South Africa

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Quick Facts
Capital Pretoria, Cape Town, Bloemfontein
Government Republic
Currency Rand (ZAR)
Area total: 1,219,912 km2
land: 1,219,912 km2
water: 0 km2
Population 43,647,658 (July 2002 est.)
Language 11 official languages, which are Afrikaans, English, isiNdebele, isiXhosa, isiZulu, Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, siSwati, Tshivenda, and Xitsonga
Religion Christian 68% (includes most whites and "Coloureds", about 60% of Blacks and about 40% of Indians), Muslim 2%, Hindu 1.5% (60% of Indians), indigenous beliefs and animist 28.5%
Electricity 220-240V/50HZ (South Africa plug)
Calling Code +27
Internet TLD .za
Time Zone UTC+2

South Africa [1] is located at the southern tip of Africa. It is bordered by Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland and Lesotho (which is completely surrounded by South Africa). It is a vast country with widely varying landscapes and has 11 official languages, as well as an equally diverse population. South Africa is renowned for its wines and is the world's largest producer of gold. South Africa has a strong economy and is an influential player in African politics. In 2010, South Africa will host the first Football World Cup to be held on the African continent.

Map of South Africa
Map of South Africa

South Africa is divided into 9 provinces, they are:

[edit] Territories

[edit] Cities

[edit] Capitals

  • Bloemfontein -- Location of the Supreme Court of Appeal, the highest court in non-constitutional matters. The Constitutional Court in Johannesburg became the highest court in constitutional matters in 1994.
  • Cape Town -- The legislative capital and seat of Parliament. A world-class city named for its proximity to the Cape of Good Hope. Also within a stone's throw of South Africa's winelands.
  • Pretoria -- The administrative capital of the country

[edit] Others

[edit] Other destinations

Rhino on a private reserve in Mpumalanga
Rhino on a private reserve in Mpumalanga

South Africa is a paradise for anyone interested in natural history. A wide range of species (some potentially dangerous) may be encountered in parks, farms, private reserves and even on the roads.

See African Flora and Fauna and South African National Parks for additional information.

There are many geographical features and landmarks in South Africa worth a visit.

There are hiking trails available in almost all the parks and around geographical places of interest. Hiking in South Africa contains information on those.

With 2798km of coastline one can also except to find excellent beaches and coastal activities.

  • Durban, not only the beaches, but also the Indian market.
  • Port Elizabeth for swimming and scuba diving and other water related activities.
  • Jeffreys Bay, the surfing mecca of South Africa

Other places not to miss include

A number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites are also located in South Africa

[edit] Understand

The Protea is the national flower of South Africa
The Protea is the national flower of South Africa
Informal settlement near Cape Town.
Informal settlement near Cape Town.

If you want to travel in southern Africa then South Africa is a good place to start. While you can fly into any country in southern Africa, most flights will route through South Africa anyway. South Africa is also a good place to get used to travelling in the region (though some would argue that Namibia is better for that). Of course South Africa is not only a jumping off point, it is itself a superb destination rich in culture, fauna & flora and history.

Outsiders' views of South Africa are coloured by the same stereotypes as the rest of Africa. Contrary to popular belief, South Africa is not devastatingly poor with an unstable government that is rapidly going to pot. Although the rural part of South Africa remains among the poorest and the least developed parts of the world and poverty in the townships can be appalling, progress is being made. The process of recovering from apartheid, which lasted almost 46 years, is quite slow. In fact, South Africa's United Nations Human Development Index [6] which was slowly improving in the final years of apartheid, has declined dramatically since 1996, largely due to the AIDS pandemic, and poverty levels appear to be on the increase [7]. South Africa boasts a well-developed infrastructure and has all the modern amenities and technologies, much of it developed during the years of white minority rule. The government is stable, although corruption is common. The government and the primary political parties generally have a high level of respect for democratic institutions and human rights, although the government's support of the misrule of neighbouring Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe has raised questions about its commitment to human rights and even democracy itself [8].

[edit] History

The tip of Africa has been home to the Khoisan (collective name for Hottentot(Koi) and Bushmen(San)) people for thousands of years. Their rock art can still be found in many places throughout South Africa. Bantu tribes started expanding into Southern Africa around 2500 years ago and by around 500 AD the different cultural groups as we know them today had been established in the area.

