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Hints & Tips
for South Africa |
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For your
information, Restinations has compiled a
brief page for foreign tourists to have
a glimpse as to what can be expected in
South Africa.
Do you have an experience that you would
like to share with the Restinations world?
Contact us with
your info, and we will include your experience
on this page. |
| Travel
Options |
You can either book an
organized trip to South Africa, or book
everything yourself. I've done both, and
I can honestly say that I will never book
an organized trip again. I had a great time
on the organized trip, but the freedom that
a self drive gives you can't be beaten.
Typical organized trips will take you from
Johannesburg to Capetown (or vice versa)
through Pretoria, the Drakensbergen, the
Kruger National Park, Swaziland, Kwatzulu-Natal,
sometimes into Lesotho and other times around
it, through the Karoo to the Garden Route,
to Capetown. On average these are 18 to
21 day trips in which you'll be in a bus
for about 6000km. Yes, long hours in the
bus each and every day. It's a great way
to see the whole country, but you'll be
mighty tired afterwards.
What I do these days is I book a flight
in Holland, rent a car through the Internet
and book all the places I want to stay through
the Internet. Even my stay in the national
parks I book through the Internet. As of
2003 the National Parks Board have greatly
improved their web-site and they respond
to e-mail within 24 hours. This is a huge
improvement compared to the last couple
of years. This new level of service hugely
simplifies booking a trip to the national
parks. For making bookings you will need
to have a credit card. When you book national
parks then you'll have to pay a 33% deposit
within 30 days and the remainder of the
total amount 30 days before the first date
of the booking. I always just e-mail my
creditcard information to the National Parks
Board and let them charge my card for the
amount required. Guesthouses and hotels
generally don't require you to pay a deposit.
* Arnoud Quanjer
- a recent re-visitor to South Africa |
| The
Climate |
South Africa’s
seasons are the reverse to the UK’s
with mid summer running from December to
January and mid winter from June to July.
However due to the size of the country there
are regional variations.
The Cape has a Mediterranean style climate
with warm, sunny summers and mild, changeable
winters when most rainfall occurs. Kwa Zulu
Natal has a sub-tropical climate with lots
of sunshine all year round. The north is
generally dry and warm, with hot summers
and cool mornings and evenings in the winter.
The Lowveld experiences dry mild winters
from May to September and hot to very hot
summers, accompanied by afternoon thunderstorms,
from October to April.
During the winter the dawn temperature can
be almost sub-zero, with a day temperature
of over 20°C (68°F). At night the
temperature drops well below 10°C (50°F)
but seldom reaches freezing point. In summer
the days can start between 16°C (61°F)
to 20°C (68°F), occasionally rising
to 40°C (104°F). The temperature
drops markedly during the evenings. |
Value
for money
With the pound still strong against the
South African Rand, seldom has there been
a better time to visit.
You can eat and drink very cheaply. Some
examples are below and are based on an exchange
rate of £1 = 11 ZAR
Bottle of Beer - R7-00
Good bottle of white wine (shop) - R15-00
Good bottle of white wine (rest. or lodge)
- R35-00
Good bottle of red wine (shop) - R30-00
Good bottle of red wine (rest. or lodge)
- R60-00
Coffee in a café - R5-00
Can of Coke - R5-00
Moderate meal - R60-00
4 star restaurant meal - R12-00
A Dozen Oysters - R80-00
A Crayfish Dinner - R150-00
Airmail Stamp - R3-50
Sunscreen - R25-00
20 Cigarettes - R8-00
Litre of petrol - R4-00 |
| What
to take with you on safari |
Lightweight clothing
in dull colours, light sweater and heavier,
warmer jacket for winter and night safaris.
Comfortable walking shoes. Swimming costume,
sun protection creams. Dress is usually
completely informal. Camera, binoculars,
sunglasses, hat, and plenty of film. Some
Lodges do stock clothes, hats and film.
Medical necessities, Anti-malarial tablets
should be taken prior to your visit if appropriate.
(Sabi Sands and Kruger Park) |
| Health |
There are no compulsory
vaccinations required for entry into South
Africa, although Yellow Fever immunization
is necessary if travelling from or via an
infected country. Inoculations against typhoid,
polio and hepatitis are also recommended.
Anti Malaria tablets are required for some
parts of the country particularly the Kruger
Park area. In all cases medical advise from
your doctor should be sought before travelling.
Many tourists under estimate the effects
of the harsh African sun, so plenty of sunscreen
and a good sun hat are recommended.
The Water
The tap water in South Africa is safe to
drink. If you prefer, bottled water is available. |
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Map of South Africa |
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