Travel Tips for visitors to South Africa
We would like to ensure that your holiday to South Africa and Lalibela is as hassle-free as possible, so here are a few travel tips below. If you need any further information to make your holiday plans a bit easier, please do not hesitate to contact us at enquiry@lalibela.co.za
Climate
As South Africa is in the Southern Hemisphere, the seasons are the opposite to the Northern Hemisphere. With this in mind, our summer months range from mid-September till late-April. In the Eastern Cape of South Africa our winters are very mild - they are nothing close to a European or North American winter. During May to August we have moderate days with cool evenings and early mornings. The sun intensity is strong in South Africa and we recommend sun block throughout the year, even if travelling in our winter. In summer, a hat and sunglasses is strongly recommended.
What to pack
During summer, light weight comfortable clothing is recommended. If you are going on safari, make sure you pack a warm jacket for the evenings, as it can get quite chilly on the back of an open vehicle when the sun sets, even in the summer months. Comfortable walking shoes are also advisable, and if you are staying in a formal hotel, a smart outfit is suggested for dinner. The idea at game reserves like Lalibela is to relax and enjoy your time under the African sky, and listen to the calls of the wild all around you! Dinner dress is therefore casual and comfortable. Don't forget to bring along your camera. A pair of binoculars will also come in handy on game drives and for spotting game from your lodge.
Language
We live in a country that’s rich in diversity and culture! South Africa has 11 official languages, with English and Afrikaans being the most universally spoken. All South Africans understand, speak and most often write in English, so there is no need to worry about any language barriers. For your information, the other languages are isiNdebele, Northern Sotho, siSwati, Xitsonga, Setswana, isiXhosa, isiZulu, Tshivenda and Sepedi, all with their own unique clicks and sounds.
Tipping
As there is no across-the-board tipping procedure shared between our various continents, here is a rough idea of what is expected in South Africa – this may help you to avoid any embarrassing moments! For airport and hotel porters (luggage carriers), the norm is to tip them R10-R15 per person, irrespective of the number of bags per person (usually 2 bags per person). In restaurants, 10% of the tab is generally left for your waiter (gratuity is not usually included in the total of the tab), and taxi drivers are also usually tipped 10% of the fare. If you park in a public area, there may be car guards to watch your car, and R5 is the recommended tip, depending on how long your vehicle has stayed in the area.
Electricity
The standard electricity supply in South Africa is 220/230 volts AC50Hz. Adaptors for all countries can be purchased either at Duty Free, or your hotel curio shop. We would recommend you source an adaptor at the airport, in the unlikely event that your hotel has run out of adaptors to purchase.
Safety
As with every country, there are safety measures to take into consideration. In your hotel, please lock your values away in your safety deposit box in your room. It is not wise to carry all your money while out and about in the city centre. Credit cards are accepted at most establishments in South Africa, except at some outdoor markets, where cash is used. As with any country, it is not always wise to wander the streets after dark on your own. If you need to alert the police for any emergency, please dial 10111, which will link you directly to our emergency services. If in doubt about a particular area, please chat to your hotel concierge and they will advise you on local safety.
VAT refunds
All purchases made while in South Africa are subject to a government Value Added Tax (set at 14%), which is redeemable to visitors upon departure. You can only claim VAT back on items exceeding R250 and on items you are taking home with you. VAT on hotel bills and items you have consumed in SA is not refundable. The best is to inform the shop assistant that you would like a tax invoice to claim VAT on departure. You should then keep all your slips, and present them to a VAT refund official at the airport (there is a VAT refund office in the V&A Waterfront, Cape Town as well). They may wish to see some of the items you have purchased to confirm that they are in fact leaving the country.
Health
All travellers worldwide are recommended to take out travel insurance before trips, which covers health benefits while in another country (please check full benefits with your travel insurer). In some areas of South Africa malaria occurs, but with the correct anti-malaria medication taken before your trip, you will not contract the disease easily. The Eastern and Southern Cape (including Lalibela Game Reserve) are completely malaria free. Please contact your local Travel Clinic to find out the best medication currently on the market. Another precaution is to wear long trousers and shirts in the evenings when the mosquitoes are prevalent. The tap water in South Africa is safe to drink. Check with your hotel / game reserve if you are not sure about the water. There will always be bottled water available should you not feel comfortable drinking it direct from the tap / faucet.
Rules of the road
Many tourists feel that South Africans drive on the “wrong” side of the road, but who are we to know which is “right”?! So, if you are from the United States or you drive on the right hand side of the road, then we drive on the “other” side. Keep left, and pass right. The usual speed limit in the urban areas is 60km/h, and on the national highways it is 120km/h. Keep your eye open for speed limit road signs as there are many speed traps. Wearing seat belts in the front and back of the car is the law. Drunk driving is not tolerated. So, if you would like to go out, please ask your concierge to organise a reputable taxi / cab driver to take you to and from your destination. Not all countries need to have an international driving permit for South Africa, but it is advisable to find out from your local automobile association for confirmation. Public transport is not ideal in cities, as it is quite irregular.
Telephone
The international dialling code to reach South Africa is +27, followed by the city code (drop the 0 if dialling from outside SA), and then the direct telephone number. Here are the major cities / areas of travel and their respective dialling codes for easy reference:
- 011 - Johannesburg
- 021 – Cape Town
- 031 – Durban
- 041 – Port Elizabeth
- 012 – Pretoria
- 043 – East London
- 042 – Tsitsikamma area (Garden Route)
- 044 – Oudtshoorn, George, Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, Wilderness (Garden Route)
- 013 – Kruger National Park and surrounds, Nelspruit
- 015 – Hoedspruit, Timbavati areas
If there is anything we haven’t covered and that you would like to find out, please do not hesitate to contact us by email / enquiry form.
The above information courtesy of Pembury Tours (www.pemburytours.com)
