As with any large city in the world, the fact is simply that there are slums. Nobody will go into Hillbrow (central Johannesburg) because of their fear of being attacked. This is the same in Harlem, New York, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Mexico City, Mexico, Naples, Italy, the list goes on. It is simply common sense which dictates that you should never wander around on your own in any town in a foreign country. Urban crime is a far greater concern than crime in game reserves and tourist destinations. The best advice a South African can give to any tourist is this:

• They will have the knowledge and expertise to safely transport you and advise you correctly on any aspect of your safari.
• Ensure you tour South Africa with a tour guide.
• Carrying valuables on your person such as jewelry, cameras, bulging wallets, etc can only lead to temptation by potential criminals.

Public transport is not really the most ideal form of transport due to no schedules being adhered to and the imminent crime one puts themselves at risk of. Although we are in the process of building the Gautrain Train System, it is not yet completed, but it is hoped that this rail system will transform the public transport system by the 2010 Soccer World Cup to be hosted in South Africa. Private taxis are available, which is charged per kilometer traveled. This is really the best option for travelers art from a tour operator’s transport facilities.

When it comes to exotic diseases that you see and hear about in films, the only realistic concern is malaria. It is a potentially life-threatening disease and is a very real threat in most parts of Africa. Malaria is, however, very preventable. A visit to your doctor or healthcare nurse to have an injection or be given tablets would be the wisest precaution before your adventure into Africa. We encourage you to consider having vaccinations before travelling, taking prophylaxis against malaria where necessary and using an insect repellent, especially in game parks and in the bush. A wise piece of advice is that ignorance and arrogance are your own worst enemies whilst traveling. An up-to-date tour brochure, an experienced travel agent and tour operator and local advice are the best remedies for any sensible tourist.

Definitely not, no. But for the ultimate wildlife experience – lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, buffalos and more - visit one of the many magnificent wildlife lodges and game parks across the country.

Yes. In more rural and coastal areas, it is recommended that you drink bottled water, though. Inner cities, such as Johannesburg, Pretoria and Bloemfontein the tap water is considered to be within the top 3 of the world’s best quality drinking water. South Africa has a first-world infrastructure, but its water is far better than that of most developed countries. High-quality tap (faucet) water is available almost everywhere, treated to be free of harmful microorganisms and is both palatable and safe to drink straight from the tap. Johannesburg's water, for one, is as good as anything you'll get in a bottle.

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. With a favourable exchange rate for many international currencies, you'll find South Africa a very inexpensive destination.

Yes. South Africa has a world-class, sophisticated financial sector, abreast of all the latest technological trends. From the moment you reach the airport, banks, bureaux de change and automatic tellers (ATMs) are all over. All major credit cards can be used, foreign banks are well represented, and you can bank by ATM or internet.

"Africa" is not even an African word. The origin of the word is still a little uncertain, but it is credible to see a connection from Latin (Africa = sunny) and Greek (Aphrike = not cold). And for the most part, that is an excellent description of our continent.

Yes, indeed. Everywhere you go, you can expect to find people who speak or understand English. English is the language of the cities, of commerce and banking, of government, of road signs and official documents. Road signs and official forms are in English. The President makes his speeches in English. At any hotel, the receptionists, waiters and porters will speak English. Another major language is Afrikaans, a derivative of Dutch, which northern Europeans will find surprisingly easy to follow.

Yes. With a network that is 99% digital and includes the latest in fixed-line, wireless and satellite communication, South Africa has the most developed telecommunications network in Africa. The country's four cellular operators provide telephony to over 30-million subscribers - nearly half the population.