Welcome to South Africa
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
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 |
Public Holidays 2005
Public Holidays 2005:
Jan 1 New Year’s Day.
Mar 21 Human Rights Day.
Mar 25 Good Friday.
Mar 28 Family Day.
Apr 27 Freedom Day.
May 1 Workers Day.
Jun 16 Youth Day.
Aug 9 National Women’s Day.
Sep 24 Heritage Day.
Dec 16 Day of Reconciliation.
Dec 25 Christmas Day.
Dec 26 Day of Goodwill.
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