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Here are some useful travel tips to consider when planning your journey!

Population: 6 116 324 (Statistics South Africa)

Size: 129 462 square kilometers

Languages: South Africa has 11 official languages, but English, Afrikaans and Xhosa are the most commonly spoken in the Western Cape.

Local chit-chat: English: Afrikaans, Xhosa & Khoe Khoe:

• Good morning: goeiemore, molo, ǁgâiǁgoas
• Hello: hallo, bhota, Tawedes
• Goodbye: totsiens, tawedes, hamba kakuhle (go well) or sala kakuhle (stay well),
• Thank you: dankie, enkosi, gangans /aios
• Help!: huiǃ, help!, nceda!,
• Please: asseblief, ncela, toxoba, ǀûba te re
• Excuse me: verskoon my, uxolo
• How much does this cost? hoeveel kos dit?, yimalini?, Matiko-e ra ǂgan?
• Yes: ja, ewe, î
• No: nee, hayi, Hî-î

Money matters:

The rand (ZAR): R1 = 100 cents

Coin denominations: 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, R1, R2 and R5

Banknote denominations: R10, R20, R50, R100 and R200

Foreign exchange: It’s important to remember that you can only pay in rands in restaurants and stores in our province. Your currency can be exchanged at airports, commercial banks (Standard Bank, Absa, FNB, Nedbank), Rennies Travel or American Express. Branches can be found in most shopping centres, as well as in most suburbs of the Western Cape. You’ll also find exchange facilities in many hotels.

The exchange rate and commission vary, so check the daily newspaper for an updated standard rate.

Banking: You’ll find branches and ATMs of all major national banks in most towns, suburbs and shopping malls in the Western Cape. Most ATM machines accept:

• International bank cards
• VISA Electron and Maestro debit cards (mainly), and Visa, MasterCard, Diners Club and American Express credit cards

You will be charged a service fee. To find out more, please visit one of the banking branches.

Driving: Right-hand drive; international driver’s licence is required.

Time zone: GMT + 2 hours

What to pack: With a moderate Mediterranean climate, the Western Cape is an ideal destination all year round – so pack for warm, dry summers and mild, moist winters (except in the semi-desert Karoo region, which has dry winters and low summer rainfall).

Visas: Visitors’ visas are required for international travellers (citizens of other countries) who have permanent residence outside South Africa and who wish to visit the country on a temporary basis for tourism or business purposes for 90 days or shorter.

Travelling with a minor? Find the updated legal requirements here. Not sure if you need a visa? Find the information you need here.

Safety tips:

• Please visit our Safe Travels website for more information.