The first permanent European settlement was built after the Dutch East India Company reached the Cape of Good Hope in April 1652. In the late 1700's the Boers (the settling farmers) slowly started expanding into the interior. In 1795 Britain took control of the Cape and in 1820 a large group of British Settlers arrived in the region. In 1835 large numbers of Boers started out on the Groot Trek into the interior after becoming dissatisfied with the British rule. In the interior they established their own republics after a number of bloody conflicts with the local population.

Two wars for control over the region were fought between the Boers and the British in 1880 and 1899.

The Union of South Africa was formed in 1910, consolidating the various Boer republics and British colonies. From this, the Republic of South Africa was formed in 1961. Non-Europeans were largely excluded in all these political changes and even with the creation of the Union were not given the right to vote. From 1948 additional apartheid laws were introduced to erode the right of the black population further. Since then, South Africa (at least the government itself), became almost synonymous with fascism, racism, and many other pejorative descriptions. In the years to follow, the country, despite having strong economic growth until the 1980s, experienced frequent uprisings and other social disturbances in response to the apartheid laws. Among them: weapons embargoes, being banned from the Olympic Games, and deliberate violations of the laws by black radicals.

In 1992, 68% of the voting white population voted in a referendum to have the apartheid system abolished. This was quickly followed by a new constitution in 1993 and the first fully democratic election in 1994.

[edit] Place names

Many region, city, street and building names in South Africa have been changed after the end of apartheid and some of them are still being changed today. These changes can sometimes lead to confusion as many of the new names are not yet well known. This travel guide will use the official new names, but also mention the previous names where possible.

[edit] Climate

Climate Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
High(°C) 30 30 30 27 25 24 23 26 29 29 32 30
Low(°C) 23 23 21 17 12 8 8 11 16 18 21 22
Precipitation (cm) 16.6 10 3.9 3.5 0.9 0.3 1.6 1.6 2.4 4.9 11.4 11.2

The climate in South Africa ranges from desert and semi-desert in the north west of the country to sub-tropical on the eastern coastline. The rainy season for most of the country is in the summer, except in the Western Cape where the rains come in the winter. Rainfall in the Eastern Cape is distributed evenly throughout the year. Winter temperatures hover around zero, summers can be very hot, in excess of 35 Celsius in some places.

The South African Weather Service [9] provide up to date weather information, forecasts and radar imaging.

[edit] Public Holidays

The public holidays in South Africa are:

  • January 1. New Years' Day edit
  • March 21. Human Rights Day edit
  • Easter weekend. ("Good Friday", "Easter Saturday", "Easter Sunday" and "Easter Monday"): a four day long weekend in March or April set according to the Western Christian dates. edit
  • April 27. Freedom Day edit
  • May 1. Workers Day edit
  • May 2. Bonus Public holiday. (Since Human Rights Day and Good Friday fall on the same day in 2008, an additional holiday was declared) edit
  • June 16. Youth Day edit
  • August 9. Woman's Day edit
  • September 24. Heritage Day edit
  • December 25. Christmas Day edit
  • December 26. Day of Goodwill edit

If a public holiday falls on a Sunday, then the Monday following will be a holiday

School holidays [10] occur early December to middle January, early in April, middle June to middle July and late September. Most South Africans go on leave during these times and accommodation will be harder to find.

[edit] Tourism Offices

South African Tourism operates a number of offices in other countries. You might wish to contact the office in your country for any additional information or assistance

[edit] Get in

[edit] Visas

Most nationalities get up to 3 months entry on arrival. Check with the Home Affairs [11] and your travel agent whether you need to prearrange a visa. Do not show up without a visa if you are required to have one, as visas will not be issued at points of entry. If needed, you can extend your visa in South Africa. With an extension the total amount of time you are allowed to stay is 6 months. Additional information as well as Visa application forms can be found at the Department of Home Affairs [12] , ph: +27 (0)12 810 8911

The Department of Home Affairs is notoriously inefficient, so make sure to apply for visas and visa extensions as early as possible.

Make sure you have 2 blank pages back to back in your passport and that it is valid for at least six more months or you will be sent back! Make sure you have a return ticket available or they will send you back. If you need to pick up a ticket at the airport have the flight number and details handy and speak with the customs guy, they should check your story out and let you in (be firm). Be wary of arriving with a damaged passport as new security measures might trip up your entry.

