Click to Rent a car in South Africa Specialist
travel agency offering discount online bookings for reliable rental cars in
South Africa. Enquire easily online and save big!
South Africa lies almost wholly within
the southern temperate zone, and its climate is more equable than that of
corresponding northern latitudes because of its surrounding waters. Cape Town
and the southernmost part of Western Cape has a Mediterranean-type climate and
is warmer than some areas further north that are affected by the cold Benguela
Current on the west coast of Southern Africa. The winter months are mild and
changeable, this is also the time when most the rainfall occurs. The Durban and
Kwa-Zulu-Natal coastline is affected by the warm Mozambique current and enjoys
a sub-tropical climate, with plenty of sunshine throughout the year, but the
summer months can become very hot and humid. Throughout the country, however,
the mean annual temperature is just below 15.6°C (60°F). On the high
veld there are sharp differences of temperature between day and night; but
there is less daily fluctuation nearer the coast. Rainfall is unpredictable in
large parts of the country, and prolonged droughts are a serious restriction on
farming in such areas. While the mean annual rainfall is 18.6 inches, nearly
30% of the country receives less than 10 inches and 65% receives less than 20
inches. Much of South Africa gets its rain in the summer months, but the
western coastal belt is a winter rain area. Along the Cape south coast, rain
falls during both seasons. Generally the winter months are between April and
August with summer being from September to March
Entry permits are issued
on arrival to holiday visitors from most British Commonwealth countries and to
holders of Japanese, Irish, Swiss and German passports. Currently holders of
Scandinavian and Finnish passports do not require visa but this situation could
change and it is advisable to check with your nearest South African
Embassy/Consular. South Africa has at least consular representation in most
countries. It is possible that, on entry into South Africa, you will be asked
to show sufficient funds to support your stay or have an onward ticket. Visa
extensions are expensive and can be difficult to obtain because of the recent
influx of illegal immigrants.
Currency: 1 South African
Rand=100 cents Current Exchange Rate:
Today's Exchange
Rate
Credit and charge cards are widely accepted, including
American Express, Bank of America, Diners, MasterCard, Standard Bank Card and
Visa. Some ATM's give cash advances. Travellers cheques are also widely
accepted and exchanged. Different commission charges are incurred depending on
which bank you use and which travellers cheques you have.
Most banks
are open Mon-Fri 0900-1530 and Sat 0900-1100. Autobanks are found in most towns
and operate on a 24-hour basis.
kulula.com is the
fuss-free alternative to conventional travel. With exceptionally low fares,
online booking and easy check-in, kulula.com is flying made easy for everyone.
Nationwide
Airlines flying between Cape Town, George, Johannesburg, Durban, Lusaka
and Livingstone
The railway system is South Africa is well established and
mostly privately run. All the major towns are connected. There is a Metro
service in and around several cities.
Metrorail - metropolitan and suburban rail services in
South Africa (Johannesburg, Cape Town
The Blue Train, which runs
between Pretoria and Cape Town, is famous for its sheer luxury, people come to
South Africa just for the experience. If the whole trip is out of your budget
you can take just a section of it. The train is very popular and bookings will
need to be made in advance. The train recently started a new service "Zimbabwe
Spectacular" where two nights are spent on board.
You can also
experience a steam train tour, including "Apple Express" from Port Elizabeth,
the "Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe between Knysna and George the "Banana Express" along
KwaZulu Natal South Coast and "Magaliesberg Express" from Johannesburg to
Magaliesberg.
If you are train enthusiast then South Africa offers you
an experience not found elsewhere.
Bus: A number of coach
operators operate an inter city service. Translux Express offers very flexible
passes, enabling visitors to make up their own itineraries to explore the
country. It is advisable to book in advance.
The Baz Bus The Baz
Bus is South Africa's only convenient hop-on hop-off door-to-door backpacker
bus service to over 180 hostels
Elwierda
(Stellenbosch) (Pty) Ltd Operating a fleet of coaches from the Western
Cape of South Africa to the capital of Namibia, the ideal solution to your
passenger transport needs throughout Southern Africa.
