Fast Facts for the South African Tourist

Passports must be valid until 6 months after departing SA and a return ticket is always required. Visitors may enter with duty-free personal effects and goods worth R3000. Duty is balanced at 20% up to R12000.

Safety tips in South Africa:
Never display your money or valuables and don't carry large amounts of cash. Ask your hotel for trustworthy taxi referrals. Steer clear of all isolated and dark areas. Plan routes upfront and ask policemen or other officer if you get lost.

In case of emergency, call:

Ambulance on 1022;
Police Flying Squad on 10111;
Fire Services on 1022.

Top Tip! Aim to find an Info Centre as soon as possible.

Accommodation in South Africa: South African hotels grading varies from 1(fair) - 3 (good quality) and 5 stars (luxurious and outstanding). Backpackers enjoy excellent budget options - Accommodation Listings
Note: luggage should not be unattended and use your hotel's safe-deposit box. Keep your hotel room locked at all times and enquiry before opening for a knock. Ask your hotel's desk to keep your keys when you leave for excursions.

Money in South Africa: Banking hours are from 09h00 - 15h30 weekdays, and 08h30 - 11h00 on Saturdays. Sundays are closed. ATMs are found near most shops. Most credit cards are accepted. The Currency consists of a Rand (100cents). Declare foreign currency on entry. Foreign exchange conversion can be done at commercial banks, bureaux de change and hotels. Never on the street.

Health and Medical: Travellers from yellow fever zones must be certified. Those wishing to visit malaria-areas should take anti-malarial tables, obtainable from pharmacies. Hospital and medical charges must be paid for immediately and thus travel insurance is recommended. Disabled facilities are widely offered at hotels and most of Kruger Park's rest camps. Wheelchairs may be hired in cities and SAA provides passenger aid units. South African tap water is safe to drink. Smoking is not allowed in public premises.

HIV / AIDS is a global problem and South Africa has a very high prevalence of HIV / AIDS. Never have unprotected sex.

A toll-free HIV/AIDS helpline exists at 0800-012-322.

Weather: call 082162 for updates.

Tipping - waiters and taxi drivers usually expect 10% of the bill and porters R2/bag.

Electricity - Current is 220/240 volts at 50 cycles per second. South Africa uses 13 amp round pin plugs.

Languages in South Africa - There are 11 official languages in South Africa. If you can speak English you should be understood everywhere.

South Africans - Approximately 46,9 million people call South Africa home. South Africans are also known as the Rainbow Nation.

Time - South African standard time is GMT +2 and there are no time zone differences in the country.

Vat Refunds - When purchasing goods you should request a tax invoice. When leaving South Africa all invoices need to be stamped by customs officials at the airport before proceeding to the VAT refund outlet (prior to check-in).

Dress: Casual dress is usually accepted unless otherwise stated by the relevant restaurant or hotel. It is advised to cover up against the sun and dress respectfully when entering places of religion. Nudity is not officially allowed.

Your Suitcase

Documents such as your passport, ID book etc. should have verified copies made of so that you can leave your originals in the hotel safe and only carry the copies with you.
Clothing for summer travel can be light and cool, hats are essential and shirts with collars will keep your neck protected. Clothing for winter travel should include light clothing with one or two warm items due to cold mornings and evenings. Clothing for malaria areas should be long and cover you up effectively. Pack comfortable shoes!
Your Toiletry Bag must have a high factor sunscreen, rehydrate solution and insect repellent. To lessen your chances of getting an upset stomach, pack in Pro-Biotics and take them daily. If you are on prescription drugs, pack your extra supply in a Ziploc bag and a emergency prescription from your doctor.
Adaptors for electrical appliances, such as your shaver or hairdryer will be helpful - South African electricity is 15 amps, 220/230 volts.

South Africa's Public Holidays

Interesting facts about South Africa's wonderful fauna and flora:

The city of Johannesburg has the largest man-made forest in the world.

The ostrich is the largest bird in the world.

The Kori bustard is the heaviest bird in the world.

The cheetah is the fastest land-mammal and cat in the world.

The African elephant is the largest land-mammal in the world.

The shrew is the smallest mammal in the world.

The giraffe is the tallest mammal in the world.

The leatherback turtle is the largest reptile in the world.

The eland antelope is the largest antelope in the world.

The blue-headed tree agamas (known as Agamids) are lizards that shed their blue tails like geckoes and males turn brown during the night.

The flap-neck chameleon is a little guy with lightning-fast tongue reflexes, changes colour and have conical eyes that can look in different directions simultaneously. It is bright green during day (or brown or yellow) and grey-bluish-white during nighttime.

The gaboon viper is a gorgeous, but deadly snake and the most poisonous on the continent (with the longest fangs in the world) but prefers living in tropical rain forests. It is camouflaged to perfection with a leaf-like head.

The ghost frog has a flat body and special adaptations it is designed for rapid streams. Their toe pads are disc-like for suction so that clinging to rocks in rushing water is possible.

The servals resemble cats, panthers and leopards. They are white and tan with grey to black spots and have long legs. Their smell and ears are extremely important when hunting and they stop regularly to close their eyes and listen – usually during the night.

Top To Do List in South Africa
Top Game Reserves in South Africa
Top Birding Spots in South Africa
Top Beaches in South Africa
Top Lighthouses in South Africa
Top Wine Routes in South Africa
Top Galleries and Museums in South Africa
Top Cultural, Political and Battlefield Sites in South Africa
Top Gardens in South Africa
Top Shopping in South Africa
Top Festivals in South Africa
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South African Trails - Hiking, Mountain Biking, Canoeing, Horseback, 4 x 4
Top Road Trips