What
is the currency and how much should I take?
The South African currency is the Rand which is then divided
into cents. For a quick exchange work on R7 to the US Dollar,
R8 to the Euro or R12 to the UK Pound.
The amount to take will vary on
your budget but we recommend a mixture of cash, travellers
cheques and Credit Cards. The banking system in South Africa
is excellent and so using your credit or debit cards should
not be a problem when getting cash from the many ATM's around
the country.
Hotels will exchange foreign
notes for you but you will get a better exchange rate at
a bank or travel agency.
What
languages are spoken?
Although South Africa has 11 official languages English
is the most common language. Other widely spoken languages
include Zulu, Xhosa and Afrikaans.
How
much should I tip?
It is customary to tip between 10% and 15% for a meal or
in a hotel when ordering room service. It is also wise to
tip for any other service that you may receive such as a
taxi ride, a tourist guide, porters etc. Use your discretion
but we recommend that you do not tip less than R2.
What
plugs and power voltage do you use in South Africa?
South African power is 240 volts, 50Hz delivered through
a three pin socket. The socket is unique to South Africa
and an adaptor will be needed. Most hotels and airport shops
will have adapters for foreign plugs. Most supermarkets
stock 2 prong & 3 prong adapters.
Can
I use my Cell/mobile phone in South Africa?
South Africa has an advanced GSM network and all GSM enabled
phones will work within the network. Be aware that cost
of calling outside South Africa is higher than most countries
and therefore it is advisable to get an international calling
card.
Is
there internet connectivity?
South Africa has a good Internet
infrastructure although you may find that it can be slow
in certain parts. There are usually Internet cafes dotted
around the tourist areas and many hotels have Internet facilities.
Telkom the national service provider provides ADSL through
its own & other service providers, but essentially you
are buying from a monopoly. The writer finds the most convenient
service being the MTN High Speed Broadband Connections as
this is truly mobile. As long as you have a laptop you have
a connection through their super-fast HSBC, 3G & GPRS
network which is available in all cities and most small
towns in the country. MTN is also the only independent wireless
Broadband connectivity provider that supplies broadband
and mobile communication within South Africa. It deserves
support if only to encourage Telkom to bring their rates
in line with International costs. Our concern rates MTN
as the top service provider in the country in terms of service.
Click here to order your MTN 3G mobile connection, telephone
and other wireless services. Create link to www.mtnsp.co.za
or call +27-83-123-3667 for telephonic assistance. Allow
48 hours for a connection.
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