[] CONTENTS
SOUTH AFRICA IN BRIEF
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OUR TOP PICKS
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WHEN TO TRAVEL
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PASSPORT & VISA
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ARRIVING IN SOUTH AFRICA
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VACCINATION & TRAVEL INSURANCE
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MISCELLANEOUS
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SOUTH AFRICA IN BRIEF
Fascinating diverse landscape, as varied as its inhabitants, South Africa is an unparalleled vision in resilience and beauty. Rising up from an era of violence and apartheid, South Africa today is synonymous with wildlife and adventure as well as some of the world’s finest resorts and holiday destinations. Host to as many as eight World Heritage sites, the country is also home to some of the highest numbers of the planet’s endemic species. Look out for everyone from the majestic lion to the white rhinoceros here in the bushveld subtropical woodland area. Begin ideally at Cape Town, a melting pot for everyone from India to Africa. Expect everything from craft beer to fine dining is on offer right around the corner. Panoramic views around Table Mountain make a perfect drive before you head out to the penguins and gemstones in False Bay. There’s much to be done here from paragliding to shark cage
diving, but make sure you have time for a humbling visit to Robben Island. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this was where Nelson Mandela spent 18 of his 27-year sentence in prison during apartheid. Take the Garden Route to Knysna along the coast, past beautiful beaches and indigenous forests, complete with hiking trails and a wide range of animal and plant life. Oudtshoorn’s Safari Ostrich Farm offers you interesting insight on these fascinating birds before move on to South Africa’s Route 62, Wine Route. Some of the world’s finest wines are produced in the areas around Oudtshoorn, and you could do well to stop for lunch at a farm restaurant. Each neighbourhood in Johannesburg literally has its own unique eating experience, and you’d do well to choose from classic South African fare to steakhouses and cafes.
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Spend the evening in one of Joburg’s serene parks watching the world go by before, perhaps, a performance at Theatre Montecasino. Fondly called ‘Jozi’, this city here has been the inspiration of numerous charting songs and with good reason. Un[travel] South Africa for everything from art galleries to gardens, museums to nightlife, beaches to wildlife and more. Un[travel] South Africa for a reality check into what it takes to build a steadily growing economy in spite of all the trials it has withstood over the past decades. Un[travel] the Cape of Good Hope for its wildlife, cuisine, scenic locales, and ultimately hope that it inspires.
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OUR TOP PICKS
Cape Town
Kirstenbosch
With its proud multicultural society, fighting history and beautiful monuments, this city is a traveller’s haven. Be it the world famous Table Mountain with its flat dome or the natural scenic beauty of the Botanical Gardens or even the walk down history, Cape Town offers a rich cocktail of experiences and bliss. The tour also includes a history lesson (better than those at school, we promise) with drop ins at museums like Bo Kaap and District Six, famed exhibits and other fascinating sights.
Gloriously living up to its reputation as one of the greats in the world, few can meet the sheer grandeur of this beautiful botanical garden. Walk along the Tree Canopy Walkway, nicknamed the ‘Boomslang’ after the snake, which provides amazing views of the Gardens below. It’s a testament to the immense prominence of this site that 9000 of South Africa’s 22,000 plant species are grown here.
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Sun City
As far as the bar scale of the world’s premier resorts goes, Sun City meets this scale at a point far higher than the par. Just like you would hope to while indulging in a spot of golf that is offered by this immense mine of entertainment. Check into a luxurious hotel and spend the rest of the day exploring the wide range of activities that it offers. Apart from so many exciting things to do and golf Sun City offers a unique holiday experience with endless family fun as well.
Oudtshoorn
A region that made its seemingly everlasting wealth wholly on the metaphorical wings of the ostrich, The great flightless ‘aviary’ is somewhat the symbolization of Oudtshoorn. The feather mongers made their fortune in the brief period between 1860 and 1914. The fact that they are still good for these fortunes is proof enough of how much a booming business it was. From a tourist’s point of view, anything and everything ostrich is available here.
Kruger
With no glorifying premise needed, Kruger is, quite definitely, one of the world’s greatest national parks. An almost unparalleled diversity and density of animals, and the presence of some of the most iconic African animals make the park a phenomenally tantalising experience. From branching trails that yield for a spot of exploration to guided safaris full of wonderful activities, Kruger shows you every bit of its enviable bounty.
