| Information for Participants
Visa requirements
Visas are NOT required for nationals of the following countries for an intended stay of 90 days to gain a visitor’s permit: African Union Laissez; Passer; Andorra; Argentina; Australia; Austria; Belgium; Botswana; Brazil; Canada; Chile; Czech Republic; Denmark; Ecuador; Finland; France; Germany; Greece; Iceland; Israel; Italy; Jamaica; Japan; Liechtenstein; Luxemburg; Malta; Netherlands; New Zealand; Norway; Paraguay; Portugal; Singapore; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland; United Kingdom, and the Republic of Ireland.
Visas are NOT required for nationals of the following countries for an intended stay of 30 days to gain a visitors’ permit: Antigua and Barbuda; Barbados; Belize; Benin; Bolivia; Cape Verde; Costa Rica; Cyprus; Gabon; Guyana; Hong Kong; Hungary; Jordan; Lesotho; Macau; Malaysia; Malawi; Maldives; Mauritius; Mozambique; Namibia; Peru; Poland; Seychelles; Slovak Republic; South Korea; Swaziland; Thailand; Turkey, Zambia; Zimbabwe.
Visas ARE required for nationals of the following countries to gain a visitor’s permit: Uruguay; Venezuela and United States of America.
Visas can be applied for through South African diplomatic or consular representative within the country of normal residence.
NOTE: Tariffs for South African visas are R425 or US$47.00 or €43.00 and take 10 days to process. Visas cannot be applied for at South African ports of entry.
For any more specific information please refer to South African Department for Home Affairs website.
If you need a letter confirming your registration, this can be provided; however it can only be issued after a delegate has registered for the conference and payment has been received. Letters of invitation can be obtained from the conference helpdesk.
Registration, Opening and Closing Sessions
Registration starts at 9:00am at the venue on Tuesday 18th November, in the main conference hall.
The Opening Session will begin at 10:00am sharp on 18 November. The Closing Session will conclude at 2.00pm on 20 November. At the Closing Ceremony, participants will receive Certificates of Attendance and a CD-ROM containing the Conference papers.
Accommodation & Meals
There is a wide variation of comfortable accommodation available in the Knysna/Sedgefield area near Eden Campus to fit required budgets. This ranges from simple bed and breakfast establishments to 7 star accommodation. There are also self catering apartments both as a country delegation or a family all in one house.
Spaces will be allocated on a first-come-first served basis, with preference given where advance payment for the conference has been made. Rates vary from R150 (US$20) per person per night to around R5000 (US$700) per night per person (full board and lodging).
Note: Accommodation is not included in the Conference Registration fee.
All meals for the duration of the conference, as well as transport to/from airport and between hotels and the conference venue, are included in the registration fee. Should you have any particular dietary requirements please ensure you mention these on your registration form.
Internet Access
Wireless internet access will be available throughout the conference venue. Sedgefield and Knysna - where conference accommodation is located - have open internet access, and throughout the region wireless internet is widely available including at cafes.
Getting Around
Transport to and from the airport will be provided for delegates whose travel plans coincide with the conference start and end dates. For travel elsewhere within the region hiring a car is the most practical option.
South Africa - Basic Facts
Languages: English, Afrikaans, Xhosa, Zulu, Sepedi
 Time Zone: GMT/UTC +1
Electricity: 220V 50HzHz
Electric Plug Details: Standard South African plug has three circular metal pins meaning an adaptor is almost always necessary for visitors from overseas.
South Africa - Our Conference Host's Guide of What You Need to Know
South Africa occupies the southern tip of Africa, its long coastline stretching more than 2 500km from the desert border with Namibia on the Atlantic coast southwards around the tip of Africa and then north to the border with subtropical Mozambique on the Indian Ocean.
CLIMATE & WEATHER
A subtropical location, moderated by ocean on three sides of the country and the altitude of the interior plateau, account for the warm temperate conditions so typical of South Africa - and so popular with its foreign visitors.
South Africa is famous for its sunshine. It is a relatively dry country, with an average annual rainfall of about 464mm (compared to a world average of about 860mm). While the Western Cape gets most of its rainfall in winter, the rest of the country is generally a summer-rainfall region. At the same time, temperatures in South Africa tend to be lower than in other countries at similar latitudes - such as Australia - due mainly to greater elevation above sea level.
On the interior plateau the altitude - Johannesburg lies at 1 694 metres - keeps the average summer temperatures below 30 degrees Celsius. In winter, for the same reason, nighttime temperatures can drop to freezing point, in some places lower. South Africa's coastal regions are therefore warmest in winter. However, there is a striking contrast between temperatures on either side of the country, due to the warm Agulhas Current that sweeps the east coast, and the cold Benguela, fresh from Antarctica, that runs up the west coast.
Being in the southern hemisphere, our seasons stand in opposition to those of Europe and North America, so, yes - we spend Christmas on the beach. The temperature around George ranges from 26 – 15C in summer
HEALTH AND MEDICAL
Health tips for travellers
Nothing can spoil a holiday more than feeling off-colour, and nothing can dull the pleasure of your holiday memories more than getting ill far from home. There are a number of health issues that you should be aware of, particularly if you are from the northern hemisphere. However, while there are risks anywhere, South Africa has a relatively salubrious climate and our levels of water treatment, hygiene and such make it a safe destination.
