Accommodation

There’s a huge range of accommodation on offer in South Africa to suit everyone’s pockets & tastes: from humble home-stays in rural areas to the leading international 5-star hotel chains and exquisite boutique hotels in the big cities.  Generally, levels of service, décor, facilities, locations and staff are excellent.

Here’s a quick (and very generalized) guide to some of the types of accommodation available:

Hotel: usually has a reception and communal lounges, bars & dining rooms/restaurants.  Rooms usually en-suite. All meals & drinks available.
Country House: usually offers all that a hotel does, but it’s usually far more informal and set in nature eg near a reserve/lake.
Boutique Hotels: new breed of hotels, offer full service but emphasis is on personal service & ultimate luxury.
B&B (bed & breakfast): usually a small home/house, breakfast is included. Usually no more than 5 or 6 rooms (en-suite/ shared bathrooms) and the owners/managers often live in.  
Guesthouse: larger than a B&B and owners/managers live away from the main buildings. Generally large communal areas for the guests.  
Guest Lodge: more of a country/natural setting eg forest lodge, game lodge, bush lodge, etc.  Often offers packages eg game drives, hikes, forest walks, tours and spa treatments.
Self-Catering: may be anything from a mansion to a house,cottage, chalet, bungalow, cabin, apartment or room.  Units are usually fully equipped.
Caravan & Camp Sites: rent a site to pitch a tent and/or park a caravan/mobile home.  Full ablution & washing-up facilities on site.  Power points usually available.
Backpackers & Hostels: communal dormitories but usually also have private & en-suite rooms.  Most areas are communal. Generally cater for international & independent travellers &/or niche markets eg hikers, school groups, etc.

Aids (see HIV/Aids)

Airports

South Africa has several international airports:

O R Tambo International (prev. Johannesburg International Airport) – 24 km east of city centre & SA’s largest airport by far, servicing over 13 million passengers & more than 40 airlines each year.

Cape Town International Airport – 22 km from city centre – second busiest airport with several international flights and around 7 million passengers a year.

Durban International Airport – 14 km from city centre – 3rd busiest airport, servicing mainly Mauritian & Swaziland flights.

Lanseria International Airport (north of Fourways, Johannesburg).

The King Shaka International Airport (KSIA) at la Mercy, north of Durban

Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport , Nelspruit – 40 mins drive from Kruger National Park

Gateway International Airport, Pietersburg/Polokwane


Airports (National/Domestic):
Port Elizabeth, East London, George, Kimberley, Upington, Bloemfontein, Pilanesberg (near Sun City), Rand Airport (Johannesburg) & Grand Central Airport (Johannesburg).

Banking Hours:

Banks are open from 09:00 - 15:30 Mondays - Fridays and from 08:30 - 11:00 on Saturdays.  Closed on Sundays & public holidays. Four major banks in South Africa are

Absa

First National
Nedbank
Standard Bank

Big Five (5)

Africa’s famous Big 5 animals, classified by the early hunters – not for their size, but for the difficulty in hunting them: lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhino.

Borders

South Africa shares borders with Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho and Swaziland.

Buses

There are a number of excellent bus companies offering good inter-city, cost-effective transport.  Some operators offer special sleeper buses for overnight travelling.  The Baz Bus is an excellent option for backpackers and offers a door-to-door service along the major tourist routes.  (see links on front page for more info).

Car Guards/Parking Attendants

These are found at most shopping centres throughout South Africa.  Official guards have a ‘bib’ or apron as a uniform.  Often they’ll help you pack your shopping into your car if you let them.  A tip of R2 – R5 is the norm, but you’re not obliged to pay them.

Car hire

There are many reputable car hire companies offering a wide range of vehicles to suit all needs – from budget basics to the ultimate in luxury sedans & fully-kitted 4x4s & camper vans.  Unless you’re staying in one spot, insist on unlimited kms.  Under 25’s expect to pay a premium in insurance.  To hire a car, you need a valid driver’s licence (eg international) and a credit card.  Most companies offer standard or super insurance cover – standard = pay less on daily rate, but a higher excess in the event of an accident or loss.  Super cover = costs more per day, but the excess is lower or nil.  Some companies allow you to cross borders with the vehicle – the excess and/or premiums usually double.  There is also an additional charge for one-way hires eg hiring in vehicle in Johannesburg and dropping it off in Durban.  