[edit] By plane

South Africa has 10 international airports, the two major ones being Cape Town International and OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. Regular flights arrive from major centres throughout Africa including: Blantyre, Cairo, Gaborone, Dar es Salaam, Harare, Lilongwe, Livingstone, Luanda, Lusaka, Kinshasa, Maputo, Manzini, Maun, Mauritius, Nairobi, Victoria Falls and Windhoek.

Direct flights also arrive from major European centres, including: Amsterdam, Athens, Madrid, London, Paris, Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich and Lisbon. There are also direct flights from Abu Dhabi, Bangkok, Dubai, Doha, New York, Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Buenos Aires, Mumbai, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Sao Paulo, Singapore, Sydney and Perth. You may also want to have a look at Discount airlines in Africa.

See Air travel in South Africa for detailed information.

[edit] By car

Should you be entering from one of the other countries in Southern Africa you might want to do so by car. South Africa operates a number of land border posts between itself and immediately neighbouring countries. The more commonly used ones are:

Botswana border

  • Skilpadsnek (On the N4, 54km from Zeerust.), ☎ +27 (0)18 366-1469. Open 6AM to 10PM.  edit

Lesotho border

  • Maseru Bridge (15km from Ladybrand on the N8 towards Maseru.), ☎ +27 (0)51 924-4004. Open 24 hours.  edit
  • Ficksburg Bridge (Just outside Ficksburg), ☎ +27 (0)51 933-2760. Open 24 hours.  edit
  • Sani Pass (In the KwaZulu-Natal Drakensberg park.), ☎ +27 (0)51 430-3664. 8AM to 4PM.  edit

Mozambique border

  • Lebombo (On the N4 between Nelspruit and Maputo), ☎ +27 (0)13 790-7203. 6AM to 10PM.  edit
  • Kosi Bay (R22 between Hluhluwe and Ponta do Ouro), ☎ +27 (0)35 592-0251. 8AM to 4PM.  edit

Namibia border

  • Nakop (132 km from Upington on the N10 towards Ariamsvlei), ☎ +27 (0)54 571-0008. Open 24 hours.  edit
  • Vioolsdrift (On the N7 north of Springbok), ☎ +27 (0)27 761-8760. Open 24 hours.  edit

Swaziland border

  • Oshoek (120km from Ermelo on the N17 towards Mbabane), ☎ +27 (0)17 882-0138. 7AM to 10PM.  edit

Zimbabwe border

  • Beit Bridge (On N1 approximately 16 km north of Messina), ☎ +27 (0)15 530-0070. Open 24 hours.  edit

Open times are often extended during South African holidays.. For a full list of entry ports or any additional information see the South African Border Information Service [13] or contact them on +27 (0)86 026-7337.

[edit] By boat

Most of the larger cruise lines, such as Princess Cruises [14] offer Cape Town as one of their destinations, but you can also try something different

  • RMS St Helena, [15]. This passenger/cargo ship is the last working Royal Mail Ship and stops at Cape Town on it's way to St Helena. edit

[edit] Get around

[edit] By plane

South Africa has a well established domestic air travel infrastructure with links between all major centres.

See Air travel in South Africa for detailed information.

[edit] By car

Fuel

Note that fuel cannot be bought on a normal credit card, only special Garage Cards issued by a South African bank are accepted at petrol stations. Most garages do however have ATM's on the premises. Visa Electron and other debit cards are accepted at most fuel stations.

You might be unfamiliar with road signs.
You might be unfamiliar with road signs.
Toll roads have SOS phones at regular intervals
Toll roads have SOS phones at regular intervals

One drives on the left-hand side of the road in South Africa. All measurements are done using the metric system; distances on road signs are in kilometre and fuel is sold by the litre.

To get a car in South Africa there are basically three options, you can hire a car, buy one or use the so-called buy-back option. Hiring a car is fairly easy and bookings can be made online and in all major cities. Buying a car takes a bit more work (Roadworthy license, registering the car, insurance), but there is a lively used car market in South Africa. The third option is a combination of both, as you buy a car with a guarantee that the rental company will buy-back your car at the end of the contract. Most cars in South Africa have manual transmissions and the selection of second-hand automatics may be limited.

The roads within South Africa, connecting most major cities, and between its immediate neighbours are very good. There are many national and regional road connecting the cities and larger centres, including the N1 running from Cape Town through Johannesburg and Pretoria up to Harare, Zimbabwe, the N2 running from Cape Town to Durban, which passes through the world-famous Garden Route near Knysna, and the N3 between Durban and Johannesburg.

