What currency is used in South Africa?
The currency is South African Rand (ZAR). One rand ® is equal to 100 cents ©. Notes are issued in the following denominations: R200, R100, R50, R20 and R10. Coins: R5, R2, R1, 50c, 20c, 10c and 5c.
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How can I exchange my foreign currency?
Foreign currency may be exchanged at any commercial bank, American Express, Thomas Cook, Rennies and Foreign Exchange or Diners Club International Office. Automatic teller machines (ATMs) are to be found in the central business districts and accept international bank and credit cards.
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Can I use my Credit Card?
South Africa has a modern and sophisticated banking and commercial system and most shops and hotels will accept credit cards and traveller's cheques.
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Do I need to tip?
Many waiters and waitresses are students who rely on tips to supplement their wages. The accepted average is 10 – 15% to all caddies, taxi drivers, chambermaids, stewards, waiters and tour guides. A tip of R2 to R3 per piece of luggage is acceptable to porters in hotels and airports.
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How does South African VAT work?
South Africa has adopted a Value Added Tax system of 14% on all goods, services, meals, accommodation, ect. If you are a foreign visitor to South Africa, you can reclaim your VAT on purchases if you've spent more than R250 on items you're taking out of the country. Go to the VAT office at the Airport Intrernational Departures Hall. You'll need your original tax invoice and your passport, fill in a form and have the goods you bought available for inspection. The banks in the Departure Lounge will give you your refund in your home currency.
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What are the banking hours?
Most banks are open between 9:00am and 3:30pm daily. Saturdays between 8:30am to 11:00am, although some are open form 8:30am to 4:30pm. Small town branches often close between 1:00pm and 2:00pm.
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What are the trading hours?
General shopping hours are 8:30am to 5:30pm on weekdays and 8:00am to 1:00pm on Saturdays. There are no major big shopping malls in the Overberg. The nearest shopping mall is Somerset Mall, located in Somerset West, next to the N2. Several 'cafes' (convenience shops) are open at 7:00am or earlier and remain open until late, and are open 7 days a week. There are 24-hour express shops found at many larger petrol stations.
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How can I communicate?
Visitors can hire a cell-phone (mobile phone) at the airport or at any MTN or Vodago cellular shops. Blue public phones work on coins (20c, 50c and R1 coins are the best) while green public phones work on local Telkom phone cards, which you can purchase in a variety of shops and post offices. Telephones are fully automatic with direct dialing to most countries. Post Offices are remarkably inexpensive. Internet access, couriers and fax facilities, postage stamps, stationary, public telephones and other communications services are also available from Internet Cafes and commercial Post Net Shops.
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Do I need Medical Insurance?
Visitors are advised to obtain medical insurance prior to leaving their country of origin, as visitors are responsible for their own medical needs. There are first-rate medical and dental facilities in the Overberg. Charges are very reasonable by international standards. Hospitalisation is generally arranged through medical practitioners, although visitors may phone or go directly to a hospital casualty section, in the case of an emergency. Ambulance services may be reached on the emergency number 10177.
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What are the public holidays?
| New Year's Day |
1 January |
| Human Rights Day |
21 March |
| Good Friday |
10 April |
| Easter |
12 April |
| Family Day |
13 April |
| Freedom Day |
27 April |
| Workers Day |
1 May |
| Youth Day |
16 June |
| National Women's Day |
9 August |
| Heritage Day |
24 September |
| Day of Reconciliation |
16 December |
| Christmas Day |
25 December |
| Day of Goodwill |
26 December |
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Is the tap water in the Overberg safe for drinking?
The water in the Overberg is safe for drinking and the tap water is filtered. In some of the rural areas the water may be brown of colour, this is due to the natural sediments from the earth. This water is very healthy to drink, although the water is brown of colour.
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Is alcohol consumption allowed in outdoor public places?
Your are not allowed to drink alcohol in outdoor public places. It is strictly prohibited.
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Are you allowed to light fires on beaches?
Unfortunately you are not allowed to light fires on our beaches, its against the law.
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Are you allowed to camp on the beaches?
In South Africa, camping on the beach is not allowed. There are many beautiful campsites with all the necessary facilities all around the Overberg.
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Which is the largest town in the Overberg?
Hermanus is the largest town in the Overberg
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Is there a public transport system in the Overberg?
There is no public transport system in the Overberg. There are a few shuttle services you can use from Cape Town and some other bigger towns to the Overberg, and some of the services will be able to shuttle you in and around the Overberg.
Trevor Tours - Tel: +27 (0) 72 608 9213
Baz Bus - Tel: +27 (0) 21 439 2323
Percy Tours - Tel: +27 (0) 72 062 8500
Sean Shuttle and Taxi Service – Tel: +27 (0) 82 954 4867
Bernardus Tours and Transfers – Tel: +27 (0) 28 316 1093 Cell: +27 (0) 83 658 7848
Overstrand Tours, Airport transfers, tours and any other transfers – Tel: +27 (0) 28 315 1739
Splash Shuttle & Tours – Tel: +27 (0) 28 316 4004
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How many different types of whales will one find on the coast of the Overberg?
