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| INFORMATION FOR VISITORS |
| MONEY |
South Africa's unit of currency is the rand, which is divided into 100 cents. Coins come in denominations of 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, R1, R2 and R5, and notes in denominations of R10, R20, R50, R100, and R200.
With a favourable exchange rate for many international currencies, you'll find South Africa a very inexpensive destination. And an easy one - our financial institutions are world-class, with no shortage of banks, bureaux de change, and automatic tellers.
From the moment you step off the plane you'll start seeing banks, bureaux de change, and automatic tellers everywhere. Banks are generally open from 09:00 to 15:30 Monday to Fridays, and 08:30 to 11:00 on Saturdays, but those at the airports adjust their hours to accommodate international flights.
The major banks have branches as well as automated teller machines (ATMs) in most large towns - and all over the cities. International banks have branches in the major cities.
With a favourable exchange rate for many international currencies, you'll find Cape Town a very inexpensive destination. For example, one British pound will buy you three daily newspapers, one take-away hamburger, or three cans of Cola. Thirty pounds will get you bed and breakfast in a decent guesthouse or hotel, or a bus ticket for a ride of a few hundred kilometres.
One US dollar will get you two daily newspapers, or two cans of Cola. A litre of petrol - which is about 0.25 gallons - will cost you about $1. An economy class flight between Johannesburg and Cape Town will cost about $100.
One euro will buy a good cup of coffee in a restaurant, or two loaves of bread. A music CD will cost about 15. |
| CUSTOMS |
You can bring R3 000 worth of goods into South Africa duty-free. Additional goods with a value up to R12 000 will be charged a flat rate of 20% duty. Thereafter, normal customs duties apply. Other goods that you can bring in duty-free are:
- two litres of wine
- one litre of spirits
- 200 cigarettesy
- 20 cigars
- 250g of cigarette or pipe tobacco
- 50ml of perfume
- 250ml of eau-de-toilette
The alcohol and tobacco allowances are limited to people over 18. You have to declare all currency when you enter South Africa. When you leave, you can take R500 in cash. A 20 % levy will be applied to amounts over that. |
| GETTING AROUND |
On the whole, transportation compares favorably with those of first world countries. Access to Cape Town is provided by excellent road, rail, sea, and air transport services. Cape Town is currently connected with direct flights to 29 cities in 7 countries. In addition, a one-flight connection via Johannesburg links the city to 59 cities in 52 countries. A total of 21 international, regional, and domestic airlines fl y into Cape Town International Airport, which was granted gateway status in 1992.
South Africa's road infrastructure is ranked third in the world, and an excellent road network links the largest metropolitan areas with the smallest villages. The speed limit in urban areas is 60km per hour, 100km per hour on rural roads, and 120km per hour on freeways. South Africans drive on the left-hand side of the road. You can drive with an international driver's license provided that it contains a photograph and is printed in English.
Cape Town is linked to the rest of South Africa by 3 major national roads. The N1 leads through Bloemfontein, Johannesburg, Pretoria, and further north to Zimbabwe. The N2 leads through Port Elizabeth and Durban, all the way up to Mozambique, and the N7 leads up the Atlantic coast towards Namibia.
Long-distance bus transport is available from Cape Town to all the major centres around the country, as well as connecting routes into a number of other countries including Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe. |
| HEALTH |
If you are planning to venture into less-developed areas of Africa, you should seek consultation at least 6 weeks before your intended departure to confirm the correct nature of precautions to take. If you are only travelling to Cape Town it is not necessary to have any vaccinations. Malaria is mainly confined to the eastern half of South Africa (Northern KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, and the Northern Province), and is especially prevalent on the Lowveld. It is perfectly safe to drink tap water, but don't drink from open water sources such as rivers and dams.
The main health risks in South Africa are:
Malaria
Malaria is an infectious disease carried by the Anopheles mosquito. It is mainly confined to the eastern half of South Africa - Northern Kwa-Zulu Natal, Mpumalanga, and the Northern Province - and is especially prevalent on the Lowveld. The symptoms might include severe chills, fever, and enlargement of the spleen, anaemia, and jaundice. You should consult your doctor or a specialist clinic at least six weeks before traveling to high-risk areas. Pregnant women should not travel to risk areas.
Bilharzia
Bilharzia is a waterborne parasite found mainly in east-fl owing rivers. The disease usually affects the liver, and can be treated with a course of medication if diagnosed early enough. It is recommended that you have a bilharzia screening within two weeks of your return home if you spent a lot of time in open water sources such as rivers and dams.
Hepatitis
The two most common forms of hepatitis are A and B. Hepatitis A is an infectious disease that is transmitted through contaminated food and water. Hepatitis B can be transmitted through unhygienic medical equipment, shared needles, sexual activity, or blood transfusions. Hepatitis B inoculations should be administered to children under 12 before travelling to Southern Africa, if they were not inoculated in infancy.
HIV/Aids
AIDS, or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, is generally considered to be caused by strains of the HIV (human immunodeficiency) virus. It is transmitted through the exchange of body fluids - semen, blood, and blood products - and has been known to go unnoticed in an infected person's body for over ten years. South Africa has one of the highest HIV infection rates in the world. We are expected to lose 6 million citizens to Aids-related diseases over the next 10 years. It goes without saying that you should exercise the same precautions here that you would anywhere else in the world - never have sexual intercourse without taking the necessary precautions. |
| PUBLIC HOLIDAYS |
You should find most shops, cinemas, and restaurants open on holidays other than Christmas and New Year's Day.
The calendar of holidays for 2006 is:
01 January New Year's Day
21 March Human Rights Day
14 April Good Friday
17 April Family Day
27 April Freedom Day
01 May Workers' Day
16 June Youth Day
09 August National Women's Days
24 September Heritage Day
25 September Public Holiday
16 December Reconciliation Day
25 December Christmas Day
26 December Day of Goodwill
If a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the Monday becomes a public holiday. |
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