Flights can be taken from Cape Town International Airport to George Airport . There are Scheduled flights linking George to all the major centres of the country. There is no bus service to town from the airport, but major car hire companies have rental kiosks at the airport. Taxis are also available.

There are 11 official languages - the most common in the Cape are English, Afrikaans and Xhosa. The others are: Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Southern Sotho, Swati, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, and Zulu.

South Africa is a developing country, and crime does exist, take special precautions with alll valuables, travellers cheques, passports and photograhic equipment, it is recommended that such valubles be locked in the safe of your hotel. Ensure that no valuable are visible when walking the the cities i.e. wallets, etc. Street vendors offer expensive items for sale, these are likely to be stolen or fake and the tourist is discouraged from purchasing such items.

It is customary in South Africa. 10 - 15% for waiters & waitresses in restaurants .

If you wish to make a call overseas, you must first dial 09, which is South Africa's international access code. You then dial the country code, area code of the city or region and the number of the person you wish to call. LAN lines are offered in major hotels.

Standard Time is two hours in advance of Greenwich Mean Time, one hour in advance of central European winter time and seven hours in advance of United States eastern standard time throughout the year.

Most international traveller's cheques are accepted provided they are in an acceptable currency and may be cashed at most banks. Many hotels and shops also provide this service.

Public transport is not readily available in South Africa. Visitors are discouraged from hitch-hiking. Keep your car locked at all times do not pick up hitch-hickers and ensure that your car doors are locked at all times. 

Open Mon - Fri 08h00 - 16h30 & Sat 08h00 - 12h00. Postage stamps are widely available (e.g. at some cafes and branches of the Central News Agency - CNA).

No international immunisation is needed when entering South Africa. Please check with your embassie for further information.

The Western and Eastern Cape are Malaria Free. This Regions that are affected are the Northern Province and Mpumalanga, northern Natal and Zululand and standard precautions should be taken. Insect repellent and Malari tablets should be taken. The highest risk is normally in the early morning and evening. . The risk of contracting the disease is negligible provided that you take the standard precautions. Check with your Doctor for the appropriate Malaria tablets.

220/230 volts AC at 50 cycles per second. Its is advisable to take an apdapter for three pronged plugs.. Most hotel rooms have 110 volt outlets for electric shavers and small appliances.

Value-added tax (VAT) can be refunded the if the value of items purchases exceeds R250.00. VAT is refunded on departure at the point of departure. VAT of 14% is levied on nearly all goods and services.

Foreign tourists may claim back VAT paid on items that will be taken out of the country. Original tax invoices, foreign passport, plus all the items on which a refund is claimed, must be presented at the VAT refund administration office or an appointed RSA customs and excise official on departure, and the total VAT on these items will be refunded.

Visitors will be requested to fill out a VAT Refund Control Sheet (VAT 255). Where a visitor does not export all the goods specified on a particular tax invoice, only the value of the goods and the tax paid on such goods exported must be declared on this form.

For additional information:

Contact: VAT Refund Administrator (Pty) Ltd
P.O. Box 107
Johannesburg International Airport Post Office
1627

Toll Free Number: 0800 119 868
Telephone: +27 (0)11 390 2970 

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