(Last updated: 9 Sep 2013)
Travel
Airports
Johannesburg International Airport is about 35km from central Johannesburg and 60km from Pretoria and the new business district of Sandton. It takes about 40 minutes to arrive by car. There are also international flights in and out of Cape Town and Durban.
Departure tax is approximately A$49 but it is usually included when a ticket is issued domestically or in the country of origin.
Ground transport
Taxis charge approximately A$50 from the airport to Sandton, where the Austrade office is located. Austrade can suggest reputable car hire companies and taxi services. Car hire companies such as Budget, Avis and Imperial Holdings are available from the airport.
It is recommended that you pre-arrange your transport. Your hotel may have a shuttle service and, if not, can refer you to a reputable one.
Hotels
It is important to specify the hotel location you are seeking, as some chain hotels are found in various locations within a city. Downtown Johannesburg hotels are best avoided for security reasons. Austrade can recommend suitable hotels with reasonable room rates.
For all your accommodation requirements www.Safarinow.com is an excellent website.
Dining
South Africa is one of the least expensive eating destinations in the world. An upmarket restaurant in any of the cities will cost around A$7-$15 per dish.
Tipping
Tipping is common because of very low wages and is around 10-15 per cent, with the norm at restaurants around 10 per cent of the total bill.