South Africa has 11 official languages, including Afrikaans, English, Xhosa, Zulu and Sotho. English is widely spoken.
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South Africa's currency is the Rand (ZAR), which is divided into 100 cents. Money can be exchanged at banks, bureau de change and the larger hotels. ATMs are widely available (there is a daily limit for cash withdrawals) and major international credit cards are widely accepted, except in petrol stations where cash is required. Visitors should take care and be vigilant when drawing cash from ATMs as there is a high incidence of credit card fraud involving the use of ATMs. Travelers checks and some foreign currencies are accepted at larger hotels and shops, but commission is charged, otherwise all commercial banks will exchange them.
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The international access code for South Africa is +27. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 001 for the U.S.). International phone cards cannot be used in South Africa. The country is served by three GSM mobile phone networks. Mobile service providers offer very cheap pay-as-you-go Sim cards, which are a good option for visitors staying for some time. Internet cafes are widespread. Card and coin operated pay phones are also widespread.
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If a service charge is not included in the bill, waiters expect a tip of 10 percent. Tipping for services rendered is widely anticipated by porters, taxi drivers, golf caddies and petrol attendants. "Car guards" operate in the city centers and tourist spots and will offer to look after your parked car; they are usually immigrantsfrom neighboring countries looking for work and will expect anything from R2 upwards on your return.
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Visitors to South Africa should be aware of the country's high incidence of crime. Although this tends to be concentrated in pockets throughout the country, for example in the township areas, opportunistic crime is fairly widespread. Travelers should always be aware of these risks and exercise the necessary precautions. Doors should be locked when driving. Berea and Hillbrow in Johannesburg are high risk areas and visitors should be cautious in the area.
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Travelers arriving in South Africa from infected areas require a yellow fever vaccination certificate. Otherwise no vaccinations are required. There is a malaria risk in the low-lying areas of the Northern Province and Mpumalanga (including the Kruger National Park) and northeastern Kwa-Zulu Natal, and precautions are advised when traveling to these areas. There is a high prevalence of HIV/AIDS. Tap water is safe in urban areas but sterilization is advisable elsewhere, as there are periodic outbreaks of cholera in the poor communities of rural South Africa, particularly in Northern KwaZulu Natal, Mpumalanga, and Limpopo provinces.Outbreaks of extensive drug-resistant TB have also been reported in various regions of Kwa-Zulu Natal. Food poisoning is rare. Medical facilities in South Africa are good, but medical insurance is strongly advised as private hospitals expect cash upfront and public hospitals are best avoided.
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230 volts, 50Hz. Round, three-pin plugs are standard.
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