Airports - Cape Town's International Airport has international and domestic sections and is approximately 17km from the city centre and 24km from Stellenbosch. In addition to a VAT refund office. Flight information may be obtained by telephoning 021 - 9340407. Banks are located throughout the city & suburbs and are open from Mon to Fri 09h00 - 15h30, Sat 08h30 - 11h00. Commercial banking services are available at Cape Town International Airport to coincide with international arrivals and departures. Camping - You will discover many campsites all over the country. Most campsites have the basic amenities and some have caravans and huts which are rented out. Car Hire - There is intense competition among the international and local car rental companies which means that there are always specials available. To rent a car you will need a current South African, or international driver's license. It is possible to pick up a car in one city and return it in another. www.hertz.com
and www.budget.com are both
good on-line resources in this regard.
Climate - Winter runs from June to August Christmas Dayis typically one of the hottest of the year. Cape Town has a mediterranean climate with four seasons. In the interior it becomes very hot in summer and during winter snow falls on the highest mountain peaks. Be warned that the Cape is surrounded by the very cold Atlantic Ocean, which can be very deceiving on those hot Summer days! Hours of Trading - Most shops Mon to Fri 08h30 - 17h00 (Sat 13h00). Most liquor stores close at 18h00. Supermarkets generally close at 18h00 (times vary according to the seasons) and some are open Saturday until 17h00 and Sunday to 14h00. There is late night shopping at the Victoria Wharf (Waterfront) seven days a week. Libraries - Visitors may register as temporary members at any Cape Town City Library branch (see telephone directory listed under Municipality of Cape Town). Medical Care - Standards of hygiene are high throughout Cape Town and the towns of the Western Cape. South Africa has excellent medical services with highly trained doctors and fully equipped hospitals. Your hotel can call a doctor or you can get a list of approved doctors from your embassy. Doctors are listed in the telephone directory under "Medical", Hospitals under "H". Hospitalisation is generally arranged through a medical practitioner but in the event of an emergency visitors may telephone or go directly to the casualty department of any general hospital. Ambulances
may be called by telephoning 10177. Outpatient treatment may be obtained
at hospitals for a nominal fee. Visitors are advised to take out medical insurance
for the duration of their trip. Visitors may drink tap water anywhere unless
a notice specifically warns otherwise. The sun in South Africa is much stronger
than in Europe and it is essential for visitors to use a good sun screen for
protection. Skin cancer has become a serious concern in sun worshipping Cape
Town. Poisonous snakes and spiders might be encountered in many places. Bluebottle
stings are quite common in summer.
Newspapers - Morning: Cape Times and Business Day (English), Die Burger (Afrikaans) - Afternoon: The Argus (English) - Sunday: Sunday Times (English), Rapport (Afrikaans). Foreign newspapers obtainable from CNA Golden Acre and Ulrich Naumann 17 Burg Street. Photography - there is much to focus on in the Cape. The light is bright and film or transparency with an iso rating of 100/21 is recommended. Post Offices are open Mon - Fri 08h00 - 16h30 & Sat 08h00 - 12h00. Mail may be addressed to you Post Restante. The main post office in Cape Town has special counters for this purpose. Postage stamps are widely available (e.g. at some cafes and branches of the Central News Agency - CNA). Public Holidays - January 1 - New Years Day, March 21 - Human Rights Day, Good Friday, Family Day (Easter Monday), April 27 - Freedom Day, May 1 - Worker's Day, June 16 - Youth Day, August 9 - National Woman's Day, September 24 - Heritage Day, December 16 - Day of Reconciliation, December 25 - Christmas Day, December 26 - Day of Goodwill. Religion - Most South Africans are Christians. The largest denominations are Anglican (Church of England), Roman Catholic and Dutch Reformed. There are also large Jewish and Muslim communities living in the Western Cape. To find the place of worship of your choice, consult your hotel, information bureaux and the weekend press for details. Standard time is two hours in advance of Greenwich Mean Time, one hour in advance of central European winter time and seven hours in advance of United States eastern standard time throughout the year. Taxis - there are no roving taxis in Cape Town. They are either hired at taxi-ranks or summoned by telephone 021 - 4344444. Rikkis (tuk-tuks) are three wheeled vehicles that carry up to six passengers and may be hailed or called on 021 - 234888. Tipping is expected in South Africa. A guideline for visitors is the following: Porters R2 per item, taxis 10%, waiters & waitresses in restaurants 10%. Traveller's Cheques - most international traveller's cheques are accepted, provided they are in an acceptable currency and may be cashed at most banks. Many hotels and shops also provide this service. Vat / Tax Refunds - VAT of 14% is levied on nearly all goods and services. Foreign tourists may claim back VAT paid on items that will be taken out of the country. Original tax invoices, foreign passport, plus all the items on which a refund is claimed, must be presented at the VAT refund administration office or an appointed RSA customs and excise official on departure, and the total VAT on these items will be refunded. Visitors will be requested to fill out a VAT Refund Control Sheet (VAT 255). Where a visitor does not export all the goods specified on a particular tax invoice, only the value of the goods and the tax paid on such goods exported must be declared on this form. Weather - for the Weather Bureau forecast telephone 021 - 40881 (taped message), or 021 - 9340450/8, or consult the daily press.
|