SOUTH AFRICA MINI GUIDE

South Africa: General information

Location: Africa

Local time: GMT +2

Capital: Pretoria (Administrative), Cape Town (Legislative)

Language: Afrikaans, English, many African languages including Xhosa, Zulu

Electricity: 250V AC 50Hz (Pretoria); 220/230V AC 50Hz (elsewhere)

International direct dialling code: 27

Driving: Driving is on the left. International Driving Licence required

Currency: Rand (ZAR 1 = 100 Cents)
Notes: ZAR: 10, 20, 50, 100, 200
Coins: ZAR: 1, 2, 5. Cents: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50

Traditions/Mores: Most business executives speak in English. There is a no smoking policy in all public buildings and on public transport. On social occasions, eg invitation to restaurants, be punctual and dress as for business meetings unless otherwise indicated. The minimum drinking age is 18 years

Emergency services: Varies according to area

Climate

Varies from temperate to sub-tropical. In Gauteng Province (Johannesburg area) summers are hot with showers and cold in winter. KwaZulu/Natal (Durban Area) has hot humid summers and moderate winters. Cape Town in the Western Cape Province has a Mediterranean climate, with most rainfall during winter. The rest of the country, including the rest of the Cape Provinces have most rainfall during the summer with the eastern and southern coastal regions tending to be wetter. The west coast and Karoo is a semi desert region.

Air Travel

South Africa’s national airline is South African Airways (SA) (website: www.flysaa.com). There are frequent direct and indirect flights by numerous major airlines from destinations throughout Europe and North America. For more information regarding airports, contact Airports Company South Africa (tel: (11) 453 9116; fax: (11) 453 9353/4; e-mail: webmaster@airports.co.za; website: www.airports.co.za).

Approximate flight times:

From Cape Town to London is 11 hours 30 minutes, from Durban is 14 hours and from Johannesburg is 10 hours 30 minutes. From Johannesburg to New York is 14 hours 30 minutes.

International airports:

Cape Town (CPT) (Cape Town International), 22km (16 miles) east of the city. 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. Courtesy buses are operated by some hotels. Taxis are available, with a surcharge after 2300 (travel time - 20 minutes). Car hire is available (includes Avis, Budget, Europcar and Hertz).
Bloemfontein (BFN) (Bloemfontein International), 10km (6 miles) east of the city (travel time – 15 minutes). Airport facilities include ATMs, restaurants, car hire and conference facilities. There is an airport shuttle bus to the city centre (leaving from outside the airport building). Taxis are also available.
Durban (DUR) (Durban International), 18km (11 miles) southwest of the city (travel time – 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) (Johannesburg International), 22km (14 miles) east of the city (travel time – 35 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. Courtesy coaches are operated by some major hotels.
Port Elizabeth (PLZ) (Port Elizabeth International) is 5km (3 miles) west of the Capital Business District. Airport facilities include Nedbank ATM, conference facilities, information desk (tel: (41) 507 7319), 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.

SOUTH AFRICA FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Where to find cheap, possibly non-stop tickets to South Africa? Can I get the best lowest airfare at the last moment? Which airlines fly to South Africa? Which travel documents, passport, visa required, what are health immunization requirements in South Africa.

Recommended immunisations:

*diphtheria, hepatitis A, *hepatitis B, *malaria, polio, *TB, tetanus, typhoid
* recommended in some circumstances, travellers making 3 or more visits per year, stays of more than 3 months in a rural area, high-risk occupational groups & backpackers staying more than 1 month

Health risks in South Africa:

Malaria exists throughout the year in the low altitude areas of the Mpumalanga Province (including the Kruger National Park), Northern Province and north eastern KwaZulu-Natal as far south as the Tugela river. Risk is highest from Oct-May. Rabies

South Africa Passports

Required by all

Notes:

Passport validity:
1) United Kingdom & United States passport holders must hold passports valid for no less than 30 days after the expiry of intended visit, which must contain at least 1 blank page
2) Nationals of other countries should contact nearest embassy/consulate for details

South Africa Visas

The following DO NOT require a visa:
1) Holders of South African passports or travel documents
a) United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories
b) Australia, British Virgin Islands, Ireland Rep
2) For stays up to 90 days by:
a) Citizens of United Kingdom holding United Kingdom passports (excluding nationals of the following British Overseas Territories: Anguilla, Bermuda, British Antarctic Territory, British Indian Ocean Territory, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands, Sovereign Base Area of Akrotiki & Dhekelia & Turks & Caicos Islands)
b) Holders of passports of the following countries: Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Czech Rep, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, Portugal, St. Vincent & Grenadines, San Marino, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela
3) For stays up to 30 days by holders of passports of the following countries: Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Gabon, Guyana, Hong Kong (holders of Hong Kong British Nationals Overseas (BNO) passport or Hong Kong S.A.R. passport) Hungary, Jordan, Korea (South), Lesotho, Macao (holders of Macao S.A.R. passport), Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Namibia, Peru, Poland, Seychelles, Slovakia, Swaziland, Thailand, Turkey, Zambia & Zimbabwe

Notes:

Transit

Required by all except those as noted above and:
1) Persons in direct transit by air, provided holding confirmed tickets and documents for entry into their next destination

Special notes: All visitors must hold onward/return tickets & sufficient funds for length of stay

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