RT Destinantion Management Booklet on SA
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RTDM VAT Booklet:Layout 1 25/2/10 20:57 Page 1 SA information booklet RTDM VAT Booklet:Layout 1 25/2/10 20:57 Page 2 RTDM VAT Booklet:Layout 1 25/2/10 20:57 Page 1 SOUTH AFRICA GENERAL INFORMATION South Africa is located at the southern tip of Africa. It is bordered by Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland and Lesotho (which is completely surrounded by South Africa). It is a vast country with widely varying landscapes and has 11 official languages, as well as an equally diverse population. South Africa is renowned for its wines and is the world’s largest producer of gold. South Africa has a strong economy and is an influential player in African politics. 1 RTDM VAT Booklet:Layout 1 25/2/10 20:57 Page 2 Capital Pretoria • Administrative Cape Town • Legislative Bloemfontein • Judicial Government • Republic Currency • Rand (ZAR) Area • total: 1,219,912 km2 • land: 1,219,912 km2 Population • 48,782,756 (July 2008 est.) Language There are 11 official languages:- • Afrikaans • English • Ndebele • Xhosa • Zulu • Sepedi • Sesotho • Setswana • Swati • Tshivenda • Xitsonga Religion Predominantly Christian. Freedom of worship is guaranteed by the Constitution. 2 RTDM VAT Booklet:Layout 1 25/2/10 20:57 Page 3 Electricity 220-240V/50HZ (South Africa plug) Calling Code +27 Internet TLD .za Time Zone UTC+2 South Africa is divided into 9 provinces, they are: • Eastern Cape • Free State • Gauteng • KwaZula-Natal • Limpopo • Mpumalanga • North West • Northern Cape • Western Cape Capitals Pretoria - The administrative capital of the country Cape Town - The legislative capital and seat of Parliament. A world-class city named for its proximity to the Cape of Good Hope. Also within a stone’s throw of South Africa’s winelands Bloemfontein - Location of the Supreme Court of Appeal, the highest court in non-constitutional matters. The Constitutional Court in Johannesburg became 3 RTDM VAT Booklet:Layout 1 25/2/10 20:57 Page 4 the highest court in constitutional matters in 1994. Others • Durban - Largest city in KwaZula-Natal, second largest in South Africa and popular coastal holiday destination for South Africans. • Johannesburg - The economic heart of Africa and the most common entry point into Southern Africa. • Nelspruit - Capital of Mpumalanga and gateway to Mozambique. • Polokwane - Capital of Limpopo (formally known as Pietersburg) and a good jump off point for visits to the northern parts of the Kruger National Park and Zimbabwe. • Port Elizabeth - Coastal city in the Eastern Cape with Addo Elephant National Park located close by. • Kimberley - Capital of the Northern Cape Province. Famous for its diamonds and “Big Hole”. • Upington - Located in the arid Northern Cape Province, this city is a good base when exploring the Kalahari desert and the many national parks located in the Northern Cape. DRESS In the Cities - Casual wear is appropriate with comfortable shoes and a light jacket or wind breaker. In the evening, smart casual applies, but most quality restaurants ask patrons not to wear jeans, shorts or sneakers. In Cape Town where it generally rains in winter (June, July and August) a raincoat or rain resistant jacket is recommended. In Johannesburg, due to its high altitude, a scarf and gloves may 4 RTDM VAT Booklet:Layout 1 25/2/10 20:57 Page 5 be required in the evenings if outside. In Durban, the weather is generally warmer than the rest of the country due to the warm Indian Ocean, so lighter clothing is suitable. Kruger National Park & Pilanesberg and Madikwe Game Reserves - Traditionally bush wear is in neutral colours – khaki, browns and creams. Trousers and jackets are a must with the early morning and night game drives getting very cold due to the open vehicles creating a high wind-chill-factor. Layers are recommended, that can either be peeled off as the morning gets warmer or layered on as day turns to night. The sun is still quite strong during the day and sunglasses, hats or caps and sunscreen are highly recommended. CLIMATE General: Thanks to the surrounding oceans, South African enjoys a temperate climate, though weather patterns and rainfall vary widely. June, July and August are the coldest months of the year, with frequent rain in the Western Cape. Johannesburg / Pretoria: Temperatures in Johannesburg are usually fairly mild thanks to the city’s high altitude. During the winter, the temperature occasionally drops to below freezing at night time, causing frost. Snow is a very rare occurrence in Johannesburg due to the dry climate. Cape: The Western Cape has a Mediterranean-type winter rains brought in by the strong north-westerly winds. May in the Cape is the end of summer with the days cooling