I must be living in whats known as the “Cape Town bubble”, and do not know where the rest of South Africa is.  But I am sure that a few of my friends live in Johannesburg?  Could somebody please let me know whats going on…

In the news today, on IOL.co.za, there is a quote that says:

“More than a quarter of South African men in a study released on Thursday admitted to raping a woman or girl, with 9,8 percent forcing themselves on a victim for the first time before the age of 10.”

WHAT? Did they do this study in a prison?  I am male, and have lots of male and female friends, that live all around the country.  My family is quite extensive, and I probably know at least 2000 people (they may not all be friends or family, but I know them)  And guess what… NONE of them have raped anybody!

Also today, I got an email from one of our German tourists – this read:

“Everybody warn me to crime. What about if somebody steal me a car? Can I take with my self a spray against thieves? Is it forbiden in South Africa? I’d rather take my gun & rifles, but airport…you know”

Why would you possibly come to a country where you think you are going to start shooting people as soon as you land?

I am begging the media, please report responsibly.  If you keep telling people that all the men are rapists or murderers, could I possibly give you a list of some of the people that I know that are in fact well mannered and decent hard working people.

South Africa has issues, there is no doubt, but reporting rubbish like iol.co.za has done above really annoys me.  Initially I was against the 2010 Soccer, but I think it will be great to make people come see this wonderful country and possibly dispel some of the negative feelings.  President Zuma is doing a better job that most people expected so far, and well done to him.

I am a simple SA Traveler, love this country, and encourage people to visit.

With its abundant nature, South Africa lets you take part in many activities like the skydiving and bungy jumping, or the Namibian deserts, or adventurous sport across its river and oceans. Those who want less risk could opt for seeing the country through car rentals or car hire. Take a nice relaxed drive up the Garden Route.

Car Rental and Car Hire are available with South African tourism with a majority of players in the market. Some companies allow you to take a rental online, while with others you need to get a manual quotation. The companies have kiosks at all major airports making it easy and accessible to the tourists who book these cars. The fleet of cars that each company boasts of is enormous; some advertise that they have more than 5000 vehicles, which operate, to important locations all over South Africa.

The websites of the car hire and car rental companies allow you to book the rental online. Anyone who wants to make a car booking should have a credit card. Here you can select car hire/ car rental booking dates, decide on the location, compare the prices of different vehicles, and finalize your plan of visiting South Africa.

Some companies offer discounted car rentals for car hire – Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban and Pretoria. Before taking car hire, you need to check some details like age limit of the driver and insurance coverage. Many companies include waivers in their prices like collision damage waiver, theft loss waiver, airport surcharge, South African Tourism levy, and a refundable bond deposit.

South Africa Car Rentals are the best bet for those who are visiting South Africa and want to leisurely enjoy the awesome natural beauty of the country. The offerings of the various car rental and car hire companies are competent, you just need to check out the one best suited to your needs.

When searching for “car rental south africa” or “car hire south Africa” on the internet, using terms such as “cape town car rental cheap” or “south Africa car rental companies”, you will come up with many car hire companies that will offer you many different quotes on many different vehicles!

Car Rental has more involved than simply handing somebody a vehicle – and here are some car hire terms that you may deem necessary to understand your quote:

Additional charges: Charges that are not listed with the primary cost of the vehicle.  These costs will include items such as one way fees, baby seats, fuel, etc

Additional Driver: This would be for any driver other than the renter.  The renter is the credit card holder who would be responsible for the costs involved with the hire.  You can have several “additional drivers” listed, but you have to let the car rental company know for insurance purposes.

Collision Damage Waiver (CDW): In the event of any accidental damage on the vehicle, the Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) covers the cost of repairs.  There will generally be an excess, and the renter would be liable for the first amount agreed upon on the contract.

Reduced Excess (ER): If the car hire company offers an optional charge  to lessen or waive the insurance excess in the event of an insurance claim against damage or theft.

Insurance Excess: The amount the client is responsible for in the event of damage or theft of the rental vehicle.  The client is responsible for this amount whether it is his / her fault or not.  You can check with your credit card company if they cover the insurance excess – also known as a deductible.

One Way Fee: When renting a vehicle, for example at Cape Town international airport, the vehicle should be returned to the same airport, or within a reasonable distance such as the Cape Town City branch.  When the client is planning on leaving the vehicle in a different location, possibly George or Port Elizabeth or OR Tambo or any other place other than the originating airport, the renter would be charged a fee called a one-way or drop-off fee.

