Page 431 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - South Africa

PRA C TICAL INFORM A TION 429

year, but the massive costume shopping malls and in rounded pins. Most appliances
party attracts more than 10,000 many public buildings such such as razors and chargers for
revellers, many overseas visitors. as civic centres, libraries and phones, cameras etc. will fit the
town halls. Most large urban two-pin sockets, but an adaptor
vehicle service stations have is needed for the rounded
Student Travel
toilets, but these are intended three-pin sockets. International
Students with a valid Inter- for the use of clients. On major travel adaptors are sold in many
national Student Identity Card tourist routes, most garages shops in South Africa, as well as
(ISIC) benefit from good airline that have refreshment centres at all the international airports.
travel discounts, but reduced also usually have well-kept
admission to venues and events toilets. Public toilets can be
has not taken off in South Africa. found at rail way and bus Weights and Measures
STA Travel, an agency that stations, although these toilets South Africa uses the metric
specializes in student travel, has are often not very clean. system. Normal body tempera-
branches worldwide. Back- Many have no soap or hand- ture of 98.4° F is equal to 37° C.
packing is gaining in popularity. drying facilities. An alternative If the weather chart shows
is to use the toilets in a 30° C, you are in for a hot day.
restaurant where you are a A pressure of 30 pounds per
Time
customer. Large shopping square inch is equal to two bars.
South African Standard centres and tourist
Time (there is only one attractions usually have
time zone) is two well-maintained Conversion Chart
hours ahead of facilities and Imperial to Metric
Greenwich Mean Time customized 1 inch = 2.54 cm
(GMT) all year round, toilets for 1 foot = 30 cm
seven hours ahead wheelchair- 1 mile = 1.6 km
of the United users. Baby- 1 ounce = 28 g
States’ Eastern changing facilities 1 pound = 454 g
Standard South African two- and are also available. 1 pint = 0.57 litres
Winter Time three-pin plugs 1 gallon = 4.6 litres
and seven hours
behind Australian Central Time. Electrical Supply Metric to Imperial
Electricity (alternating current) 1 mm = 0.04 inches
is supplied by the state-owned 1 cm = 0.4 inches
Public Toilets
utility company Eskom. Mains 1 m = 3 feet 3 inches
There are public toilets voltage is 220/230 volts (220V) 1 km = 0.6 miles
everywhere and they are at 50 cycles (50Hz). Most local 1 g = 0.04 ounces
generally of a high standard. power plugs are 5A (amperes) 1 kg = 2.2 pounds
There are public toilets in with two pins, or 15A with three 1 litre = 1.8 pints
DIRECTORY
Disabled Gay and Lesbian Pink Loerie Mardi Johannesburg.
Travellers Travellers Gras Tel 011 447 5414.
∑ pinkloerie.co.za
Epic Enabled Cape Town Pride Student Travel Head
Tel 021 785 7440 or Pink South Africa Office
∑ capetownpride.org ∑ pinksa.co.za
073 22 82 825. Tel 0861 781 781.
∑ epic-enabled.com Friends of Dorothy Purple Roofs ∑ statravel.co.za
Tel 083 555 6611. ∑ purpleroofs.com
Flamingo Tours
Tel 082 450 2031. ∑ friendsofdorothy Student Travel
∑ flamingotours.co.za tours.co.za
Jo’Burg Pride International
Travelling with Student Identity
Children ∑ joburgpride.org Card (ISIC)
Mother City Queer ∑ isic.org
SA Kids on the Go
Project STA Travel
∑ sakidsonthego.com
∑ mcqp.co.za 14 Main Road,
Women Travellers Rondebosch,
Out2Africa
Cape Town.
Rape Crisis 99 Hope St, Cape Town. Tel 021 686 6800.
Tel 021 447 9762. Tel 021 469 2600. The Mall of Rosebank,
∑ rapecrisis.org.za ∑ out2africa.com 50 Bath Avenue,