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What to wear
During South African summer (November to February) light-weight clothing
is the norm. In winter a jumper or jacket may be needed, particularly in
the evenings.
A few establishments may require guests to wear a jacket and tie or
cocktail dress in the evenings - but in most cases the dress-code is
"smart casual" - a shirt and slacks.
Currency
The currency unit is the Rand, denoted by the symbol R.
R1 = 100 cents. There are units of R200, R100, R50, R20, and R10 notes, as
well as coins in R5, R2, 50c, 20c, 10c, 5c, 2c and 1c units.
Foreign
currency can be exchanged at commercial banks, American Express, Master
Currency, and Rennies Bureau de Change.
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Banks
Most major commercial banks offer foreign exchange services and are found
in every large town.
Some are able to provide foreign exchange using your bank
or credit card. Rand traveller's cheques are now available.
Visitors can also obtain cash using their bank cards from many of the
automatic teller machines (ATM's) outside banks.
Check the symbols displayed on the machine with those on your card - and
remember your PIN number.
Most commercial banks are open from 09h00 - 15h30, Mondays to Fridays;
from
08h30 - 11h00 on Saturdays.
Credit Cards
Most international credit cards such as Diners Club, American Express,
MasterCard, Visa and their affiliates are accepted.
Can one drink the tap water?
Tap water is safe to drink throughout South Africa.
Do I need to take
malaria tablets?
Many of the main tourist areas are malaria-free, so you need not worry at
all. However, the Kruger National Park, the Lowveld of Mpumalanga and
Limpopo, and the northern part of KwaZulu-Natal do pose a malaria risk in
the summer months. Many local people and some travellers do not take
malaria prophylaxis, but most health professionals recommend you do.
Consult your doctor or a specialist travel clinic for the latest advice
concerning malaria prophylaxis, as it changes regularly.
Whether
you take oral prophylaxis or not, always use mosquito repellent, wear long
pants, closed shoes and light long-sleeved shirts at night, and sleep
under a mosquito net in endemic areas (the anopheles mosquito, which
carries malaria, operates almost exclusively after dark). It is advisable
to avoid malarial areas if you are pregnant.
Emergency Services
Flying Squad
(Police) 10111
Ambulance 10177
South Africa's
roads are good and well signposted.
Drivers must
have a valid drivers licence (which carries a photograph and is either
printed in English or authenticated in English) or an international
driving permit.
South Africans
drive on the left. The speed limit on motorways is 120km/h (75mph),
100km/h (60mph) elsewhere and 60km/h (35mph) in built-up areas.
Museums
There are about 500 museums in South Africa with various specialities such
as geology, natural history, art and much more.
Service Charges
Waiters and taxi-drivers should receive 10% of the bill, unless a service
charge is levied. Five Rand per bag is recommended for porters.
To help you plan your budget here is the average cost of some holiday
items. This list is a guide only, prices may vary depending on the service
provided and the location. Petrol prices are subject to fluctuation.
Postal Services
Stamps are purchased from post offices and some stationery distributors
Religions
Most denominations are represented. Churches, mosques, temples, and
synagogues are located in most major cities. Consult your hotel reception.
Telephone codes
The international code for South Africa is 27, which should be preceded by
your international prefix. When dialling from outside South Africa the "0"
at the front of the local area code should be omitted, but it should be
used when dialling within the country. When dialling international numbers
from within South Africa the international dialling code should be
prefixed with
09.
Telephones
Many hotels have direct international dialling from the phone in your room
or you can be connected via the switchboard.
Public phones in South Africa are either coin or card operated. Only green
public phones use telephone cards. The cards come in amounts ranging from
R10 to R200 and can be bought at various hotels, post offices, airports,
bookshops and supermarkets.
Local calls made from a "phone box" cost approximately 40 cents for three
minutes. Trunk calls vary with the distances between exchanges.
Cell phones can be hired at OR Tambo International.
Taxis
Taxis can be obtained from your hotel reception or at ranks that will be
found at key locations throughout major cities and towns. They are
relatively cheap, but you should insist that the meter is switched on at
the beginning of the journey. A small tip is acceptable for the driver.
Languages
There are 11 official languages in South Africa. English is the language
of administration and is widely spoken. Other languages include Afrikaans,
Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda,
Xhosa and Zulu.
Where can I
smoke?
The law prohibits smoking in most public spaces, including airports and
railway stations.
Most restaurants have designated smoking and non-smoking areas.
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