Throughout the
second half of the 20th century
South Africa was regarded by most of
the world as a pariah state where
the ruling white minority passed a
range of draconian laws to subdue
and enslave the black majority. All
this changed in 1994 with the
release from prison of
world-renowned freedom fighter and
icon of the oppressed, Nelson
Mandela. A new age of democracy was
ushered in, and South Africa was
suddenly revealed to the world in
her beautiful true colours: a
rainbow nation with a kaleidoscope
of cultures and a host of
attractions to enthral and entrance
visitors.
A decade later
tourists are flocking to sunny South
Africa in droves, particularly to
the Western Cape with its
magnificent scenery, beautiful
beaches, majestic mountains and
green winelands.
The Republic,
at the southern tip of Africa
surrounded by ocean on three sides,
offers a taste of the African
experience with the chance to visit
traditional tribal villages, game
reserves and sprawling townships. At
the same time it also offers the
trappings of a first world holiday
experience, with luxury hotels,
sophisticated shopping, exciting
theme parks and clean beaches. Have
breakfast in a New York style deli;
lunch in an African shebeen;
cocktails on a sunset cruise; and
dine in style in a fine British
colonial restaurant. This is all
possible in a South African city.
It is not only
cultural diversity that makes South
Africa magical. The country has a
wealth of animal and plant life
scattered across its varied
climactic zones from desert to
snow-covered mountains, forests to
grasslands and mangrove swamps.
Historically, too, there is plenty
to discover, from the fossils of
ancient hominids, to the pioneering
spirit of the Dutch 'voortrekkers'
and the settlement of the Eastern
Cape frontier by the British
colonialists.
South Africa
has been billed as 'a world in one
country', and any visitor who has
experienced its delights, from the
jumble of Johannesburg, the city
built on gold mines in the north, to
the sophistication of Cape Town in
the south, is bound to agree.
Basics
Time:
GMT +2.
Electricity:
230 volts, 50Hz. Round,
three-pin plugs are standard.
Money:
South Africa's currency is the
Rand (ZAR), which is divided
into 100 cents. Money can be
exchanged at banks, bureaux de
change and the larger hotels.
ATMs are widely available (there
is a daily limit for cash
withdrawals) and major
international credit cards are
widely accepted, except in
petrol stations where cash is
required. Visitors should take
care and be vigilant when
drawing cash from ATMs as there
is a high incidence of credit
card fraud involving the use of
ATMs. Travellers cheques and
some foreign currencies are
accepted at larger hotels and
shops, but commission is
charged, otherwise all
commercial banks will exchange
them.
Currency Exchange Rates
R 1=
US$ 0.14
£ 0.07
C$ 0.16
A$ 0.18
R 1.00
EUR 0.11
NZ$ 0.20
Note: This is not updated daily
and should be used as a guide
only.
Language:
South Africa has 11 official
languages, including Afrikaans,
English, Xhosa, Zulu and Sotho.
English is widely spoken.
Entry Requirements for
Americans:
United States nationals need a
valid passport, but no visa is
needed for stays of up to 90
days for business or touristic
purposes.
Entry Requirements for UK
nationals:
British nationals need a valid
passport, but no visa is needed
for stays of up to 90 days if
passport is endorsed British
Citizen or British Overseas
Territories citizen. Those whose
passports state British National
(Overseas) may stay up to 30
days without a visa. All others
require a visa. Visa extensions
are possible if applied for at
least 30 days before expiry
date, and cost ZAR425.
Entry Requirements for
Canadians:
Canadian nationals need a valid
passport, but no visa is needed
for stays of up to 90 days for
business or touristic purposes.
Entry Requirements for
Australians:
Australian nationals need a
valid passport, but no visa is
needed for stays of up to 90
days for business or touristic
purposes.
Entry Requirements for South
Africans:
South Africans who hold dual
nationality should note that
they are required to enter and
leave the country on their South
African passports.
Entry Requirements for Irish
nationals:
Irish nationals require a valid
passport, but no visa is
necessary for a stay of up to 90
days for touristic or business
purposes.
