Good to Know

Currency

South African Rand (ZAR)   Only guys .Use an ATM on arrival or exchange at the airport. Credit cards are widely accepted.

Weather in July

Mid-winter in the Winelands. Daytime temperatures 14–18°C. Evenings can drop to 5–10°C. Pack warm layers, a waterproof layer, and don’t skip the scarf.

Getting Around

The Winelands are best explored by hired car. Uber also works in the region and is generally reliable. 

Language

South Africa has 11 official languages. English is widely spoken everywhere you’ll go. Afrikaans is the local language of the Winelands

Connectivity

Mobile data is excellent. Vodacom and MTN offer affordable prepaid SIM cards at the airport. Most hotels and restaurants have good WiFi. 

Tipping

10–15% is standard and expected in restaurants. Tip parking attendants (R5–10), petrol station attendants who help you (R5–10), and hotel porters.

Electricity

South Africa uses Type M plugs (large 3-round-pin). Load shedding (planned power cuts) does still occur occasionally but is much reduced from previous years. Most hotels and venues have backup generators.

Safety

Franschhoek and the Winelands are safe and well-touristed. Standard sensible precautions apply: don’t leave valuables in cars, don’t wander alone at night in unfamiliar areas, keep your phone out of obvious sight in public.

Medical

Franschhoek has a local clinic. The nearest major hospitals are in Stellenbosch or Cape Town. Travel insurance with medical cover is strongly recommended.

Time Zone

South Africa Standard Time (SAST) = UTC+2. No daylight saving. Dubai (Gulf Standard Time) is UTC+4, so SA is 2 hours behind the UAE.