, however the water
in mountain streams is usually pure and safe to drink.
Phoning
If you're in South Africa
and phoning a landline, the number must be preceded
by the area
code (including the first zero) for that city or town for
both local and national calls. This applies for call from
a landline or a mobile phone.
If you are calling overseas, you must first dial
09 - South Africa's international access code.
You then dial the country code, area code, and the number
of the person you wish to call. e.g. if you make a calling
the Los Angeles, USA telephone
number 789 3456, you must dial 091 323 456 1234.
Pay-as-you-go Starter Packs for mobile phones are available
at very reasonable prices all over the country.
South Africa Directory Enquiries - Call 1023
Electronic Yellow Pages - Call 10118
As is
the case in many developing countries in
the world, crime can be a problem in certain cities and
areas. Take
all the usual precautions you would when traveling
elsewhere.
Do not wander around looking lost, particularly
at night. Lock your valuables like jewelry, cellphones
and traveler's cheques in hotel safes. Lock your doors
at night. When walking
through areas that look risky, avoid wearing
visible jewellery or carrying cameras and bags over your
shoulder.
Check beforehand that the
areas you plan to visit are safe by asking hotel staff
or police. Local commuter and
metro trains can be a bit rough, so check with local
residents for advice. It is sensible not
to hitchhike
or to pick up hitchhikers if you are travelling in your
own car.
The
South African Police emergency number is 10111.
Banking and Currency
Banking
South Africa's four major
banks are Absa Bank, First National Bank, Nedbank and Standard
Bank. The banks are generally open from 9am to 3.30pm Mondays
through Fridays, and 8.30am to 11am on Saturdays, but those
at the airports adjust their hours to accommodate international
flights. You will find automated teller
machines (ATMs) in most towns, along national routes and
all over the cities.
Credit cards and cash
All major credit cards can be used in South Africa but
MasterCard and Visa are more commonly accepted than
American Express and Diners Club. In
some small towns, you may be able to make purchases with
cash only.
You cannot purchase fuel with a credit card, however you
can pay road tolls with MasterCard or Visa.
South African Currency
South Africa's unit of currency is the rand, which is divided
into 100 cents. Coins come in denominations of 5c, 10c,
20c, 50c, R1, R2 and R5, and notes in denominations of
R10, R20, R50, R100 and R200.
Foreign Exchange
Foreign exchange services are offered by SA's "big
four" banks as well as many other banks and financial
service providers. Rennies and Thomas Cook branches and
many smaller Bureaux de Change are common in most airports
and
shopping malls.
Taxes and
Duty
Value
Added Tax
A Value Added Tax (VAT) of 14% is charged on most goods and services. If
you are a foreign national you may reclaim VAT on any items with a value
over R250 that you plan to take out of the country unused but you will
have to produce the original tax invoice for the item. VAT refund counters
are available at most international airports.
Duty
South African customs passenger allowances entitle you to bring new or
used goods of up to R3 000 in value into the country without paying any
duty. For additional goods, new or used, up to R12 000 in value, you will
be charged a duty of 20%. Thereafter, normal customs duties apply.
You can also bring in the following items in duty-free:
Wine - up to 2 litres
per person. Spirits and other alcoholic
beverages - up to 1 litre per person. Cigarettes - up to
200 per person. Cigars - up to 20 per
person. Cigarette or pipe tobacco
- up to 250g per person. Perfume - up to 50ml
per person. Eau de toilette (scented
liquid lighter than cologne) - up to 250ml per person.
The alcohol and tobacco allowances only apply to people over 18.
All foreign currency must be declared on entering the country.
Electricity
The electricity supply
is 220/230 volts AC 50 HZ, with the exception of Pretoria
(230 V) and Port
Elizabeth (200/250 V). Most plugs are round 3-pin.
Adaptors for 2-pin plugs can be purchased at most supermarkets
or hardware stores. US-made
appliances may need a 110/220 volt transformer, however
most
hotel rooms
have 110 volt outlets for electric shavers and appliances.
Mail
Post Offices
are open Mondays to Fridays from 08h00 - 16h30 and on Saturdays
from
08h00 - 12h00. Generally they do not accept credit card
payments. Postage stamps are widely available at cafés
and news agencies like CNA. PostNet agencies can be found
in
most shopping malls across the country and will assist
with your office and communication
needs.
Internet Cafes are common in all cities and can also
be found in most small towns.
Public Holidays
In major cities most
stores, petrol stations, cinemas and restaurants are open
on most public holidays.
The public holidays in 2007 are: 1 January – New Year’s Day 21 March – Human Rights Day 6 April – Good Friday (the Friday before Easter
Sunday) 9 April – Family Day (the Monday after Easter
Sunday) 27 April – Freedom Day 1 May – Workers Day 16 June – Youth Day 9 August – Women's Day 24 September – Heritage Day 16 December – Day of Reconciliation 25 December – Christmas Day 26 December – Day of Goodwill
If a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the Monday following
becomes a public holiday.
Driving
Foreigners are permitted
to drive with a driving license issued and valid in their
own country,
provided it bears the photograph and signature of the holder
and is in English. If your drivers' license does not meet
these requirements, an international driver’s license
is required. Driving is on the left and the wearing of
seatbelts is compulsory.
Generally the speed limit in urban areas is 60km/h. On
freeways and national routes it varies from 80km/h to 100km/h
depending on the road conditions. Look out for speed cameras
on most urban freeways - the fines can be very expensive
if you are traveling more than 10km/h above the speed
limit.
Regional Tourism Websites
There are many local
and regional tourism websites with detailed information
on the attractions,
accommodation, culture and history of the area. Below you
will find the Official Tourism websites for each province
in South Africa:
Freestate 
