South Africa Travel Info

Electricity
In South Africa the power plugs and sockets are of type D, M and N. The standard voltage is 230 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz. You can use your electric appliances in South Africa, if the standard voltage in your country is in between 220 - 240 V. If the standard voltage in your country is in the range of 100 V - 127 V, you need a voltage converter in South Africa. You can also consider a combined power plug adapter/voltage converter.

Time Zone
South Africa GMT + 2

Currency
Rand (ZAR; symbol R) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of R200, 100, 50, 20 and 10. Coins are in denominations of R5, 2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10 and 5 cents.

Credit cards
MasterCard and Visa are preferred. American Express and Diners Club are also widely accepted. ATMs are available in all towns, cities and shopping malls and most petrol stations, and accept international cards. Almost all hotels, shops, restaurants, national parks and game reserves accept credit cards.

Mobile Phones
South Africa has access to international roaming (GSM compatible) with international mobile phone companies. Coverage extends to most of the country except the very remote areas. GPRS for data coverage is also widespread. Airport kiosks can sell you a phone or local SIM card if you show some ID.

Bugs
With South Africa being located in Africa you may encounter all manner of local wildlife (insects, reptiles, small mammals, rodents, cockroaches). Lights attract bugs so don’t leave your lights on when you leave your room.
Mosquitoes are best dealt with by using mosquito repellent, long baggy clothing in the evenings and sleeping under a mosquito net. Most of the country is free of malaria, but there have been isolated outbreaks in the north of the country. Regarding medication in malarial areas please follow the advice of your local health practitioner and the World Health Organisation.

Security
Please ensure that your passport, air tickets and money are securely stored in your room safe. Do not leave jewellery, mobile phones, cameras, or any other valuables in your room or in public areas.
Visitors should be vigilant of their personal belongings and avoid wearing ostentatious jewellery outside of hotels. Keep valuables and cameras concealed. Avoid walking alone at night, especially in cities and on beaches and don’t go into the townships without a certified guide.

Tipping
Tipping of guides and hotel personnel is customary in South Africa. Aside from the guides and drivers you may wish to tip anyone who works in service – waiters in bars and restaurants, porters and room cleaners. A tip of 10 to 15% is expected.

Safety on Safari
The basic rules of safari are:
Don’t feed animals you don’t own.
If you don’t know ask.
Always listen to your guide.
Do not go walkabout without a guide.
Wild animals are called that because they are wild and unpredictable.
Many rivers are populated with crocodiles and hippos, even if you can’t see them.

Road Safety
Roads between the major centres are generally well maintained and well signposted, so getting around by road isn’t a problem, except for some of the daunting distances. The Fifa 2010 World Cup saw a major investment in improving the road system, particularly around Johannesburg and Cape Town.
A controversial motorway tolling system electronically identifies number plates, so if you're renting a car, you usually need to pay the car hire company directly.

Health
These are merely guidelines please follow the advice of your local health practitioner and the World Health Organisation.
Medical facilities are good in urban areas but can be limited elsewhere. Doctors and hospitals often require immediate cash payment. Comprehensive health insurance is recommended to cover the fees of private facilities.
Malaria is prevalent in some remote areas of South Africa, including the Kruger National Park, particularly after the rainy season. Cholera occurs predominantly in rural areas; while the water in major areas is safe visitors are encouraged to drink bottled water in more remote areas. Mosquitoes, malarial and otherwise, are best dealt with by using mosquito repellent, long baggy clothing in the evenings and sleeping under a mosquito net.
No vaccinations are essential. However:
Kruger National Park, Mpumalanga and northern KwaZulu-Natal are low risk malaria areas during December-April.
A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over one year old arriving from an infected area.

Recommended Vaccinations
Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Hepatitis B, Diphtheria, Tetanus, Poliomyelitis, Rabies, Tuberculosis & Cholera.

Visas (all subject to change without notice)
All travellers need a valid passport (usually valid for 6 months after your trip), with sufficient pages for entry and exit stamps (usually at least two).
Citizens of all countries must obtain a visa in advance from the South African Embassy, High Commission or Consulate in the country where you reside.
Nationals of the following countries do not need a South African visa (up to 90 days):
African Union laissez-passer, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Spain, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom of Great Britain, Northern Ireland, British Islands, Bailiwick of Guernsey and Jersey, Isle of Man and Virgin Islands, Republic of Ireland, Uruguay, Venezuela, United States of America, *Zimbabwe (*temporary measure until further notice).
British Overseas Territories who are in possession of British passports namely: Anguilla, Bermuda, British Antarctic Territory, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, St. Helena and Dependencies (Ascension Island, Gough Island and Tristan da Cunha), Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands, the Sovereign Base Areas on Cyprus South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands and the Turks and Caicos Island.

Language
The 11 official languages of South Africa are Afrikaans, English, isiNdebele, isiXhosa, isiZulu, Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, Siswati, Tshivenda and Xitsonga.

Religion
South Africa has a wide variety of religions. The majority of the South African population follow Christianity, although Muslim, Hindu, Jewish and traditional religions are also represented.

Culture and Customs
Known as the Rainbow Nation, South Africa is a multicultural country where diverse ethnic influences and traditions are woven together in a rich, complex tapestry. The people of South Africa are generally polite and welcoming of tourists. Rural Africans are formal in their elaborate greetings and displays of respect toward the senior members of the community.
Handshaking is the popular form of greeting. As many people in rural South Africa follow their traditional way of life, visitors should be sensitive to customs which will inevitably be unfamiliar to them. Bear in mind that outside urban areas and safari destinations, people may well not be used to visitors.

Photography
Do not photograph government institutions/buildings without checking with your guide. When photographing people ask permission; in some tourist areas it is customary to pay to take photographs.

When to travel
The best time to travel depends largely on which activities you would like to engage in. The ideal time for game viewing is during September and October. Whale season is from mid-June to the end of October. Diving and surfing are best from April to September throughout most of the country, but these activities are not at all restricted to these times. Spring and autumn are great for hiking and walking trails. For avid bird watchers, the intra-African migrants usually arrive by mid-October, the Palaearctic migrants around November. If you are planning to spend time on the beaches, mid-summer is ideal - though tourist areas are usually crowded. The beaches of northern KwaZulu-Natal are warm and sunny even in midwinter.