Frequently Asked Questions About South Africa

Currency
Its really easy getting hold of local currency in South Africa. Your best bet is a credit card. This can be used at all auto bank telling machines. Using your credit card enables you to use the current exchange rate and not the buying rate. Also a bank commission of between 2,5% and 10% does not get charged instead only a 1% charge due to the credit card being used in a foreign county is levied and a small levy for using the ATM. From a machine a maximum of R3000,00 per day is obtainable. From within a bank the limit is on your card. Maestro and EC cards are also accepted by the auto tellers which have a fixed charge per transaction which is a little less expensive than a credit card. Bank auto tellers are available at the airport when you exit from the customs. Check the exchange rates with our currency converter

Renting a Car
by far the cheapest way to do this is to rent a car in connection with the purchase of your air ticket. This way the car rental can be up to 50% cheaper than renting it in South Africa. You don't really need a 4x4 to tour SA although they are better for viewing game being higher off the ground. Many of our guests have expressed high satisfaction with the Toyota Condor with its huge amount of space, excellent for game viewing, nice driving style and not very expensive. Also check the internet for car rental offers.

Malaria
The Antbear is malaria free. Nevertheless malaria is serious and when traveling in regions (Northern KwaZulu-Natal, Kruger) where it is prevalent  precautions need to be taken against it . I recommend that you firstly get hold of a really fine mosquito net big enough for a double bed. Use it every night while inside the malaria areas. An anti mosquito lotion (not spray as this tends to react with the net and makes large holes in it) should be applied after your shower especially evenings. Malaria prophylactics are easily available over the counter at any chemist in South Africa for a 10th of the price than they are in Europe. Please note Malarone is not available in South Africa. You must decide if you want to take the Malaria drugs as a stand by or as a prophalaxis.

Climate
Midwinter occurs in June and July; midsummer in January and February. The climate ranges from Mediterranean in the Cape to sub tropical on the KwaZulu-Natal coast. In general year round sunshine means that any time of the year is a good time to visit South Africa.  The average number of sunshine a day is among the highest in the world. (8,5 per day). Never the less don't just go and leave your jersey at home. It sometimes does get cold especially winter evenings and nights.

Time differences
Thought the year Standard South African Time is 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time and one hour ahead of Central European Winter time. This means you won't have those nasty jet lag feelings when you fly here from Europe.