You will be able to find 37 species of whales. Dolphins can also be found. The Southern Right Whale is the most common whale to spot from June to November, with humped-back whales in winter and Bryde's Whales throughout the year, and the occasional killer whale.
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Where is the best land-based whale watching spot?
Hermanus boasts among the best land-based whale watching in the world, with whales swimming to within 5 m of the observers.
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What is the climate like in the Overberg?
The Overberg experiences a typical Mediterranean climate, with mild, wet winters and warm to hot, dry summers. Prevailing wind – often gale-force – are south-west in winter, and south-east in summer. The higher mountain peaks may be powdered with snow in winter, but frost is rare. There is no malaria, bilharzia or sleeping sickness, and sunburn is probably one of the worst potential hazards.
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When is the best time to visit the Overberg?
The summer months are incredible at the coast with nice sunny days, and during the winter months the inland mountains are toped with a white layer of snow. The whales visit our shore between May and October, so this is also a very popular time to visit the Overberg. The Overberg is a all year through visiting destination.
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Can you fly to the Overberg?
Unfortunately there are no airports in the Overberg. The closest airport is in Cape Town. Although the Overberg has small airstrips and hellipads, they don't cater for domestic or international flights.
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When is the best time of the year to see the whales?
The best time to see whales are between May and October.
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Where is the Overberg?
The Overberg is the region in the Western Cape bordered by the Hottentots Holland mountains at Elgin/Grabouw and Cape Hangklip near Betty's Bay in the west, and the Breede River at Infanta and Witsand in the east. It is literally over the mountains (from the Dutch over't Geberghte), east of Cape Town. The towering Riviersonderend and Langeberg mountains form the northern boundary, with the settlements of Villiersdorp, Genadendal, Greyton, Riviersonderend, Stormsvlei, Swellendam and Suurbraak nestling in their foothills, and Barrydale to the north. To the south on the coastal plains lie the farming towns of Caledon and Bredasdorp, and the villages of Bot River, Napier, Stanford and Elim.
The shores are washed by the Atlantic and Indian oceans which meet at Cape Agulhas, the southern-most tip of the continent. The fishing and holiday settlements of Kleinmond, Betty's Bay, Hawston, Hermanus, Gansbaai, L'Agulhas, Struisbaai and Arniston/Waenhuiskrans punctuate the coastline.
The names of several villages have synonyms, for instance Grabouw (the village) and Elgin (the district and valley, also known as the Groenland or Green land); Arniston and Waenhuiskrans; Wydgeleë and Ouplaas. Dutch derivatives such as Zuurbraak and Onrust are often modernized to Suurbraak and Onrus. Towns are mostly less the 100km apart and fuel is readily available.
The main access route to the region is the national road (N2) via Sir Lowry's Pass and Houw Hoek Pass in the west, and Swellendam in the east. Cape Hangklip guards the dramatic coastal route (R44) in the wast. Various mountain passes provide access from the north (R45, R317 and R324)
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What is the distance and travel time from Cape Town to Hermanus?
The distance between Cape Town and Hermanus is 127km and is approximately 90 minutes by car.
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Are there any annual festivals in the Overberg, and if so, where and when?
January
Elgin Paul Cluver Amphitheatre Summer concerts
Malgas Anything that Floats
February
Bredasdorp Agricultural Show
Breede River Savannah Up the Creek Music Show
March
Swellendam Agricultural Show
Swellendam Aircraft Fly-in Open Day
Swellendam Model Plane Fly-in
Struisbaai: Geelstert Fees
April
Gansbaai Standveld Ghost Tour
Hermanus Visbash
Caledon: Overberg Agri Street Festival
Franschoek: Wine & Cheese Festival
May
Barrydale Holistic Festival
Greyton: Dirtopia MTB Festival
June
Greyton Winter Festival
Napier High School Patat Fees
July
Elim Cultural Festival
Gansbaai: Fees van die Ganse
August
Elim & Genadendal Children's Festival & Love Festival
Gansbaai Shark Festival
Palmiet: Gravity Adventure Festival
Bredasdorp BNK Landbou Tweekamp
Bredasdorp Mega-Week
September
Caledon: Koringkuier Fees
Caledon: Wild Flower Show
Bredasdorp: Agri Megaweek
Napier: Spring Show
Hermanus: Whale Festival
Hermanus Fernkloof Wildflower Show
Swellendam Alive Festival
Villiersdorp Potjiekos Competition
Villiersdorp Wild Flower Show
October
Glendower Bird Fair
Barrydale Spring Festival
Greyton Rose Fair
Riviersonderend Blue Crane Festival
Villiersdorp: Overberg Fruit & Wine Expo
Sasol Agulhas National Park (Birdwatching)
Caledon Kersmark
November
Elgin Open Gardens
Napier Horse and Cart Festival
December
Hawston Sea Festival
Hermanus Camphill Country Fair
Stanford Welsh Country Show
Suurbraak Tourism Festival
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