Inoculations
If you are an adult, you will not need any inoculations unless you are travelling from a yellow-fever endemic area (the yellow fever belt of Africa or South America), in which case you will need certification to prove your inoculation status when you arrive in South Africa. It is recommended that you have the required inoculations four to six weeks before you travel to South Africa (a yellow fever inoculation certificate only becomes valid 10 days after inoculation - after which it remains valid for 10 years). Hepatitis B inoculations are recommended for children up to the age of 12 who have not completed the series of injections as infants. Booster doses for tetanus and measles can also be administered.
Medical facilities
Medical facilities in cities and larger towns are world-class, but you will find that in rural areas the clinics and hospitals deal with primary health needs, and therefore do not offer the range of medical care that the large metropolitan hospitals do. Trained medical caregivers are deployed round the country, so help is never far away.
The Sun
We have a warm sunny climate and you should wear sunscreen and a hat whenever you are out of doors during the day, particularly between 10am and 4pm, regardless of whether there is cloud cover or not. Even if you have a dark complexion, you can still be sunburned if you are from a cooler climate and have not had much exposure to the sun. Sunglasses are also recommended wear, as the glare of the African sun can be strong.
Can I drink the water?
High-quality tap (faucet) water is available almost everywhere in South Africa, treated to be free of harmful microorganisms and in any area other than informal or shack settlements, and is both palatable and safe to drink straight from the tap. In some areas, the water is mineral-rich, and you may experience a bit of gastric distress for a day or two until you get used to it. Bottled mineral water, both sparkling and still, is readily available in most places.
Drinking water straight from rivers and streams could put you at risk of waterborne diseases - especially downstream of human settlements. The water in mountain streams, however, is usually pure and wonderful. In the Cape, particularly, the water contains humic acid, which stains it the colour of diluted Coca-Cola - this is absolutely harmless, and the water is wonderful. You may also find this colouring in tap water in some areas. It's fine - it just looks a bit weird in the bath.
Do I need to take malaria tablets?
Many of the main tourist areas are malaria-free, so you need not worry at all. However, the Kruger National Park, the Lowveld of Mpumalanga and Limpopo, and the northern part of KwaZulu-Natal do pose a malaria risk in the summer months. Many local people and some travellers do not take malaria prophylaxis, but most health professionals recommend you do. Consult your doctor or a specialist travel clinic for the latest advice concerning malaria prophylaxis, as it changes regularly.
Whether you take oral prophylaxis or not, always use mosquito repellent, wear long pants, closed shoes and light long-sleeved shirts at night, and sleep under a mosquito net in endemic areas (the anopheles mosquito, which carries malaria, operates almost exclusively after dark). It is advisable to avoid malarial areas if you are pregnant.
HIV/Aids
As in other countries, always take precautions when having sex. South Africa has one of the highest rates of HIV in the world.
Other health issues
Bilharzia can be a problem in some of the east-flowing rivers, but it is easily detected and treated if it is caught early. Perhaps it would be a good idea to have a routine test a month or two after you get home - just to reassure yourself. Ticks generally come out in the early spring and may carry tickbite fever, which is easily treated. You should also be aware of hepatitis, for which you can be inoculated.
SAinfo reporter and South African Tourism
THE PEOPLE
South Africa is a culturally diverse country, one nation made up of many peoples. With 11 different official languages, a multiplicity of traditions and skin tones ranging from ebony to sunburnt pink, we are, as Archbishop Desmond Tutu once put it, the rainbow nation of Africa
MONEY MATTERS
Banks and foreign exchange in SA
With a favourable exchange rate for many international currencies, you will find South Africa a very inexpensive destination. And an easy one - our financial institutions are world-class, with no shortage of banks, bureaux de change and automatic tellers.
Rands and cents
South Africa's unit of currency is the rand, which is divided into 100 cents. Coins come in denominations of 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, R1, R2 and R5, and notes in denominations of R10, R20, R50, R100 and R200.
How far will my money go?
A long, long way. With a favourable exchange rate for the major international currencies, you will find South Africa a very inexpensive destination. For the latest exchange rates, see the "indicators" box on the right.
Banking made easy
You will also find South Africa an easy destination. From the moment you step off the plane you will start seeing banks, bureaux de change and automatic tellers all over.
The banks are generally open from 9am to 3.30pm Mondays through Fridays, and 8.30am to 11am on Saturdays, but those at the airports adjust their hours to accommodate international flights.
The major banks have branches as well as automated teller machines (ATMs) in most large towns - and all over the cities. International banks (see the "foreign exchange services" links below) have branches in the major cities. Thomas Cook (represented by Rennies Travel) and American Express foreign exchange offices are also available in the major cities.
Credit cards and cash
All major credit cards can be used in South Africa, with American Express and Diners Club enjoying less universal acceptance than MasterCard and Visa. In some small towns, you may find you will need to use cash.
One anomaly - you cannot purchase fuel with a credit card. Many locals have special fuel credit cards, known as garage or petrol cards, for use only at filling stations. You can, however, pay road tolls with MasterCard or Visa.
More information on South Africa & Garden Route travel options is available at the following sites:
http://www.southafrica.info
http://www.brandsouthafrica.com
http://viewer.zmags.com/showmag.php?mid=fprwd&spid=-2#/page0
http://www.joburg.co.za/website/Index.asp
http://www.whattodo.co.za
http://www.gardenroute.org/knysna/index.html
http://www.gardenroute.co.za
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