Personal Accident Insurance (PAI): This is the insurance that covers the driver, additional drivers and passengers for personal and physical injuries incurred in an accident.  Check with the company if this is included in the pricing, and if there is a limit to the amount

Rental Period: The car hire period starts when the client picks up the car and ends when you drop it off.  Rentals are based on a 24 hours period from the time of pick up – so, for example, from 10am on a Monday to 10am the following day is charged as a one day rental.  If the rental continues past 10AM, the company will charge out for a full day extra – although there is usually a “grace period” of 59 minutes.

Security Deposit / Authorization:  Car rental works with a credit card – the authorization is the amount that gets blocked on the client’s credit card at time of collection. The amount blocked can be up to the rental plus the full insurance excess.

Theft Protection (TP): This applies in the event that the vehicle is stolen or vandalized.  As with the CDW, an excess usually applies.

Young Driver Surcharge: With most companies in South Africa, the minimum age of the driver must be 23yrs (sometimes 25yrs).  If the person is below this age, a surcharge would be payable for insurance purpose.

Car Rental quote

Below, we have shown you a typical car rental quote below.  In a car rental quote, the following information must be shown:

All costs involved
The standard costs that you will be subjected to for your car rental is the contract fee (a once-off fee) and the daily rate.
Other costs may include things such as a baby seat, additional kilometers, the traffic admin fee in case you get a ticket, any additional equipment you may need.  Let the rental company know your intentions and they will be able to supply you with the pricing before you hire the vehicle

Kilometers
Know what mileage the company is giving you.  If they are not giving any mileage inclusive with the quote, they will charge you per km driven.  We would suggest getting a quote that includes ample mileage

The excess
Often there are different insurance options.  You will be responsible for this amount in the event of damage or theft on the vehicle.  Also ask if it covers third party.

Client details
The client details needed to make the booking for the vehicle varies between companies.  Remember that when you pick up the vehicle, you will need a valid driver’s license in English, and a credit card for authorization

You are visiting South Africa for the first time, here are some tips for you on how to drive on their roads, use South Africa car rentals, and South Africa Tourism. The road network is pretty good and to travel through most of the South African sub continent may take a very long time. A good plan is very essential if you plan to travel throughout the length and breadth of the country with the help of car rentals and car hire.

Roads
The roads are tarred and maintained in good condition; rural roads are deprived of good surface and are likely to have potholes. Information of road maps and condition of the road is available with Automobile Association of South Africa. They also give information on specific destination and accommodation to tourists.

Maps
Most of the roads are recognized by color and number. South African tourism provides excellent route market systems making it very easy for the tourists to identify their way through the country.

Dangers on the Road
Driving on South African roads using car rentals or car hire may be difficult due to animals grazing along and on the roads. There are chances of seeing sheep, dogs, chickens, horses, or cow on the road. Some areas have the danger of antelopes crossing the roads. On such roads it is safe to travel during daytime.

Driving Rules
Almost all car hire and car rentals use right hand drive vehicles, whereas the roads are left handed. South African Law insists on use of seat belts during travel. Law prohibits hand phone usage; you can use them with a hands-free kit in your car hire or car rental.

View detailed Rules of the Road

The speed limits in South Africa are is 120km/h for urban areas, rural areas have a speed limit of 100km/h. Driving license is mandatory is you are visiting South Africa and plan to use a car rental. The driving license should have your photograph and signature in English.

Driving in South Africa is a pleasure if you follow the rules while using car hire or car rental

At the tip of the largest continent of the world, South Africa is known for many things from Mandela to Mosselbay! South African tourism provides the best international facilities to its tourists. Anyone visiting South Africa need not be worried about any hurdle they may face. Our tourism takes care of even the minutest of the problems of tourists including car rentals and car hire.  Car Rental is available from http://www.southafrica-carhire.com/

The website for the Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) is http://www.airports.co.za/.  They offer live information regarding the parking

South Africa has three main international airports, namely Cape Town Airport, Johannesburg Airport (OR Tambo International) and Durban Airport. At Cape Town airport the parking bays number to 2000 and is provided with shade net. The parking bays stretches along the length of the airport. The parking bays are excellent facility for car rentals and car hire. There is option for valet parking with a charge of R150 for a day. Additional parking bays numbering 2000 is available in the multi storied parkade with all modern facilities like CCTV cameras, trolley hoist and a system to display vacant parking bays.

The Johannesburg international airport called the O.R. Tambo International Airport; it is the airport hub of South Africa with facilities to international standards. The Super South Gate offers low cost parking with shuttle service for movement of passenger from terminal buildings for every 15 minutes. Car hire and car rentals can use drop off zones available at the international and domestic terminals.

A 24/7 free shuttle service delivers and collects passengers from terminal buildings every 15 minutes. Vehicles are fined if they wait for passengers in this drop off zones.

