Social ConventionsHandshaking is the usual form of greeting. Normal courtesies should be shown when visiting someone's home. Casual wear is widely acceptable. Formal social functions occasionally call for a dinner jacket and black tie for men and full-length dresses for women; this will be specified on the invitation. Smoking is prohibited in public buildings and on public transport, and restaurants have enclosed or outdoor smoking sections.
International Travel:Getting There by AirThe national airline is
South African Airways (SAA) (website:
www.flysaa.com). There are frequent
direct and indirect flights by numerous major airlines from destinations throughout Europe and North America.
Departure TaxAll taxes are included in the price of an air ticket.
Main AirportsCape Town (CPT) (Cape Town International) is 22km (16 miles) east of the city (journey time - 20 minutes).
To/from the airport: Round-the-clock shuttle buses meet incoming flights. Courtesy buses are operated by some hotels. Taxis are available, with a surcharge after 2300;
Touch Down Taxis are the officially authorized airport taxi firm.
Facilities: Duty-free shop, car hire, bank/bureau de change, ATMs, post office, tourist information desk and restaurants/bars.
Durban (DUR) (Durban International) is 18km (11 miles) southwest of the city (journey time - 20 minutes).
To/from the airport: Airport shuttle buses and taxis are available to the city.
Facilities: Duty-free shop, car hire, bank/bureau de change, ATMs and bar/restaurant.
Johannesburg (JNB) (OR Tambo International) is 22km (14 miles) east of the city (journey time - 35 minutes).
To/from the airport: Shuttle bus services and taxis to Pretoria and Johannesburg are available. Courtesy coaches are operated by major hotels within the vicinity of the airport.
Facilities: Duty-free shops, post office, car hire, bank/bureau de change, ATMs, medical clinic, conference facilities, tourist information desk, restaurant and bar.
Port Elizabeth (PLZ) (Port Elizabeth International) is 5km (3 miles) west of the Capital Business District (journey time - 15 minutes).
To/from the airport: There is an airport shuttle bus to the main international hotels in Port Elizabeth upon request. Taxis are also available.
Facilities: ATM, conference facilities, information desk, restaurants and pubs, shops, pharmacy, postal services and car hire.
For more information regarding the airports, contact
Airports Company South Africa (website:
www.airports.co.za).
Getting There by WaterMain ports: Cape Town,
Durban,
East London and
Port Elizabeth.
Cruises are offered by various companies between South Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands.
Getting There by RoadThere are main routes into South Africa from Botswana (via Ramatlabama), Lesotho, Mozambique (via Komatipoort), Namibia, Swaziland and Zimbabwe (via Beitbridge). The major bus companies run services to and from the capital cities of neighboring countries.
Greyhound (tel: 083 915 9000; website:
www.greyhound.co.za),
Intercape (tel: 0861 287 287; website:
www.intercape.co.za) and
Translux (tel: 0861 589 282; website:
www.translux.co.za).
OverviewThe following goods may be imported into South Africa by passengers over 18 years of age without incurring customs duty:
• 200 cigarettes and 50 cigars and 250g of tobacco.
• 1l of spirits or liquor and 2l of wine.
• 50ml of perfume and 250ml of eau de toilette.
• Other goods up to a value of ZAR3000. Additional goods up to R12,000 are charged duty of 20%.
Restricted items
Plants and plant material without import permit, including margarine, honey and other vegetable oils.
Prohibited ImportsNarcotics; flick-knives; ammunition; explosives; meat, processed cheese and other dairy products; obscene literature. If you’re coming over a land border, firewood is not allowed to be brought into South Africa.
Internal Travel:Getting Around By AirDomestic flights are run by
South Africa Airways (website:
www.flysaa.com) in conjunction with their subsidiaries
SA Airlink and
SA Express,
Nationwide (website:
www.flynationwide.co.za) and by three no-frills airlines;
Kulula (website:
www.kulula.com),
1Time (website:
www.1time.co.za) and
Mango (website:
www.flymango.com). Daily flights link Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Durban, East London, George, Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth. All the airlines run on these principal routes between the main cities, while
South African Airways also
operates between Johannesburg, Kimberley and Upington. Good deals can be found if booking early online.
Getting Around by WaterCruise ships stop in Cape Town and Durban ports.
Getting Around by RailThe principal
intercity services are run by
Shosholoza Meyl (tel: 011 774 4555; website:
www.spoornet.co.za/ShosholozaMeyl/index.jsp)
, and there are eight daily trains that crisscross the country. Trains go between Johannesburg and Musina, Durban, East London, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town and also between Cape Town and Durban. These trains are cheap, but very slow and most journeys go overnight. Simple accommodation is provided in compartments with four or six berths and there is a snack bar. Children under four years of age travel free. Children aged four to 12 years pay half fare.
