Health Care - hospitals, doctors, dentists etc
South Africa offers excellent World Class health care facilities in all the major cities, this is not always the case in the more rural areas. However good medical care is very expensive and a patient generally has to prove that he will be able to pay for treatment before it is administered.
A simple operation may cost approximately R15 000 so it is generally recommended that Travellers should take out medical insurance before their arrival.
Inoculations
If you're an adult, you won't need any inoculations unless you're travelling from a yellow-fever endemic area (the yellow fever belt of Africa or South America), in which case you will need certification to prove your inoculation status when you arrive in South Africa.
It is recommended that you have the required inoculations four to six weeks before you travel to South Africa (a yellow fever inoculation certificate only becomes valid 10 days after inoculation - after which it remains valid for 10 years).
Hepatitis B inoculations are recommended for children up to the age of 12 who have not completed the series of injections as infants. Booster doses for tetanus and measles can also be administered.
Malaria and bilharzia are diseases endemic to certain parts of South Africa. Before visiting the country, foreigners are advised to seek the latest medical advice from your local doctor approximately 4-6 weeks before your travel.
According to the United Nations AIDS Report South Africa has one of the highest rates of HIV in the world. All Visitors to South Africa, as to any country, should always take precautions when having sex.
A toll-free HIV/AIDS helpline exists at 0800-012-322.
The sun
We have a warm sunny climate and you should wear sunscreen and a hat whenever you are out of doors during the day, particularly between 10am and 4pm, regardless of whether there is cloud cover or not.
Even if you have a dark complexion, you can still get sunburned if you are from a cooler climate and have not had much exposure to the sun. Sunglasses are also recommended wear, as the glare of the African sun can be strong.
Can I drink the water?
High-quality tap (faucet) water is available almost everywhere in South Africa, treated so as to be free of harmful micro-organisms, and in any area other than informal or shack settlements, is both palatable and safe to drink straight from the tap.
In some areas, the water is mineral-rich, and you may experience a bit of gastric distress for a day or two until you get used to it. Bottled mineral water, both sparkling and still, is readily available in most places.
Drinking water straight from rivers and streams could put you at risk of waterborne diseases - especially downstream of human settlements. The water in mountain streams, however, is usually pure and wonderful.
In the Cape, particularly, the water contains humic acid, which stains it the color of diluted Coca-Cola - this is absolutely harmless, and the water is wonderful. You may also find this coloring in tap water in some areas. It's fine - it just looks a bit weird in the bath.
