Page 429 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - South Africa

PRA C TICAL INFORM A TION 427

Disabled Travellers
The rights of disabled people
are enshrined in South Africa’s
constitution, and legislation
requires that wherever
possible public buildings
can accommodate visitors
with disabilities. All modern
shopping malls, museums and
tourist attractions have ramps,
lifts and reserved parking. Local
airlines provide assistance for
The John Benn takes sightseers around the Knysna Lagoon (see p244) disabled passengers. The newer
transport systems found in the
smaller towns, sometimes too. Shopping malls in the cities cities, such as Cape Town’s
adjoining (or in side) the offices are open daily, some until 9pm. MyCiTi Bus and Johannesburg’s
of the local authority, or forming Most museums and galleries Gautrain, can accommodate
part of the local museum or open 9am–5pm daily. Outdoor wheelchairs. South Africa also
library. Each of South attractions, such as has a growing number of
Africa’s nine provinces parks and reserves, are hotels that cater for the
has a tourist board, and usually open from disabled, and most SANParks
planning and advance sunrise to sunset. national parks have specially
information can be adapted chalets.
found on their websites,
as well as from Etiquette
South African Tourism. Disabled parking Dress code in South
African cities is casual,
except for a few top restaurants
Opening Times
and formal events. On the
Business hours are usually from beach, it is illegal for women to
8:30am to 5pm Monday–Friday, swim or sunbathe topless. The
while banks and post offices are consumption of alcohol on
open 8:30am–3:30pm Monday– beaches and in public places is
Friday and 8:30am–11:30am on illegal, as is smoking in buses,
Saturday. Shops generally close trains, taxis and most public
at 5:30pm (often at 1pm on buildings. It is vital to observe
weekends), but larger super- religious customs when visit ing
markets open until late in the mosques, temples and other Visitors must remove their shoes before
evening and usually on Sunday, places of worship. entering a Hindu temple
DIRECTORY
Visas and US Embassy of Ireland Gauteng Tourism
Passports US Department of State Pretoria. Tel 012 342 5062. ∑ gauteng.net
∑ travel.state.gov ∑ dfa.ie
Dept of International Limpopo Tourism
Relations and Embassies and New Zealand High ∑ golimpopo.com
Cooperation Consulates Commission Mpumalanga Tourism
Tel 012 351 1000. Pretoria. Tel 012 435 9000. ∑ mpumalanga.com
Australian High ∑ nzembassy.com
∑ dirco.gov.za
Commission Northen Cape
US Consulate General
Travel Safety Pretoria. Tel 012 423 6000. Cape Town: Tel 021 702 Tourism
Advice ∑ southafrica.embassy. 7300. ∑ experience
gov.au northerncape.com
Durban: Tel 031 305 7600.
Australia
British High South African
Department of Foreign Commission US Embassy Tourism
Affairs and Trade Cape Town: Tel 021 405 2400. Pretoria. Tel 012 431 4000.
∑ dfat.gov.au Pretoria: Tel 012 421 7500. ∑ za.usembassy.gov ∑ southafrica.net
∑ smartraveller.gov.au ∑ gov.uk Tourist Offices Tourism KwaZulu
UK Canadian High Natal
Foreign and Commission Eastern Cape Tourism ∑ zulu.org.za
Commonwealth Office Pretoria. Tel 012 422 3000. ∑ visiteasterncape.co.za Western Cape
∑ gov.uk/foreign- ∑ canadainternational. Free State Tourism ∑ thewesterncape.
travel-advice gc.ca ∑ freestatetourism.org co.za