TIME DIFFERENCE

South Africa is in the central African Time Zone, this is GMT +2:00. So from Europe there is little time difference or jet lag. USA is from 6-9 hours behind.

LANGUAGE

Although South Africa has 11 official languages English is widely spoken and is used as the language of record.

CELL PHONES

South Africa operates on the GSM system which covers the majority of the country and has 3G coverage in the main centers. If you do not have international roaming is it possible to either rent a cell phone from the airport or buy a local SIM card at most shops.

CURRENCY

The local currency is the South African Rand (ZAR). The exchange rate is variable, there are exchange facilities located throughout the cities and major towns

ATM

South Africa has modern and sophisticated banking systems. ATM’s will accept many international bank and credit cards

CREDIT CARDS

Most shops, hotels and restaurants will accept major credit cards. Important always be present for the entire transaction, don’t let anyone walk away with your card. 

VAT

South Africa has a Vat system. The rate is 14% on purchases and services. Prices include the Vat amount. Foreign visitors can claim back Vat from purchases of more than R250 when leaving the country at the airport.

TOURIST INFORMATION

Cape Town Tourism has a large visitor center located at the corner of Burg and Castle streets in the commercial district. There is a large amount of information available and reservation facilities for different organisations.

INTERNET

Internet facilities are available in all hotels and most other accommodation establishments. Inter cafes are located in all cities and towns throughout South Africa.

PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT

Cape Town has a variety of top class photographic stores with a comprehensive range of product availability. There are also camera repair shops in case the unthinkable happens. The large malls also provide ideal places to develop your images or save them to disk.

TIPPING

At the airport and hotels a tip of R15 per luggage is acceptable, although you are not obliged to use the porters. Parking attendants, some official, some not, usually receive between R5 and R10 depending on the parking duration. In restaurants it is customary to tip 10% if the service is good and more if you feel the service was excellent. For guides anything from R100 or more a day is good depending on the level of service and expertise.

DRINKING WATER

South African as a whole has a very clean and healthy potable water system. Drinking water from the taps is safe but if you prefer there is bottled mineral water available in all shops.

SAFETY 

As with any country in the world, there are sensible precautions you should take concerning your safety. You should never carry large amounts of cash with you. Try not to have cameras hanging loose and obvious and if you do have lots of equipment it is best to have someone to help you carry them.

In general take advice from locals about where it is safe after dark. At night, park in well-lit secure areas only. Be vigilant of your surroundings and be aware of anything that looks suspicious or out of place. Do not allow strangers to help you with ATM transactions. Try not to walk around alone, especially on mountain walks and at night in the city. Keep photocopies of all valuable documentation in a safe place.