Howto get around SA

Ok there is a slight problem in terms of public transport, we don’t have the infrastructure that you might be accustomed to in terms of London or New York. But yes we are making an effort to get there. In joburg we have started developing high speed rail links called the Gau-train. Initially and hopefully by the world cup in 2010 you will be able to use this to get from the airport to Pretoria, Sandton and Joburg city. There rest of the public transport is pretty non-existent or dangerous, so what can I say? You better hire a car. A entry level car will probably set you back between R100-R200 a day excluding petrol (10-20 US$). A number of companies provide rentals like Imperial, Tempest, Budget etc. If you worried you won’t know how to get around, bring your GPS along, I think they might even rent them out at the airport.

 

If you set on the public transport, then you will need to put up with the mini-bus taxi. This is generally the Toyota Hi-ACE. You will see people pulling fingers along the side of the road. No it’s not a zap sign, it means something for the taxi driver indicating where you want to go. Ask them for help, ensure the mini bus you are about to climb into has a steering wheel and the tyres are on : ), I am serious, hire a car!

 

To get between cities use your hired car or fly. The national roads are in quite good shape, so this is an option. Else you can fly. The following airlines fly locally: Kulula, SAA, Mango, 1-Time or British Airways. You can book online for all these airlines, pay with your Visa or MasterCard and pick up your ticket at the airport.

South African money and payment options

So how do you spend your hard earned cash in South Africa? Well South African currency is the Rand. The Rand has been a relatively stable currency over the past few years even though it has taken a bit of a dip recently owing to the credit crunch! Apparently Americans that invested their US dollars in the local share market decided to withdraw their cash to safer territories like the US. My gosh what a joke, you yanks caused this in the first place and at the moment we seem in better shape than you, but you would rather take your money out and invest in the Dow! Anyhow things seem to have settled down with the Rand at about R10 to the US dollar. Whether it will go up or down is anyone’s guess. South Africa has a number of major banks that will exchange your forex. In addition most merchants, shops and restaurants accept Visa and MasterCard, so bring your credit card and you won’t have much trouble. ATMs are also widespread allowing you to draw cash with you Visa / MasterCard.

 

Truely South African inventions

So what has put South Africa on the map?? Here are some inventions and firsts that have put South Africa on the world map:

1. The first heart transplant was done in South Africa by Chris Barnard
2. The automated pool cleaner by Ferdinand Chauvier
3. Appletiser - an international premium fizzy drink
4. Pratley Putty - used in the mission to the moon.
5. Dolosse - a concrete structure used to protect the coastline from serious sea storms that is used internationally
6. The ability to derive oil from coal by Sasol.

So yes we have some smart people here!

SA foods you must try

Ok, when you go on a trip to a new country, you always want to try local chow. So what can you try in SA during the world cup. South Africans love chop en dop (meat on booze) at a braai (pronounced bry). A braai is a barbeque, but shouldn’t be done on gas (even though this seems to becoming popular), come now! you are in Africa, make a wood fire or second prize use charcoal. Stywe Pap (pronounced staywa pup) is a maize dish that is great with a braai, especially if you cook up a tomato and onion gravy. Then lots of meat must go on the braai, lamb chops and boerewors (a lovely local sausage), a salad can be used to compliment the meal. Beer a compulsory when having a braai. Just so the English know the beer must be cold and not lukewarm, lol! An alternative is potjiekoos. This is a special stew done in a cast iron pot on charcoal or gas. You will have to check out recipes on the net to get this one right! Use the Google search on my page to find one. Wives always complain the braai’ing process it too long, but hey us men need a chance to test the beer whilst waiting for the coals to form, another good reason to choose wood which takes longer. : ). Happy eating!

Crime - The South African scare

I am sure you have all heard about the crime reports in South Africa and this has probably become one of your biggest concerns. Well it should be, lets not pretend crime doesn't exist. That doesn't mean you should not come, it just means that you must modify your behaviour to ensure that you have a safe trip. This means you need to be smart. Take basic safety precautions, keep your car door locked, don't walk alone at night and don't walk in crime hotspots at all, ask locals where not to be. Don't leave valuables in view whilst your vehicle is stationary or even whilst you are driving to prevent smash and grabs. Don't stop your car at night even if you hit something unless you cannot drive to the closest police / fuel station. The key is be careful and vigilant. In the case of emergency call 10111 from your phone. A cell phone is a good idea to have from a security perspective!

The Cradle of Humankind

Wondering what to do when you are in Johannesburg for the FIFA world cup? Well it is pretty much agreed that Africa is home to the scientific Adam. The area of interest is referred to as the “Cradle of Humankind”. A centre detailing relevant discoveries has been erected. For more information see http://www.maropeng.co.za/ . The Sterkfontein cave is of great significance and is the home of Mrs Ples a over 2.1 million year old skull. In addition take a trip to the wonder caves which may not be as important from a scientific perspective but is a lovely outing with interesting stalactites and stalagmites.

Don't miss Cape Town

So what is a must see in SA when you pop over for the 2010 World Cup? Cape Town is probably the most beautiful city in the country. You can sample South Africa’s great wines in the surrounding areas and enjoy the picturesque beaches. The sea is icy cold so be sure to bring you wetsuit. You also need to go up the cable cart to the top of Table Mountain, where you can enjoy a meal and magnificent view from the top of the mountain. Hopefully Eskom (the power utility) won’t leave you without power half way up as happened during our electricity crisis during 2007/2008. I guess we have one positive we can take out of the credit crunch, demand has dropped for power and we may be able to keep your lights lit during the World Cup. Also note that SA has no problems as our politicians will tell you “we only have challenges” and some interesting solutions like the African Potato for HIV as our former health minister would you to believe. Anyhow, not to worry Manto and Thabo are now in the wilderness with plenty of time to search the web for other innovative HIV solutions.