South Africa Travel Tips

1. If possible try and use ATM machines at the bank premises during banking hours – if your card gets swallowed the bank is open and you can go inside and ask for it back and there is always increased security during banking hours.
2. Its cheaper to draw cash from an ATM with a debit card than it is with a credit card.
3. There is a limit set on each ATM for the maximum amount of cash per transaction. But you can withdraw more than once if you need more. Also you will sometimes be asked for the account type. Just select current.
4. South African petrol stations do not accept credit cards, so have sufficient cash for petrol purchases. About R500 will give you a full tank of petrol.
5. 10% tipping is generally quite acceptable at restaurants, or a R5 coin will put a smile on the hotel porters face after carrying your bags to your room or a petrol attendent after filling up with petrol.
6. It is a good idea to open a google mail acount, scan in copies of your passport, entry visas, travellers cheque sales advice, airline tickets, drivers licence, credit cards etc. and mail them to this account. Then if the worst does happen and you loose everything at least you can get copies from the nearest internet access and its always easier to obtain replacements when you have photocopies of all the details!
7. It is always a good idea to take out medical insurance with your travel agent when you buy your tickets. A great tip is that when you buy your airline ticket with a credit card you get travel insurance for free but you still need to apply for it.
8. South Africa is a big place. Try to spend more time in fewer places or you may just find yourself inside your rental car for your whole holiday.
9. Be especiall caucious of having a motor accident. Especially at night. You will often find pedestrians or animals on the road or other dirvers doing silly things. Just be very awake while driving.
10. Enjoy yourself. Its your holiday and South Africans are a friendly people. Welcome to our country.