Cellular Phones/Mobiles/Handys

The 3 main services providers are Vodacom, MTN and Cell-C.  Most offer phones for rent (offices at major airports).  Good coverage is provided in all major centres & along major highways throughout South Africa.

Connectivity

There are internet cafes in most major centres.  Various options are available from ADSL to wireless, GPS, 3G and HSDPA.  Most lodges offer some form of internet access.  There are also WIFI hotspots at all major airports, coffee shops and business centres. Still fairly expensive compared to most western countries.  A new undersea cable (planned for July 2009) should help revolutionise the speed and costs in southern Africa.

Credit Cards

MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted – not all establishments accept American Express &/or Diners (especially those in rural areas/smaller towns).  Some budget operators charge an administration fee for processing credit cards to offset any bank charges incurred.

Currency

The Rand (ZAR or R). One Rand = 100 cents. Banknotes – each in a different colour & features one of the Big Five animals -R 200 (leopard – orange/green), R 100 (buffalo - blue), R 50 (lion - red), R 20 (elephant - brown) and R 10 (rhino - green). Coins -  silver: (from largest to smallest) R 5, R 2 and R 1; yellow alloy: 50c, 20c & 10c; bronze: 5c.

Dialling

South Africa’s country code is +27. To access an overseas line, dial 00 plus the country code.  To call any number within South Africa, you need to add the area code before dialing eg Johannesburg – 011 & then the number.  

Directory Enquiries

Within South Africa        1023
International enquiries     10903

Electricity

The electricity supply is 220/230 volts AC 50 HZ, (except Pretoria - 230 V & Port Elizabeth - 200/250 V). Most plugs are round 3-pin or 2-pin style.  Adaptors are readily available at most supermarkets.

Exchange (currency)

Money & traveller’s cheques (US $, GB Pound Sterling and ZAR preferred) can be changed at banks, bureaux de change, larger hotels, shops & restaurants.  It does pay to shop around for the best rates – some places give better rates, but charge higher commissions. ATMs are available all over the country – from shopping centres to garages to local stores.

Grading

There is a South African Tourism Grading Council with a 5-star grading system in place.  Another good measure of quality is the Automobile Association’s Quality Assurance system: AA Recommended, AA Highly Recommended and AA Superior.  They also hold annual Accommodation Awards.  Both systems require the accommodation establishment to pay to be graded/reviewed and both have no adequate systems to assess the atmosphere, hidden extras and ‘x’ factor of an establishment
SA Tourism Grading Council website
AA Travel website

Health

Health & hygiene levels are good in most parts of South Africa, especially in the urban areas.  Most big centres have large, public provincial & regional hospitals.  Most large towns also have excellent private hospitals and clinics.  Some hospitals & clinics in the rural areas still face many challenges.   A good resource to search for medical/dental/veterinary services & products is Medpages.

HIV/Aids

HIV/Aids affects the lives of millions in South Africa & many parts of Africa. Some people live with the disease for years & enjoy making a valuable contribution to society.  Others are less fortunate and are also victims of poverty, over-crowding and bad living conditions & fare far less well.  Be advised.  Be aware.  Be safe.  But don’t be paranoid & don’t shun people living with the disease.

These are the facts:

HIV can only be transmitted through unsafe sex, or coming into contact with infected body fluids eg blood, semen and being pricked by an contaminated needle, blade, etc.  ie NOT by sitting on toilet seats, hugging someone with HIV, holding hands.

If you think you may have been exposed to HIV for any reason, there are special units at most major hospitals that are trained to council, test and administer ARV drugs.  An excellent resource is the HIV-911 website and the Helpline number is 0860 HIV 911 or 0860 448 911

Immunisations / Vaccinations

Only if you’re entering South Africa from a yellow fever area will you need a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate. No other immunizations are required.

Infrastructure  

South Africa definitely leads the way this side of the Sahara.  All major cities & towns offer excellent facilities with tourism, retail, commercial, medical, educational, communication, technological and banking services on par with other major cities throughout the world.