Some portions of the national roads are limited access, dual carriage freeways (the N3 between Johannesburg and Durban is freeway almost all the way) and some sections are also toll roads with emergency assist telephones every couple of kilometers.

All the large fuel companies have rest stops every 200km to 300km along these highways where you can full up, eat something at a restaurant, get takeaways, do some shopping or just stretch your legs. Restrooms at these facilities are well maintained and clean. Most (but not all) of these rest stops also have ATMs. Toll roads generally have two or more lanes in each direction.

Some of the main roads have only one lane in each direction, especially where they are far from urban centers. It is customary to flash your hazard lights once, after passing a truck or other slow vehicle that has moved onto the hard shoulder to let you pass. This is considered a thank you and you will most likely receive a my pleasure response in the the form of the slow vehicle flashing its headlights once.

South Africa has a high rate of traffic fatalities, and you may want to avoid driving at night except in urban areas. Watch out for unsafe drivers (minibus taxis), poor lighting, and pedestrians (who are the cause of many accidents, especially at night). When driving outside of the major cities you will often encounter animals, wild and domestic, in or near the roadway. The locals tend to herd their cattle and goats near the road. If you see an animal on or by the road, slow down, as they are unpredictable. Do not stop to feed wild animals!

Make sure you understand the road signs. A special kind of crossing is the 'four way stop' where the car that stops first has right of way. You will not encounter many traffic circles, but when you do, take special care as the general attitude of South African drivers is that traffic circles do not constitute a traffic management roadway structure, and do not use their indicators in a safe and predictable fashion. In general, South Africans tend to speed excessively and are prone to selfish or aggressive driving behavior, such as tailgating and hooting. On multi-lane roadways, the principle of keep-left, pass right, is often not adhered to.

Left turn on Red at traffic lights are illegal, except for traffic lights that have an accompanying yield sign explicitly permitting it.

Fuel stations are full service with lead free petrol, lead replacement petrol and diesel available. Pump attendants will offer to wash your windscreen and check oil and water in addition to just filling up the car. It is usual to tip the attendant approximately R5. Almost all fuel stations are open 24 hours a day.

Speed limits are clearly indicated. Generally speed limits on highways are 120km/h, major roads outside build-up areas are 100 km/h, major roads within build up areas are 80km/h and normal town roads are 60 km/h.

Speed law enforcement is usually done by portable or stationary, radar or laser cameras. Fines will be sent to the registered address of the vehicle you are driving. Non camera portable radar and laser systems are also used and you may be pulled over for speeding and given a written fine.

Should you find yourself waiting at a red traffic light late at night in an area where you do not feel safe, you can cross over the red light after first carefully checking that there is no other traffic. If you receive a fine due to a camera on the traffic light you can normally have it wavered by writing a letter to the traffic department or court explaining that you crossed safely and on purpose, due to security reasons. Do not make a habit of this. When stopped at a traffic light at night always leave enough room between your car and the car in front of you so you can get around them. It is a common hijacking manoeuvre to box your car in. This is especially prevalent in the suburbs of Johannesburg.

South Africa currently does not have a merits system and does not share traffic violation information with other nations.

The N1 between Gauteng and Cape Town and the N3 between Gauteng and KwaZulu Natal can become very busy at the start and end of Gauteng school holidays, due to many people from Gauteng spending their holidays at the coast. If you are planning on using these two highways, it is wise to try and avoid the two days after schools break up and the two days before they open again. School holiday calendars for South Africa can be found here. [16]

The N3 normally have a Highway Customer Care line during busy periods, ph: 0800 203 950, it can be used to request assistance for breakdowns, accidents or general route information. Current toll fees, road and traffic condition can also be found on the N3 website [17] .

[edit] License requirements

If your drivers license is in any of South Africa's 11 official languages (e.g. English) and it contains a photo and your signature integrated into the license document, then it is legally acceptable as a valid drivers licence in South Africa. However, some car rental and insurance companies may still insist that you provide an International Driver's Permit.

It is generally best practice to acquire an International Driver's Permit in your country of origin, prior to starting your journey, regardless of whether your license is legally acceptable or not.

[edit] National rental agencies

Useful links

  • National Roads Agency, [25], has latest toll tariffs and road condition reports.
  • South African Automobile Association, ph: +27 (0)83 843 22, [26]

[edit] By motorhome

With the abundance of caravan parks available in South Africa, motor homes are becoming ever more popular with international visitors. It gives you the freedom to move around as well as a place to stay wherever you are.

