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Accommodation
South Africa offers a wide range of accommodation from luxury 5-star hotels to thatched huts (rondavels) in game reserves. ‘Time-sharing condominiums’ are developing in popular resorts. Comprehensive accommodation guides giving details of facilities, including provision for the handicapped, are available at all SATOUR offices and from regional tourist offices. Information covers hotels, motels, farm holidays, game park rest camps, caravan and campsites and supplementary accommodation such as beach cottages, holiday flats and bungalows. Rates should always be confirmed at time of booking. It is forbidden by law to levy service charges, although phone calls may be charged for.
HOTELS: All hotels are registered with the South African Tourism Board, which controls standards. For further information, contact SATOUR (see Contact Addresses section). 800 hotels are members of the Federated Hospitality Association of South Africa (FEDHASA), Second floor, NBS Building, 310 Oak Avenue, Ferndale, Randburg (tel: (11) 886 2394; fax: (11) 789 4811; e-mail: fedhasa@fedhasa.co.za; website: www.fedhasa.co.za). FEDHASA has regional offices throughout the country. Grading: The National Grading and Classification Scheme was introduced in 1994. Participation is voluntary. Hotels are graded 1 to 5 stars according to the range of facilities on offer plus an optional classification band grading the level of services and hospitality. The classification band is colour-coded as follows: Burgundy: Acceptable standard of services and hospitality in addition to the required facilities. Silver: Superior services, hospitality, quality and ambience.
Each hotel taking part in the scheme will display a plaque indicating the star-rating and the classification band.
GUEST-HOUSES/BED & BREAKFAST: The accreditation programme now applies to guest houses and bed and breakfast establishments. There are very few towns that do not offer this type of accommodation. Advance bookings during the summer season (October-April) are becoming essential, especially in the Western Cape region.
SELF-CATERING: Holiday flats, resorts and health spas are available along main routes. Grading: The Accreditation and Classification Programme for self-catering accommodation is part of the National Grading and Classification Scheme which was introduced in 1994. Self-catering accommodation is graded 1 to 5 stars according to the facilities available and the level of services and hospitality. The classification band is split into three levels.
CAMPING/CARAVANNING: There are over 800 camp and caravan sites in the country; camping is not allowed outside of them. Caravan parks are to be found along all the tourist routes in South Africa, particularly at places favoured for recreation and sightseeing. The standard is usually high. Many caravan parks have campsites. A number of companies can arrange motor camper rentals, with a range of fully-equipped vehicles. Full details can be obtained from SATOUR. Grading: Camp and caravan sites are classed as self-catering accommodation (see above).
GAME RESERVES: Game reserve rest camps are protected enclosures within the confines of the park. Accommodation is usually in thatched huts known as rondavels, or in small cottages. Some camps have air-conditioned accommodation. Most rondavels and cottages are self contained, with private baths and showers, and sometimes kitchens. Some camps have luxury air-conditioned accommodation. Conservation Corporation Africa (CCA) (website: www.ccafrica.com) was founded in 1990 to develop sustainable wildlife reserves, achieved through low-density, high-quality tourism. Its lodges are bywords for luxury and elegance, but equally important is CCA’s work to promote biodiversity, invest in the local rural economies and restore land.
FARM HOLIDAYS: There is a wide range of guest farms open to tourists offering stays in various ecological regions. Opportunities exist for adventure activities such as horseriding, mountain-biking and fishing as well as agricultural activities like bee-keeping and cattle-ranching. Full details can be obtained from SATOUR; see Contact Addresses section.
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