Languages

There are 11 official languages in South Africa, most are mostly regional: IsiZulu (KwaZulu-Natal) is the most common, spoken by 23% of the population. Next is isiXhosa (Eastern Cape). Third is is Afrikaans - 13.3% - mainly coloured and white South Africans. Sepedi,is 4th (Limpopo),  English – 5th (as a home language), Setswana  (North West), Sesotho (Free State), IsiNdebele (Mpumalanga), spoken by 1.6% of South Africans, SiSwati (Mpumalanga – near Swaziland) - 2.7%, Tshivenda (Limpopo) - 2.3%, Xitsonga (Limpopo) -4.4%.  

There are also colourful ‘unofficial’ languages like Fanagalo – a mix of languages developed on the mines and Tsotsi Taal – a hip township lingo. English is the language of choice for business & administration & is widely spoken.
   

Malaria

This is a serious health risk but is only found in certain areas (please look at Malaria info under “Useful links” on the home page for useful, common-sense tips & a map of affected areas.

Oceans

The warm Indian Ocean to the east & south of South Africa and the cold Atlantic Ocean is found on the western Cape coast.  The two oceans meet at Cape Point on the Cape Peninsula.  The southern-most tip of South Africa is at Cape Aghulas in the Cape Overberg.

Peak Seasons

School holidays over December/January (summer) and Easter holidays (March/April) are the busiest seasons – so book ahead if you can! Also builders (and many other firms) traditionally close over the Christmas/New Year period.  Other school holidays are in June/July & September so these can be busy.  Off-peak months mean less crowding & you can often get huge discounts.  The Cape is gorgeous from mid-January to about April.  Kruger is much cooler in the dry months – May – August.  

Petrol/Gas Stations/Garages

There are many spread the length & breadth of South Africa.  Most are open 24/7.  If you’re travelling through remote areas, plan where to fill up & think of taking a spare 25l petrol canister with you.  All garages are serviced in South Africa.  An attendant will fill your tank and probably check your tyres, oil & water, clean your windscreen, etc.  A tip of R2 – R10 is usual.  Again, good service = good tip!  Payments can be made in cash or petrol/garage cards from local banks.  Credit/debit cards are not accepted!  Many garages have ATMs and convenience stores on site, offering basic supplies and perhaps meals & coffees.

Postal Services

The government post offices open Monday to Friday from 8h30-16h30 and on Saturdays from 8h00 -12h00.  There are also good private postal services throughout the country eg Postnet and 3@1 which also offer secretarial services, internet, faxing, copying, printing, etc. 

Prices

South Africa is an extremely affordable destination - especially if you're paying in Euros, US Dollars and GB Pounds.  As a bench mark, a litre of unleaded petrol costs around R6.50, a Castle beer (370mls) costs around R10 in a restaurant and a Big Mac burger (no fries) costs around R20.  (Prices as of end Feb 2009)

Provinces

South Africa has 9 provinces: Gauteng, North West, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, Eastern Cape, Western Cape & Northern Cape.  See accommodation section for details of attractions and highlights of the various areas.

Public Holidays

South Africa has 13 public holidays.  In major centres, most restaurant, movie houses and shops are often open.  Christmas Day & New Year’s Day, most businesses are closed.  If a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday becomes a holiday.

1 January      New Year's Day
21 March     Human Rights Day
Friday        Good Friday (Friday before Easter Sunday)
Monday    Family Day (Monday after Easter Sunday)
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

Religion

The majority religion is Christianity but freedom of worship is guaranteed by our constitutiion.

Road Networks

The road networks are excellent and South Africa’s highways are continually upgraded and maintained.  Many of the major routes (N highways) have become toll routes. The road infrastructure is generally reliable except in the rural areas where roads can be dirt and potholes quite severe.  Self-drive holidays are an excellent way to savour & experience South Africa.  Most reputable car hire companies offer 24 hour roadside assistance.  Good website to check for road conditions & any road works/closures/delays is the National Roads Agency website and the Arrive Alive Road Safety Blog.

Safety

Use common sense, be aware, not paranoid & you should be fine. (A full page of practical advice can be found under ‘Travel Safety’ – also on this Travel Guide section.)

Savings

Look out for seasonal specials on virtually everything.  Off-season accommodation is often half the price!  Often you can save incredibly on air tickets, car hire, tours, etc if you book & pay in advance.  Other operators offer discounts on last-minute specials.  Don’t be afraid to ask.

