South Africa is an incredible destination – the kind of destination that will touch all your senses in a myriad of ways. Our wonderful diversity is a key attraction: from the deserts of the Kgalagadi to the lush green forests of Tsitsikamma to the unspoilt beaches of the Wild Coast to the vibrant nightlife of Cape Town – South Africa really does have it all.
As a people, we are known for our humanity; we may have come from a past filled with separation and struggle but our future is one of unity and possibility. In true African spirit, we understand the value of a warm South African welcome, and we can't wait to welcome you to our Rainbow Nation.
South Africa truly is a groundbreaking destination for everyone who wants to experience life in all its fullness. This destination allows you to scratch below the surface and experience endless possibilities, and to walk away the richer for having been here.
- Time zone
- Money
- Food and water safety
- Driver’s licences / permits
- Business and shopping hours
- Value-added tax
- Tipping
- Average temperatures
- Units of measurement
- Food etiquette
- South African languages and slang
South Africa is in the GMT+2 time zone (UTC +02), which is the same as Athens , Bucharest , Cairo , Istanbul , Jerusalem , Harare and Helsinki . It does not apply daylight saving, so its relative time remains constant.
The local currency is the South African Rand (R1=100 cents), which exchanges favourably with all major international currencies. This makes South Africa an affordable destination where five-star luxury and items such as food, wine and lager can be purchased at much lower prices than in many global cities. Traveller’s cheques, cash and credit card withdrawals are possible from most banks or bureaux de change. Banks are open Monday to Friday 09:00 to 15:30 and Saturday 09:00 to 11:00 . Credit cards are accepted almost everywhere but one should carry some cash just in case. Cash withdrawals can be made around the clock from almost any ATM – most accept major credit cards such as American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa.
Please note that gasoline cannot be purchased on a credit card.
South Africa ’s tap water rates as some of the safest and cleanest in the world. In hotels, restaurants and nightspots the standards of hygiene and food preparation are generally top-notch. It is safe to eat fresh fruit, vegetables and salads and to put as much ice as you like in your drinks. Restaurants provide a wide variety of cuisines and visitors are normally highly impressed with the food. The country’s many cultures make for varied traditional fare that is definitely worth exploring.
Drivers must have valid driving licences, which carry a photograph of the holder, and are either printed or authenticated in English. South Africa recognises international driving permits issued under the 1949 Convention on Road Traffic. South Africans drive on the left side of the road.
Banking hours in South Africa
08:30/ 09:00 – 15:30 / 16:00 Monday – Friday
08:30 / 09:00 – 11:00 / 11:30 / 1:00 Saturday
Shopping hours in South Africa
Monday – Friday: 09:00 – 17:00 / 18:00
Saturday: 08:30 / 09:00 – 13:00 (smaller centres)
Saturday: 09:00 – 17:00 / 18:00 (urban areas)
Sunday: 10:00 – 15:00 / 16:00 (urban areas)
Office hours in South Africa
Monday – Friday: 08:30 / 09:00 – 17:00
Post Office hours in South Africa
Monday – Friday: 08:30 – 16:30
Saturday: 09:00 – 12:00
Value-added tax (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. Make sure you collect a tax invoice from the retailer which carries the words “tax invoice”; the seller’s name, address and VAT registration number; date; tax invoice number; description of the goods; cost of the goods; and the amount of VAT charges. For purchases above R1 000, your name and address are also required.
On departure you must present your purchases and original tax invoices at the VAT refund administration office or to an appointed RSA customs and excise official; then claim your refund at the VAT refund desk. Visitors will be requested to fill out a VAT Refund Control Sheet (VAT 255). Only on claims where the value of goods is greater than R250, an administration fee of 1.5% of the VAT will be deducted, subject to a minimum of R10 and a maximum of R250. For further information call the VAT Refund Administrator at 011 394 1117.
Tipping is widely practised in South Africa . The general tipping rate is 10-15% if the service fee is not included. It is customary to tip porters, waiters, taxi drivers, caddies, tour guides, hairdressers and room service. The going rate for porters at airports is around R5 per piece of luggage. In restaurants and bars, 10% is the accepted tipping standard.
