ALMANAC

POPULATION OF SOUTH AFRICA: 43.1 million

POPULATION OF CAPE TOWN: 4.2 million

AREA OF SOUTH AFRICA: 1,219,09 0 sq km (larger than Germany, France and Italy combined)

AREA OF WESTERN CAPE: Total area of Western Cape is 129,370 sq km

HIGHEST POINT: Injasuti 11,425' (3408m)

PEOPLE:

75% black
13% white (60% Afrikaner, 40% British)
8% Indian or mixed race
3% Asian

LANGUAGES: English, Afrikaans, seSotho, isiXhosa and isiZulu, isiNdebele, saLebowa, siSwati, Xitsonga, Setswana and Tshivenda.

RELIGION: Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Jewish and traditional religions.

GOVERNMENT: Independent member of the British Commonwealth

SUMMER CLIMATE: Most tourists visit Cape Town during its long summer from November to March. It features a Mediterranean climate with little rain. Its 11- to 12-hours of sunshine a day, with long evenings, sets a party mood. If the wind does blow and you’re after a tan on the beach, remember that mornings are usually less windy. Certain beaches (Clifton, Boulders) are more protected. An average summer temperature is 26º C to 28º C (78º F - 83º F).

MARCH CLIMATE: Maximum 25º C (78º F) and Minimum temp 15.4º C (60º F) with very little rain. Wind-- ESE 3mph.

CURRENCY: Rand

EXCHANGE RATE: R7.5 for US$1.0

RELATIVE COSTS IN U.S. DOLLARS:

Budget meal: US$5-10
Restaurant meal: US$9-15
Budget hotel: US$15-25
Mid-range hotel: US$25-50

CREDIT CARDS: Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted.

TIPPING: Very low wages require tipping. 15% is customary.

TRAVEL VISAS: No visas are required for travellers from the USA, the European Union, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, for visits of up to
90 days.

TIME: Greenwhich Mean Time + two hours

ELECTRICITY: 220/230V (250V in Pretoria), 50Hz

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES: Metric

DRIVING: South Africans drive on the left hand side of the road. Drivers are required by law to carry their driver’s license with them while driving and wear safety belts. Speed limits should also be adhered to – Urban areas 60km/hr National roads 80-100km/hr and Freeways 120km/hr

WATER: Although there are a number of different types of bottled spring water, flavored or plain, Western Cape water is very safe to drink directly from the tap.

GORDON'S BAY: A picturesque coastal village nestled between the foot of the Hottentots Holland mountains and the False Bay coast. This coastal village has the most picturesque harbor along the South African coastline. Gordon’s Bay has calm waters and is one of the very few points from which small boats can be operated at most times of the year. The winter climate is both drier and warmer than elsewhere on the Cape coast, air and sea temperatures are mild throughout the year. Gordon’s Bay is also well protected from the north-westerly wind in the winter. Cape Town is 40 minutes of scenic driving away.

FOOD AND FARE: Gordon's Bay caters to a variety of tastes ranging from seafood specialities and popular cape curries to our traditional South African cuisine, such as Babotie, Sammosa and Koeksusters. One can choose from a variety of restaurants, including the region's new waterfront development, Harbour Island. Meals range from approximately R30 (US$4) for Pizza /Pasta to R90 (US$12) for seafood, or R40 (US$5.50) for steak.

SUNDRIES: General supplies can be bought from local shops in town. Larger supermarkets and shops are 10 minutes away at the Strand, or at Somerset Wes via a 15 minute drive.

BANKS: Commercial banks, Rennies Travel, and Thomas Cook are at the Strand or Somerset Wes. The Raddison Hotel (race hotel) can also assist.

ATMs: These are conveniently located throughout the town and city. They are accessible for those travelers whose home banks are Cirrus-friendly. Check back here for further information as we do more research on ATM access for Northern Hemisphere travelers.





		G	ALMANAC POPULATION OF SOUTH AFRICA: 43.1 million POPULATION OF CAPE TOWN: 4.2 million AREA OF SOUTH AFRICA: 1,219,09 0 sq km (larger than Germany, France and Italy combined) AREA OF WESTERN CAPE: Total area of Western Cape is 129,370 sq km HIGHEST POINT: Injasuti 11,425' (3408m) PEOPLE: 75% black 13% white (60% Afrikaner, 40% British) 8% Indian or mixed race 3% Asian LANGUAGES: English, Afrikaans, seSotho, isiXhosa and isiZulu, isiNdebele, saLebowa, siSwati, Xitsonga, Setswana and Tshivenda. RELIGION: Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Jewish and traditional religions. GOVERNMENT: Independent member of the British Commonwealth SUMMER CLIMATE: Most tourists visit Cape Town during its long summer from November to March. It features a Mediterranean climate with little rain. Its 11- to 12-hours of sunshine a day, with long evenings, sets a party mood. If the wind does blow and you’re after a tan on the beach, remember that mornings are usually less windy. Certain beaches (Clifton, Boulders) are more protected. An average summer temperature is 26º C to 28º C (78º F - 83º F). MARCH CLIMATE: Maximum 25º C (78º F) and Minimum temp 15.4º C (60º F) with very little rain. Wind-- ESE 3mph. CURRENCY: Rand EXCHANGE RATE: R7.5 for US$1.0 RELATIVE COSTS IN U.S. DOLLARS: Budget meal: US$5-10 Restaurant meal: US$9-15 Budget hotel: US$15-25 Mid-range hotel: US$25-50 CREDIT CARDS: Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted. TIPPING: Very low wages require tipping. 15% is customary. TRAVEL VISAS: No visas are required for travellers from the USA, the European Union, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, for visits of up to 90 days. TIME: Greenwhich Mean Time + two hours ELECTRICITY: 220/230V (250V in Pretoria), 50Hz WEIGHTS AND MEASURES: Metric DRIVING: South Africans drive on the left hand side of the road. Drivers are required by law to carry their driver’s license with them while driving and wear safety belts. Speed limits should also be adhered to – Urban areas 60km/hr National roads 80-100km/hr and Freeways 120km/hr WATER: Although there are a number of different types of bottled spring water, flavored or plain, Western Cape water is very safe to drink directly from the tap. GORDON'S BAY: A picturesque coastal village nestled between the foot of the Hottentots Holland mountains and the False Bay coast. This coastal village has the most picturesque harbor along the South African coastline. Gordon’s Bay has calm waters and is one of the very few points from which small boats can be operated at most times of the year. The winter climate is both drier and warmer than elsewhere on the Cape coast, air and sea temperatures are mild throughout the year. Gordon’s Bay is also well protected from the north-westerly wind in the winter. Cape Town is 40 minutes of scenic driving away. FOOD AND FARE: Gordon's Bay caters to a variety of tastes ranging from seafood specialities and popular cape curries to our traditional South African cuisine, such as Babotie, Sammosa and Koeksusters. One can choose from a variety of restaurants, including the region's new waterfront development, Harbour Island. Meals range from approximately R30 (US$4) for Pizza /Pasta to R90 (US$12) for seafood, or R40 (US$5.50) for steak. SUNDRIES: General supplies can be bought from local shops in town. Larger supermarkets and shops are 10 minutes away at the Strand, or at Somerset Wes via a 15 minute drive. BANKS: Commercial banks, Rennies Travel, and Thomas Cook are at the Strand or Somerset Wes. The Raddison Hotel (race hotel) can also assist. ATMs: These are conveniently located throughout the town and city. They are accessible for those travelers whose home banks are Cirrus-friendly. Check back here for further information as we do more research on ATM access for Northern Hemisphere travelers.