|
Before
You Travel to Cape Town
How
do I get there?
Car Hire
Do I need electricity
converters?
Do I need vaccinations?
Should I get a passport
and a visa?
How do I call South Africa?
What's the weather like?
What kind of clothing
should I pack?
Is there
anything I should know about customs?
Can I bring firearms?
When are the public holidays?
What is the time difference?
How
do I get to Cape Town?
- Airlines:
You can fly direct from New York and Miami to Johannesburg and Cape
Town. Connecting flights from several cities in the US travel through
Europe, Asia, Australia, and South America. Contact your travel
agent for more information. Johannesburg International Airport is
the entry point for many visitors. Hotels provide courtesy buses
from the airport, and there are public buses and taxis into the
city center as well. The larger car rental companies have airport
offices.
- Cruise
Lines: Some cruise lines include South African ports on their
sailing itineraries. Contact your travel agent for more information.
- Tours:
Many tour operators offer special vacation packages to South Africa.
Contact your travel agent or Satour for information.
Car
Hire in Cape Town:
We will be pleased to make all your car hire arrangements with our
preferred suppliers or a supplier of your choice. Where possible,
please let us know your requirements well in advance, especially during
peak season.
Do
I need electricity converters?
Electrical Current: Power systems are generally 220/230 volts AC,
50 cycles, except in Pretoria, where the currency is 250 volts AC.
Do
I need vaccinations?
Health Considerations: South Africa boasts excellent medical facilities.
However all medical treatment must be paid for, so you should purchase
travel insurance for your stay. Tap water is safe to drink throughout
South Africa. You can swim safely at beaches along the entire coastline.
You shouldn't swim in rivers and lakes in the eastern and northern
regions, as the bilharzia parasite may be in the water. Warning signs
are usually posted. The Eastern Cape is bilharzia-free. No vaccinations
are required of visitors coming from the United States or Canada.
You should take anti-malaria tablets before visiting the game reserves
and parks of the Northern, Mpumalanga, and KwaZulu-Natal provinces.
You can take tablets 24 hours before entering a malaria-affected area
and then on a weekly basis for five to six weeks. They are available
without prescription at South African drugstores. Consult a doctor
or pharmacist for advice on the best drug or combination.
Should
I get a passport and a visa?
Passports/Visas: You do not need visas for a vacation or business
visit of less than 90 days if you hold an American passport. Business
travelers need to contact a South African Consulate in New York, Chicago
or Los Angeles to obtain a business visa.
How
do I call South Africa?
Telephone: The international code for South Africa is 27, which should
be preceded by the international prefix of 011 if calling from the
US When dialing from outside South Africa, omit the 0 at the beginning
of the area code, but use it when dialing within the country. Public
phones are either coin- or card-operated. You can buy telephone cards
at post offices and airports.
What's
the weather like in Cape Town?
Climate and Seasons: Because South Africa is below the equator, its
seasons are the opposite of those in North America. Summer falls between
November and March, with the peak summer months being December and
January. Winter is May and August. Most of South Africa enjoys a pleasant,
warm climate year-round. Annual average rainfall is less than 10 inches
in the west and 40 inches in the east. Cape Town and the southernmost
part of the Western Cape has a Mediterranean-type climate, with mild,
changeable winters and a warm to hot summer. Winter brings gentle
rain showers around Cape Town and the West Coast. KwaZulu-Natal enjoys
a subtropical and sunny climate all year. Snow sometimes falls in
the Drakensberg and Cape mountains in winter. The interior is dry
and warm in winter, with cool nights. Summers are hot with more frequent
rain.
What
kind of clothing should I pack?
Clothing: Lightweight clothing is the norm during the South African
summer. In winter, a jacket or coat may be needed, particularly in
the evenings. At game reserves, wear neutral colors.
Is
there anything I should know about customs?
Customs Allowances: 400 cigarettes, 8 ounces of tobacco, 50 cigars,
2 pints of spirits, 4 pints of wine, 12 ounces of perfume, 60 ounces
of toilet water. Gifts, souvenirs, and all other goods to the value
of R500 (about $125) are permitted.
Can
I bring firearms?
Firearms: You may bring firearms into the country for hunting purposes
with a temporary permit valid for the duration of the hunt. No prior
clearance is required, but you should contact the airline at least
two to three weeks before departure for specific details.
When
are the public holidays?
Holidays: January 1, New Year's Day; March 21, Human Rights Day; March
28, Good Friday; March 31, Family Day; April 27, Constitution Day;
May 1, Workers' Day; June 16, Youth Day; August 9, National Woman's
Day; September 24, Heritage Day; December 16, Day of Reconciliation;
December 25, Christmas Day; December 26, Day of Goodwill.
What
is the time difference?
Time differences: South Africa is GMT +2. Standard Time in South Africa
is seven hours ahead of Eastern Standard (Winter) Time.
|
