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Travel Advice  

Click on the link for general guidelines on South African travel and attending the WSSD:  

General

Climate

Food & Beverages

Health

Money

Safety

Telecommunications: Telephones

Telecommunications: Business Facilities

Travel:   International

Travel:   Domestic

 

For more general information check out the following:

 

Lonely Planet: South Africa

South African Tourism Board (SATOUR)

City of Johannesburg

 

General

 

Time:                GMT +2 hours

Electricity:         220/230V (250V in Pretoria), 50Hz (3 round pin plugs)

Emergency:       Dial 10177

 

Climate

 

Johannesburg has a mild climate, neither humid nor too hot for comfort. Due to the climate South Africans generally prefer a casual dress code.

 

There are about six weeks of chill in mid-Winter (July - August), followed by Spring (September) when days are sunny but nights can still be chilly.

 

Gauteng, the province of which Johannesburg is the capital, has:

  • average annual rainfall of 850mm

  • mean daily sunshine factor of 8.7 hours

·         daily temperature range between an average midsummer (January) maximum of 26ºC and an average winter (June) maximum of 16ºC

 

In winter (June - August) it is advisable to wear clothing that will protect against cold winds.

 

Delegates are advised to take additional precaution against the sun with appropriate ultraviolet protection cream.

 

 

Food & Beverages

 

Food and beverage facilities will be available at all Summit venues.

 

Johannesburg's restaurants reflect the city's cosmopolitan nature with a wide selection of cuisines, including traditional South African.

 

South Africa's drinking water is of the highest quality in the world. This is especially true in Gauteng where tap water can be consumed.

 

Health

 

The province of Gauteng, where the Johannesburg Summit is being held, is not a malaria or yellow fever risk area.

 

Delegates who are from yellow-fever areas are advised that it is an entry requirement of South Africa that such people provide proof of inoculation against yellow fever. Immunization for yellow fever is a requirement for persons whose journeys originate or entail passing through the yellow-fever belt of Africa or South America.

 

Delegates who want to travel to other African countries (such as Zimbabwe, Botswana or Mozambique) and certain other areas of South Africa (e.g. northern KwaZulu-Natal, Northern Province and Mpumalanga) are advised to take special precautions against malaria. Malaria transmission is seasonal, with the greatest risk of exposure occurring between October and May.

 

Medical and travel insurance should be considered a mandatory addition to your airline ticket.

 

Medical facilities will be available at Sandton Convention Center, Ubuntu Village and the Global People’s Forum.

 

Money

 

The South African currency is the Rand. The exchange rate is currently approximately 15.6 Rand : £1.

 

There are ATM and currency exchange facilities at Johannesburg International Airport. These facilities are open two hours before and two hours after the arrival and departure of international flights, 24 hours a day.

 

Tipping is pretty much mandatory because of the very low wages. Around 10-15% is usual.

 

Banking hours are from 9am to 3.30pm on weekdays, and 9am to 11am on Saturdays.

 

All major credit and charge cards are widely accepted and most banks will issue cash off a credit card.

 

ATMs are in generous supply and can be found at most shopping malls as well as 24-hour petrol stations and in some hotel lobbies. Most ATMs accept a variety of international banking cards.

 

Where possible, on-site ATMs will be provided at the major Summit venues and banking and foreign exchange services will be provided either on-site or within walking distance from the major Summit venues, operating extended business hours where needed. These will facilitate emergency replacement cards for Mastercard and Visa credit cards.

 

Safety

 

The South African Police Service will assume responsibility for the safety of delegates. A strong contingent of the police force will be deployed in Johannesburg to supplement existing law enforcement.

 

Foreign & Commonwealth Office Country Advice for South Africa includes:

 

  • Visitors to Johannesburg should avoid the Berea and Hillbrow areas.

  • Care should be taken in the Central Business District, especially at the Rotunda bus terminus where a number of tourists have been mugged.

  • Care should be taken in the Central Business District and surrounding areas after dark.

  • Visitors should be alert to muggings in daytime as well as at night. Take sensible precautions. Money, jewellery, cameras, etc should be kept out of sight.