A number of companies offer motor home rentals

 edit

  • Maui, 173 Tulbagh Road, Pomona, Kempton Park, Johannesburg, ☎ +27 (0)11 396-1445 (, fax: +27 (0)11 396-1757), [29].  edit

[edit] By offroad vehicle

Should you want to wander off the beaten path, a 4x4 or other high clearance vehicle might be required. Often it is possible to have camping gear included with the vehicle rental allowing you to combine your transport and accommodation requirements in one.

[edit] By bus

There are scheduled bus services between Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban and other cities (with stops in between), as well as connections to neighbouring countries. The main bus companies are:

  • Greyhound, ☎ +27 (0)83 915-9000, [33].  edit
  • Intercape Mainliner, ☎ +27 (0)21 380-4400, [34].  edit
  • SA Roadlink, ☎ +27 (0)11 333-2223, [36].  edit

Booking for the above can also be done via Computicket [37] .

Smaller services include City Bug [38] and Lowveld Link [39] .

An alternative is the Baz Bus [40] . It offers a regular hop-on-hop-off service on some of the most interesting routes for the tourist (Cape Town to Durban via the Garden Route; Durban to Johannesburg via Swaziland; Durban to Johannesburg via the Drakensberg). Baz Bus picks you up and drops you off at many hostels along the route, so you don't have to hang around at a downtown bus stop at night.

If you're really in a pinch, you can use minibus taxis. They are poorly maintained and rarely comply with safety standards. They also require patience as they make many detours and changeovers at the taxi rank (hub) where the driver will wait for passengers to fill up the bus. But they cover many routes not covered by the main bus service and are quite cheap (25 cents per kilometre per person on the main routes).

Warning: Many buses are removed from service by the police, due to lack of legal road-worthiness. Seek up-to-date advice on which companies are more reputable. Occasionally, the driving can be rather wild, and if you're prone to motion sickness, be prepared.

[edit] By train

Spoornet [41] is the national rail operator. There are budget passenger services between major South African cities (known as Shosholoza Meyl [42] ) as well as a Premier Class [43] service between Johannesburg and Cape Town.

Spoornet Central Reservations (for both Shosholoza Meyl and Premier Class) can be contacted as follows :

To book tickets, phone Central Reservations on one of the numbers given above and make your booking. You can pick up and pay for the tickets later at any train station.

There are also commuter trains in larger cities (Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth and East London) ; these are run by MetroRail [44] . Most services are perfectly safe, but certain routes are overcrowded and not always safe.

[edit] Mid-range

  • Bushveld Train Safaris, ☎ +27 (0)14 736-3025 (), [45]. Offers rail Safaris across South Africa edit

[edit] Splurge

  • Blue Train, ☎ +27 (0)12 334-8459 (Cape Town:+27 (0)21 449 2672, UK: +44 1403 24 3619, central Europe:+44 2089 245126, USA:+1 305 864 4569, ), [47]. This world famous luxury train operates between Pretoria and Cape Town.  edit

[edit] By thumb

Hitchhiking in South Africa is not so hard, but most people will think you are catching a ride with the local taxis and thus expect you to pay. I suggest you tell them you are looking for a free ride before climbing aboard. The main issue is crime: some drivers may hijack you and your belongings. Hitchhiking is generally frowned upon and considered unsafe. Drivers are also wary of potentially criminal hitchhikers. Don't hitchhike at night.

[edit] By bicycle

Cycling is probably the best way to experience the country, as you really get to admire the views and get the opportunity to mingle with the locals. While it could be considered unsafe to cycle through the cities, because of crime and reckless drivers, there are many farm/dirt roads throughout South Africa. Locals and Farmers are generally willing to provide you with food and a place to sleep, as long as you are willing to talk.

[edit] By Tour

There are plenty of tour operators offering tours from day tours to longer overland safaris.

[edit] Package Holidays

For bundled flight, hotel and car rental holidays in Southern Africa.

