South Africa
General Information for South Africa
Drinking water
Tap water in the major cities, towns & game reserves is safe to drink.
Electricity
220/230 volts AC. Three pronged plugs are universal, so take an adapter. Most hotel rooms have 110 volt outlets for electric shavers and small appliances.
Medical Matters
South Africa has excellent medical facilities. Doctors are listed under "Medical Practitioners" in the local telephone directories, while you'll find a dentist under "Dentists". It is advisable to take out insurance to cover you in the event of an accident, illness or hospitalisation when booking your trip.
Immunisation
Travellers arriving from a yellow fever zone require a valid yellow fever inoculation certificate.
A Cholera vaccination is no longer recommended and smallpox immunisation's are not required. It is however advisable to check with your travel clinic or doctor well in advance of your departure to ensure no problems are experienced on check-in, in South Africa.
Visitors to malarial areas in South Africa i.e. Mpumalanga, Northern Province, parts of Northern KwaZulu Natal and Zululand are advised to see their doctor, pharmacist or travel clinic for prophylactic medication which should then be taken before, during and after their trip.
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Transport
International flights currently arrive in Johannesburg and Cape Town only. Domestic airlines operate between the main cities, with charter services available at the major airports and regional airfields.
Coach tours operate daily throughout the country with Greyhound Citiliner, Translux Express and Intercape being amongst the largest.
Inter-city train services are good with regular bus services available to and from the stations.
To locate a taxi you will need to phone the taxi companies or find them at a centrally located taxi rank (usually at city centres and major airports).
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Road and Highway speed limits
Urban areas 60km p/h, rural areas 100km p/h, freeways 120km p/h. An International Driving Permit is recommended however a valid driver's licence is accepted, provided it has a clear photograph and English print.
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Public Holidays
New Year's Day - 1 January
Human Rights Day - 21 March
Good Friday Friday before Easter Sunday
Family Day Monday after Easter Sunday
Freedom Day - 27 April
Workers' Day - 1 May
Youth Day - 16 June
National Women's Day - 9 August
Heritage Day - 24 September
Day of Goodwill - 6 December
Day of Reconciliation - 16 December
Christmas Day - 25 December
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Gratuities and Tipping
It is advisable when planning your finances for your trip to take gratuities into account as tipping is customary in South Africa. The generally accepted practice is to tip according to the quality of the service levels. Please see below a guideline which will hopefully aid you when it comes to tipping:
- Restaurants - waiters and waitresses - 10%
- Taxis - 10%
- Hotel Staff - Between R5 to R10 per guest per day
- Porterage - R5.00 per person per trolley load
- Game Ranger - R50 per guest per day
- Game Trackers - R35.00 per guest per day
- Rest of the lodge staff - Most lodges/camps have a communal tip box. We suggest you place your tip in this box to be distributed amongst all the staff at a later stage - Between R20 to R30 per guest per day
- Transfer and Tour driver/guides -
Transfer - R10 per person
Half day tour - R25 per person
Full day tour - R50 per person
- Blue Train and Rovos Rail Cabin attendant - R100 per person per journey
- Waiter, Dining Car - R75 per person per journey
Please note this is only a guideline and is not compulsory!
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Tax Refunds
As a visitor to South Africa, you can spend as little as R250.00 on goods intended for export, and claim a VAT refund. The user-friendly procedure allows you to claim your money before you even leave South African territory.
Who can Claim?
Non-residents on a temporary visit to South Africa are eligible to claim a VAT refund in respect of movable goods exported through a designated point of departure within 90 days from the date of purchase.
Important Information
- Maximum payment by cheque will be for an amount of R3000.00. Claims exceeding this limit or claims requiring further audit will be posted.
- Goods consumed in South Africa or services rendered in the country do not qualify for VAT refunds.
- Only original Tax Invoices will be considered for refunds.
- The goods must be presented for inspection on departure.
- Goods must be exported within 90 days of the date of purchase and the claim lodged within 3 months from the date of export.
- An administration fee of 1.5% of the inclusive value of the claim will be deducted, subject to a minimum of R10.00 and a maximum of R250.00.
- Special provisions apply to antiques, 2nd hand goods and registerable goods
How to Claim your Tax Refund
When making a purchase identify yourself as a tourist to shop assistants, and request a Tax Invoice for the goods you have purchased.
A valid Tax Invoice must contain all the following information:
- The words "Tax Invoice"
- A Tax Invoice number
- The seller's VAT Registration number
- Date of Issue of the Tax Invoice
- The seller's name and address
- The buyer's name and address
- A full description of the goods purchased
- The cost of the goods in Rands
- The amount of VAT charged or a statement that VAT is included in the total cost
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