Courtesy and habits in South Africa

Courtesy: general advice

South Africans are a welcoming and generally good natured people. Life is pretty laid back here. Which means that it's easy to get on with them.

To get by during your trip to South Africa you'll be fine as an English speaker. If you're travelling with a non-English speaker, it's wise for them to learn few words - whether it's a hand shake or slap on the shoulder, you'll want to reply when greeted with "how are you?".

Tipping in South Africa

Tipping is standard practice in South Africa. How much to tip... In bars and restaurants it's usually 10%.

Carparks (whether in a town or at a shopping mall), alongside service stations often have security guards and attendants. They will often ask you if you'd like them to keep an eye on your car during your absence. Obviously it's wise to accept. Give them 2R or more as a tip, depending on how long you leave your car.

If you stop at a service station, an attendant will fill up the petrol, check the oil and tyre pressure before giving the windscreen a clean. This is common practice and a tip of 2R or more is usual.

Porters in airports are tipped around 5R per bag. Same thing goes if you're taking a bus.

All these services are tipped, as poverty in the country is widespread; every little helps.