Hints, Tips & Info

Health Tips
• Before leaving home, know what medical emergencies are covered by your medical insurance
• Vaccinations are not necessary for entry to Johannesburg (or any other city in S.A.) but travellers from a yellow fever zone need to have a valid certificate
• If you will be travelling to a malaria area, anti-malaria tablets can be bought over the counter at any pharmacy (Johannesburg, Gauteng, is not a malaria area)
• Medical costs are reasonable by world standards
• Hospitals, doctors and medical laboratories may require up-front payment
• Medical care and pharmacies are of a high standard (travellers may prefer private medical centre care to public hospitals)
• Wear a Medic Alert ID tag if you have a special condition (diabetes, epilepsy, heart condition, drug or other allergies).
• HIV and AIDS are a serious concern in South Africa; take the usual precautions for safe sex and use condoms

JOHANNESBURG has a number of large-scale problems: perhaps a third of its workforce is jobless; AIDS afflicts at least one-fifth of the city’s adults, and mortality has begun to outstrip infection rates. President Mbeki, who has been publicly sceptical of the link between HIV and AIDS, has been criticised for his government's lax response to the crisis.

There are signs, though, that the gloom may be lifting. The city’s wobbly finances are starting to benefit from stabilising measures, and an ambitious revamping project.

JOHANNESBURG has made determined efforts in the past two years to crack down on crime, creating a local police force, the Metro Police, and installing some 200 "crime watch" video cameras in the inner city.

Safety Tips

Take common-sense precautions. Follow the suggestions below, and you should, like tens of thousands of other visitors, enjoy a trouble-free stay:

• Carry travellers cheques rather than large amounts of cash. Do not countersign the cheques until you actually need to use them. Carry only what you need; keep most of your travellers cheques in the hotel safe. Separate cash from credit cards.
• Make a note of your credit card numbers, the customer service numbers for issuing banks, etc. Put the note in a sealed envelope and ask the hotel front desk to keep it for you.
• Drivers should be on the alert when coming to a halt at traffic lights or stop streets, as well as when arriving at or leaving premises
• Car doors should be locked at all times. Avoid the temptation to keep windows wide open in sunny weather.
• Plan your travel route beforehand, so that you don't get lost in a less-safe part of town. Where possible, rely on local residents for transport. If you get lost, look for a shop or other open business, and ask for help.
• Do not leave valuables in clear view of people on the side of the road. Articles such as cell phones and handbags left on seats are favoured targets of smash'n'grab thieves.
• While dining in public places, do not leave purses on chairs, under tables or on the backs of chairs.
• When parking at night choose well-lit or security-patrolled parking areas. Throughout the city, you will see street security guards, who will usually ask whether they can watch over your car and in return should be paid a small fee - anything from two rand upwards.
• Avoid wearing visible jewellery or carrying cameras and bags over your shoulder. Keep cell phones and wallets tucked away where no one can see them.
• Make sure that the areas you intend visiting are safe by asking hotel staff or police for advice. Certain areas, such as parts of Hillbrow, Alexandra, the inner city and Soweto, are best visited in groups, ideally accompanied by local residents.

Useful numbers
Telephone code: +27 (011)
If you are calling from within the city, the (011) can be skipped, except when calling from mobile phones. Directory enquiries: 1023 or 082 110 from a mobile phone

Johannesburg International Airport: +27 (011) 921-6911

Embassies & High Commissions

American: +27 (012) 342-1048
British: + 27 (011) 537-7000
Australian: +27 (012) 342-3740
Canadian: +27 (012) 422-3000
French: +27 (012) 429-7000
Italian: +27 (012) 430-5541

Emergencies

All emergencies: Netcare 082 911
Police: 10111
Fire: 624-2800
Ambulance: 999