African Sands Blog

A lot of people want to visit South Africa, but are unsure of when to go, how to get there, what health precautions should be considered, what money to take and many other questions…..

In answer to this, I have set up up a page dedicated to answering any questions people may have that they want quick answers to – see South Africa Travel Q&A. Go on, if you have a question, let us know and we will do our best to answer it.   

In the meantime, we have put together a comprehensive South Africa Travel Information page that might help get you started!

Travel Tips for South Africa

 Come prepared!

Here are a few traveling tips to ensure your experience in South Africa is hassle free. Little things can sometimes make a big difference.

 Arrival: 

Air
South Africa’s national airline is South African Airways (SAA).There are frequent direct and indirect flights by numerous major airlines from destinations throughout Europe and North America.

Most flights are overnight flights

Direct flights between the USA and Johannesburg or Cape Town are about 15 hours, flights between London and Johannesburg take about 12 hours and European flights are about 13 hours.

Daily flights link Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Durban, East London, Johannesburg, Kimberley, Port Elizabeth and Pretoria and with other connecting flights to provincial towns. South African Airways operates on the principal routes.

Airport facilities include outgoing duty-free shop, car hire, bank/bureau de change and restaurant/bar. Inter-Cape buses run 24 hours and meet all incoming and outgoing flights. Some hotels operate courtesy buses. Taxis are available, with a surcharge after 2300 Travel time to the city centre is approximately 20 minutes.

Car hire is available (includes Avis, Budget, Europcar and Hertz).

Bloemfontein (BFN),  10km (6 miles) east of the city

Travel time to the city centre is approximately 15 minutes.

Airport facilities include ATMs, restaurants, car hire and conference facilities. There is an airport shuttle bus to the city center (leaving from outside the airport building). Taxis are also available.

Durban (DUR), 18km (11 miles) southwest of the city

Travel time to the city centre is approximately 20 minutes.

Airport facilities include outgoing duty-free shop, car hire (includes Avis, Budget, Hertz and Europcar), bank/bureau de change and bar/restaurant. Airport buses and taxis are available to the city.

Johannesburg (JNB) (O.R. Thambo Johannesburg International), 22km (14 miles) east of the city

Travel time to the Sandton City is approximately 45 minutes.

Airport facilities include incoming and outgoing duty-free shops, post office, car hire, bank/bureau de change, restaurant and bar. Bus services to Pretoria and Johannesburg are available. Buses link Kempton Park with Johannesburg. Taxis are available. Some major hotels operate courtesy coaches.

Port Elizabeth (PLZ) is 5km (3 miles) west of the Business District.

Travel time to the city centre is approximately. 25 minutes

Airport facilities include Nedbank ATM, conference facilities, information desk, restaurants and pubs, shops, a pharmacy, postal services, car hire. There is an airport shuttle bus to the main international hotels in Port Elizabeth upon request. Taxis are also available.

 

Departure tax
There is no departure tax payable at the airport. It is included in your ticket price

 

Sea
The main ports are Cape Town, Durban, East London and Port Elizabeth. St Helena Steamship Co Ltd runs a regular passenger service from Avonmouth to Cape Town. Cruises are offered by various companies between South Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands. Cruise lines include Cunard, Eurocruises, Orient Lines, P&O, Peter Deilmann Cruises, Princess, Radisson Seven Seas and Silversea Cruises.

 

Rail
The main routes are from South Africa to Zimbabwe, Botswana and Mozambique.

South Africa is home to the world famous Blue Train and the romantic Rovos Rail

 

Road
There are main routes into South Africa from Botswana (via Ramatlabama), Lesotho, Mozambique (please check with local police about state of road and safety), Namibia, Swaziland and Zimbabwe (via Beit Bridge).

