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Travel Advice |
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Click
on the link for general guidelines on South African travel and attending
the WSSD:
Telecommunications:
Telephones Telecommunications:
Business Facilities
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 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:
·
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. 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:
·
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.
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. The
Summit Hosts will operate two transport systems for delegates with
Ubuntu Village accreditation and/or United Nations accreditation:
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
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