|
What to Bring on a Tour If you have never been to South Africa, and in particular the Western Cape, you will be very surprised to find an amazing infrastructure, extremely friendly people, stunning scenery, gorgeous weather and world class service!
In this, the southern tip of Africa, you can expect to find mountains, forests, picture perfect beaches, winelands, exotic gardens and wild flowers, whales, dolphins, Great White Sharks, incredible restaurants... and an amazing mix of cultures and languages.
In order to help you with some ideas for planning your trip, and to get you excited about what to expect, we have put together some reading material for your information.
Documents We suggest that you contact your local travel agency before booking your tickets for all VISA requirements, or the South African Embassy in your country.
Driving Licenses If you would like to hire a car during your trip to do a bit of exploring on your own, you will need an International Drivers License, which carries your photograph, otherwise leave everything to us to provide you with the very best service which we have become known for.
Telephones Card phones are fairly common in the city and smaller towns and cards are available in many shops. Mobile phones, called Cell Phones in South Africa, are very common, with excellent coverage in almost all areas of the country.
Newspapers, etc. Most of the world's important newspapers are available at bookstores.
Electricity The electrical system is 220/230 volts AC at 50 cycles per second. Adaptors can be purchased at hardware stores for most plug types.
Health Make sure you have fully comprehensive travel insurance for your trip, and make sure you are up to date with your vaccines.
Money Travellers Cheques can be changed at banks as well as American Express and Thomas Cook. Cash can be changed at any commercial bank during normal bank hours. Credit Cards, especially Visa and MasterCard, are widely accepted and can be used for many purchases from paying at restaurants to buying goods. However always check with the business beforehand to confirm that they do accept credit cards
Always check with the business beforehand to confirm they do accept Credit Cards, however. Some ATM's will give Visa and MasterCard cash advances. You will also need a Credit card to hire a car.
Costs South Africa offers a good rate of exchange for American and European Currency. Restaurants in South Africa offer good value for money.
Tipping Tipping is very welcomed by staff, if they offer you good service, 10 to 15% is a good guideline.
Clothing The dress code for South Africa is mostly casual, especially at the coast.
Shorts and T-shirts are perfect for the day, with jeans, pants and a nice shirt for the evening. You may need a jersey or jacket during the evening in case of cool weather. Don't forget to bring swimming costumes for the beach! If you forget anything or want to save the hassle of bringing everything out with you, we recommend a range of extremely good quality local clothing at very attractive prices. Any clothing or gear you require may also be bought here, often at a cheaper price than overseas, due to the exchange rate.
Airports The main airport in the Western Cape is Cape Town International, where you will start your all your tours.
|