down and the wetter, windy weather moving in, although most days are 5 RTDM VAT Booklet:Layout 1 25/2/10 20:57 Page 6 still clear and mild. Daytime temperatures are normally between 20 and 25º C with night time dropping to below 10º C. Durban: Durban boasts an average of 320 days of sunshine a year. Temperatures range from 16 to 25º C in winter. The warm Mozambique current flowing along the coast means wonderfully warm bathing throughout the year, the water seldom falling below 17º C even in the middle of winter. With these conditions, it’s no accident that Durban is considered the “holiday city” of KwaZulu Natal. Port Elizabeth: The coastal city of Port Elizabeth, often referred to as the windy city due to the strong off shore winds, enjoys a daily average of 7 hours of sunshine annually. Winter (April-August) temperatures range from 17º C to 20º C. Peak rainfall occurs in spring and autumn. Nelspruit: Nelspruit enjoys a typically sub-tropical climate with summer rains and a cool and dry winter period (late-May to late-August). Winter temperatures are usually pleasant, ranging from11ºC to 23/25ºC. Rustenburg: Rustenburg lies in a region of dry sub-tropical woodland savannah with a mild climate year round. This is a summer rainfall area, with winter temperature (May-Sep) norms averaging about 17-20°C during the day. ELECTRICITY City and town power is 220/230 volts AC. Adapter plugs may be needed to use any electrical equipment. 6 RTDM VAT Booklet:Layout 1 25/2/10 20:57 Page 7 HEALTH and IMMUNISATION Malaria is endemic in some parts of Mpumalanga, Northern Province and KwaZulu-Natal, where it is essential to take precautions. Consult a doctor or pharmacist about the most suitable prophylactic. Mosquito repellent sprays are available in most hotel and lodge rooms where mosquitoes are prevalent. CONVERSIONS - Distances & Temperatures Distances throughout South Africa are given in kilometres. One mile is equivalent to 1.621 kilometres. Temperatures are given in degrees Celsius (also known as Centigrade). To calculate roughly into Fahrenheit, double the temperature and then add 30. TIME DIFFERENCES Throughout the year Standard Time in South Africa is two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time. TIPPING In restaurants it depends on service, 10-15% of the bill is usual. Taxi drivers also expect 10% of the amount charged. Porters generally receive R5.00 per bag. 7 RTDM VAT Booklet:Layout 1 25/2/10 20:57 Page 8 WATER Tap water is quite safe to drink in the cities and developed areas of South Africa. WEALTH Although occupying only 4% of the African continent, South Africa has more than half the cars, telephones, auto-banks and industrial facilities than the whole continent. Most of these are in Gauteng. GDP per Capita in 2009 was R47,310.00 CURRENCY – South Africa The currency unit is the Rand, denoted by the symbol R. R1.00 = 100 cents. The following currency is in circulation: Coins: 5c; 10c; 20c; 50c; R1; R5 Notes: R10; R20; R50; R100; R200 Higher value notes are slightly larger in physical size than small value notes. All notes have a metallic security strip and a watermark. Note that there are two types of R5 coins in circulation. One is a silver-coloured coin while the other is silver- coloured with a copper insert. Both are legal currency. Coins are in denominations of R5, R2, R1, 50c, 20c, 10c and 5c. Production of 2c and 1c coins was suspended in April 2002, but those still in circulation remain legal tender. All transactions are rounded down to the nearest lower 5c, so as not 8 RTDM VAT Booklet:Layout 1 25/2/10 20:57 Page 9 to require the use of 2c and 1c coins. Rough conversion rates are: 7.5:1 (USD), 11:1 (EUR) and 10:1 (GBP). Carry one of the above currencies, as conversion between any of them and the Rand can be done at any bank without trouble. South Africa is part of the Southern African Common Monetary Area and the Rand can be used in Namibia (where it is an official currency along with the Namibian Dollar) as well as Lesotho and Swaziland (where it is widely accepted, but not an official currency) Traveller’s Cheques are a safe way of carrying money around. You can exchange them at all banks (you will find one even in the most remote places) and you will get a refund if they are stolen. The disadvantage is that you cannot pay with them and you will need change when exchanging them into Rand. Automated teller machines (ATMs), linked to all major international networks, are available throughout the country and will generally dispense money in a mixture of denominations between R200 and R10, with about 80% of the value requested being high value notes and the rest in smaller denominations. You can use any Cirrus, Maestro or Visa card as well as all major credit and debit cards at the ATMs.