 |
|
|
|
| Entry Regulations / General Information |
|
|
|
Entry for German Nationals |
|
|
Travellers are exempt from holding a visa for a touristic stay of 90 days, provided they hold a national passport valid for at least 30 days beyond the period of stay (it must contain at least one blank page for the entry and exit stamps), tickets for their return on onward journey, and sufficient funds for their stay.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Geographical Location |
|
|
The Republic of South Africa is located on the southern edge of the African Continent between 22° and 35° southern latitude. It consists of the provinces Northern Cape, Western Cape, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu/Natal, Free State, Mpumalanga, Limpopo (Northern Province), Gauteng, and North West.
Total area: 1,219,090 km˛.
Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North-West, Northern Cape, Western Cape).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Population |
|
|
Population: approximately 43.3 million.
Cities (approximate numbers): Pretoria (capital and seat of government, 1,362m above sea level) 1.1 million; Cape Town 2.4 million; Durban 2.1 million; Johannesburg (1,735m above sea level) 1.48 million; Soweto 1.09 million; Port Elizabeth 750,000; Bloemfontein (1,390m above sea level) 334,000; Pietermaritzburg (684m above sea level) 380,000, Benoni 365,000, Vereeniging 347,000.
Other cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants: Alberton, Boksburg, Botshabelo, Brakpan, Carletonville, East London, Kimberley, Klerksdorp, Krugersdorp, Mdantsane, Midrand, Newcastle, Paarl, Potchefstroom, Rustenburg, Somerset West, Springs, Tembisa, Uitenhage, Vanderbijlpark, Verwoerdburg, Welkom, Westonaria, Witbank.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Language |
|
|
Official languages are English, Afrikaans, Zulu, Xhosa, Tswana, Northern Sotho, Southern Sotho, Tsonga, Swazi, Ndebele, Venda.
The employees of many larger hotels and shops also speak French, Italian and German.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Time Difference |
|
|
Central European Time (CET) +1 hour.
During European summer time there is no time difference.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Electricity |
|
|
220/230V alternating current, 50Hz (in Pretoria 240V alternating current, in Port Elizabeth 250V).
A special adapter, which is only available locally, is required for the three-pole plugs.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Postal Service |
|
|
For airmail to Europe, up to seven days have to be allowed for. Poste restante service is available in all South African post offices.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Telephone |
|
|
The national dialling code for calls from Western Europe to South Africa is 0027; for international calls from South Africa, the prefix "09" must be dialled prior to the relevant country code (in the case of calls to Germany, for example, 0949). Public telephone boxes are equipped with automatic dialling service for all calls. Coin-operated phone boxes are blue, card-operated phone boxes are green. Telephone cards can be purchased almost everywhere, in denominations between ZAR 10 and ZAR 200. In most public phone boxes the next selling point is indicated. Calls can also be made in post offices (via an operator) or in telephone shops. Calling from hotels is very expensive.
EMERGENCY NUMBERS: police 10111, ambulance 10177, fire brigade 10111.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mobile Phones |
|
|
Mobile network technologies: GSM 900/1800.
Information for users of mobile phones registered with German network providers: Mobile phones connected to the E-Plus, O2, T-Mobile or Vodafone networks can be used due to international roaming agreements. Travellers intending to use other mobile phones are advised to contact their network provider for detailed information.
Mobile phones can also be hired at the airports of Johannesburg and Cape Town.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Internet |
|
|
Country code suffix: .za
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Public Holidays |
|
|
1st January (New Year), 21st March (Human Rights Day), Good Friday, Easter Monday (Family Day), 27th April (Freedom Day), 1st May (Worker's Day), 16th June (Youth Day), 9th August (Women's Day), 24th September (Heritage Day), 16th December (Day of Reconciliation), 25th and 26th December (Christmas). If one of these holidays falls on a Sunday, it will be brought forward to the following Monday.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Opening Hours |
|
|
Banks: in cities Mon to Fri 8:30/9a.m.-3/3:30p.m., Sat 8a.m.-11/12p.m.; shorter opening hours in the rural regions
Post offices: Mon to Fri 8a.m.-4:30p.m. (smaller post offices are closed from 1p.m.-2p.m.), Sat 8a.m.-12p.m.
Shops: Mon to Fri 9a.m.-5:30p.m., Sat 9a.m.-2p.m.; large shopping malls are open until 9p.m. and also on Sundays
Offices: Mon to Fri 8:30a.m.-4:30p.m.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clothes |
|
|
SUMMER HALF-YEAR (European winter): light clothes. Travellers who are intending to visit areas located at higher altitudes, or are travelling in spring or autumn, should carry between-seasons clothes and pullovers. Rainwear is required as well, as there are frequently short but heavy showers.
WINTER HALF-YEAR (European summer): during this time, the weather is predominantly sunny. Accordingly, light clothing is also appropriate, particularly in the KwaZulu/Natal province. Warm clothes are only needed in the cape area and in higher regions, as well as for the evenings which can be rather chilly. Rainwear should invariably be taken.
Throughout the year sturdy footwear is a must. In up-market hotels and restaurants, formal clothes are required in the evening (in some cases also at lunch). Good sunglasses are indispensable.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
© 2001 All rights reserved TIP Gesellschaft für Touristik-Informations-Programme mbH, München Last updated: 14.03.2007 - Proposals, hints and contact - Copyright
|
|
|
|
|