South African temperatures are measured in centigrade. The average temperatures you can expect in Johannesburg during November range from a minimum of 15°C to a maximum of 26°C. We recommend that you bring clothes that are cool and comfortable, along with an umbrella or rain jacket, as this is when most of the country gets rain. A light jacket or wrap is a good precaution. We also strongly urge you to bring a hat, sunglasses and sunblock, as the summer sun can be exceptionally strong.
The units of measurement used in South Africa are metric – road distances are measured in kilometres, petrol in litres and solid food in grams.
Here's a quick reference table for converting South African weights and measurements from the metric to the imperial system, and vice versa:
| 1 inch |
= |
2.54 cm |
| 1cm |
= |
0.39 inches |
| 1 m |
= |
3.3 ft or 1.1 yards |
| 1 ft |
= |
0.3 m |
| 1 km |
= |
0.62 miles |
| 1 mile |
= |
1.6 km |
| 1 kg |
= |
2.2 lbs |
| 1 lb |
= |
0.45 kg |
| 1 gm |
= |
0.04 oz |
| 1 oz |
= |
28 gm |
| 1 imperial gallon |
= |
4.55 ℓ |
| 1 ℓ |
= |
0.22 imperial gallons |
| 1 US gallon |
= |
3.8 ℓ |
| 1 ℓ |
= |
0.26 US gallons |
South African food etiquette is mostly westernised, with some of its own oddities. For instance, it's okay to eat pasta twirling it onto a fork with the aid of a spoon, and lobster with your hands. The popular braai (barbeque) is another occasion where you can use your hands. In rural areas, traditional stew and mealie pap are also eaten with the hands – use your right hand only and roll the pap into a ball with your fingers, then dip it into the stew and eat.
At fine dining restaurants, dress a little more formally towards a “smart-casual” look. Most other eateries, however, are extremely informal and in the many family-friendly establishments South African etiquette, on food and in general, is relaxed.
| Bobotie |
This Malay dish is made with minced meat, raisins, spices and yellow rice. It is baked in the oven with a mixture of eggs and milk on top. Delicious, you must try it. |
| Snoek |
This is a fierce fish found in the sea off Cape Town . It has sharp teeth and is long and narrow like a barracuda. It is the staple diet and source of income for many Malay fishermen on the peninsula. The name is pronounced "snook", as in "look". It tastes great when fresh. Dried, salted snoek can be eaten as is, or served in a stew called "smoorvis", or better still, braaied. |
| Boerewors |
Traditional braai fare – minced meat, generally beef, with spices in a sausage skin |
| Biltong |
Jerky in the US , usually of dried beef, venison or ostrich |
| Rooibos |
(Red bush tea) This tannin-free herb tea comes mostly from the Clanwilliam area of the Western Cape . It is picked from the Aspalathus linearis bush. Homesick South Africans buy it from gourmet stores around the world, even if they don't like it. |
| Naartjie (‘tjie’ spoken as ‘chi’) |
Known in England as clementines, this small orange-like fruit has an easy-to-peel skin, and is juicy and yummy! |
| Sosatie |
(Kebab) Made from either chicken, lamb or beef, this is often interspersed with pieces of tomato, green pepper, onion and sometimes dried fruit, especially apricot, and is found on a stick (not like the English kebabs). |
| Samp |
An African food made from rough corn. It is starchy and is often eaten with haricot or red beans, dunked in gravy stew. Delicious. |
| Pap ('pup') |
(Boiled corn meal) It is the staple diet of many South Africans. Eaten mostly in the townships, it is often found at braais. It has the appearance of wet plaster, but is delicious when scooped through gravy. Pap is versatile. It's eaten as sweet porridge, or as part of a main course. |
| Bunny chow |
Indian or Malay curry inside a hollowed-out loaf of white bread. You get served the curry in the bread, with a square chunk taken from the inside, which you can use to dunk in the curry. Best when the bread is fresh. Bunny chow can also refer to “slap” (soft) chips in bread. |
| Padkos ('put-koss') |
(Afrikaans – lit. “road food”) Food for the journey. Padkos is usually a few sarmies (sandwiches), some cooldrinks, chips, fruit and maybe a nice piece of biltong. |
South Africa has 11 official languages. To sketch some background: English and Afrikaans were the official languages of South Africa until the change in political dispensation in 1994. At that point another 9 languages were added to the official list, to give representation to the many languages spoken by black population groups.
