Tourist Safety:
Visitors to our area are advised to take the same precautions they would in any other international city, town and rural area, particularly if sightseeing in built-up urban areas. Avoid unnecessary display of valuables including jewellery, cash or audiovisual equipment. Do not walk in deserted places or go out alone at night and, as a general rule, lock the vehicle doors and keep windows closed. The use of travellers' cheques or credit cards is more advisable than that of large amounts of cash.

Tzaneen Emergency Numbers:
Tzaneen Crisis Centre (015) 307 5555 / 307 6666 / 307 7000
South African Police Services (015) 306 2000
Ambulance 10177
Fire Brigade (015) 307 5555 / 307 6666

Banking:
Most banks are open Mon - Fri, 09:00 - 15:30, and Sat, 08:30 - 11:00. Automated teller machines are found in all main shopping centres.

Foreign Exchange is widely available on a 24-hour basis. Travellers' cheques and foreign currencies are exchangeable at most hotels and banks. Our monetary unit is the South African Rand (R).

Health:
While most of the Northern Province is malaria-free, visitors travelling to the north-eastern areas (near the Zimbabwe and Mozambique borders) are advised to take precautionary measures. Most antimalarial drugs should be taken at least a week prior to entering these areas and continued for at least three weeks after leaving the area - consult four medical doctor or chemist well in advance. Preventing mosquito bites by staying indoors between dusk and dawn and wearing long sleeve clothing and trousers, is the most effective way to prevent malaria. If you show any malaria symptoms, very similar to flu, which may occur up to six months after leaving a malaria risk area, it is important that a medical doctor tests you and if necessary, medical treatment is applied immediately.

Fuel:
Leaded / Unleaded petrol and Diesel fuels are widely available, and petrol stations in large towns and on provincial road routes are usually open day and night. Most have ablution facilities available.

Transport:

Roads:
The N1 highway links Messina (main entrance from Zimbabwe to South Africa) in the north to Pretoria / Johannesburg (Gauteng Province) in the south via Pietersburg (Capital of the Northern Province). Most areas of the Northern Province are easily accessible via an efficient well-maintained road network, although the 4x4 enthusiast seeking challenging terrain will not be disappointed. The main road to Tzaneen is the R71 from Pietersburg (N1).

Car Hire:
Avis Tel: 0800 021 111 / (015) 288 0171
Budget Tel: 0800 016 622 / (015) 288 0169
Imperial Tel: 0800 031 000 / (015) 288 0097
Tempest Tel: 0800 031 666 / (015) 288 0219

Bus Services:
Bus services link Pietersburg to major centres in Gauteng and many destinations in the province (including Tzaneen). Luxury bus services run daily between Pietersburg and these centres.

North Link Tours Tel: (015) 291 1867
North Star City Bus Tel: 083 250 4921

Rail Services:
Passenger and goods trains pass through Pietersburg and many destinations in the province on a daily basis (including Tzaneen). Lines extend from Pietersburg to Zimbabwe in the north, Maputo in Mozambique and Pretoria / Johannesburg in the south.

Rail Information: (015) 299 6202/3

Air Services:
Pietersburg International Airport Tel: (015) 288 0166
Eastgate Airport (Hoedspruit) Tel: (015) 793 3681
Phalaborwa Airport Tel: (015) 781 5823
Kruger National Park Gateway Airport (Skukuza) Tel: (015) 781 5823
Tzaneen Airport Tel: (015) 304 3142

Weather:
Finding itself at South Africa's northernmost area and bisected by the Tropic of Capricorn, visitors to the Northern Province can expect mostly sunshine, long summer days and dry, pleasant winters. On their way, through the Northern Province to the Tzaneen area, visitors approach the eastern regions of the province. Climatic conditions here offers a markedly different climate, with the subtropical conditions of the escarpment providing weather more suited to dense forests (high summer rainfall) than the thorny bushveld above the escarpment.

Tzaneen summer months September - March have an average temperature of 280 C. Winter months, April - August have an average temperature of 150 C.

More information can be obtained from the South African Weather Bureau at Tel: (015) 288 0030 or (012) 319 3001.

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