Travel & Tours Information:
Destination Overview > Travel Information> 10 Things to do in South Africa > A Sojourn to Africa

 

Travel information

Entry Requirements - Visas

Please note that for entering South Africa, immigration requires that all passengers have a valid passport and at least four pages are needed to remain blank for the issuing of stamps. The passport also needs to be valid for the duration of the stay and six months after departure. Visas are not required for Germany, U.S.A and U.K passengers

For further information you may visit the South African Department of Home Affairs' website:
http://www.home-affairs.gov.za/faq.asp

Time Zone

The time in Cape Town is UTC / GMT (Greenwich mean time) plus 2 hours.

Vaccines

Cape Town and the Western Cape are malaria-free, and no vaccinations are required for cholera or smallpox. If you are on chronic medication, please keep a prescription or part of the packaging showing the generic name.

Language

English is spoken at four and five star hotels and main tourist shops.

Electricity

The electric voltage in South Africa is 220 volts, 60 cycles. A 3 round-pin plug is used.

Currency

The South African unit of currency is the Rand (R), which is divided into 100 cents.

The coin denominations are; 1c, 2c, 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, R1, R2 and R5. The notes are R10,00, R 20,00, R 50,00, R 100,00 and R 200,00.

Credit Card

Most chain stores in shopping centers, cities and suburbs accept a variety of payment options – cash, credit card (including Visa, Master Card, Diner’s Club and American Express) Very few stores accept traveller’s cheques or foreign currency as payment – so ensure you have South African Rands or a credit card handy to make payment. Most shops in smaller villages and towns accept cash only.

Traveler Assistance

Throughout the Western Cape, in most towns and villages, there is a Local Tourism Office. In total there are 86 Local Tourism Offices which form part of the Cape Visitor Information Network. The network aims to provide efficient and friendly service to visitors on all products and services, focussing on the local area.

For Your Safety

While touring or shopping take sensible percautions when carrying money. You would be wise to leave valuables at the hotel's safebox. Take a copy of the picture page of your passport to carry in your wallet you may need to exchange traveler’s checks or in case your passport is lost.

Internet Access

The Cape has a first rate communication infrastructure which includes quick and reliable internet access

Health

Visitors should drink bottled water, which is widely available.

Airport Departure Tax

A departure tax in payable for all flights in South Africa: you will pay $30 for international flights and about $5 for domestic flights within South Africa. In addition for flights to destinations within the rest of Africa the departure tax is currently $10.

Tips

Tips vary and depend on the traveler’s satisfaction with the quality of the service rendered.

Shopping

Most shops in the cities and suburbs are open between 8am and 5-5:30pm. Shops at major centres like the V&A Waterfront and Canal Walk open at 9am and close at 9pm or later, even on Sundays and most public holidays. Stalls in the flea markets generally start before 9am and start packing up after 4pm, depending on foot traffic and weather conditions. Muslim-owned businesses close at noon on Fridays and re-open at 2pm.