There are 11 official languages in South Africa. Noone here expects you to speak all of them - although a little bit of effort with the appropriate Thankyou, Dankie (Afrikaans), Ngiyabonga (Zulu), Enkosi (Xhosa).... goes along way. Generally you will get by in most places with English and the occassional bit of drawing and pointing thrown in for good measure.
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See http://www.brabysmaps.co.za for some great maps.
If you need advice on routes then please ask a member of Lekker Camper.
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It is advisable to take out full medical insurance before coming to Southern Africa as undoubtedly you may receive the most prompt treatment in private medical facilities. Whilst there are plenty of public hospitals, which you can visit for small fees, these hospitals are often stretched to capacity.
Before your holiday contact your doctor to discuss what vaccinations he/she suggests you get. The vaccinations you may need will depend on exactly where you are visiting and what you may be exposed to.
If you experience any of the following symptoms then it is advisable to visit the nearest health facility for proper diagnosis and prompt treatment: fever, bad headaches, backache, diarrhoea, vomiting, general feeling of unwellness, rash or swelling. This list is not exhaustive. If you feel unwell and suspect that something may be wrong, then do not hesitate to go to your nearest health facility without delay.
AIDS Helpline tel: 0800 012 322
HIV and AIDS is undoubtedly a real problem in Southern Africa that should not be taken lightly. Statistics say that there are over 5.5million people living with HIV in South Africa, although many believe this to be a huge underestimate. Certainly 100s of people in Southern Africa - adults and children die every day from AIDS related illnesses. It is estimated that 2:1 women:men have contracted HIV due to issues such as with men having multiple partners, lack of respect for women, rape. There is still a high spread of HIV in Southern Africa due to lack of education, poverty, cultural and social issues, misinformation and much more. Unfortunately, it is not a disease that is going away in a hurry and it is still being heavily spread. If you do decide to sleep with someone whilst on holiday here, then PLEASE use adequate protection for both parties sake.
See:
- http://www.afroaidsinfo.org for leading information/advice/event info
- http://www.aids.org.za/ to see how the AIDS Foundation of South Africa are making a real difference and how YOU can help
- there are many other HIV/AIDS websites that you can access - just type 'hiv in south africa' in your search engine
Malaria is only prevalent in certain areas of Southern Africa. Malaria is transmitted to people by the bite of an infective mosquito, which commonly bites after dark.
Prevention - the following measures may help to reduce the risk of mosquito bites :
- apply mosquito repellant to exposed areas and clothing
- wear long sleeved clothing and trousers
- avoid dark colours - they attract mosquitos
- sleep under a mosquito net
- avoid going out between dusk & dawn
- before your holiday consult your doctor to discuss taking appropriate malaria prevention drugs - prophylaxis
Ambulance tel: 10 177
Netcare 24hr emergency tel: 082 911
Er 24 tel: 084 124
Citi-Med tel: 080 033 3911
Visit: http://www.sahealthinfo.org for up-to-date articles and information regarding health in Southern Africa.
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The currency in South Africa is the South African Rand - ZAR which comes in Rands (R) and cents (c). This South African Rand can also be used in Lesotho, Swaziland, Botswana & Namibia. The Namibian dollar (N$) is equal to the South African Rand.
There are 100 cents to the Rand. the Rand comes in the following denominations: - R200, R100, R50, R20, R10 and coins in R5, R2, R1, 50c, 20c, 10c and 5c.
There are plenty of commercial banks and foreign exchange bureaus in most towns and cities across South Africa. Most banks open from 09:00 to 15:30 Monday to Friday, and on Saturdays from 08:30 to 11:00. Branches in smaller towns may close earlier - between 13:00 and 14:00
ATM's are readily available in all major towns at banks, garages, shopping malls etc. They will accept most International bank and credit cards.
Most International credit cards are accepted at formal businesses. Pin + chip is used at some establishments but is still relatively unheard of. Be very very careful with your credit cards - you will quickly notice that virtually no shops ever check your signature, which means that if you lose or have your card stolen then it is very susceptible to fraud.
Expect to use cash at most markets, road side stalls etc.
Travellers cheques can be exchanged for cash at commercial banks and foreign exchange bureaus.
Accepted tipping rate is between 10-15% if you are happy with the service you have received.
It is customary in South Africa to pay a parking attendant for looking after your vehicle whilst you are away. Generally people tip from R2 up to R5 depending on how long you have left your car, whether the attendant helped you with your bags etc. It is a great way to lighten your pockets of change and give to those who are trying to earn a decent living. Generally parking attendants can be recognised as they wear orange parking waistcoats and they will normally approach you after you have parked your car to ask if they can look after it for you.
Spare a thought for the people living on the streets and begging at traffic lights / robots. Whilst Lekker Camper does not condone begging, it is VERY tough to get a job in South Africa and wages are very low. Typically,a domestic worker earns between R90-R150 per day. If you have spare change then please donate to a worthwhile charity of your choice or pass on to Lekker Camper who will be happy to distribute it to a worthwhile cause on your behalf.
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There are great National Parks across Southern Africa.
To contact South African National Parks phone: 012 307 4135 If you are going to visit many parks then it may be worthwhile investing in a Wild Card that allows you free or reduced access to some/all National Parks.
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Petrol is readily available across all of Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Swaziland. Africans like to travel too so you WILL find petrol in the majority of towns - small and large. Make sure you do not run out of petrol - the distances between towns can often be very far and you could drive 100kms without seeing another car let alone another petrol station!
Lead replacement petrol (LRP) can be used for all older vehicles in replacement of 4-star.
Petrol prices are controlled by the government and generally cheaper by the coast and more expensive inland due to the associated additional transportation costs.
You can purchase gas to refill our gas cylinder in every town. Hardware shops and/or petrol stations are a good place to start the search - if they don't have it then they most certainly should know who does.
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General Opening hours: Weekdays 08:30 to 16:30, Saturdays 08:00 to 12:00 (smaller post offices may close between 13:00 and 14:00
The postal service in South Africa is generally good and timely. As all around the world it is never advisable to send cash !
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