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The following are proven basic safety precautions
that all astute visitors should take to ensure their
holidays are as pleasant and safe as possible:
Hotel Tips
- Never leave your luggage unattended.
- Store valuables in the hotel safety deposit
box.
- Keep your room locked at all times.
- Always confirm before opening the door if
someone knocks.
- Only hand your room keys to the reception
desk when you depart the hotel.
Street Smart
- Avoid flamboyant displays of expensive
jewellery, cameras & other valuables.
- Use credit cards wherever possible.
- It is wise not to carry large amounts of
cash on your person.
- At night, avoid isolated areas.
- It's advisable to explore in groups when
leaving the regular routes.
- Always plan your route beforehand.
- When lost consult a policeman or traffic
officer to direct you.
- If in need of a taxi, your hotel or nearest
tourism information office can advise on a
reliable service.
Car Safety
- Always plan your route in advance.
- Keep your car doors locked at all times.
- Lock valuable items in the trunk.
- After dark, park in well-lit areas.
- Never offer strangers a ride.
- If lost, or in doubt about the safety of an
area, phone a police station for advise.
- When stopped by a policeman or traffic
officer, request to see identification cards and
record names and number.
- Never pay cash to a traffic or police
officer for traffic violations or other
citations.
Emergency Numbers
- Police, fire brigade, public rescue
services- 10111/112 from cellular phones
- N4 Highway Emergency Response- 083 227
8191
Electricity
220/230 volts AC at 50 cycles per second. Three
pronged plugs are universal, so take an adapter.
Most hotel rooms have 110 volt outlets for electric
shavers and small appliances.
Post Offices
Open Mon - Fri 08h00 - 16h30 & Sat 08h00 - 12h00.
Mail may be addressed to you Post Restante. The main
post offices have special counters for this purpose.
Postage stamps are widely available (e.g. at some
cafés and branches of the Central News Agency - CNA).
Languages
There are 11 official languages - including English,
Afrikaans, Xhosa, Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Southern
Sotho, Swati, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda and Zulu.
Tipping
Tipping is customary in South Africa. A guideline
for visitors is the following: Porters R5 per item,
taxis 10%, waiters and waitresses in restaurants 10
- 15%.
Currency
One Rand (R) = 100 cents (c). Notes issued R200,
R100, R50, R20, R10; coins R5, R2, R1, 50c 20c, 10c,
5c, 2c, & 1c. Currency exchange rates are available
at banks and published daily in the press.
Banking
- Monday to Friday: 09h00 to 15h30
- Saturday: 09h00 to 11h00
- Autobanks (ATM's, automated teller
machines) are found in most towns and
operate on a 24 hour basis
Essential kit
Binoculars, camera (with spare film, or digital disc
and batteries). Strong walking shoes, sun hat. Warm
clothing for winter especially for the cooler
highland locations and for early morning and night
game drives. Insect repellent cream or spray,
especially for night game drives and outdoor evening
functions. It is always advisable to carry a supply
of bottled water, especially during the summer
months when conditions can be very hot and humid. |
