Tourist and Visitors

Tuesday, 12 August 2008 00:13 Last Updated on Wednesday, 09 March 2011 15:43 Written by Cornelius Anderson

Planning a trip to South Africa, but not sure on exactly what to expect? Below you will find some useful important information that you will need to know about South Africa.

Such information ranges from time zones and temperatures to banking times, what can be taken through international customs and what would be the right type of clothes to pack.

We at MiTravco hope you enjoy your travels to, and stay in, South Africa.

Electricity Supply


	Tourists to South Africa should be aware that:

	The South African electricity supply is 220/230 volts AC 50 HZ Most plugs are 15 amp 3-prong or 5 amp 2-prong, with round pins. If an adaptor is called for, consider bringing one with you, although they can be purchased locally. US-made appliances may need a transformer. Most hotel rooms have 110 volt outlets for electric shavers and appliances.

Languages Spoken


	Most South Africans are multilingual and often mix languages together so you'll hear IsiZulu, for example, prepared with English or Afrikaans phrases in their language. A list of the 11 official languages spoken in South Africa

	Afrikaans English IsiNdebele IsiXhosa IsiZulu Sesotho sa Leboa Sesotho Setswana siSwati Tshivenda Xitsonga

Communication


	Hotels offer direct dial facilities, while call boxes operate on coins and phonecards which can be widely purchased. Reverse charge and ‘home direct' (charging a call to your home number) services are available. Like most other countries, use of the cellphone or mobile is widespread throughout the country. Five service providers ensure countrywide coverage and reception is generally good in urban areas. Cellphones can be hired at all international airports. Networks used, Vodacom, MTN, CellC, Virgin Mobile and 8.ta Some information on dialing codes:

	For outgoing international calls, dial 00 plus the country and area codes of the destination concerned. Refer to telephone directories for international dialing codes, or obtain 24-hour assistance by calling 10903. For incoming international calls, the code is +27 followed by the city code or cell phone code, dropping the first 0. O8 numbers are free to the caller; 0860 numbers are charged at local rates; 0861 numbers are charged at a flat rate. Some local city dialing codes: 011 - Johannesburg; 012 - Pretoria; 021 - Cape Town; 031 - Durban; 041 - Port Elizabeth

South African - Time Zone

South African Standard Time, or SAST, is a time zone used by all of South Africa, as well as Swaziland and Lesotho. The zone is two hours ahead of UTC (UTC+2) and is the same as Central Africa Time, with Daylight saving time not being observed in either time zone.

Solar noon in this time zone occurs at 30° E in SAST, effectively making Durban and Pietermaritzburg at the correct solar noon point. Everywhere west of 22°30' E effectively experiences year-round daylight saving time due to its location in true UTC+1 but still being in SAST, thus sunrise and sunset are relatively late in Cape Town compared to the rest of South Africa.

Local Time = GMT = 2:00 ( Standard Time ) Local Time = GMT = 2:00 ( Standard Time )

Seasons


	The climate is Mediterranean and each season brings its own flavor and vibe. Long midsummer days from December to March are characterized by crystal clear rivers and oceans; orchards and vineyards ripening; and the local towns and villages abuzz with activities. Wine grapes are harvested in late summer and the entire area comes alive as the birds and butterflies make the most of the wonderful weather. In autumn (April and mid-June) the heat is milder and broken by the odd shower blown in by a north-wester or an off-shore wind that throws a refreshing 'champagne' mist over the coastline. Winter (late June to August), is mild (6°-20°C) but still nippy enough at night to enjoy a crackling log fire . The Fynbos is blooming in the tranquil green landscape. The Southern Right Whales come to mate and calve in the bays between June and November. The symphony of blossoming flowers and apple, pear, plum and youngberry blossoms herald Spring (August to October). A wealth of seed eating birds, including large flocks of the endangered Blue Crane, frequent the farmlands and breeding pairs can be spotted between September and December. Our beautiful gardens go into overdrive and the temperature varies between 14° and 21° C.

	Greater Cape Town temperature ranges in summer: 18'C (evening) to 35'C (daytime) Greater Cape Town temperature ranges in winter: 5'C (evening) to 18C (daytime) Annual rainfall: Average 800mm (can be up to 1400mm in Newlands, a suburb adjacent to Table Mountain) Garden Route temperature ranges in summer: 15'C (evening) to 25'C (daytime) Garden Route temperature ranges in winter: 7'C (evening) to 19'C (daytime) Annual rainfall: Average 700mm

Temperatures


	Temperatures, which are measured in degrees celcius, average at highs of 28°C to average lows of 8°C in the summer months and winter temperatures from 1°C at night to around 18°C in the day. Rain falls in the Western Cape in the winter, differs from the rest of the country, which usually get their rainfall during the summer time.