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WHEN TO TRAVEL
Jan Feb Mar April May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec South Africa is predominantly sunny but when it’s cold, you feel it as everything is geared to fine weather. Midwinter in the southern hemisphere (the reverse of the north) is in June and July, and midsummer is during December and January, when the whole country shuts down for its annual holiday. The best time to visit depends on where you’re going and what you’re planning to see. South Africa has distinct climatic zones. In Cape Town and the Garden Route coastal belt, summers tend to be warm, mild and unpredictable; rain can fall at any time of the year and winter days can be cold and wet. Many Capetonians regard March to May as the perfect time to visit, when the winds drop; it’s beautifully mild and the tourists have gone. Subtropical KwaZulu-Natal has warm, sunny winters and tepid seas; in common with the Lesotho highlands, the province’s Drakensberg range has misty days in summer and mountain snow in winter. Johannesburg and Pretoria lie on the highveld plateau and have a nearperfect climate; summer days are hot and frequently broken by dramatic thunder showers; winters are dry with chilly nights. East of Johannesburg, the lowveld, the low-lying wedge along the Mozambique border that includes the Kruger National Park and much of Swaziland, is subject to similar summer and winter rainfall patterns to the highveld, but experiences far greater extremes of temperature because of its considerably lower altitude.
Best Weather
Best Time To Visit
April - November
April - May September - October
$ %
High Season
November - March
Low Season June - August
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PASSPORT & VISA
Most e-visas for various countries are not available for application online and unfortunately, South Africa is one of them. un[travel] also recommends going through your trusted travel agent as well as the visa validation process may take a while and any irregularities may lead to the cancellation of your trip. • Passport, (valid for at least 30 days after the intended stay/departure date from South Africa; at least Two unused/ blank visa pages) • Fully completed visa application form – must be completed in black ink and block letters. • Proof of funds (Last 03 months bank statement signed and stamped by the bank with a balance of South African Currency R 3000 or equivalent in INR for Delhi and Mumbai. • Vaccination certificate (yellow fever). • Confirmed return/onward air ticket. • Two recent (not older than 30 days/1 month) passport size, (35mm x 45mm of the picture) photographs. • Copies of passport bio-data pages (photo page and address/parents page. • Accommodation proof.
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ARRIVING IN SOUTH AFRICA
South African customs regulations afford visitors to the country the opportunity to bring in certain goods without incurring duties and Value Added Tax (VAT). These are limited in quantity and value. On arrival, you can take the green ‘nothing to declare’ channel if you stick to these allowances: • Personal effects. • New or used goods not exceeding ZAR 3,000 (additional goods, new or used, exceeding ZAR 12,000 will incur a duty charge of 20%). • Wine not exceeding 2 litres per person over the age of 18. • Spirits and alcohol not exceeding 1 litre per person over the age of 18. • Cigarettes not exceeding 200 units and cigars not exceeding 20 units per person over the age of 18. • 250g of cigarette tobacco or pipe tobacco per person over the age of 18. • Perfume not exceeding 50 ml and eau de toilette not exceeding 250ml per person. If you have goods in excess of these allowances, take the red channel and declare your items. Here you will be billed at the applicable rates. Customs in South Africa further stipulates that individual travellers are entitled to a duty-free allowance of ZAR 5,000 per person, where no duties or VAT apply. These allowances may not be pooled and only apply on a per person basis.
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VACCINATION & TRAVEL INSURANCE
There are no compulsory vaccinations for South Africa required for travellers from Western Europe to gain entry. However, a Yellow Fever vaccination certificate could be required for travellers coming from some endemic zones in Africa and America. Travellers on scheduled airlines whose flights have originated outside the areas regarded as infected (or who are only in transit through these areas) are not required to possess a certificate. If the flight originated from within a Yellow fever endemic area a certificate may then be required. Furthermore, for the short-term traveller the recommended vaccinations for South Africa usually consist of cover against Tetanus and Diphtheria, Hepatitis A and Typhoid. For trekking holidays or extended visits, Rabies and Hepatitis B may need to be considered. Most travellers to South Africa should start their vaccines at least 4 to 6 weeks before departure. Travel insurance to cover theft and illness is essential. Although having your camera stolen by monkeys or your music player eaten by a goat can be a problem, the medical cover is by far the most important aspect because hospitals in Africa are not free, and the good ones aren’t cheap. Simply getting to a hospital can be expensive, so ensure you’re covered for ambulances (land and air) and flights home. Some insurance policies forbid unscheduled boat or plane rides, or exclude dangerous activities such as white-water rafting, canoeing, or even hiking. Others also don’t cover people in countries subject to foreign office warnings. Others are more sensible and understand the realities of travel in Africa. Ask your travel agent or search on the web, but shop around and read the small print to make sure you’re fully covered.