Kilometers Cape Town Durban Johannesburg Aliwal North 963 722 597 Beaufort West 459 1147 934 Beitbridge 1948 1060 547 Bethlehem 1243 388 259 Bloemfontein 997 628 394 Cape Town - 1606 1393 Durban 1606 - 566 East London 1052 667 943 Ermelo 1542 488 220 George 436 1240 1163 Graaf-Reinet 668 938 821 Grahamstown 889 796 966 Johannesburg 1393 566 - Kimberley 956 802 475 Komatipoort 1844 764 465 Kuruman 1088 949 523 Louis Trichardt 1838 971 437 Mossel Bay 389 1300 1194 Nelspruit 1741 676 358 Oudshoorn 422 1250 1113 Phalaborwa 1871 840 492 Pietermaritzburg 1871 78 488 Port Edward 1448 174 732 Port Elizabeth 765 926 1048 Pretoria 1464 618 63 Richards Bay 1737 172 600 Saldanha 146 1711 1498 Skukuza 1849 814 466 Umtata 1170 436 851 Upington 825 1203 786 Welkom 1149 541 249 Winburg 1112 519 285 Witbank 1520 582 141

 

Please note that the above distances are estimates and may vary depending on exact routes taken.

For further information visit http www.europcar.co.za

 

Climate:

South Africa is predominantly a sunny country with the main summer months being December & January. Generally, summers are warm to hot with the autumn months of May & June bringing cooler nights. The climate is generally good all year round in most parts of the country. Colder conditions occur in winter, from July to the end of September, with the Cape Province often experiencing more rainfall. KwaZulu-Natal is best visited at this time, with the warm coastal temperatures being offset by the occasional snowfalls and chilly temperatures in the Drakensberg Mountains.

 

Temperature:
CPT = Cape Town
DBN = Durban
JNB = Johannesburg

Average Maximum Temperatures (Degrees Celsius):
	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
CPT	27	27	26	23	20	19	17	18	19	22	24	26
DBN	27	28	27	26	24	23	22	22	23	24	25	26
JNB	26	26	24	19	16	16	20	23	25	25	26	25

 

For further information visit the South African Weather Bureau.

 

Clothing:

The seasons in the Southern Hemisphere are directly opposite to those of the Northern Hemisphere. For summer months, lightweight (cottons and linens), short-sleeved clothes are best, although a jersey/jacket might be needed for the cooler evenings. Umbrellas and raincoats are essential for the summers and the Western Cape winters. Warmer clothes are needed for the winter months. For those going on a safari, cool neutral coloured clothes are best.  

 

Crime:

The crime situation in South Africa has been of some concern to travelers to South Africa and although crime is a reality in South Africa, it has largely been exacerbated by media hype.

We would like to assure you that provided certain precautions are taken and one is sensible, there is no need for more than a healthy concern.

Keep wallets, passports or other valuable items out of sight.

Don’t flaunt expensive cameras or high tech equipment while sight seeing in certain areas.

Don’t walk around at night in dark deserted areas.

 

Driving in South Africa – Rules of the Road:

South Africa has an excellent road network, which is well signposted in most areas.

All visitors intending to drive are required to obtain an international drivers permit. Visitors found driving without a permit will be fined and not permitted to continue on their journey. Visitors will also not be able to rent a car without a valid driver’s permit. This needs to be presented in conjunction with your international driving license.

The wearing of seatbelts is compulsory and strictly enforced by law.
We have very strict drinking and driving laws – with a maximum allowable alcohol blood content of 0.05%. This means about one glass of wine for the average woman and perhaps 1.5 or two for the average or large man.

Speed limits are clearly signposted, but generally the speed limit, on motorways / freeways is 120 km per hour and 60 km per hour in built up areas (unless otherwise indicated).

Traffic laws are strictly enforced.

Please note that in South Africa people drive on the left hand side of the road. 

 

Electricity:

South Africa’s electricity supply: 220/230 volts AC 50 Hz
Exceptions: Pretoria (230 V) and Port Elizabeth (200/250 V)

Most plugs have three round pins but some plugs with two smaller pins are also found on appliances. Adaptors can be purchased but may be in short supply.

Please note that US-made appliances may need a transformer. 

 

Holidays:

1 January          New Year’s Day.
21 March           Human Rights Day.
13 April             Good Friday (dates differ)
16 April             Family Day (dates differ)
27 April             Freedom Day.
1 May               Workers’ Day.
16 June             Youth Day.
9 August           National Women’s Day.
24 September    Heritage Day.
16 December     Day of Reconciliation.
25 December     Christmas Day.
26 December     Day of Goodwill.

