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South Africa travel guide - South Africa
holidays, flights & hotels.
Top destination guides for South Africa holidays;
Cape Town
| Durban
| Johannesburg
| Port Elizabeth
|
East London
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South Africa Holidays, South Africa Holiday Packages Overview
Throughout the second half of the
20th century South Africa was regarded by most of the world as a
pariah state where the ruling white minority passed a range of
draconian laws to subdue and enslave the black majority. All this
changed in 1994 with the release from prison of world-renowned
freedom fighter and icon of the oppressed, Nelson Mandela. A new
age of democracy was ushered in, and South Africa was suddenly
revealed to the world in her beautiful true colours: a rainbow
nation with a kaleidoscope of cultures and a host of attractions to
enthral and entrance visitors. A decade later
tourists are flocking to sunny South Africa in droves, particularly
to the Western Cape with its magnificent scenery, beautiful
beaches, majestic mountains and green winelands.
The Republic, at the southern tip of Africa surrounded by
ocean on three sides, offers a taste of the African experience with
the chance to visit traditional tribal villages, game reserves and
sprawling townships. At the same time it also offers the trappings
of a first world holiday experience, with luxury hotels,
sophisticated shopping, exciting theme parks and clean beaches.
Have breakfast in a New York style deli; lunch in an African
shebeen; cocktails on a sunset cruise; and dine in style in a fine
British colonial restaurant. This is all possible in a South
African city. It is not only cultural diversity
that makes South Africa magical. The country has a wealth of animal
and plant life scattered across its varied climactic zones from
desert to snow-covered mountains, forests to grasslands and
mangrove swamps. Historically, too, there is plenty to discover,
from the fossils of ancient hominids, to the pioneering spirit of
the Dutch 'voortrekkers' and the settlement of the Eastern Cape
frontier by the British colonialists. South
Africa has been billed as 'a world in one country', and any visitor
who has experienced its delights, from the jumble of Johannesburg,
the city built on gold mines in the north, to the sophistication of
Cape Town in the south, is bound to
agree.
Tourist Offices - South African Tourism, Johannesburg: +27
(0)11 895 3000 or www.southafrica.net
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Entry Requirements
Passports must be valid for at least 30
days beyond the period of intended stay. An onward or return ticket
is required, as well as sufficient funds and documents needed for
further travel. Note that visitors to South Africa must have at
least one free page in their passport for
endorsements.
- For Australians -
Australian nationals need a valid passport, but no
visa is needed for stays of up to 90 days.
- New Zealand nationals require a valid passport, but no
visa is necessary for touristic/business stays of up to 90
days.
- United States nationals need a valid passport, but no
visa is needed for stays of up to 90 days for business or touristic
purposes.
- United States nationals need a valid passport, but no
visa is needed for stays of up to 90 days for business or touristic
purposes.
- British nationals need a valid passport, but no visa
is needed for stays of up to 90 days if passport is endorsed
British Citizen or British Overseas Territories citizen. Those
whose passports state British National (Overseas) may stay up to 30
days without a visa. All others require a visa. Visa extensions are
possible if applied for at least 30 days before expiry date, and
cost ZAR425.
South Africa Holidays - Currency of South Africa
South Africa's currency is the Rand (ZAR), which is
divided into 100 cents. Money can be exchanged at banks, bureaux de
change and the larger hotels. ATMs are widely available (there is a
daily limit for cash withdrawals) and major international credit
cards are widely accepted, except in petrol stations where cash is
required. Visitors should take care and be vigilant when drawing
cash from ATMs as there is a high incidence of credit card fraud
involving the use of ATMs. Travellers cheques and some foreign
currencies are accepted at larger hotels and shops, but commission
is charged, otherwise all commercial banks will exchange
them.
South Africa
Telephone Access Codes and Communications
The international access code for South
Africa is +27. The outgoing code is 09 followed by the relevant
country code (e.g. 0944 for the United Kingdom). From 16 October
2006, South Africa will be changing over to 10-digit dialling (so
city codes must be included e.g. (0)21 for Cape Town) and
international dialling will change from 09 to 00. The parallel
running period will last until 16 January 2007. International phone
cards cannot be used in South Africa. The country is served by
three GSM mobile phone networks. Mobile service providers offer
very cheap 'pay-as-you-go' Sim cards, which are a good option for
visitors staying for some time. Internet cafes are widespread. Card
and coin operated pay phones are also
widespread.
South Africa
Duty Free Allowances & Restrictions
Travellers to South Africa do not have to pay
duty on 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars and 250g of tobacco; 2 litres
wine and 1 litre spirits; perfume up to 50ml and 250ml eau de
toilette; and other goods to the value of R3,000. All other goods
brought in from abroad by South African residents must be declared
on arrival. These will be subject to import duties. For goods to be
re-imported, travellers must complete a DA65 or NEP-form that is
issued on departure. Prohibited items include meat and dairy
products, all medication except for personal consumption, flick
knives, ammunition, explosives and pornography containing minors
and bestiality.
South Africa
Holidays & Packages- Tipping Information
If a service charge is not included in the bill,
waiters expect a tip of 10%. Tipping for services rendered is
widely anticipated by porters, taxi drivers, golf caddies and
petrol attendants. 'Car guards' operate in the city centres and
tourist spots and will offer to look after your parked car; they
are usually immigrants from neighbouring countries looking for work
and will expect anything from R2 upwards on your
return.
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