Durban International Airport is no less than the other airports in South Africa. They have facilities similar to O.R. Tambo and Cape Town airports. Valet parking facility is available here also with charges suitable for any car hire or car rental that a tourist avails.

Airports with car parking lots are a need of today’s life and especially required in countries where tourists are more. Those visiting South Africa may rest assured that they will get the best international standards.

What do I need in order to hire a vehicle?

The necessary requirements to rent a vehicle are a valid driver’s license and a credit card.  You also have to be at least 23yrs with a drivers license for two years or more.

Why the age requirement?
The reason there is an age requirement is for the insurance companies.  This is a ruling straight from them, as people over the age of 23 years are generally more experienced and calmer drivers.

Why do I need a credit card?
This ruling is also for insurance purpose.  The company holds an authorization on your credit card so that it can activate the insurance offered.  The driver is responsible for payment on the vehicle when returned, unless otherwise arranged.  You must remember that they are giving you an expensive item (ie: a vehicle!), and they need some security that it will be returned in good condition.

For a full quote, email Wise Wheels Car Rental at info@wisewheels.co.za or visit the website www.wisewheels.co.za

Wise Wheels Car Rental is a Cape Town based car hire company, their website being http://www.wisewheels.co.za/

To get a quote, email them on info@wisewheels.co.za with the following information:

-          Type of vehicle required

-          Start date and end date

-          Mileage requirements if known

-          Any additional information you think is relevant

The drop off / pick up points are within Cape Town as well as Cape Town International Airport

Vehicles that they offer are:

Vehicle Group A: Toyota Tazz or similar, radio/tape, manual
Vehicle Group AB: Toyota Tazz or similar, radio/tape, manual, Air-con
Vehicle Group B: Ford Ikon or similar, air-con, power-steering, radio/cd, manual
Vehicle Group C: Nissan Almera or similar, air-con,power-steering, radio/cd, automatic

Last night a friend emailed me from the United Kingdom – they have finally taken my advise, and decided to come to South Africa on their long-haul holiday this year.  The currency is well in their favour, and they really need to see some sun!

They were asking me some of the standard questions – where should I stay, in Cape Town or Stellenbosch, or travel the Garden Route, etc.  Also what sites to see like the Kruger Park or The Tsitsikamma forest, and naturally I was able to give names of many places.

They also asked me about my speciality – car rental.  They had already gone onto the Avis (www.avis.co.za ) website to make an enquiry, after I had given them the site that I usually use – (www.southafrica-carhire.com)  Fair enough, always good to have a comparison.  Unfortunately, they were a bit off, as they thought I had sent them to a more expensive place.  The pricing was similar, with mine being slightly higher, and they wanted to know why – so I had to investigate…

There were a few inconsistencies between the quoting, and quite frankly, I am really disappointed that Avis would quote the way they do.  The three main points that I picked up were the following:

1.  Mileage

With Avis, there are 200 km’s per day inclusive.  This may be enough for what you require, however, many people would like to exceed this amount – which is going to be extremely expensive.  With the broker site that I use, you always get unlimited mileage.

2.  Excess

The excess on standard cover for C group vehicles with Avis is R15,789.47 (ex VAT).  The excess that we were given on the broker site was R6500.00, all inclusive.  Firstly, this information was terribly difficult to find on the Avis site, and secondly the amount is ridiculously high for the standard renter.  They do not offer an immediate price to reduce the excess, rather saying that that must be done when the vehicle gets picked up.

3.  Airport surcharge

Avis have not included the airport and tourism surcharge in their quote!  Together they come to 10%.  Our pricing includes all costs clearly.

Recently there was a web-site war between 1Time and Kulula, where Kulula was not advertising their pricing with taxes and 1Time was.  The Kulula team quickly changed that due to pressures put onto them – I think that the same should be done with Avis.  But that’s just me, the SA Traveler.

Its December, in fact its mid-December – and lots of people have planned their great Christmas holiday, but have not booked anything. This is a critical error. Flight are expensive, hotel rooms are few, and booking a hire vehicle is going to be more difficult than you thought. My suggestion is that you make a plan, and make it quick. You have to decide whether your holiday is going to cost you more than you budgeted, or if you are going to drop the level of your holiday package.

With flights, there is not much you can do – little competition means that you will have to find the airline that has seats, and make the booking. My suggestion is that you make the biggest sacrifice in terms of accommodation. Instead of looking at the expensive hotels, search for a simple bed and breakfast, or get a double room in a backpackers. This would be your best option, and trust me, backpackers are often the best places to stay as you will meet the most amazing people. As for a car hire, you dont have to get that merc, go for a simple B group car with air-con and power-steering.

Dont make this difficult for yourself, book things immediately and online if possible. There are no more special deals going at this time, or if you do find a genuine one, grab it