Holidays falling on a Sunday are observed the following Monday. 

 

Immunisation:

No international immunisation is required when entering South Africa.

The only inoculation requirement is a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate for people arriving in South Africa from a yellow fever zone.

 

Languages:

South Africa has 11 official languages, with the four most popular being Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English. English however, is spoken throughout most of the country.

 

Medical Services:

Medical services in South Africa are readily available and private medical care is of an exceptionally high standard. However, South Africa has no national health scheme and it is advisable to purchase travel insurance, which covers all medical expenses during the period of your stay.

 

Malaria:

Regions where you are currently in danger of contracting malaria include parts of Northern KwaZulu-Natal (Low Risk Area), Maputaland, Mpumalanga and the Northern Province.

It is advisable to embark on a course of anti-malarial drugs if you are planning to visit one or more of these areas. Tablets are available without prescription from local pharmacies / drugstores in South Africa. We do however recommend that you consult a doctor or pharmacist when choosing an anti-malarial drug as some malarial strains have become immune to certain drugs.

The symptoms of malaria are similar to those of the flu and can include; diarrhoea, fever, fatigue, headaches, nausea, muscular pains and joint pains. If you experience any of these
symptoms you should consult with a doctor immediately.

In addition to taking prophylactics, visitors to high-risk areas should take the following precautions:

1. Wear long sleeve shirts, long pants and socks in the hours between dusk and dawn.
2. Apply mosquito repellent every 3 to 4 hours
3. Keep doors and windows closed unless they are screened

 

Money – Currency, Travellers Cheques & Credit Cards:

The currency unit is the Rand denoted by the symbol “R”.

Notes come in R10, R20, R50, R100 and R200 values, with coins of 5c, 10c, 20c & 50cents, as well as R1, R2 & R5 coins. (R1 = 100cents)

Foreign currency can be exchanged at commercial banks; exchange bureaus such as American Express and Rennies Travel and most hotels will also assist you in changing money.

You will need to carry cash in remote areas, but we do recommend carrying small amounts of cash and the rest as traveller’s cheques or simply carry your bank card, as this is the safest option.

Credit cards are welcomed in the major centres, with MasterCard, Visa, Diners Club and American Express the most widely accepted. These cards along with their affiliates can also be used to withdraw money from Automatic Teller Machines, which are widely distributed throughout South Africa.

Please note that credit cards cannot be used to purchase fuel.

 

Religion:

Most inhabitants profess Christianity of some form and belong to Catholic, Anglican and other protestant denominations, Afrikaner Calvinist churches or African independent churches. There are also significant Hindu, Muslim and Jewish communities, and traditional beliefs are still practiced widely, sometimes in conjunction with Christianity. 

 

Shopping:

Most major shopping centres and malls operate 7 days a week, but you will find that in the smaller towns and rural areas that shops are closed on a Sunday.

General shopping hours are:

Monday – Saturday: 09:00 to 17:00
Sunday: 09:00 – 14:00

 

 

Time Difference:

South Africa operates two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time throughout the year, making it an hour ahead of Central European Winter Time, seven hours ahead of Eastern Standard Winter Time and seven hours behind Australian Central Time.

 

Tipping / Gratuities:

The majority of the service industry works on a gratuity basis.

The recommendations for tipping are such:

Waiters; 10-15% depending on quality of service

Porters; +/- R5 per suitcase

Guides, Rangers & Lodge Staff:  R50 to R100 per person per day (This is totally dependant on what you feel comfortable with and what level of service you receive)

 

Value Added Tax (VAT):

Vat, which is currently 14%, is included in the marked/ quoted price of most goods. Foreign visitors are required to pay VAT on all purchased items. Visitors may however claim back VAT on purchased items taken out of the country when the total value exceeds R250-00.

 

Visas:

Visa requirements have recently been relaxed and passport holders from more than 80 countries including the European Union countries, Japan, Canada and the United State of America can visit South Africa without requiring a visa.

If you are not sure, please check  about visa requirements with your local embassy

 

Water:

The tap water in South Africa’s major cities, towns and most game reserves are purified and thus 100% safe to consume.

For more information please contact African Sands

 http://www.africansands.com