Useful Information on South Africa

Language

South Africa has 11 official languages.  English, however, is widely spoken and is the common language at the Emperors Palace Resort.

Health Advice

No vaccinations are required when visiting South Africa, however, visitors who are entering South Africa from a yellow fever zone must have a valid international yellow fever inoculation certificate.   Hepatitis B inoculations are recommended for children up to the age of 12 years old. Booster doses for tetanus and measles can also be administered.

Malaria can be a risk when travelling in certain parts of the country, in particular the Kruger National Park, the Lowveld of Mpumalanga and Limpopo, and the northern part of KwaZulu-Natal. If you plan to travel to any of these areas, Malaria tablets are advisable; however, the risk of transmission is lowest during the drier months from May to October.

Chemists and pharmacies are spread throughout South Africa, some of which are open 24-hours.

Tap water is generally safe to drink throughout the country.

Tipping

Tipping is common practice in South Africa. In restaurants the accepted standard is usually 10% of the bill, although sometimes a gratuity will be included (often in the case of a large party). Barmen are tipped a similar percentage.

Petrol attendants expect a tip of two or three rands for filling your car, checking oil, water and tyre pressure and cleaning windscreens. Hotel porters should be tipped 2 - 5 rands. It is also normal to tip taxi drivers and tour guides.

Travel Documents

Visitors must be in possession of a valid passport (valid for at least 6 months after return travel) to enter the country. No travel visa is required for citizens from most western European countries, unless you intend to make trips to other countries, however, we do urge you to consult the Foreign & Commonwealth Office for up to the minute advice: www.fro.gov.uk

Weather

The climate in South Africa is usually warm and sunny in summer (October to March) and cold and chilly in winter (April to September). The rainy season is generally from October to March.

Average day temperature:

October to March 68°F – 87°F / 20°C – 30°C
April to September 33°F – 68°F / 0°C – 20°C

**Please remember that the FIFA World Cup™  is taking place during the South African Winter when night temperatures can drop to freezing point, so make sure you wrap up warm for the matches!

South African time

South African Standard Time is two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.

Currency

The currency in South Africa is the South African Rand (ZAR).

General Safety Tips

The Emperors Palace is in a secure, gated complex and as such, safety issues should not pose a problem for our customers travelling to the FIFA World Cup™, however, the general safety rule in South Africa is to use common sense in all situations:

Always know where you’re going before setting off (this is especially important at night) and check with hotel staff that the areas which you are planning to visit are safe.  Make sure car doors remain locked when travelling around and be wary when stopping at traffic lights and road blocks.  Avoid carrying large amounts of cash or jewellery with you and keep mobiles and wallets hidden away and avoid using local commuter and metro trains as a foreigner.