[edit] Talk

South Africa has 11 official languages. Most people other than rural black Africans speak English, although not many as a first language. Only about 9% of the population speak English as a first language, although about 60% of the population can understand English. South African English is heavily influenced by Afrikaans. Afrikaans is also widely spoken, especially by the white and coloured population. Often Afrikaans is incorrectly called 'afrikan' or 'african' by foreigners. Note this is very incorrect as 'African' for a South African corresponds with the native-african languages: Zulu, Xhosa, Pedi etc. (and, of course, there are thousands of languages in Africa so no single language can be called 'African') Afrikaans has roots in 17th century Dutch dialects, so it can be understood by Dutch speakers and sometimes deciphered by German speakers. Other widely spoken languages are Zulu (mainly in KwaZulu-Natal - South Africa's largest single linguistic group) and Xhosa (mainly in the Western Cape and Eastern Cape), as well as Sotho and Venda. This changes, according to the region you are in.

A few words you may encounter are:

  • eish - as in, "eish, it's hot today", "eish, that's expensive" or "eish, that's too far to drive"
  • lekker - Enjoyable
  • howzit - How is it? (generally a rhetorical question)
  • yebo - Yes
  • boet, bru, china or ou - Brother or man (equivalent to dude or bro)
  • koppie - A small hill (can also mean a cup)
  • Madiba - Nelson Mandela
  • robot - Traffic light
  • tannie - Respectful term for an older woman
  • tinkle - phone call
  • boot - trunk of a car
  • just now - sometime soon (from Afrikaans "net-nou")
  • now now - sooner than just now! (from Afrikaans "nou-nou", pronounced no-no)
  • braai - barbecue.
  • cheers - we use this for saying good-bye, as well as saying thank you and for the occasional toast.
  • heita - Hello
  • sharp - (usually pronounced quickly) OK
  • sure-sure more pronounced like sho-sho - Correct, Agreement, Thank you

[edit] Spelling

In general English spelling follows British rules rather than American; litre rather than liter, centre rather than center etc.

[edit][add listing] Buy

[edit] Money

South African notes and coins
South African notes and coins
The currency is the Rand (ZAR), divided into 100 cents (c). Notes are in denominations of R200, R100, R50, R20 and R10. Higher value notes are slightly larger in physical size than small value notes. All notes have a metallic security strip and a watermark. Note that there are two types of R5 coins in circulation. One is a solid silver coin while the other is silver with a copper insert. Both are legal currency.

Coins are in denominations of R5, R2, R1, 50c, 20c, 10c and 5c. Production of 2c and 1c coins were suspended in April 2002, but those still in circulation remain legal tender. All transactions are rounded down to to the nearest lower 5c, so as not to require a 2c or 1c coin.

Rough conversion [53] rates are: 7.50:1 (USD), 11:1 (EUR) and 15:1 (GBP). Carry one of the above currencies, as conversion between any of them and the Rand can be done at any bank without trouble. South Africa is part of the Southern African Common Monetary Area and the Rand can be used in Namibia (where it is an official currency along with the Namibian Dollar) as well as Lesotho and Swaziland (where it is widely accepted, but not an official currency)

Traveller's Cheques are a safe way of carrying money around. You can exchange them at all banks (you will find one even in the roughest places) and you will get a refund if they are stolen. The disadvantage is that you cannot pay with them and you will need change when exchanging them into Rand. Use ATMs instead if possible.

Automated teller machines (ATMs), linked to all major international networks, are available throughout the country and will generally dispense money in a mixture of denominations between R200 and and R10, with about 80% of the value requested being high value notes and the rest in smaller denominations. You can use any Cirrus or Maestro card as well as all major credit and debit cards at the ATMs.

It is best to use only ATMs that are inside a mall or other building. Always be careful to make sure no one is watching you enter your PIN, and be vigilant about scams (e.g. machines that seem to eat your card and won't give it back after you enter the PIN). The till points at some major retail stores (such as Pick 'n Pay) also act as ATMs; simply tell the checkout clerk that you would like to withdraw money.

VISA and MasterCard's are accepted almost everywhere, while American Express and Diners Club are also accepted, but not as widely.

Most retail stores accept credit cards and pin based debit cards as payment.

VAT (Value Added Tax) is levied at 14% on almost all products in South Africa. By law advertised prices should be inclusive of VAT except when explicitly stated otherwise. Foreign passport holders may claim back the VAT on products that were bought in South Africa and is being taken out of the country, provided that the total value of the goods exceed R250. Full details of the procedure to follow is available from the Department of Foreign Affairs [54] and their new TAX Refund for tourists [55] site. VAT Refund Administrator's offices are available at both OR Tambo and Cape Town International Airports.

[edit] Costs

[edit] Petrol and Diesel

Liquid fuel prices in South Africa are regulated and fixed monthly. During mid 2008 a litre of petrol would cost anywhere from R9.10 to R10.50. See the current prices [56] .

