In South Africa, shops are usually open from 08.00 to 16.30 Mondays to Fridays and from 08.30 - 12.30 on Saturdays (in the main centres, opening hours are sometimes longer).Traditional South African craftwork, such as bowls, clay pots, beadwork, carvings, tapestries and paintings are popular with tourists. Jewellery is also worth looking out for.

Because of the advantageous exchange rate, clothing and footwear is relatively inexpensive and of good quality. In the larger cities, international brand stores can be found such as Diesel and Gucci.

Tips/Gratuity

You can tip waiters and taxi drivers 10 percent of the bill, unless a service charge has been added in advance. Two Rand per piece of luggage is recommended for hotel porters.

Customs Allowances

400 cigarettes, 250 grams of tobacco and 50 cigars, one litre of spirit, two litres of wine, 50ml of perfume and 250ml of toilet water. Also gifts, souvenirs and all other goods to the value of R500. No person under 18 is entitled to the alcohol or tobacco allowance. Duty is levied at 20% thereafter. You can buy duty-free goods at the Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban airports.