South Africa Country Guide

General Information
FULL NAME Republic of South Africa
JUDICIAL CAPITAL: Cape Town

LEGISLATIVE CAPITAL: Bloemfontein

ADMINISTRATIVE CAPITAL: Pretoria

INDEPENDENCE: 31 May 1910

CURRENCY: South African rand (ZAR)

CLIMATE:
During summer months, November through April, days are hot and generally sunny in the morning with possible afternoon thunderstorms. The afternoons can be very humid.
The rainy season begins late in October/November and ends in March. The northern areas receive up to 700mm while the Kalahari Desert area averages as low as 225mm.

In winter months, May through October, days are dry, sunny and cool to warm while evening temperatures drop sharply. Daytime temperatures generally reach 20ºC (68ºF) and can drop to as low as 5ºC (41ºF) at night. Please note that exceptionally cold spells can occur (although this is the exception rather than the rule), so it is recommended to bring appropriate clothing, just in case!

JOHANNESBURG : AVERAGE TEMPERATURES (F) AND RAINFALL (inches)

WHEN TO GO
Although South Africa is an all year round destination, the northern regions are good destinations in the winter months as game viewing is at its best and the temperatures are very mild (maximum 20–23ºC (68–73ºF). There is very little winter rainfall in the north.
The southern regions are summer destinations with low summer rainfall and temperatures reaching 28–30ºC (82– 86ºF) or higher on beautiful days.

Namaqualand in the Western and Northern Cape Provinces becomes a floral masterpiece in spring (mid-August to mid-September), when the desert-like terrain is transformed into a carpet of flowers and draws thousands of visitors.

The warm waters of the east coast make for almost year round swimming.

Winter is mild, except in the highest parts of the country. South Africans tend to take their annual holidays in summer and this causes tourist destinations to be overcrowded from mid-December to late January, as well as during the other school holidays. (check these dates with your travel agent)


VISA REQUIREMENTS
All visitors are required to carry a passport that is valid for six months beyond the intended length of stay. There should be sufficient blank pages for entry stamps upon arrival. Visa requirements vary with nationality.

CURRENCY
The unit of currency is the rand (R), which is divided into 100 cents.
Notes are in R200, R100, R50, R20 and R10. Coins are in denominations of R5, R2, R1 and 50c, 20c, 10c, 5c, 2c and 1c.


CREDIT CARDS
Visa, American Express, Diners Club and MasterCard are accepted by most restaurants, stores, hotels, car rental firms and other points of sale and service.
Proof of identity may be requested in some instances. It is therefore useful to carry a passport or some form of photo identification at all times.


BANKS
Banks in South Africa are generally open Mon-Fri 09:00 to 15:30 and
Saturdays 08:30 to 11:00

Most banks change all travelers’ cheques in major currencies. Rennies Travel is an agent for Thomas Cook. American Express has branches in some cities, and Nedbank is associated with American Express.

First National Bank is the Visa agent.

Most ATM machines will support your card if it bears the Cirrus logo.


TIPPING
It is customary to tip caddies, taxi drivers, hotel and railway porters, room maids, stewards, waiters/waitresses, tour guides and game rangers 10-15%. Tips are often heavily relied upon by staff. Many hotels have an "envelope system" with tips distributed evenly among staff.

TAX
Value Added Tax (VAT) of 14% is levied in South Africa. Overseas visitors taking goods out of South Africa are able to reclaim the VAT, which they paid on these goods. Reclaiming VAT is only applicable for goods that you are able to produce at the airport and not for any services whatsoever.
When purchasing your products, you should request a tax invoice. The shop’s VAT number must appear on this invoice. As you are checking in at the airport ready to depart from South Africa, you should approach the customs official who will compare your invoices with the goods purchased. Once your invoices have been approved and stamped, the VAT Reclaim Office will refund you the appropriate amount.

VAT Reclaim Offices are found at Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town airports.


COMMUNICATION
The international dialing code for South Africa is +27.
The international dialing code when dialing out from South Africa is 09. South Africa’s telephone system is the best developed, most modern, and has the highest capacity in Africa.

Direct dialing is available from almost all telephones, including public telephones (sometimes called a ticky box). Both local and long distance calls are metered on a time basis and you pay for every second.

Hotels levy a substantial surcharge on all calls. Most lodges have telephone communication facilities, unless they are in very remote areas, and are able to maintain radio contact with the "outside world".


ELECTRICITY
Voltage in South Africa is 230 to 240 volts, 50Hz. You may need an adaptor, which can be purchased in South Africa. Hotels usually provide dual voltage razor sockets, 110 to 210 volts or 220 to 250 volts. Some game lodges run on generator power for lighting and refrigeration and do not have regular electricity.
Internet cafés are to be found in most major cities and towns in South Africa. Major hotels have a fax and Internet service.

