General Information
 

Capital: Pretoria (administrative)
Time: : GMT + 2.
Tel. Code: 00 27 .
Official Language: The official languages are Afrikaans, English, isiNdebele, isiXhosa, isiZulu, Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, Siswati, Tshivenda and Xitsonga.
Currency: :Rand (R) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of R200, 100, 50, 20 and 10. Coins are in denominations of R5, 2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents .
Electricity: : 220/230 volts AC; 250 volts AC (Pretoria), 50Hz. Three-pin round plugs are in use.
Religion: Mostly traditional but there is a sizeable Christian population (both Catholic and Protestant) and a small Muslim community.

Climate: : South Africa’s climate is generally sunny and pleasant. Winters are usually mild, although snow falls on the mountain ranges of the Cape and Natal and occasionally in lower-lying areas, when a brief cold spell can be expected throughout the country.
Required clothing: : Lightweight cottons and linens and rainwear. Warmer clothes are needed for winter.

Airports
Cape Town (CPT) (Cape Town International), 22km (16 miles) east of the city.
Bloemfontein (BFN) (Bloemfontein International), 10km (6 miles) east of the city (travel time - 15 minutes).
Durban (DUR) (Durban International), 18km (11 miles) southwest of the city (travel time - 20 minutes).
Johannesburg (JNB) (Johannesburg International), 22km (14 miles) east of the city (travel time - 35 minutes).
Port Elizabeth (PLZ) (Port Elizabeth International) is 5km (3 miles) west of the Capital Business District.
Departure tax: None.

Internal Travel
Air, Sea, Rail and Road are the modes of transportation used within South Africa.

Travel Times
The following chart gives approximate travel times (in hours and minutes) from Cape Town to other major cities in South Africa.

• City

• Air

• Rail

• Road

• Johannesburg

• 2.00

• 24.00

• 15.00

• Durban

• 2.00

• 38.00

• 18.00

• Pretoria

• 2.00

• 26.00

• 16.00

• Port Elizabeth

• 1.00

• -

• 7.00

• Bloemfontein

• 1.30

• 20.00

• 10.00

Passport/Visa

Passport
Passport valid for at least 30 days longer than the period covering stay in South Africa required by all.

Visas :
Required by all except the following for business and tourist purposes:

• Nationals of Australia, Northern Ireland and the UK;

• Nationals of Canada, EU countries (except Northern Ireland and the UK (see above); Cyprus, Hungary, Poland and Slovak Republic for up to 30 days; Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovenia who do require a visa), Japan and the USA for stays of up to 90 days;

• Nationals of British Overseas Territories, British Virgin Islands, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey and the Republic of Ireland;

• Nationals of British Dependent Territories (except Arguilla, Bermuda, British Antarctic Territory, British Indian Ocean Territory, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands, Henderson, Cucie and Oeno Islands, the Sovereign Base Area of Akrotiri and Dhekelia and the Turks & Caicos Islands, who do require a visa);

• Nationals of Andorra, Argentina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, Ecuador, Iceland, Israel, Jamaica, Liechtenstein, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, St Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Singapore, Switzerland, Taiwan, Uruguay and Venezuela for stays of up to 90 days;

• Nationals of Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Costa Rica, Gabon, Guyana, Hong Kong (SAR), Jordan, Korea (Rep), Lesotho, Macau (SAR), Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Namibia, Peru, Seychelles, Swaziland, Thailand, Turkey, Zambia and Zimbabwe for stays of up to 30 days;

• Transit passengers continuing their journey by the same or first connecting aircraft provided holding onward or return documentation and not leaving the airport.

Note:

• Holders of Visitor visas are not allowed to take up employment in South Africa. However, employment can be taken up under certain circumstances and if the requirements for a work permit are complied with, but only if the Embassy/Consulate is contacted in advance.

• Unaccompanied children under the age of 18 years must hold written consent from their parents when travelling alone.

• Study or work permits must be obtained in the country of normal residence before entry into South Africa. However, exceptions may be made.

• Permits may be extended if done so 30 days prior to expiry of original permit.