General Info
Yellowoods - the venue
Yellowoods is on a small farm on the Little Brak river. There are two ways to get there from Little Brak amd one of them is best done in a 4-wheel drive. We will be arranging transport from little Brak to Yellowoods on the day of the wedding.
Currency/Costs
The currency in SA is Rands. You get about R10 to the dollar and about R15 to the pound. I think the best way to get SA money is to draw at the ATM, there is one in Little Brak. Make sure to let your bank know that you are travelling to South Africa before you leave.
VAT tax (Sales tax) is 14% and can be refunded if you are taking the goods back out of the country. You do need a valid VAT Invoice to claim the refund. To get one, identify yourself as a tourist and ask for one when purchasing goods. There are VAT refund offices at Johannesburg and Cape Town airports.
A meal in SA can range from R40 to R300, generally much cheaper than USA/UK (and the quality of food is really good). Drinks also cheaper. Tip 0-15% based on service.
Outings seem to range from R200 to R500. The beach at Little Brak is free... so is the sun.
Food
The quality of the food in South Africa will seem very much the same as what you are used to... but with some variances. Highlights from the Little Brak area include :
- Karoo lamb
- Fresh Fish - there is a fishery in Mossel Bay and the Little Brak river has excellent fishing.
- Ostrich meat
- Fresh fruits... there is a large guava farm in Little Brak.
- Oysters and mussels that come from the rocks at Little Brak.
- My mothers rusks and green fig preserve
We will be having a number of braai's at the Nest during the wedding week. There is a grocery store in Little Brak, but we often do trips to the Langeberg mall to get our produce. It is a nice outdoor mall with a choice of grocery stores, places to hang out at, and a bakery with some of the best sour-dough I have tasted.
I might be biased, but I think the Little Brak wild oysters are the best I have tasted anywhere. There is a small tavern run by the Munro family (they own the only only commercial license to take out oysters in the area). Cape Oysters
Health
Your most serious health threat is sunburn... you will get horribly sunburnt at Little Brak if you do not take precautions... wear a hat, put on sunscreen, take an afternoon nap every day... and you should survive.
There are no special health considerations that you need to take for a trip to the Western Cape in South Africa. The quality of the food and water is excellent at Little Brak and the health system is good. There is a pharmacy in Little Brak and an excellent hospital in Mossel Bay with a really great view, ala carte food and coffee shop... Life Bay View Private Hospital
If you are travelling to rural areas in the north or out of South Africa, then you might consider taking precautions like getting immunized against tetanus and thyphod. There is no malaria in the Western Cape, but the Kruger National park up north has malaria in summer.
http://www.ecotravel.co.za/Health/Travel_Immunisations_Vaccines.htm