General Information
General Information
South Africa
South Africa
South Africa is home to a multi-cultural melting pot of 55 million people of diverse origins, languages, cultures, and religions. Although English is widely spoken and is used for informational signage, South Africa celebrates diversity in language with a total of 11 official languages.
Over the last ten years South Africa has been one of the fastest-growing tourist destinations in the world. The climate, the accessibility, the location between East and West, the rich cultural heritage, and the favourable exchange rate all combine to make South Africa a popular destination for more and more international visitors.
One of the most geographically varied countries in Africa, South African has within its borders scenic attractions from the dramatic, arid landscapes of the northwest to the forest-fringed coastline of the Garden Route; from the flat, dry Karoo interior to the craggy Drakensberg Mountains in the east; from the manicured vineyards of the Cape, to the flower fields of Namaqualand and the bushveld of the Kruger National Park.
Blue skies, big game safaris, wilderness areas, and the promise of a sun-drenched beach holiday are what draw most visitors to South Africa. But the cultural diversity and the warmth and spirit of the people make it an even more inspiring place to explore.
Currency
Currency
The rand is the South Africa currency. It takes its name from the Witwatersrand – the ridge on which Johannesburg is built and where most of South Africa’s gold deposits were found.
It is divided into 100 cents and there are five denominations of banknotes in circulation: R10, R20, R50, R100, and R200.
Electricity
Electricity
In South Africa, the standard voltage is 230 volts and the frequency is 50 Hz. The power plugs and sockets are of type N, C, and M.
Getting Around in Cape Town
Getting Around in Cape Town
Ride hailing, rental car, min bus taxi, or bus.
Tipping / Gratuity
Tipping / Gratuity
In restaurants, typically 10% but 15% is always welcome. Check to make sure that the establishment has not included a gratuity already.
Safety and Security
Safety and Security
“Cape Town is a major, modern cosmopolitan South African city. As such, we would advise travellers to exercise the same level of vigilance they would exercise when visiting any major city in the world.
This includes ensuring you follow basic safety tips such as keeping emergency numbers on hand, avoiding carrying large sums of cash, and keeping your valuables safe at all times. For the overwhelming majority of the 1,7 million foreign visitors to the Western Cape each year, a visit to Cape Town and the Western Cape was a positive, memorable experience.
The destination is frequently cited as among the world’s best holiday destinations and has a high return visitor rate, proving that those who visit our destination once, fall in love with it, and want to discover it again.” – Cape Town Tourism
Please visit South African Tourism for more information on geography, weather, facilities and infrastructure, and more >>