Greyhound Coach Lines
specialising in luxury coach transport. This competitively priced go as
you please pass allows unlimited travel over a specified number of days with as
many stop overs as required. It's the ideal way to see the country, especially
when passengers want flexibility with their holiday itinerary.
Intercape
Mainliner Luxury Inter City Transport provider covering Southern Africa.
Travel in the lap of excellance with Intercape Mainliner.
TransLux buses Services throughout South Africa and to major cities in Malawi, Mozambique,
Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The Africa Guide's recommended Map Globetrotter Road Atlas of South Africa (Maps
Worldwide) Published by New Holland Publishers (U Series
Globetrotter Travel Atlases Catering for the needs of tourists and
visitors, this travel atlas covers places of interest, scenic routes, national
parks and key sites in South Africa. The town and city plans of the major
centres pinpoint key buildings and places of interest as well as where to stay.
South Africa is an excellent country to drive
in. Road conditions are good, there are plenty of petrol stations often open 24
hours and fuel is relatively cheap. Driving is on the left hand side and a
valid national licence is accepted provided it carries your photograph
otherwise an International Driving Licence is recommended.
Route Planner - excellent for planning your route and
journey times
There are numerous smaller local companies that offer
competitive car/camper van rates, but if you want a one way rental this can be
a problem with some of them.
The major companies, such as Avis and
Budget are represented, but their rates are one of the highest. The advantage
of using them is that you can often book through an agent in your home country
(or on-line) and this can in fact work out to be cheaper than booking on
arrival in South Africa.
Click to Rent a car in South Africa Specialist
travel agency offering discount online bookings for reliable rental cars in
South Africa. Enquire easily online and save big!
Camper-world.com We are a motorhome rental outlet, who
specialize in truly affordable camper rental. Our models are all 6 years or
younger.
Car
Hire Direct offers affordable car hire complete with an easy online
reservations system
In South Africa it is advisable
to pre-book accommodation in game parks, hotels and even campsites during the
school holidays. School holidays vary slightly for different
provinces.
To find out full details of school holidays in the individual
provinces please visit School
Calender
Electric Power is 220/230V (Grahamstad
& Port Elizabeth 250V; also found in King Williams) running at 50Hz. The
Plug type used is: "South African" Plug -
view
If you need medical care whilst in
South Africa, it is best to be aware that medical providers may not accept
payment through your insurance company. In these circumstances you will have to
pay in full after your treatment and file a claim with your insurance company
for reimbursement. Therefore you should have access to cash, either from a
credit card or by wire transfer. If you need assistance contact the country's
local embassy or representative.
To be compensated you must be treated
by licensed medical personnel and provide your insurance company with proper
documentation and receipts.
It is advisable to always ensure you have a
comprehensive travel insurance policy which covers you for repatriation to your
home country.
You can check out the following websites which specialise
in long term travellers, adventure travellers, backpackers and workers based
abroad.
Insure and Go - UK Travellers whether it's for a one
off holiday or if you travel many times over the year, if you're off
backpacking before university or you're retired and looking to explore the
world; if you're after winter sports cover or if it's for a business trip, a
wedding abroad or a golfing weekend away, we have a policy at the right price
to ensure you have the peace of mind that you are covered for the unexpected
while you're away.
- UK Travellers Offering a full range of policies,
single trip, young travellers, long stay, annual cover for UK residents. Get
your quote and policy on-line....
Insure My Trip - USA travellers offer 63 different
travel insurance plans from 14 different companies - no other site has such
product depth or comparison features. You can compare each policy giving you
the information you need to make an informed decision about your travel
insurance needs. .
Downunder Insurance - UK - Australia and New Zealand
Travellers offers travel insurance to travellers and residents in the
UK, Australia and New Zealand. Our cover ranges from basic to highly
comprehensive, with affordable policies aimed at backpackers and gap-year
students, but with cover available to travellers and holiday makers up to 55
years of age.
