Petrol and Travelling:
Petrol stations do not accept credit cards or cheques. They only accept cash and / or South African petrol cards. Petrol attendants will fill up your tank. Major petrol stations offer 24 hour service.
Post Office:
The Post Office offers a range of postal and courier services. Open from 08h30 – 16h30 Mondays to Fridays, and Saturdays from 08h00 – 12h00. Visit www.sapo.org.za for more information.
Security:
Don’t display valuables or carry large amounts of cash.
Always ask your hotel about safety before visiting an area.
Avoid isolated dark places. Don’t leave your luggage unattended. Store valuables in a safe deposit box. Keep your room locked.
When driving, fasten your seatbelt, lock doors and keep windows closed. Don’t pick up strangers. Only use cell phone with hands free kit. Lock your valuables in your boot (trunk).
Swim at beaches that are manned by lifeguards and only swim between beacons. Ask your neighbour to watch your belongings while you are swimming. South African tides are strong at some beaches and can be very unpredictable. A helpful resource on tide tables can be found on www.tidessa.co.za
In rural areas, observe and respect the cultural protocol of that area and use a registered tour guide.
Time Check:
Dial 1026 from any Telkom phone for time checks.
Tipping:
It is customary to tip caddies, taxi drivers, hotel and railway porters, stewards and waiters for good service. Accepted average tip is 10 – 15%.
Value Added Tax (VAT):
VAT is levied on most products, services, meals and accommodation. Goods consigned or delivered overseas are exempt at point of sale. Tourists may apply for a refund of VAT on items purchased and taken out of the country, provided that the value exceeds R 250.00.
Dialing South Africa from Abroad:
South Africa’s telephone exchanges are entirely automatic. To call a South African telephone subscriber, please dial your country’s international access code plus the number 27 followed by the subscribers area code and his or her number. Please note that domestic area codes begin with the digit ‘0’ and that this digit should be ignored if you’re dialing from overseas.
For example, phoning Sibuya Game Reserve, the domestic area code is 046, and the international dialing code for South Africa is +27. Therefore, to call Sibuya Game Reserve from INSIDE South Africa’s borders, you’d dial 046 648 2020. To call from OUTSIDE of South Africa, you’d dial (international access code) and 27 46 648 2020.
If you’re visiting from abroad, you can hire a cellphone (mobile) at the airport. Blue public phones work on coins and green public phones work on local Telkom phone cards – available at a variety of shops and Post Offices.
Currency and Foreign Exchange:
South African currency is measured in rands (R) and cents (c). There are one hundred cents to the rand; notes are issued in R 200, R 100, R50, R 20 and R 10 denominations, and coins in R 5, R 2, R 1, 50c, 20c, 10c, 5c, 2c and 1c.
Exchange foreign currency at any commercial bank. American Express, Thomas Cook, Rennies or Diners Club International offices or Bureaux de Change can be found in the larger centres.
Credit cards: South Africa has a modern banking and commercial system and most shops and hotels will accept credit cards. When paying for your meal in a restaurant, always make sure that your waitron swipes your card in your presence.
Banking Hours:
Most banks open from 09h00 to 15h30 Monday to Friday, and on Saturdays from 08h30 to 11h00. Branches in smaller towns often close between 13h00 and 14h00.
Credit Cards & Traveller’s Cheques:
Most international credit cards and travellers cheques are accepted at formal businesses, but expect to pay cash at informal, road-side markets (for safety’s sake, choose markets that are frequented by tourists and are on main thoroughfares).
Internet & Courier Services:
Internet access, courier and fax facilities, postage stamps, stationary, public telephones and other communications services are available at internet cafes and commercial Postnet shops. You’ll find internet cafes in almost every town and in many smaller villages. Many remain open after normal trading hours.
Medical Services:
You are advised to obtain medical insurance before you leave home. Most hospitals have emergency and casualty wards, and out-patient treatment is available at a reduced fee through state- and provincial hospitals. Undoubtedly the best medical care is offered at private hospitals, which are generally situated in larger centres.
Trading Hours:
Most shops and offices are open from 08h30 to 17h00 on weekdays and 08h00 to 13h00 on Saturdays, although, in smaller towns, some may close for an hour at lunch time. Main chain stores, shopping malls and tourist shops open on Sundays and keep longer hours on other days. “Cafes” (convenience stores) usually open at about 07h00 and remain open until late at night, 7 days a week. 24-Hour convenience stores can be found at many larger petrol stations. Muslim-owned businesses close between 12h00 & 13h00 on Fridays. Customer complains line: 0800 007 081.
Libraries:
Public libraries usually charge visitors a nominal fee.
Standard Time:
Throughout the year: South Africa is 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time, 1 hour ahead of Central European Winter Time, and 7 hours ahead of the USA’s Eastern Standard Winter Time.
Electricity:
220/230 volts 50 Hz.
Your Safety:
We can’t emphasise this enough: for the most part, South Africa is a friendly country and most South Africans desire that you enjoy your holiday. This is a land of great abundance, but there are, unfortunately, some individuals who think that your particular abundance should belong to them. You can avoid the pitfalls with a bit of common sense. As the locals about areas that should be avoided. Keep to well-lit areas after dark, lock your car and store your valuables in your hotel safe.
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