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Destination - Cape Town
“By any standard, the Cape Town region of South Africa is one of the most beautiful and compelling places to visit on the planet. Here, in addition to a city with fascinating historical sites, excellent museums, vibrant markets and a handsomely restored waterfront, I encountered mountain wilderness, rugged coastlines, sandy beaches, lush gardens, beautiful wine estates, superior hotels and some of the warmest, most welcoming people I've ever met.” Richard Busch, Travel Editor, National Geographic Traveler Experience the majesty of Table Mountain, the luxury of the V&A Waterfront, sample world-class wines in the beautiful winelands, take an historical and emotional journey to Robben Island, enjoy a sunset concert at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, and take in the awe-inspiring views from Cape Point. This is all part of the Cape Town experience, complete with beautiful beaches, warm hospitality, first-class restaurants and hotels, and a wide array of outdoor activities easily accessible from the city centre. Whether you're a discerning traveller on business or pleasure, an eclectic experience-gathering bohemian, a thrill-seeking adventurer, a sports fanatic or an inquisitive historian, Cape Town and surrounds offer a rich variety of activities to excite the senses. AES 2007 delegates have the opportunity to extend their visit to South Africa with a choice of Pre- and Post- tours, available via the section entitled “Tours”. SOUTH AFRICA South Africa is known as a “world in one country” and offers a rich diversity of scenic beauty and urban pleasures – cosmopolitan cities, a pristine coastline, fertile winelands and outstanding game viewing. In the past three years South Africa has been one of the fastest-growing tourist destinations in the world The climate, the accessibility (for many visitors - no jet lag and only an overnight flight away!), the rich cultural heritage and the favourable exchange rate all combine to make South Africa a popular destination for more and more international visitors. TRAVEL TIPS CAPE TOWN STANDARD TIME Two hours in advance of Greenwich Mean Time CONVERSIONS: DISTANCE AND TEMPERATURE Distances throughout South Africa are given in kilometres. 1 mile = 1.62 kilometres Temperature is given in degrees Celsius. CURRENCY AND FOREIGN EXCHANGE The South African currency is the Rand Exchange rates in May 2006: US $1 = ZAR 6.2 EUR 1 = ZAR 7.90 Foreign currency can be exchanged at most commercial banks and Bureaux de Change are widely available. Banking Hours: Monday – Friday: 09h00 – 15h30 Saturdays: 08h30 – 11h00 ATMs are widely available and are mostly open 24 hours a day for cash withdrawals and statements. ELECTRICITY 220/230 volts, 50Hz, single phase EMERGENCIES Dial 10111 for the Flying Squad (special police services) and 10177 for an ambulance. ETIQUETTE The dress code across South Africa is mainly casual and smart casual, except in some restaurants and clubs that require more formal attire. Smoking is banned in public buildings and on planes, buses and trains. FACILITIES FOR THE DISABLED South African Airways provides passenger aid units at all major airports. Many hotels offer facilities for the disabled, as do most rest camps in the Kruger National Park. Wheelchairs and other aides are available for hire in most cities. The larger rental car agencies can provide vehicles with hand controls. HEALTH AND IMMUNISATION The only inoculation requirement for visitors is a yellow fever vaccination certificate for those entering South Africa within six days of leaving a yellow fever zone. Babies of one year old or less are exempt. Malaria is endemic in some parts of Mpumalanga, Northern Province, and KwaZulu-Natal and it is essential to take precautions if you intend to visit these areas. The bilharzia parasite is present in streams, rivers, lakes and dams in some of the northern and eastern parts of the country, and visitors should avoid contact with the water in these regions. There is no immunisation against bilharzia. LANGUAGE South Africa has 11 official languages and English is spoken throughout the country. French, German and Italian are also spoken at many larger hotels and popular tourist destinations around Cape Town. MEDICAL SERVICES Emergency care is excellent and widely available in Cape Town. South Africa has no national health scheme, so it is advisable to purchase travel insurance that will cover medical expenses during the period of your stay. PASSPORTS AND VISAS A list of South African consulates and embassies may be found on the South African Department of Foreign Affairs website or visit the South African Department of Home Affairs website: Foreign Affairs South African Department of Home Affairs Visa application forms can be downloaded from the South African Home Affairs website: South African Department of Home Affairs PETROL (GASOLINE) FILLING STATIONS Filling stations are conveniently situated throughout the country. Unleaded petrol is available. Most filling stations in major cities are open 24 hours a day. South African filling stations will not accept credit cards so be sure to have enough cash available for filling up. RULES OF THE ROAD An excellent road network links the largest metropolitan areas with even the smallest villages. South Africa drives on the LEFT. The speed limit in urban areas is usually 60km per hour; on rural roads 100km per hour and on freeways 120km per hour unless otherwise indicated. Wearing a seatbelt is compulsory; driving under the influence of alcohol is a serious offence; and traffic laws are strictly enforced. Valid driver's licenses from visitors’ home countries are acceptable provided that they are in English and include the driver’s photograph. If your driver’s license does not comply with these requirements, you should obtain an International Driving Permit before your departure to South Africa. SAFETY AND SECURITY Your safety and well-being are of utmost importance to Capetonians, but, as always, travellers should take a few basic precautions to ensure a safe and pleasant visit: • Never leave personal property unattended • Store valuables in your hotel’s safety deposit box • Keep your hotel room locked • Use reliable taxi services • Avoid displaying expensive jewellery and cameras • Do not carry large sums of money on your person • Stay away from dark, isolated areas • When travelling by car, plan your route in advance • Keep car doors locked and windows closed, and stay aware when stopped at a stoplight • When parked or driving, place valuables out of sight in the boot (trunk) • Never give strangers a lift SHOPPING Local manufacturers set a high premium on workmanship, and with a favourable exchange rate, visitors can afford to indulge. Shopping hours in the bigger cities are generally 08h00 to 17h00 on weekdays, 08h00 to 13h00 on Saturdays, and some shops outside of malls are still closed on Sundays. Malls are generally open until 17h00 on Saturday and Sunday, and the V&A Waterfront is open 09h00 – 21h00 7 days a week! SUN PROTECTION The South African sun is strong, with a high ultraviolet rating. Sunscreen with a sun protection factor of 15 or higher is recommended, as well as a hat. TELEPHONES Cape Town telephone dialling codes: International: +27-21- National: 021- National Directory Enquiries: 1023 International Directory Enquiries: 0903 To call internationally out of South Africa, dial 00 and then the country code. Cell phones are widely available for hire, as are ‘starter packs’ if your personal handset is compatible with the South African system. TIPPING It is customary to tip waiters, wine stewards, taxi drivers, porters, caddies and other service providers. Depending on the service, the amount should be around 10%-15% of the bill, R5 per suitcase or R20 per golf bag. VAT (Value Added Tax) Currently set at 14%, VAT is included in the marked/quoted price of most goods and services. Foreign visitors may claim back VAT paid on items to be taken out of the country when the total value exceeds ZAR 250.00. Information leaflets on the procedure to follow are available from VAT Refund Administration offices at the Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban International Airports, and at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town. WATER In the major cities and towns and at most game reserves, tap water is purified, tastes good and 100% safe to drink. |
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