Health:
Travellers arriving in South
Africa from infected areas
require a yellow fever
vaccination certificate,
otherwise no vaccinations are
required. There is a malaria
risk in the low-lying areas of
the Northern Province and
Mpumalanga (including the Kruger
National Park) and northeastern
Kwa-Zulu Natal, and precautions
are advised when travelling to
these areas. There is a high
prevalence of HIV/AIDS. Tap
water is safe in urban areas but
sterilisation is advisable
elsewhere, as there are periodic
outbreaks of cholera in the poor
communities of rural South
Africa, particularly in Northern
Kwa-Zulu Natal, Mpumalanga, and
Limpopo provinces.
Drug-resistant TB has been
reported throughout the country.
Food poisoning is rare. Medical
facilities in South Africa are
good, but medical insurance is
strongly advised as private
hospitals expect cash upfront
and public hospitals are best
avoided.
Tipping:
If a service charge is not
included in the bill, waiters
expect a tip of 10%. Tipping for
services rendered is widely
anticipated by porters, taxi
drivers, golf caddies and petrol
attendants. 'Car guards' operate
in the city centres and tourist
spots and will offer to look
after your parked car; they are
usually immigrants from
neighbouring countries looking
for work and will expect
anything from R2 upwards on your
return.
Safety:
Visitors to South Africa should
be aware of the country's high
incidence of crime. Although
this tends to be concentrated in
pockets throughout the country,
for example in the township
areas, opportunistic crime is
fairly widespread. Travellers
should always be aware of these
risks and exercise the necessary
precautions. Doors should be
locked when driving and one
should not walk alone at night
in city streets, isolated
beaches or remote areas. Berea
and Hillbrow in Johannesburg are
high risk areas and visitors
should be cautious in the area.
There have been recent incidents
on hikers walking on Table
Mountain in Cape Town and
visitors should avoid walking
alone on the mountain. One
should be vigilant when using
ATMs and carrying valuables. It
is worthwhile noting that the
South African authorities do
give high priority to the
protection of tourists.
Business:
South Africa's multicultural
status means that business
etiquette may vary with
different people, and according
to individual sectors, though it
is most often similar to
dealings in Europe and the
United States. Although there
are 11 official languages,
English is the primary language
of business. It is best to dress
formally for initial meetings.
Generally South Africans are
regarded as relaxed and informal
with regards to introductions
and the handling of business
cards. Shaking hands is common
for both men and women. The
giving of gifts is uncommon and
unnecessary. Business hours are
generally 9am to 5pm Monday to
Friday with an hour taken over
lunch.
Communications:
The international access code
for South Africa is +27. The
outgoing code is 00 followed by
the relevant country code (e.g.
0044 for the United Kingdom). As
of 8 January 2007, South Africa
has changed to 10-digit dialling
(so city codes must be included
e.g. 021 for Cape Town) and
international dialling has
changed from 09 to 00.
International phone cards cannot
be used in South Africa. The
country is served by three GSM
mobile phone networks. Mobile
service providers offer very
cheap 'pay-as-you-go' Sim cards,
which are a good option for
visitors staying for some time.
Internet cafes are widespread.
Card and coin operated pay
phones are also widespread.
Duty Free:
Travellers to South Africa do
not have to pay duty on 200
cigarettes, 50 cigars and 250g
of tobacco; 2 litres wine and 1
litre spirits; perfume up to
50ml and 250ml eau de toilette;
and other goods to the value of
R3,000. All other goods brought
in from abroad by South African
residents must be declared on
arrival. These will be subject
to import duties. For goods to
be re-imported, travellers must
complete a DA65 or NEP-form that
is issued on departure.
Prohibited items include meat
and dairy products, all
medication except for personal
consumption, flick knives,
ammunition, explosives and
pornography containing minors
and bestiality.
