in the know
01 Health sunburn is a potential health hazard
S
ince most of the activities in South Africa happen outdoors, sunburn is a potential
health hazard. Cover up and use sun screen lotion whenever you are outside.
Malaria risk areas include Northern KZN and Zululand, the Northern Province and
Mpumalanga. The risk of contraction in South Africa is minimal when the proper precautions
are taken. These include taking malaria tablets, using insect repellent and mosquito coils,
and wearing long sleeved clothing.
Tap water in most areas is safe to drink, but be sure to double check with your hosts first.
One of the biggest health risks in South Africa is HIV and Aids. If you plan to be
sexually active during your stay in South Africa, be sure to take necessary precautions.
Check out www.redribbon.co.za for more information. Visit www.brillianttan.co.za for a
safer way to obtain that holiday tan.
02 Safety
• Do not to walk alone at night.
• Do not flaunt your possessions
when you are out in public.
• Only allow clearly uniformed
guards and personnel to handle
your possessions.
• Be aware of what is happening
around you.
• If anything should happen do not
hesitate to phone the police.
03 Travel Options
Air
There are several domestic airlines in South Africa, including South African
Airways, South African Express, Interlink, Airlink and British Airways. Low-cost
carriers include: 1time, Kulula and Mango.
Bus
Greyhound (+27 83 915 9000), InterCape (+27 21 380 4400) and
Translux (+27 861 589 282) are the three main bus services in South Africa.
All flights and bus tickets can be booked via Computicket at
www.computicket.com or by calling +27 83 915 8000.
Trains
For budget trips across the country, Shosholoza Meyl is the best service available.
Book online at www.shosholozameyl.co.za and enquiries can be directed to +27 86 000 8888.
If you decide to splurge, though, there are three outstanding options. The famous Blue Train (+27 12 334 8459), Rovos
Rail (+27 12 315 8242) and Premier Classe (+27 86 000 8888) are luxurious liners with all the bells and whistles.
Cars
Most of the main car rental companies have outlets at the international airports and in major centres.
In South Africa, we drive on the left side of the road. The general speed limits are 120 km/h on the freeways, 100
km/h on major roads outside built-up areas and 60 km/h in built-up areas.
Foreign members of the Automobile Association (AA) can register as a temporary member in South Africa at any local
AA branch. For more information, phone +27 83 843 2222.
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