HEALTH REQUIREMENTS
Travel to South Africa poses no medical threat, but remember that there is malaria in certain areas. Malaria prophylactics are recommended for travelers to Mpumalanga and northern KwaZulu-Natal. Speak to your doctor/pharmacist about which anti-malarials are suited best for you.
A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for travelers entering South Africa within six days of leaving an infected area and if coming from East Africa.

Medical services in South Africa are good and doctors and hospitals are available. It is advisable to secure medical cover on your medical insurance before arriving in the country. Note that major hotels have contracts with physicians and dentists. Visitors are, however, advised to bring along supplies of specialized medication they may require. Otherwise, medicine may be purchased at pharmacies and all night emergency pharmacies.


INSURANCE
We strongly recommend that you take out travel insurance, which includes curtailment and cancellation cover, as well as medical cover, upon confirming your booking.

ROADS
Driving in South Africa is easy to adapt to, with signposting in English and driving on the left on well-maintained roads.
Your home driving license is accepted if it has your photo; if not, an international driving permit should be obtained. In order to hire a car in South Africa, you must have held a valid driver’s license for at least five years.

The age limit for car rental is a minimum of 23, and maximum of 70 years. There are a number of toll roads in South Africa that are clearly indicated well before reaching the toll stations; payment may be made at an attended booth. You may notice that overtaking on the inside is not illegal in South Africa and is common practice. In general, speed limits are 120km/h (freeways) and 60km/h (towns and cities).


LANGUAGE
There are 11 official languages in South Africa: Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsongo, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu. The English-speaking visitor will have no problem while traveling through the country.

CULTURE
The people of South African are made up of many diverse cultures, which is why the country is known as the rainbow nation. It has been a difficult task to unite the people under laws that represent the traditions and beliefs of all races. The struggle to live together peacefully still continues, but South Africans are generally optimistic about living in harmony with each other. The cultural split is 75% black, 13% white (60% Afrikaner descent, rest mostly British descent), 8% Colored and 3% Asian descent.

SOUVENIRS
A range of traditional South African souvenirs are widely available, from handicrafts to animal skins. Zulu beadwork makes excellent gifts. Beads were worn as symbols of status and also used as a means of communication, often as love letters. The colors and arrangements of the beads spell the message (red = passion/anger; black = difficulties/night; blue = yearning; deep blue = elopement, white/pale blue = pure love; brown = disgust/despondency; green = peace/bliss). Elaborately beaded items including garments, pouches, belts and pipes are widely available.
Township art is increasingly available on the roadside in cities and towns and often takes the form of functional items (baskets, candlesticks, hooks, magazine racks, etc.) made from wire and waste metal. Soapstone and wooden carved animals and weavings are also available on the roadside of tourist routes.

These are usually mass-produced, so check the quality very carefully. As you would expect from a country rich in gold and diamonds, there is an excellent selection of jewellery and the opportunity to watch goldsmiths in action. Many visitors take the opportunity of the exchange rate’s effect on the prices of clothing, golfing equipment and other items.


PHOTOGRAPHY
Most types of film material, color slide negatives and videotapes are readily available in all major centers and holiday resorts, as are fast, reliable processing service.
The diversity of the scenery, people and cultures, the wildlife, climate and vegetation make South Africa one of the most interesting and attractive places to visit.


SUGGESTED PACKING LIST
All hotels offer extremely quick laundry turnaround, usually within a couple of hours. It is certainly not necessary to bring a separate change of clothing for each day and evening, and it is recommended that you keep luggage to a minimum for your own comfort and ease of transport, especially if you are using light aircraft transfers. Generally, casual comfortable clothing is suitable throughout the year. The most practical items to pack for safari are:
» 3-5 changes of casual clothing
» Khaki, green, beige and neutral colors
» T-shirts
» Shorts or a light skirt
» Jeans or safari trousers for evenings and cooler days
» Fleece or sweater and a windbreaker for game drives (necessary,
even in summer)
» Comfortable walking shoes
» Sun block, sunglasses, hat, insect repellent - essentials!
» Binoculars and a camera are a must
» Tracksuit - good for sleeping in during winter months
» Light, compact raincoat is a good idea for the summer
» Swimsuit, as most hotels/lodges have swimming pools
» Towel, torch and sleeping bag for camping safaris (sleeping bags can be hired from most safari operators)
» Blouses with long sleeves (even in summer; they will protect you from the sun and from mosquitoes
» Layers are most practical for the fluctuating day/night temperatures of Botswana. Dull and/or neutral colors are more suitable for safari, white is not practical. It is best to pack hardy, durable clothing
»» VERY IMPORTANT: packing space is limited on all modes of safari transport so you will need to restrict your baggage to 12-15kg (preferably packed in a soft bag) plus a reasonable amount of camera equipment

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
New Year’s Day - 1 January
Human Rights Day - 21 March
Good Friday (varies)
Family Day (varies)
Constitution Day - 27 April
Workers’ Day - 1 May
Youth Day - 16 June
Women’s Day - 9 August
Heritage Day - 24 September
Day of Reconciliation - 16 December
Christmas Day - 25 December
Day of Goodwill - 26 December