Contacts
South
African Tourism, Johannesburg:
+27 (0)11 895 3000 or
www.southafrica.net South
African Embassy, Washington,
United States: +1 202 232 4400. South African Embassy,
London, United Kingdom: +44
(0)20 7451 7299. South African High
Commission, Ottawa, Canada: +1
613 744 0330 South African High
Commission, Canberra, Australia
(also responsible for New
Zealand): +61 (0)2 6272 7300.
South African Embassy, Dublin,
Ireland: +353 (0)1 661 5553 United
States Embassy, Pretoria: +27
(0)12 431 4000. British High
Commission, Pretoria: +27 (0)12
421 7733. Canadian High
Commission, Pretoria: +27 (0)12
422 3000. Australian High
Commission, Pretoria: +27 (0)12
423 6000.
Irish Embassy, Pretoria: +27
(0)12 342 5062 New Zealand High
Commission, Pretoria: +27 (0)12
342 8656/7/8/9
Emergencies: 10111 (Police);
10177 (Ambulance)
Activities
Shark Diving
Observing and diving with Great
White sharks can provide one of
the most thrilling experiences
of a lifetime. Numerous
operators run cage diving trips
around Gansbaai (two hours from
Cape Town) where the open
stretch of water between Dyer
Island and the mainland is
referred to as the shark diving
capital of the world. Trips aim
to educate people about the
Great White shark as well as
provide an up close and personal
encounter from within the safety
of a cage lowered into the water
from the boat. People have the
opportunity to watch and
photograph the sharks feeding at
the surface alongside the boat,
and the very brave can then take
turns inside the cage, which is
let down about three feet (1m)
below the surface of the water.
Great White sharks are in the
Gansbaai area all year round,
but are here in their highest
density during the winter months
from May to October.
Game Safaris
One of the main attractions of a
trip to South Africa is a
game-viewing safari. Numerous
game parks are scattered
throughout the country, but it
is the oldest, largest and most
well-known wildlife conservation
area, the Kruger National Park,
that is the destination of
choice for most international
visitors. 'Big Five' viewing
opportunities abound in many of
the parks and many private game
reserves, particularly in the
Eastern Cape, have the added
attraction of being
malaria-free. Parks offer guided
walking and jeep safaris, and
night drives, as well as
self-drive safaris for those
with their own cars.
Bungy jumping
The historic Bloukrans River
Bridge at Storms River, situated
on South Africa's scenic Garden
Route, is the setting for the
highest commercial bungy jump in
the world, at 525ft (160m). The
actual bridge is higher, but
jumpers gain access to the arch
support below the road by way of
a specially designed walkway,
which is a breathtaking
experience in itself. The jump
is operated by Kiwi Extreme who
have more than 10 years
experience in bungy jumping.
Whale watching
Every year from July to November
whales can be seen along the
southern coast of South African
shores, travelling thousands of
miles to mate and calve in the
safe and warm waters of
protected bays. The 'heart of
the Whale Coast' is Hermanus,
renowned as the best
whale-watching area in the
country, where Southern Right
whales can be seen in Walker
Bay, often within 33 feet (10m)
from shore. Walker Bay is
recognised by the World Wildlife
Fund as one of the top 12 whale
viewing destinations in the
world. In general, the whale
route stretches from the Western
Cape up the east coast,
including places along the
Garden Route such as Mossel Bay,
Knysna, Plettenberg Bay
(especially Keurbooms River and
Robberg Peninsula), and the
Tsitsikamma National Park
coastline. The De Hoop Nature
and Marine Reserve is also
popular during the whale season
for its relatively new Whale
Trail, a five-day hiking trail
that offers fantastic whale
viewing opportunities for three
days along its coastal stretch.
Numerous whale-watching boat
excursions are offered in the
Western Cape.
Hop Tours and Travels
Pvt Ltd (Mumbai, India) Egypt Destination Specialist
106, Unique
Tower, Behind Patel Petrol Pump, off S.V. Road, Goregaon (W) Mumbai-400 062, INDIA
Tel. : +91-22-40582000 , Fax : +91-22-40582007