Seasons in South Africa

Spring: (depending where you are) is from August to October.  Some areas show off more than others at this time of the year eg Namaqualand’s incredible show of daisies and the Highveld’s blossoms and Pretoria’s jacaranda trees burst into flower. Summer is from November to January - generally hot weather with afternoon thunderstorms which clear quickly. The Western Cape, however, has a Mediterranean climate and winter rainfall. Autumn runs from February until April – normally not a lot of rainfall countrywide and warm to cool days. In Cape Town, autumn is glorious with hot, sunny days and warm, balmy nights. Winter, from May to July, is typically dry, bright and sunny throughout most of South Africa, with clear days and cold nights. There may be spells of rain in the rest of the country, but it is the Western Cape’s rainy season.  The Highveld & interior can get bitterly cold at night (with temperatures dropping below zero).  The high mountains often get snow. Most South Africans shiver through the winters & pretend it’s not really happening. Homes are not centrally heated or well-insulated as thankfully, it is the shortest season of the year!

Service in South Africa

Service levels in South Africa are generally high – especially in the major centres.  In the hospitality industry, there is a constant need for ongoing training, especially for events like the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Shopping

Shops at major malls & centres are usually open 7 days a week, 09h00 – 17h00 Mon – Sat and 09h00 – 15h00 on Sundays. Extended shopping hours – often till 21h00 are offered over the festive season.  Shops & businesses in smaller towns will open for shorter hours & many close on a Sunday.

Smoking

Banned in most public places, airports, bus & train stations.  Most restaurants have smoking rooms/areas.  

Tax-Free Shopping

At OR Tambo (Johannesburg), Cape Town & Durban International Airports - see Airports Shopping for details.

Temperatures (average)

Degrees Centigrade
                        Summer                       Winter
Cape Town           20                             12.6
Durban                 23.6                           17
Johannesburg       19.4                          11.1
Pretoria                 22.4                           12
For daily and longer-term weather forecasts, visit SA Weather.

Time Zone

There is no daylight savings in South Africa.  Time is GMT + 2, CET winter time +1 and EST +7. To covert world times, visit World Time converter

Tipping

In restaurants, generally 10 – 20% of the bill (if service charge isn’t included).  Petrol attendants – R5 – R10 (depending on helpfulness), taxi drivers – 10 – 20%, tour guides, approx US $ 10 – 20 per day.  Please tip according to service levels ie great service = great tip.  Poor service = very poor tip (if any!)

Trains

Train travel is one of the best-kept secrets in South Africa.  From really economical long-distance tickets to ultimate luxury and pampering, it’s a stress-free way of getting around.  See train info link on front page for more info.

Fun rail options
For steam-train buffs, favourites include the Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe (between George and Mossel Bay on the Garden Route), The Apple Express (Port Elizabeth) and The Banana Express (South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal). These trains offer short, scenic journeys and are great fun for the family.

VAT

Most goods & services have a Value-Added Tax of 14%.  Foreign visitors can claim back VAT on items bought here, but which they are taking out of the country (if value is over R250), eg cameras, clothing, jewellery, etc). Refunds must be lodged at VAT refund offices – at OR Tambo (Johannesburg) & Cape Town international airports.  For more info, see VAT Refunds.  

Visas

Free, 3 month entry visa on arrival for most Commonwealth & European residents. For the latest info, please visit the ‘Visas’ link on the home page (under Useful Links).  Also, ensure you have at least 4 clean pages in your passport – more if you intend travelling around to our neighbouring countries.

Water

Tap water is generally excellent – again in the major centres in South Africa.  We often used to quip that ‘it’s been passed by the management … several times!’  However, do take bottled water if you’re visiting remote rural areas where clean water sources cannot be guaranteed.  Always travel with a bottle of water in your suitcase/day pack/vehicle –just good common sense.  

Weather

This wonderful country of ours has a temperate climate, with warm and sunny days most of the year.  South Africa has on average of 8,5 hours of sunshine per day – compared t  London’s 3,8 hours and New York’s 6,9 hours.  Now you know why it’s called “Sunny South Africa”!

Zen

And the art of travelling. Don’t panic.  Listen.  Absorb.  Savour.  Give a little of yourself and you’ll be amazed at the riches you’ll receive.