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| Visa Requirements |
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All persons travelling to South Africa must be in possession
of a valid passport. For some of the neighbouring countries,
a visa is needed. In terms of existing arrangements, passport
holders of certain countries are exempt from visa requirements.
In case of travelling to more than one neighbouring country
it is advised to apply for a multiple visa. Enquiries can
be directed to South African diplomatic representatives abroad
or the Department of Home Affairs in Pretoria. All tourists
must have proof of sufficient funds before entering South
Africa in order to pay for their holiday, as well as provide
their return ticket.
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| Health Information |
| International immunisation is NOT needed when travelling
to South Africa. |
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| The Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is the only
vaccination needed from travellers, whom are over the age of
one, entering South Africa within six days of leaving an infected
country. Visitors who travel through or stay over in these areas,
are advised to be vaccinated against the disease before travelling
to South Africa. |
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Malaria is, for the most part, under control in South
Africa.
The only regions being affected with Malaria are:
Northern Province
Mpumalanga,
Northern Natal
Zululand
The risk of being infected with malaria is minimal when
taking preventative medication. Malaria tablets are only needed
when travelling to one of the above-mentioned areas, and not
when travelling to Cape Town or along the Garden Route. A
good insect repellent (particularly in the evening), long-sleeved
shirts, and mosquito coils/nets are advisable precautions.
The best tip is to get advice from your doctor. In general
you will need the same precautions and vaccinations in South
Africa as you would need in your home country.
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| It is advised not to drink water from lakes or rivers especially
in the area of Durban. |
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| General Information |
Electricity
220/230 volts AC at 50 cycles per second. Three pronged
plugs are standard so it is best to take an adapter with you.
Adapters can be bought at most retail stores. Most hotel rooms
have 110 volt outlets for electric shavers and small appliances. |
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Post Offices
Opening times: Mondays - Fridays: 08:00 - 16:00
Stamps can be bought at all post offices, as well as some hotels
and shops. |
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Phoning
When calling overseas, you first dial 09, which is South
Africa's international access code. Followed by the country
code, area code of the city or region, and then the number
of the person you wish to call.
For example, if you make a call to Sydney, Australia, telephone
number 456 1234 you must dial 09 61 2 456 1234.
The connecting lines are generally very good in South Africa.
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| Money Information |
Currency
One Rand (R) = 100 cents (c).
Bank Notes: R200, R100, R50, R20, R10
Coins: R5, R2, R1, 50c 20c, 10c, 5c, 2c, & 1c.
Currency exchange rates are available at all banks, shopping
centres as well as in daily newspapers. It is even possible
to be sent to you via your cell-phone. |
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Currency Converter
There is a link below to Oanda on-line Foreign Exchange Travel
Currency Converter. Please note that the currency converter
does not give the current exchange rate, thus it is advised
to add ± 5 / 6 % on top of the calculated amount to
get the actual amount in South Africa. The converter gives
you the exact amount of the stock exchange and not the exchange
rate. Bear in mind that different Foreign Exchange offices
charge different percentages. In general we had good experience
with Standard Bank South Africa.
http://www.oanda.com/convert/classic
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| Traveller's Cheques are generally accepted, assuming
that the cheques are made out in a valid currency and can be
exchanged at South African banks and foreign exchange offices.
Many shops and hotels also accept traveller cheques. It is best
to find out at your bank which traveller's cheques are acceptable
in South Africa. |
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Credit Cards
Euro master cards and other credit cards are valid in South
Africa. Be aware that with Master cards you can withdraw a maximum
of 1000 Dollars cash per week. We advise people to make sure
that they have other possibilities to get hold of money if needed.
Best is to get information from your bank. |
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VAT Refund (Value Added Tax - 14%)
Goods bought in South Africa exceeding R250 allow all tourists
to receive a refund of the tax at the airport on their way out.
It is advisable to plan an extra hour at the airport for tax
refunds, and the best is to have the goods with their receipts
ready for the controlling officer. |
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Gratuity
People in the service industry:
Many waitresses are students who rely on tips to supplement
their wages.
We recommend a 10 % tip of the total sum for Taxi Drivers or
Waitresses. A waitress generally does NOT receive a basic salary,
and has to pay for any breakages occurring. The cleaning staff
generally gets R10 off the waiters tip at the end of the evening.
A lot of the students use that money to pay for their studies
or help to pay for their families.
Be aware that big groups at Restaurants might incur a 10% surcharge.
In Town you will find people wanting to assist you with parking
as well as watching your car. Please don't see this as pestering.
The best is to ask for their name, thank him or her and tip
him at the end of the night with R1 or R2. |
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| Travelling by Car |
Driver's Licence
It is of vital importance that you are in possession of an international
driver's licence. The best is to have a photocopy of the driver's
licence on you, in case it gets lost or stolen. |
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General Road Information
In South Africa we drive on the left side of the road and give
way to traffic approaching from the right. On multiple lanes
it is advised to overtake on the right-hand side. The general
speed limit is 120km/h on open roads and 60km/h in urban areas.
Be aware of cameras and speed traps especially before and after
small townships. In case of late arrivals at the airport, it
is advisable to take a taxi, and collect your car the next morning
at the hotel or holiday house.
After a day or two driving on the left will be no problem for
you as it is quick and easy to adapt to. |
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Special Features for Car Rentals
Driving on gravel roads can be very dangerous, thus it is important
to drive very slowly. The car rental companies do not compensate
for damage occurring on these roads even though a comprehensive
insurance is taken out before hand. The client is held liable
for all the damages. In South Africa there is no obligation
to take out any insurance. The best advice is to always take
out a comprehensive insurance for the driver as well as the
passengers. If the passenger causes an accident the insurance
will not be held liable. |
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The big "L" on the rear window
The big "L" is for people who have their learner driver's
license but have not yet passed their driving test. We advise
tourists to be careful and considerate. |
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Traffic Circles
Keep in mind that approaching a traffic circle in South Africa
does not give you right of way, traffic already in the circle
has right of way. |
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Stop Signs
We have a lot of four-way stops instead of traffic lights. A
four-way stop means who ever approaches the stop first has right
of way. This traffic rule works wonderfully in South Africa.
The four-way stops hinder people speeding in small town and
living areas. |
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Rain
The roads in South Africa become very slippery when it rains
due to long periods of no rain in summer. Drive slowly and keep
a fairly big distance from the car in front of you. |
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Parking
In South Africa we park in the direction that we drive. Always
make sure that your vehicle is locked properly and no goods
are lying around inside as this leads to theft. Car radios are
one of the favourite items to be stolen so assure that it is
always taken out and locked away. |
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| General Safety Information |
| Crime in South Africa happens like everywhere in the
world. South Africa's media exaggerates crime a lot in order
to make people aware of looking after themselves and their goods.
The best advice is to avoid walking at night and driving into
areas that are unknown to you. Johannesburg is the place to
be most careful. |
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Never accept any help from strangers at ATM's (Automated Teller
Machines). Try to stand as close as possible to the machine
to avoid strangers seeing your pin number. It is safest to never
let your credit card out of your sight, especially in restaurants
etc. In case of a lost or stolen card, report the theft as soon
as possible at any police station and stop your card at your
bank.
We all know that these incidences happen all over the world
not only in Cape Town.
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PARTNERS
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