Currency
The South African currency, the Rand, is subject to fluctuations and ranges between R 10 and R 14 for one Euro. This exchange rate makes South Africa very attractive, especially for tourists from Europe. Apart from Rands, all major credit cards are accepted. The only exceptions are petrol stations where cash payment is required.
Transport
Independent tourists need to know that people in South Africa drive on the left-hand side. The road network is excellent. You can also use coaches or the so-called Baz-Bus that takes you between B&Bs in many parts of the country and is therefore ideal for backpackers. The country’s infrastructure also boasts an excellent flight network with very good domestic connections as well as flights to destinations all over the world.
Travelling by train is unusual, apart from upmarket travel in luxury trains such as the Blue Train or the Rovos Rail Train which, however, have to be booked months in advance.
Travel season
As the days are getting shorter and the nights longer in Europe, spring starts in Africa. South African summer lasts from November until March and is very pleasant with an average temperature of about 30 degrees.
Your best travel season, however, depends on what you plan to do. The best months for a beach holiday are December to February, as this is the warmest time of the year.
Game viewing, however, is better from July to September, since the bushland vegetation, for instance in the Kruger National Park, is still low, making it easier to spot animals.
Longer journeys or city tours are best undertaken in the months of October, November as well as March, April, May and June.
A trip to South Africa requires thorough planning and we would like to assist you to make your dream holiday come true. We are happy to share our experiences with you when you plan your journey to this beautiful, yet vast country.
It is impossible to convey to you all this country has to offer, but we have tried to describe some of our favourite destinations in more detail. Our experience is your advantage.
The Garden Route
The Garden Route is one of the most popular and most beautiful areas of South Africa, partly because of the many small guesthouses that are very sought-after by independent tourists. Breathtaking coastlines, stunning golden beaches and pretty holiday resorts like Sedgefield, Mossel Bay or Knysna invite visitors to stay, relax and dream. Sports fans on the other hand, can combine sport with pleasure in a surfers’ paradise such as Herolds Bay or Victoria Bay. Visitors who prefer something more cosy can explore South Africa’s largest remaining indigenous forest near Wilderness by canoe or on foot.
George, the secret capital of the Garden Route, offers more than just shopping and good restaurants. Take a trip on the world-famous Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe, South Africa’s last steam train, and experience an unforgettable 80-km ride through fascinating nature along the coast to Knysna.
George is situated in the heart of the Garden Route, it boasts an excellent road network and an airport and is a destination for coaches like Intercape and Translux. A few kilometers from the city centre and the airport you will find the five-star Fancourt Hotel and Country Club Estate with four internationally acknowledged 18-hole golf courses. Even if you are not a great golfer, you will enjoy ambling through the beautifully kept grounds or drinking a cappuccino on the verandah of the clubhouse, while in-house restaurants welcome guests for dinner.
We are lucky enough to be able to offer visitors to this region holiday accommodation right in the midst of the Garden Route, between George and Mossel Bay which is also called South Africa’s Hawaii. From our Oceanvoice Villa it is only 50 m to the warm Indian Ocean and a golden sandy beach with remote bays and dunes, not far from a little lagoon.
