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 often 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.
International Travel:Getting There by AirThe national airline is
South African Airways (SA) (website:
www.flysaa.com). There are frequent
direct and indirect flights by numerous major airlines from destinations throughout Europe and North America.
Departure TaxNone.
Main AirportsCape Town (CPT) (Cape Town International), 22km (16 miles) east of the city.
To/from the airport: Inter-Cape buses run 24 hours and meet all incoming and outgoing flights. Courtesy buses are operated by some hotels. Taxis are available, with a surcharge after 2300 (journey time - 20 minutes);
Touch Down Taxis are the officially authorized airport taxi firm.
Facilities: Duty-free shop, car hire, bank/bureau de change and restaurant/bar.
Bloemfontein (BFN) (Bloemfontein International), 10km (6 miles) east of the city (journey time – 15 minutes).
To/from the airport: There is an airport shuttle bus to the city center (leaving from outside the airport building). Taxis are also available.
Facilities: ATMs, restaurants, car hire and conference facilities.
Durban (DUR) (Durban International), 18km (11 miles) southwest of the city (journey time – 20 minutes).
To/from the airport: Airport buses and taxis are available to the city.
Facilities: Duty-free shop, car hire, bank/bureau de change and bar/restaurant.
Johannesburg (JNB) (O R Tambo International), 22km (14 miles) east of the city (journey time – 35 minutes).
To/from the airport: Bus services to Pretoria and Johannesburg are available. Buses link Kempton Park with Johannesburg. Taxis are available. Courtesy coaches are operated by some major hotels.
Facilities: Duty-free shops, post office, car hire, bank/bureau de change, medical clinic, conference facilities, restaurant and bar.
Port Elizabeth (PLZ) (Port Elizabeth International) is 5km (3 miles) west of the Capital Business District.
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 (tel: (41) 507 7319), restaurants and pubs, shops, pharmacy, postal services, car hire.
For more information regarding the airports, contact
Airports Company South Africa (tel: (11) 723 1400; 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 RailThe main routes are from South Africa to Zimbabwe, Botswana and Mozambique. Contact
South African Railways (SPOORNET) (website:
www.spoornet.co.za) for further information.
Getting There by RoadThere are main routes into South Africa from Botswana (via Ramatlabama), Lesotho, Mozambique (now open after a long war – check with local police about state of road and safety), Namibia, Swaziland and Zimbabwe (via Beit Bridge).
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.
Plants and plant material without import permit, including margarine, honey and other vegetable oils.
Narcotics; flick-knives; ammunition, explosives; meat, processed cheese and other dairy products; obscene literature.
Internal Travel:Getting Around By AirDaily flights link Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Durban, East London, Johannesburg, Kimberley, Port Elizabeth and Pretoria and with other connecting flights to provincial towns.
South African Airways operates on the principal routes.
Air PassesFlight discountsAn
Africa Explorer fareis available to foreign visitors entering South Africa with an IATAairline. It offers a significant saving for anyone planning to useSouth African Airways’ internal network. The fare is valid for aminimum of three days and a maximum of two months: travel may originateand terminate at any point within South Africa that is served by theairline. Travel is not permitted more than once in the same directionover any given sector. There is also a reduction of approximately 30per cent on some standby fares. South African Airways has various otherdiscount domestic fares including Apex, Slumber, Supersaver and Saverfares.
Getting Around by WaterStarlight Cruises offers links between major ports.
Getting Around by RailThe principal intercity services are as follows: the
Blue Train (website:
www.bluetrain.co.za) is a luxury express offering routes between Pretoria and Cape Town; the
Trans-Oranje between Cape Town and Durban via Kimberley and Bloemfontein (weekly); and the
Trans-Natal Express between Durban and Johannesburg (daily, except Tuesday).
Rovos Rail (website:
www.rovas.co.za) offers luxury (partly steam) safaris from Pretonia to Cape Town. The
Transnet Museum also offers various steam safaris around South Africa and Zimbabwe, and the
Trans-Karoo Express travels between Cape Town, Johannesburg and Pretoria daily. All long-distance trains are equipped with sleeping compartments, included in fares, and most have restaurant cars. Reservations are recommended for principal trains and all overnight journeys. There are frequent local trains in the Cape Town and Pretoria/Johannesburg urban areas. All trains have first- and second-class accommodation. Children under two years of age travel free. Children aged two to 11 years pay half fare.
Getting Around by RoadTraffic drives on the left. There is a well-maintained network of roads and motorways in populous regions. Around a third of roads are paved (with all major roads tarred to a high standard). 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. Fines for speeding are very heavy. It is illegal to carry petrol other than in built-in petrol tanks. Petrol stations are usually open all week 0700-1900. Some are open 24 hours. Petrol must be paid for in cash.
Bus/coach: Various operators, such as
Greyhound,
Intercape and
Translux, run intercity express links using modern air-conditioned coaches. On many of the intercity routes, passengers may break their journey at any scheduled stop en route by prior arrangement at time of booking and continue on a subsequent coach at no extra cost other than for additional accommodation.
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 held a valid driving license for five years. Self-drive and chauffeur-driven cars are available at most airports and in major city centers.
Documentation: An International Driving Permit is required. The minimum age is 23 (or 21 on presentation of an American Express/Diners card). Foreign licenses in English are valid for up to 12 months; otherwise, British visitors who are planning to drive in South Africa should check with the
AA or
RAC prior to departure that they have all the correct documentation.
NoteAvoid the Berea and Hillbrow areas of Johannesburg. There has been a number of muggings around the Rotunda Bus Terminal in the city. As a result of the high level of car hijacking in the Kruger Park, there is currently an increased police presence.
Getting Around Towns and CitiesThere are bus and suburban rail networks in all the main towns. Fares in Cape Town and Johannesburg are zonal, with payment in cash or with 10-ride pre-purchase ‘clipcards’ from kiosks. In Pretoria, there are various pre-purchase ticket systems, including a cheap pass for off-peak travel only. In Durban, conventional buses face stiff competition from minibuses and combi-taxis (both legal and illegal), which are also found in other South African towns. These, although cheap and very fast, should be used with care. For ordinary taxis, fares within the city areas are more expensive than long distances. Taxis do not cruise and must be called from a rank. Taxi drivers expect a 10 per cent tip.
Journey TimesThe following chart gives approximate travel 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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