[edit] Toll roads

The most expensive toll gate in South Africa is the Machado plaza on the N4 between Pretoria and Nelspruit, cost is R49 for a normal car. In total, road tolls between Pretoria and Nelspruit or between Johannesburg and Cape Town will cost you just under R100.

[edit] Food

  • You can buy three McDonald's burgers (a hamburger, cheese burger and chicken burger) for around R18
  • A sit down lunch in an average establishment will cost you between R80 and R140 per person.
  • A decent 30cm pizza will cost you between R35 and R55

[edit] Shopping

Prices in shops are fixed, but prices in open markets or from street vendors are open to barter. Tipping is the norm in restaurants and at gas-stations (which are all full-service). Indeed, most of these businesses pay their staff the legal minimum-wage, relying on customer-tips to bring staff incomes up to live-able levels. Tips of around 10% of the bill are considered the norm.

[edit][add listing] Eat

Braaivleis
Braaivleis

South African cuisine is just as diverse as its cultures, with influences from British, Dutch, German, Indian, Malay, Portuguese and of course all the indigenous tribes.

  • Braaivleis, meat roasted over an open wood or charcoal fire, is very popular and generally done at weekend social events. The act of roasting the meat as well as the social event is referred to as a braai.
  • Pap, a porridge made with corn meal. Slappap (runny porridge), is smooth and often eaten as a breakfast porridge, Stywepap (stiff porridge) has a doughy and more lumpy consistency and is often used as a replacement for rice or other starches. Krummelpap (crumby porridge) is drier, resembles couscous and is often served at a braai covered in a saucy tomato relish.
  • Potjiekos, a meat and vegetable stew make in a cast iron pot over an open fire. A favourite at braais.
  • Boerewors, a spicy sausage. Boerewors Rolls are hotdog buns with boerewors rather than hotdogs, traditionally garnished with an onion and tomato relish.
  • Biltong and Droëwors, seasoned meat or sausage that has been dried. Beef, game and ostrich meat is often used. A favourite at sports events and while travelling.
  • Bunny chows, half a loaf of bread with the inside replaced by lamb or beef curry is a dish not to be missed when traveling to KwaZulu Natal.
  • Bobotie, meatloaf with a Cape Malay influence, seasoned with curry and spices, topped with a savoury custard.
  • Morogo, a wild spinach on it's own or with potato. Sometimes served with pap.
  • Waterblommetjiebredie, mutton and indigenous water lily stew.
  • Masonja, for the culinary adventurer, fried Mopanie worms.

[edit] Fast food

You will find the usual array of international fast food outlets, McDonalds, KFC and Wimpy is well represented throughout the country. Local franchises worth mentioning are Black Steer and Steers for the best burgers and Nando's [57] peri-peri chicken.

Pizza delivery is available in most urban areas.

[edit][add listing] Drink

Municipal tap water is safe to drink.

The legal age to purchase and drink alcohol in South Africa is 18. Almost all restaurants are licensed to serve liquor.

Be very careful if someone offers you witblits or mampoer; those are the local names for moonshine or firewater. It's extremely high in alcohol content and packs a lethal blow.

[edit] Beer

Local beer production is dominated by SABMiller [58] with the Castle, Amstel and Windhoek , Black Label and Castle Milk Stout being most popular brands

Imported beers such as Stella Artois, Heineken and Grolsch are also widely available.

Prices can vary widely depending on the establishment. Expect to pay anything from R7 to R18 for a beer.

[edit] Wine

South Africa has a well established wine industry with most of the wine produced concentrated in the Cape Winelands in the Western Cape and along the Orange River in the Northern Cape

[edit] Liquors

Amarula Cream [59] is made from the marula fruit. The marula fruit is a favourite treat for African elephants, baboons and monkeys and in the liqueur form definitely not something to be passed over by humans. Pour over crushed ice and enjoy. The taste, colour and texture is very similar to the world famous Baileys Irish Cream. Cape Velvet is a favourite in and around Cape Town.

[edit] Tea and Coffee

The local Rooibos tea, made from a herb from the Cederberg Mountains is a favourite for many South Africans. You will find coffee shops in most shopping malls, such as Mugg&Bean [60] and House of Coffees [61] . Coffee shops similar in concept to Starbucks, like Seattle Coffee Company and Vida e Caffe [62] (Portuguese themed), are becoming commonplace.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

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