Internet / Internet Cafe

The Internet is expanding in South Africa, which is one of the most technologically-resourced countries on the African continent.

The .za top-level domain was granted to South Africa by ICANN in 1990, early on in the transition from the apartheid-era rule of South Africa's National Party to multi-party, multiracial government under the African National Congress.

There are Internet cafes situated throughout the country.

Internet hotspots are ubiquitous in hotels, coffee shops, and the like. This enables users often tourists or people on the move to easily go online without having to enter into a fixed contract with an ISP. Many hotspots offer usage free of charge.

Tipping - for service rendered


	In restaurants and bars, 10% to 15% is the accepted tipping standard. Parking attendants and security guards are common in parking lots and at roadside bays. They generally ask if they can watch your car while you are going about your business - if you agree, a tip of R2 and up should be offered, depending on the length of your stay. In South Africa we still have the luxury of petrol attendants at gas stations to fill up our vehicle tanks, check oil, water and tyre pressure, and clean the windscreens. How much to tip for this special South African service? From R2 up. The going rate for porters at airports is between R5 and R10 per piece of luggage. South Africa, you'll soon see, has a tradition of roadside newspaper vendors. It's custom to give the seller a few cents - rounding off the cost of your newspaper should be sufficient. Hotel porters usually expect a tip of R10 to R20 per porter service. Tour guides and drivers, Some of the other service providers you may want to tip are taxi drivers, tour guides and assistants in hairdressers and beauty salons. Should you need assistance in taking your purchases from supermarket to your vehicle, you may want to show your gratitude to your helper with a small monetary reward.

Trading Hours


	Banks 08:30 / 09:00 - 15:30 / 16:00 Mondays - Fridays 08:00 / 09:00 - 11:00 / 11:30 / 12:00 Saturdays Shopping Centers / Malls 09:00- 17:00 / 18:00 Mondays - Fridays 08:30 / 09:00 - 13:00 Saturdays (smaller centers) 09:00 - 17:00 / 18:00 Saturdays (urban areas) 10:00 - 15:00 / 16:00 Sundays (urban areas) Public holidays While supermarkets and bigger shopping malls stay open on public holidays from around 10:00 - 15:00 or 16:00, this is not the case with the corporate world which usually closes on public holidays.

Customs


	On arrival, you can take the green ‘nothing to declare' channel if you stick to these:

	Personal effects Other new or used goods not exceeding the value of R3 000 (Additional goods, new or used, exceeding R12 000 will incur a duty charge of 20%) Wine not exceeding 2 liters per person over the age of 18 Spirits and alcohol not exceeding l liter per person over the age of 18 Cigarettes not exceeding 200 and cigars not exceeding 20 per person over the age of 18 250g cigarette tobacco or pipe tobacco per person over the age of 18 Personal toiletries not exceeding 50ml and toilet water not exceeding 250ml per person

	But, if you have goods in excess of these above, take the red channel and declare your items, where you will be billed at the applicable rates by representatives of South African Customs.

What to Pack


	Generally, South Africa's climate allows for a sunny holiday at any time of the year. However, your dress requirements may vary according to your particular destination. If you intend spending a lot of time outdoors and definitely in summer, bring a hat for protection against the rather scorching sun. In the summer, lightweight cotton clothing is advised because daytime temperatures are usually 25-30 degrees Celsius. For the period of January until Middel-March, temperatures sometimes reach 35 degrees. During this period, the nights might be just as hot. In the Cape, with its Mediterranean climate, there is no rain to cool down the air.You want to bring a costume to swim in at one of our beautiful beaches. There are a few topless and nude beaches in South Africa. Further inland there is often an afternoon or evening thunderstorm. Rain may become quite heavy, so a raincoat is advisable. In the summer evenings, the heat usually lessens and only a light jacket is required. In the winter months (May to October) the sun shines almost every day. Daytime temperatures, around 17 to 22 degrees celsius. The evenings can get very cold. Temperatures have been known to plummet to below zero in some areas. So make sure to pack something a bit warmer for those evenings. Early morning and late afternoon temperatures could possibly be cold or cooler than during the day. Still, South Africa is not a country where you have to make provision for extreme colds. Generally, on most sunny winter days, trousers and a jersey are all that you may need. In the Mediterranean stretch along the south-western Cape, winters are very wet and experience a bit more rainfalls.

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