|
Accommodation
|
iTravelto.com provides a
detailed search facility for accommodation - click on the 'search'
icon in the right margin.
A National Accommodation Guide, available from Satour Head Office
and most tourism associations, has been compiled in accordance with
Satour's National Grading and Classification Scheme.
|
| Airports
|
South Africa
has an excellent infra-structure of airports, from international
to regional to local. All are serviced by a vast majority of airlines.
Any of the airlines will be able to give you updated airline information
and locations.
|
| Banking |
There are several
dozen deposit-taking institutions and controlling companies, but
the vast majority of total banking assets is controlled by four
major banking groups and also offer foreign exchange services:
Amalgamated Banks of South Africa
(ABSA)
First National
Bank (FNB)
Nedcor Bank
Standard Bank
Banks and automatic teller machines (ATM's) are found in every
city and in most towns. Care must be taken when visting these.
Several international banks have branches in the main cities.
Most commercial banks are open from 09:00 to 15:30 on weekdays and
08:30 to 11:00 on Saturdays.
|
| |
| Booking events |
Computicket is the
largest booking service with over 300 branches in South Africa,
catering for more than 40 000 events countrywide.
There is also Ticketline, a telephone booking service, and Ticketweb, which takes
telephonic as well as Internet bookings.
Besides theatre and cinema
reservations, both sell tickets for dancing and skating championships,
lotteries, bus tours and cellphone cards.
|
| |
| Communication services |
A direct dialling
service connects all centres except for villages in the more remote
and rural districts.
The international telephone service links South Africa with countries
around the world.
Calls from hotels generally carry a surcharge. Most hotels are equipped
with fax machines and some with the Internet.
The international
dialling code for South Africa is 27, followed by the area code
(minus the first zero) and the subscriber's number.
Telephone cards can be used at green public telephones.
The cards, sold in denominations of R10, are obtainable at hotels,
post offices, airports and branches of CNA, among other outlets.
The local system is not yet linked to satellite and the cards can
therefore only be used in South Africa.
Cellular phones can be hired from Vodacom, MTN and other distributors on a daily, weekly or monthly
basis.
|
| |
|
Conversions
|
Distances
One mile = 1.621 kilometers.
Temperatures
10° Celsius = 50° Fahrenheit
20° Celsius = 68° Fahrenheit
30° Celsius = 86° Fahrenheit.
1 ZAR =
100 cents
One inch
= 2.54 centimeters
|
| |
|
Currency
|
The currency unit
is the Rand, denoted by the symbol R.
R1 = 100 cents. Foreign currency can be exchanged at commercial
banks, American Express and Rennies Travel.
Currency Conversions CLICK HERE
|
| |
| Diplomatic representation |
For details of
embassies and consulates, contact:
Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria 0001
Tel (Intl): +27 12 351 1000
Fax (Intl): +27 12 351 0885
|
| |
| Domestic travel |
There
are a number of domestic airlines that operate regular services between
Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town International Airports and other
centres. Charter services are also available. |
| |
|
Coaches
|
Amongst other
the following is available:
Translux
Tel (Intl): +27 12 334 8000
Fax (Intl): +27 12 334 8300
Greyhound Citiliner
Tel (Intl): +27 11 830 1301
Fax (Intl): +27 11 830 1528
Intercape
Tel (Intl): +27 21 386 4400/654115 -6
Fax (Intl): +27 21 386 4453/564 4182
e-mail: mailto:info@intercape.co.za
|
| |
| Trains |
Good trains, with
first and second class sleeping accommodatin, link South Africa's
major cities. The internationally famous five-star Blue Train
runs between Pretoria and Cape Town, with stops in Johannesburg.
Spoornet
operates services between most major cities in Southern Africa.
The internationally
famous luxurious five-star Blue Train runs between Pretoria/ Johannesburg and Cape
Town, as well as Pretoria and Nelspruit.
Reservations: Tel (Intl): +27 12 334 8459
Fax (Intl): +27 12 334 8464
Rovos Rail offers up-market
steam safaris and trips between Pretoria and Hazyview, Pretoria
and Durban, Pretoria and Cape Town and now also into the rest of
the sub-continent.
Reservations: Tel (Intl): +27 12 323 6052
Fax (Intl): +27 12 323 0843
|
| |
| Car rental |
All
major international car rental companies have branches in all cities
and airports, and often offer package deals with airlines and hotels.
