VISAS, ENTRY RULES, CUSTOMS REGULATIONS in in South Africa
Russian citizens need to apply for a visa to enter South Africa. To do this, the country’s embassy in Moscow must submit:
– a completed application form;
– photograph 3×4 cm;
– Passport valid for 3 months from the end of the trip;
– air tickets or their photocopy;
– a copy of all completed pages of the civil passport;
– a certificate from the place of work with the date of employment and indicating the period of leave granted;
– a certificate from the place of study (for students or schoolchildren) that the educational unit does not object to his absence;
– original or copy of birth certificate (for children under 14);
– a notarized permission to leave from the parents (for persons under 21 years of age).
The visa is issued within 10 days.
Import and export of foreign currency is not limited, import and export of local currency is possible within 500 rand per person. Up to 400 cigarettes, up to 50 cigars, up to 250 g of tobacco, up to 2 liters of wine, up to 1 liter of other alcoholic beverages, up to 50 ml of perfume, up to 250 ml of toilet water, as well as gifts, souvenirs and other personal goods in the amount of no more than 500 rand. Persons under the age of 18 are not allowed to carry tobacco and alcoholic beverages.
It is forbidden to import weapons (a special license is required for hunting weapons, obtained at the border crossing point for a period of 180 days) and drugs, as well as fresh vegetables and fruits. The export of rough diamonds, precious metals and polished diamonds is prohibited without a special certificate issued in the store – Goods purchased in the country are exported duty-free in any quantity. For the export of skins of wild animals, permission from the state veterinary service is required.
Embassy in of South Africa
South Africa, embassy in Moscow
Granatny per. 1, p. 9.
Tel.: 540-11-77,
Fax: 540-11-78.
South Africa, Embassy website: http://www.saembassy.ru
South Africa, Russian Embassy in the country:
316 Brooks Street, Menlo Park, Tswana.
Phone: (012)362-1337, (012)362-1338.
Fax: (012)362-0116.
Communications in South Africa
In almost all cities there are pay phones that work both with cards (green machines) and with coins. Phone cards can be purchased at post offices and most major stores. Communication points are organized in large shopping centers.
To call from Russia to South Africa, you need to dial 8 – 10 – 27 (South African code) – area code – subscriber number. For a long distance call within the country, 0 is dialed before the area code.
Emergency Phones in in South Africa
Police – 10111,
ambulance – 10117 or 999,
rescue service – 1022.
HOLIDAYS AND WEEKENDS
Official holidays:
January 1 – New Year;
March 21 – Human Rights Day;
April 27 – Constitution Day;
May 1 – Workers’ Day;
June 16 – Youth Day;
August 19 – National Women’s Day;
September 24 – Heritage Day;
December 16 – Reconciliation Day;
December 25 – Christmas;
December 26 – Thanksgiving Day.
On New Year’s Eve, from January 1 to 17, the Cape Coon Music Festival takes place in Cape Town. The International Film Festival takes place in Johannesburg in early October. The festival of wine and gastronomic art is held from 25 to 28 October in Stellenbosch. Grahamstown hosts an annual National Arts Festival (July). Every year at the end of September – beginning of October in the town of Hermanus the “Whale Festival” takes place. Whales are a symbol of the new season. Crowds of people gather on the coast to watch the whales playing in the waters of the ocean.
USEFUL THINGS
Johannesburg is considered one of the most criminal cities in the world, in other cities it is safer. However, you should not walk around the deserted quarters, and even ride buses and trains alone in the evenings. Credit card fraud is very common in South Africa.
On Sunday, the sale of alcoholic beverages is prohibited.
SHOPS
According to thembaprograms, shops in South Africa are open mainly from Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 17:00, on Saturdays – from 8:30 to 15:00. Some of them are also open on Sunday from 9:00 to 13:00. Alcohol is sold only in specialized stores called “Liquor stores”, and on Sunday their sale is prohibited.
Tourists visiting South Africa can get a 14% value added tax refund if their purchases cost more than R250. VAT is refunded when leaving the country at the airport at the “VAT REFUND” counter, upon presentation of a passport, return receipt, cash receipt and the goods themselves.
TIPS
In restaurants, tips are 10% of the amount indicated on the bill. It is customary to round up the amount on taxi meters.
NATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS
The locals are very hospitable and treat Russian tourists well.
ELECTRICITY
220V, 50Hz;
HEALTH
There are no special vaccination requirements for tourists visiting South Africa. However, in some national parks located in the east of the country, as well as in the far north, malaria is often found. It is necessary to take precautions when visiting these areas, for prevention it is worth taking an antimalarial pill or using repellents. Be sure to take out medical insurance before traveling to South Africa. First aid is free, but you will have to pay for further treatment.