  • Passport theft is common and visitors should carry photocopies of their passports.

  • Visitors should refrain from changing large sums of money in circumstances where they can be readily observed.

·         There is a risk of vehicle hijacking and armed robbery in some areas. Drivers should park in well-lit areas and not pick up strangers. Avoid driving in rural areas at night.

·         Visits to townships, including overnight stays, are an increasing feature of the tourist scene. We advise visitors to consult a reliable tour guide.

·         Care should be taken when using public transport. The crime rate in and around railway stations and on trains is high and tourists are easy targets.

·         Avoid traveling on trains between Johannesburg and Pretoria.

·         There is a high incidence of theft in the checking in and baggage areas at international airports.

·         South Africa has a high incidence of rape. As with other crimes, most incidents occur in the townships and isolated areas, and the risk to tourists traveling to the main destinations and taking sensible precautions is not so high. However, given the very high level of HIV/AIDS in the country, rape victims should seek immediate medical advice.

·         It is a wise precaution to carry a mobile phone at all times when traveling around the country.

 

Telecommunications: Telephones

 

Fixed-line coin-operated pay phones are available throughout the City. Look out for them in shopping complexes, hotel lobbies, on busy street corners, at the airports and at Summit venues.

 

Calling cards can be bought from many shops and cafés, and also at vending machines.

 

Short-term mobile telephone rentals are available from any of the mobile service provider outlets at the airports and most of the shopping centers around the city.

 

If bringing your own mobile telephone, check with you service provider if the South African network will support international roaming.

 

Telecommunications: Business Facilities

 

Some of the city hotels have on-site business center facilities that can accommodate any requirements relating to internet access, faxing and photocopying and other documentation services.

 

You will find similar service outlets in most shopping complexes and business districts.

 

Similar service outlets will be available out the Sandton Convention Center and Ubuntu Village for use by all delegates.

 

The following communications facilities will be available on a commercial basis at the Ubuntu Village in Johannesburg. The center will be open during exhibition hours, accepting payment by all major credit cards.

  • Telephone service for national and international calls

  • Facsimile services

  • Postal services

  • Photocopying

  • Courier services

  • Stationary supply

  • Cellular phone rental

  • Internet and email access

Travel: International

 

Visas cannot be obtained at South African ports of entry. For information on visas and requirements for your nationality visit the Visa Page of the WSSD Host’s website.

 

International visitors to South Africa during the time of the WSSD may be required to show a second form of ID, other than passport, upon arrival. This may be an ID card, driver’s license, etc.

 

Meet-and-greet kiosks will be available in all arrival terminals at Johannesburg International Airport. These kiosks will be easily identifiable and staffed by personnel in uniforms bearing green meet-and-greet boards and flags. These will direct the transfer of delegates who booked accommodation via the JOSCOW/DMC service to hotels and accreditation points.

 

Delegates who are from yellow-fever areas are advised that it is an entry requirement of South Africa that such people provide proof of inoculation against yellow fever. Immunization for yellow fever is a requirement for persons whose journeys originate or entail passing through the yellow-fever belt of Africa or South America.

 

Travel: Domestic

 

The Summit Hosts will operate two transport systems for delegates with Ubuntu Village accreditation and/or United Nations accreditation:

 

  1. Zone 1 Shuttle

    1. A daily scheduled circular shuttle that will operate exclusively in Zone 1.

    2. Delegates residing outside of Zone 1 will be able to access this shuttle via Ubuntu Village.

 

  1. Inter-Zone Transport System

    1. This grid has been designed to transport delegates across Zones 2 to 10, between 13th August and 9th September 2002.

    2. This service will link the following with Ubuntu Village:

                                                               i.      Brooklyn Mall - Pretoria

                                                             ii.      Menlyn - Pretoria

                                                            iii.      Boulders - Johannesburg

                                                            iv.      Northgate - Johannesburg

                                                              v.      Randburg Waterfront - Johannesburg

                                                            vi.      Centurion City - Pretoria

                                                           vii.      Eastgate - Johannesburg

                                                         viii.      Killarney - Johannesburg

                                                           ix.      NASREC – Johannesburg