|
 Purchases and V.A.T. |
| When purchasing jewels such as gold and diamonds, wholesalers in the big cities (Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban) are the most competitive. It is advisable to
buy on first sight as it is not certain that you will see the same thing twice. The best handicraft is to be found in Swaziland and Zululand. Hotel shops also display a good range of local products. In order to
get a V.A.T. refund before leaving the country, it is necessary to keep all tax invoices (minimum R250). These will be stamped at the airport at V.A.T. refund counter. |
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| Money |
| 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 & 50 Cent coins in bronze; 1, 2 & 5 Rand coins in silver; 10, 20, 50, 100 & 200 Rand notes (bearing the effigy of the "Big Five").
Credit cards are accepted almost everywhere but it is advisable to carry some cash for markets and drinks. Credit card can't be used to purchase petrol. |
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| Foreign Exchange |
| The ‘‘Bureaux de Change’’ at the airports have the best rates, but it is also possible to change money at the reception of most hotels. |
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| Hours |
| Post Office : |
08:00 to 16:30 (weekdays) |
08:00 to 12:00 (Saturdays) |
| Shops : |
08:30/09:00 to 17:00/17:30 (weekdays) |
09:00 to 13:00 (weekends) |
| Banks : |
09:00 to 15:30 (weekdays) |
09:00 to 11:00 (Saturdays) |
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| Post Offices |
| Apart from the post offices, it is also possible to hand in your mail at the hotel reception. Postage for
international letters is : R2,10 ; postcards : R1,90. |
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| Tips (at your discretion) |
| Restaurants : |
Most restaurants do not include a service charge, so 10 to 12% should be added to the total bill (for meals and drinks). |
| Porterage : |
Between R5 and R10 per suitcase. |
| Guide and/or driver : |
The average is between R20 and R30 per person per day, shared between the guide and driver. |
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| Electricity |
| The voltage is 220/250 V, but a special adapter for video camera chargers and hairdryers is needed, which
can be obtained from the hotel reception. Universal adapters do not work in South Africa. |
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| Programme |
| Distances : |
It is important to keep in mind that sometimes the distances to cover each day are very long (especially in the north). |
| Wake-ups : |
These are often early due to the long distances and the fact that the days are short (18h in winter/ 19h in summer). |
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| Restaurants |
| Wines : |
Often available by the glass, but bottles are generally reasonably priced and of a good quality. |
| Water : |
Tap water is drinkable, unless you are advised otherwise. |
| Food : |
The meat is usually well done ; be more specific if you like it rare. It is also often marinated in a sweet and sour sauce. Fruit and vegetables in South Africa
are all safe to eat. |
| Coffee : |
It is light and served with milk, ask for black coffee if you don’t want milk. Most restaurants offer expresso if requested. |
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|
| On The Road |
| In South Africa driving is on the left-hand side of the road. If hiring a car, it is advisable to purchase a good road map.
Petrol must be paid for with cash, as credit cards are not accepted at petrol stations. |
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| Health |
| Malaria : Only the north-eastern parts of the country (Mpumalanga, Kruger Park, Swaziland, Kwa-Zulu Natal) are malaria areas.
In addition to malaria prophylactics, it is advisable to wear long sleeves and to use a spray or lotion that repels mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are most active at dusk. Air-conditioners
and fans can also help to keep mosquitoes away. |
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| Safety |
| As in any big city in the world, it is not recommended to walk in the streets alone at night. During guided visits keep money,
passports and air tickets with you. |
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| Swaziland |
| As it is an independent country from South Africa, passports are checked at the border. The local currency, the ‘‘Emalangeni’’,
has the same value as the South African Rand, which is accepted in Swaziland. Credit cards are accepted at all the hotels. |
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| Telephone |
| Phoning from the hotel room can be very expensive. There are phone booths at some of the hotels. Enquire at the reception desk.
To call overseas from the hotel room, dial 0 to get a line then 09, then the international country code e.g. 44 (U.K) and the number. The international code for South Africa is +27. |
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| Emergency Numbers |
Police : 10111
Ambulance : 999
Problems with emergency numbers : 1022 |
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