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Destination - Pretoria, South Africa 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 few 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. For more information about South Africa visit the official South African Tourism website or the SouthAfrica.info website: South Africa Tourism SouthAfrica.info AES 2008 delegates may wish to extend their visit to South Africa with a pre- or post-tour, and find more information on possibilities available via the section entitled “Tours”. PRETORIA Pretoria, the administrative capital of South Africa, is situated in the northern part of the Gauteng province. It is popularly known as the Jacaranda City, due to the purple-flowered trees lining the streets in October. Pretoria is a lovely, quiet city, with a fascinating history as is evident from several historic buildings. The city has more than 100 parks, including bird sanctuaries and nature reserves. Popular visitor attractions in Pretoria include the magnificent Union buildings (the official seat of the South African government), the Kruger house, the Pretoria Art Museum, the National Cultural History Museum, the Transvaal Museum of Natural History, Melrose House, the Voortrekker Monument, the National Zoological Garden and the National Botanical Garden. TRAVEL TIPS CLIMATE Seasons: Summer: November – March Autumn: April – May Winter: June – August Spring: September – October South Africa has a warm to hot climate, making it one of the best year-round destinations in the world. Summers are generally hot, although evenings can be cool. Winters are mild to cold, with occasional snowfalls, especially on the mountain peaks. The Western Cape is a winter-rainfall region, while the rest of the country gets most of its rainfall in summer. The South African sun is strong, with a high ultraviolet rating. Sunscreen with a sun protection factor of 15 or higher is recommended. 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. Average exchange rates in March 2008: US$ 1 = ZAR 8.00 EUR 1 = ZAR 12.44 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 open 24 hours a day for cash withdrawals and statements. All major credit cards are accepted. ELECTRICITY 220/230 volts, 50Hz 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 prohibited in public buildings and on planes, buses and trains. Most restaurants have designated smoking and non-smoking areas. FACILITIES FOR THE DISABLED Many hotels offer facilities for the disabled, as do most rest camps in the Kruger National Park. Wheelchairs and other aids are available for hire in most cities. Most airlines provide passenger aid units at the major airports, while 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. Infants under the age of one year are exempt. Malaria is endemic in some parts of Mpumalanga, Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal, and it is essential to take precautions if you intend to visit these areas. 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 South Africa. MEDICAL SERVICES Health services are excellent and widely available in the country. However, 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 The national road network covers more than 7 200km. 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; driving while talking on a mobile phone is illegal 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 As in any foreign country, 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. The Menlyn Park Shopping Centre trading hours are from 09h00 to 19h00 from Monday to Thursday, 09h00 to 21h00 on Fridays, 09h00 to 19h00 on Saturdays and 09h00 to 17h00 on Sundays. STANDARD TIME Two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time. TELEPHONES Pretoria telephone dialling codes: International: +27-12- National: 012- National Directory Enquiries: 1023 International Directory Enquiries: 10903 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, 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 O.R Tambo (Johannesburg), Cape Town and Durban International Airports. WATER In the major cities and towns and at most game reserves, tap water is treated and is safe to drink. |
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