Premier Classe (tel: 011 774 4555; website:
www.premierclasse.co.za) runs between Johannesburg and Cape Town twice a week. This is a little nicer than the regular train with a formal dining car and extras such as gowns and toiletries.
Luxury trainsThe
Blue Train (tel: 012 334 8459; website:
www.bluetrain.co.za) and the
Pride of Africa (tel: 012 315 8242; website:
www.rovos.co.za) offer luxurious cabins with baths and digital entertainment, plus gourmet food and fine wines in the elaborate dining cars. Often dubbed 5-star hotels on wheels, they both run between Pretoria and Cape Town.
Gautrain Rapid Rail LinkThis is presently under construction and when completed, in time for the 2010 FIFA Football World Cup, will link Johannesburg with Pretoria via OR Tambo International Airport (tel: 011 997 8900; website:
www.gautrain.co.za).
Getting Around by RoadTraffic drives on the left. There is a well-maintained network of roads and national highways in populous regions. Except for rural lanes and tracks in national parks and game reserves, most roads are paved. The exceptions are the main roads in Kruger, which are tarred and suitable for a normal car. Road signs are in English and Afrikaans. National highways link the main cities; they are denoted with an ‘N’ and are toll roads. Expect to pay around R0.25 per kilometer. Many of these run into neighboring countries. There are 24-hour service stations with convenience stores, restaurants and ATMs at regular intervals along the major routes. However it should be noted that credit cards cannot be used to pay for fuel; only cash is accepted.
Bus/coach: Various operators, such as
Greyhound (tel: 083 915 9000; website:
www.greyhound.co.za),
Intercape (tel: 0861 287 287; website:
www.intercape.co.za) and
Translux (tel: 0861 589 282; website:
www.translux.co.za), run intercity express links across the country using modern air-conditioned coaches with onboard toilets, movies and refreshments. Be aware, however, on long distances the buses travel overnight so you may arrive at your destination at an inconvenient hour. Bus tickets can also be booked through South Africa’s national reservations ticketing system,
Computicket (website:
www.computicket.co.za), which also has kiosks in the larger shopping malls.
The
Baz Bus (tel: 021 439 2323; website:
www.bazbus.com) is a hop-on, hop-off bus service that runs between Cape Town and Durban and between Durban and Pretoria via Johannesburg on two routes; one via the Drakensberg and one via Swaziland. It picks up and drops off passengers at backpackers’ hotels.
Taxi: Available throughout the country, at all towns, hotels and airports, with rates for distance and time. For long-distance travel, a quotation should be sought.
Car hire: To hire a car, travelers must have a valid driving license. Self-drive and chauffeur-driven cars are available from both international and local car hire companies at most airports and in major city centers.
Regulations: In non-residential areas, speed limits are 120kph (75mph) and 60kph (35mph) in built up areas. Overtaking is permitted in any lane, including the hard shoulder. Speed cameras are common and fines for speeding and drunk driving are very heavy. It is illegal to carry petrol other than in built-in petrol tanks. It is compulsory to wear a seat belt and obligatory that all vehicles carry two red triangles to be placed 20m (66ft) in front and behind the vehicle in the event of a breakdown.
Emergency breakdown service: Automobile Association (AA) (tel: 083 84322; website:
www.aa.co.za).
Documentation: An International Driving Permit is not required, and drivers can use a license from their home country as long as it is in English. Generally the minimum age is 25 but with some companies it is 21.
Note: Visitors are advised to avoid the Berea and Hillbrow areas of Johannesburg. There have been a number of muggings around the Rotunda Bus Terminal in the city center.
Getting Around Towns and CitiesThere are
bus networks in all the main towns. These are run in
Cape Town by
Golden Arrow, in
Durban by
Myna, and in
Johannesburg by
Metrobus.
Fares are zonal, with payment in cash or with 10-ride pre-purchase ‘clipcards’ from kiosks.
There is an urban train network
Metrorail in the larger cities, which is used by commuters. These trains are generally not recommended to visitors due to a high crime risk.
Minibus taxis are also found in all South African towns. These, although cheap and very fast, should be used with care as they are driven rather recklessly.
For ordinary
taxis, fares within the city areas are fairly expensive. Taxis do not cruise and must be ordered by phone. Taxi drivers expect a 10% tip.
Journey TimesThe following chart gives approximate journey times (in hours and minutes) from
Cape Town to other major cities/towns in South Africa.
| | Air | Road | Rail |
| Johannesburg | 2.00 | 15.00 | 24.00 |
| Durban | 2.00 | 18.00 | 38.00 |
| Pretoria | 2.00 | 16.00 | 26.00 |
| Port Elizabeth | 1.00 | 7.00 | - |
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