These South African languages fall into two main language families, Nguni and Sotho. The good news is that most South Africans are conversant in English, particularly in urban areas, so there is no need to fear insurmountable language barriers.
The Nguni languages include isiZulu, isiXhosa, siSwati and isiNdebele, while the Sotho languages encompass Setswana, Sepedi and Sesotho.
Here is a brief South African language guide to some common phrases:
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Hello |
Bhota |
Sawubona |
Lotjhani |
Dumela |
Dumela |
| How are you? |
Unjani? |
Unjani? |
Unjani? |
O kae? |
O kae? |
| I am fine, thank you |
Ndiyaphile, enkosi |
Ngisaphila, ngiyabonga |
Ngikhona ngiyathokoza |
Ke teng |
Ke teng |
| Yes |
Ewe |
Yebo |
Lye |
Ee |
Ee |
| No |
Hayi |
Cha |
Awa |
Tjhee |
Nnyaa |
| Please |
Nceda |
Ngiyakucela |
Ngiyabawa |
Hle |
Tsweetswee |
| Thank you |
Ndiyabulela |
Ngiyabonga |
Ngiyathokoza |
Ke a leboha |
Ke a leboga |
|
|
|
|
|
| Hello |
Ndaa/Aa |
Avuxeni |
Sawubona |
Hallo |
| How are you? |
Vho vuwa hani? |
Ku njhani? |
Unjani? |
Hoe gaan dit met jou? |
| I am fine, thank you |
Nne ndo takala vhukuma |
Ndzi kona ndza nkhensa |
Ngikona ngiyabonga |
Goed dankie |
| Yes |
Ee |
Ina |
Yebo |
Ja |
| No |
Hai |
E-e |
Cha |
Nee |
| Please |
Ndi khou tou humbela |
Ndza kombela |
Ngiyacela |
Asseblief |
| Thank you |
Ndi a livhuwa |
Ndzi khense ngopfu |
Ngiyabonga |
Dankie |
| Aikona |
Not on your life |
| Bakkie |
Pickup truck |
| Barnie |
Fight |
| Eina! |
(Ouch!) Widely used. Derived from Afrikaans. Pronounced "aynah". |
| Eish ('aysh') |
(Zulu expression) Surprise, bewilderment, shock |
| Braai |
Traditional cook-out on a wood fire. |
| Dankie |
Afrikaans word meaning “thank you”, used by all language groups. |
| Howzit |
The famous South African greeting. Short for "How is it?" Try and refrain from saying, "It's fine, thanks". This will only lead to a funny look. A suitable reply is: "No, fine", which actually means "Yes, I am fine". The word "no" is often taken to mean "yes". A real Afrikaner might reply to a "Howzit", with this bewildering response: "Ja, well, no fine". This is merely a more emphatic but long-winded version of "No, fine". |
| Just now / now now |
(In a little while) Universally used in South Africa , it means that the action will get done "eventually", but it might mean "never". If someone says he will do it "just now", be warned. It might be in 10 minutes, 10 hours, or never. If someone says "now now", you're making progress. It won't be done immediately, or instantly, but probably in less than 10 minutes, barring distractions that relegate it back to "just now". |
| Lekker |
Afrikaans word meaning nice. |
| Nooit (‘noyt’) |
Never or no way |
| Oke |
Guy |
| Pavement |
Sidewalk |
| Robot |
Traffic light |
| Rock up |
To arrive, to turn up somewhere. |
| Stoep |
Verandah |
| Takkies |
Sneakers, running shoes or trainers |
| Tokoloshe |
According to indigenous folklore the tokoloshe is a mischievous and evil spirit in the form of a short, hairy, dwarf-like creature. |
| Madiba |
The clan name for former President Mandela that has become universally used as an affectionate nickname. His full name is Nelson Rolihlahla (Roli-shla-shla) Mandela. His clan name is used widely, even by the press. |
| Ag ('a*g') |
A multi-purpose word, pronounced like the ach in German. "Ag, no man" (sign of irritation). Can precede any sentence for various effects, such as the more neutral, "Ag, I don't know." Used by some people as a stand-alone expletive. |
| Ag shame |
Typical expression as in "Ag shame, look at that beautiful puppy". |