There are also companies offering four-wheel-drive vehicles, campers
and motor homes. |
| |
| Electricity |
City
and town power systems are generally 220/230 volts AC. A three-point
round-pin adaptor plug should be brought for razors and hairdryers. |
| |
| Facilities for the disabled |
South
African Airways provides passenger aid units at all major airports.
Many hotels offer facilities for the disabled, as do most rest camps
in the Kruger National Park. Wheelchairs and other aids may be hired
in most cities. The large car hire companies can provide vehicles
with hand controls.
A directory of services for the visually handicapped is available
from the SA National Council for the Blind,
Tel (Intl): +27 12 346 1190; FAX: +27 12 346 1177. |
| Information
|
iTravelto.com
provides the travel and tourism industry with a comprehensive search
engine for all related information. Click on the search icon on
the right hand side.
If you can not find any information, let
us have the details and we will find it for you.
|
| Languages |
South
Africa currently has 11 official languages. English is spoken throughout
the country. French, Italian and German also spoken at some of the
larger hotels. |
| |
| Liquor |
The
legal age for consumption of liquor is 18.
Most bottle stores are open from Monday to Fridays: 08:00 - 18:00;
Saturday: 08:30 - 14:00.
Some remain open until 16:00 on Saturdays.
Wine can also be bought from supermarkets Mondays to Saturdays during
normal shopping hours from 08:30 to 17:30.
No liquor is sold on Sundays. |
| |
| Medical Services |
The
medical serives available are amongst the best in the world.
It is advisable to purchase travel insurance which covers medical
expenses during the period of your stay.
If you are in need of critical medical care, it is advisable to contact
private hospitals found in all major areas. |
| |
|
Petrol (gasoline) filling stations
|
Filling stations
are conveniently situated throughout the country.
Unleaded petrol is available.
Most filling stations are open 24 hours a day. Normally you have
to pay with cash. Most larger petrol stations have ATM facilities.
|
| |
| Rules of the road |
An
excellent road network links the largest metropolitan areas with the
smallest villages.
South Africans drive on the LEFT HAND SIDE of the road.
The speed limit in urban areas is usually 60 km per hour; on rural
roads 100 km per hour and on freeways 120 km per hour unless otherwise
indicated.
Wearing a seatbelt is compulsory; driving under the influence of alcohol
is a serious offence and traffic laws are strictly enforced.
A valid driver's licence, provided the photograph is an integral part
of the document, and provided it is printed in English, is accepted.
If your licence does not comply with these requirements, you should
obtain an International Driving Permit before your departure for South
Africa. |
| |
| Safety guidelines |
It
is sensible to take the same precautions in major cities as you would
in any of the world's metropolitan areas.
Never leave luggage unattended in front of the hotel or in the lobby.
Deposit your valuables in the hotel's safety deposit box.
Don't stroll around the streets after dark and don't carry an excess
of valuable in sight of the general public. Always lock your car doors
and keep the windows closed. |
| |
| Time differences |
Throughout the
year, Standard Time in South Africa is :
Greenwich Mean
Time +2
|
| |
|
Tipping
|
In
restaurants, 10% of the bill usually applies, depending on the standard
of service provided. Restaurants do not normally include the tip in
the bill.
Taxi drivers should also receive 10% of the amount charged.
R5,00 per bag is generally the tip given to porters. |
| |
| Transport to and from airports |
The general
level of public transport is good for an African country but does
not compare to that of any major western city.
Scheduled bus services
are available at all international airports, where you will also
find taxi ranks as well as the larger car rental companies.
Some hotels transport guests to and from airports.
|
| |
|
Value Added Tax (VAT)
|
Currently set
at 14%, VAT is included in the marked/quoted price of most goods
and services.
Foreign visitors may, however, claim back VAT paid on items taken
out of the country when the total value exceeds R250,00. Information
leaflets on the procedure to follow are available from VAT Refund
Administration offices at the Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town
International Airports.
|
| |
| Water |
In
the major cities and towns and most game reserves, tap water is purified
and 100% safe to drink. |
| |
|
Weather
|
Due to the wide
expanses of ocean around it, South Africa enjoys a generaly temperate
climate though weather patterns and rainfall statistics vary widely.
The Western Cape enjoys Mediterranean-type winter rains, and the
other coastal areas a rainfall spread throughout the year, 80% of
the country's rain falls during the summer months of October to
March. Summers are generally warm to hot; winters dry and
sunny with occasional spells of intense cold and heavy frost in
the interior and snowfalls on the highest mountains.
Click on the weather
icon for the latest and daily weather direct from the South African
Weather Bureau
|
|