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MISCELLANEOUS PERSONAL SECURITY • Lock valuables and luggage away in the car boot while travelling. • Be vigilant about your luggage and your other belongings. • Limit the amount of money you carry on your person. DO NOT accept offers of assistance at ATMs and keep your PIN secure. • When using a credit card in restaurants, ask the waiter to bring a portable credit card machine to the table. Report stolen or lost cards immediately. • Carry a current road map with you. If you’re in any doubt have a word with your hotel concierge first or contact the National Tourism Information and Safety Line on 0831232345 for assistance. • In rural areas, watch out for wild or farm animals – heed road signage. • If you intend to travel to malaria-prone areas, take the necessary prophylaxis before you leave home.
YOUR HEALTH • Protecting yourself against the harsh sun with sunscreen, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses is essential – especially between 10am and 4pm, and regardless of whether there is cloud cover or not. • High-quality tap (faucet) water is available in South Africa’s urban areas, but not all water in rural areas is safe to drink straight from the tap. • In some areas, the water is mineral-rich, and you may experience a bit of gastric distress for a day or two until you get used to it. Bottled mineral water, both sparkling and still, is readily available in most places. • Whether you take oral prophylaxis or not, avoid being out at night as much as possible as the Anopheles mosquito, which carries malaria, operates almost exclusively after dark. Always use mosquito repellent, light coloured long pants, long sleeved shirts, closed shoes and sleep under a mosquito net in endemic areas.
TIPPING • In restaurants and bars, 10% to 15% is the accepted tipping standard. • Parking attendants and security guards are commonly tipped an amount of ZAR2 and up according to the length of your stay. • The going rate for porters at airports is between ZAR5 and 10 per piece of luggage. • Hotel porters usually expect a tip of ZAR10 to 20 per porter service. • Some of the other service providers you may want to tip are taxi drivers, tour guides and assistants at the hairdressers’ and beauty salons.
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SHOPPING IN SOUTH AFRICA South Africans love to shop and to sell. Large shopping centres are to be found across the country’s cities and towns, where everything from giant chain stores to small speciality boutiques sell all you could possibly want. And when shopkeepers don’t have shops, they take to the streets: hawkers and craftspeople ply their wares at traffic intersections, minibus taxi ranks, along with major thoroughfares and on inner city pavements, selling everything from sweets and fruit to elaborate sculptures and home furnishings. If you’re after community arts and crafts, visit the Due South Craft Route. The site provides a wide-angled view of the arts and crafts available in the country, and is also invaluable in providing information to off-the-beaten track places in South Africa. South Africa’s sophisticated clothing industry manufactures garments ranging from high fashion to well-made safari clothing and sportswear, all of which are reasonably priced. If you’re not into baubles and bustiers, you’ll still find plenty to buy. Almost every town has its little craft markets, with the larger city flea markets selling unique and often handmade clothing, crafts, jewellery, ornaments, collectables and deli foods at cut-rate prices. Bruma Market in Johannesburg is reputed to be the biggest in the southern hemisphere. It’s enormous, and here you’ll find all manner of clothes, trinkets – whatever. There’s also the Panorama Flea Market in Mulbarton, and B&B’s Hillfox and Rosebank Rooftop Markets, both among the largest and oldest markets in the country.
FOOD IN SOUTH AFRICA Traditional African food is generally cooked over an open fire or in a three-legged pot (or potjie), so meat tends to be served in either stewed or grilled form. A starch usually accompanies the meat: mieliepap (maize porridge), potatoes or rice. Beetroot, carrots, cabbage and pumpkin are the vegetables most commonly served. Typical South African dishes include tripe, morogo, chakalaka, amadumbe, and the ubiquitous boerewors roll. Tripe is a traditional treat favoured by most Africans. In the Cape, it is considered a regional delicacy and is often served lightly curried with small new potatoes and fried onions. Morogo is a type of wild spinach. Combined with butter-braised onions and tomato or mixed into maize porridge, it is a rural ingredient with mainstream appeal. Amadumbe is a sweet potato and peanut mash. A tasty restaurant variation of the dish is to cook sweet potatoes, mash them with butter and sprinkle them with roasted peanuts, topped off with a drizzle of honey. Chakalaka is a spicy relish served alongside a main course and consists of grated carrots, green peppers, sliced onion, vinegar, chilli and that secret ingredient that will distinguish it from anyone else’s. The boerewors roll is pure South African cuisine – our tastier answer to New York’s hot dogs. At a roadside stand, boerewors (a variety of spicy sausage) is char-grilled over an open-flame then placed into a bun and covered in mustard and tomato sauce. Delicious! Other local favourites include a wide variety of delectable Cape Malay dishes, biltong and sweet delicacies such as the koeksister and melktert. Grilled chicken feet and heads – known as walkie-talkies – are a popular dish in rural South Africa.
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