overview
The Federal Republic of Germany
Bundesrepublik Deutschland
country information
Flag
capital
Berlin
DRIVING SIDE: Right
INTERNET CODE: .de
TIME ZONE: UTC +1
COUNTRY CODE: +49
Borders on North Sea (1515km)
& Baltic Sea (2009 km)
Neighbours
Denmark
The Netherlands
Belgium
Luxembourg
France
Switzerland
Austria
Czech Republic
Poland
population
83 million
religion
Protestant (28%)
Catholic / Orthodox (31%)
Islam (5%)
Non-Religious or Other (36%)
president & parliament
Current Chancellor: Angela Merkel
Political Parties: The Federal Republic of Germany has a plural multi-party system
The largest by members & parliament seats: Christian Democratic Union (CDU) with its sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU) and Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD)
minority & majority groups
Refer to Germany – Detailed Profile
LANGUAGE
German / English / French
Hello: Hallo / Guten Tag
Yes: Ja
No: Nein
Thank you: Danke
C U R R E N C Y &
E X C H A N G E R AT E
Euro (€)
1 EUR = 1.10 USD
1 EUR = 16.06 ZAR
ATM’s available
Visa/Mastercard
Subject to change
VACCINATIONS
No compulsory vaccinations
Recommended: Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Rabies, Meningitis, Polio, Measles, Mumps & Rubella (MMR), Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria & Pertussis), Chickenpox, Shingles, Pneumonia & Influenza
See: https://www.passporthealthusa.com/destination-advice/germany/?cn-reloaded=1
and
https://www.expatica.com/de/healthcare/children-healthcare/vaccinations-in-germany-159986/
ELECTRICITY
Voltage Requirements:
230 V
Standard Frequency:
50 Hz
Power plugs & sockets are of type C & type F
TEMPERATURE
Winter: Min. -1°C – Max. 8 °C
Summer: Min. 11 °C – Max. 22°C
In many parts of Germany, the climate is moderately continental with cold winters and average daily temperatures around 0 °C or above & warm summers, with maximum temperatures around 22/24 °C.
DIPLOMATIC TIES / AIRPORTS / CARRIERS / NGO’S
EMBASSY / CONSULAR PRESENCE
The Consulate of South Africa in Munich
South African Consulate General in Munich, Germany
Address:
Sendlinger-Tor-Platz 5
Munich
80336
Germany
Office Hours: Mon-Fri: 09.00-12.00
Head of Mission: Thulisile Princess Joy Magubane – Consul General
Refer to: http://www.dirco.gov.za/munich/
MAIN AIRPORT(S)
Frankfurt Airport
General inquiry: +49 (0) 180 – 6 372 4636 / [email protected]
Franz Josef Strauss Airport (Munich)
General inquiry: +49 89 975 00 / [email protected]
Düsseldorf Airport
General inquiry: +49 (0) 211 421-0 / [email protected]
For other airports, see: https://www.howtogermany.com/pages/travel.html#munich-airport
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Three months beyond planned date of departure from the Schengen area
See: https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/south-africa/
and
DOMESTIC FLIGHTS & CARRIERS
Lufthansa (www.lufthansa.com) has the densest route network
Eurowings is another main airline offering domestic flights (www.eurowings.com): destination cities are Berlin-Tegel, Cologne-Bonn, Dortmund, Dresden, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Hanover, Karlsruhe-Baden-Baden, Leipzig-Halle, Nuremberg, Sylt, Stuttgart, Usedom
See: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/germany/transport/getting-around/flights
NGO’S OPERATING IN COUNTRY & CONTACT DETAILS
Pro Asyl (based in Frankfurt) https://www.proasyl.de/en/contact/
PRO ASYL is an independent voice raised for human rights and refugee protection in Germany and Europe. Its work is financed solely by membership fees, donations and grants from its foundation / from foundations.
Advisory E-mail & Hotline: +49 (0) 69 – 24 2314 20 / [email protected]
Address: Pro Asyl – Bundesweite Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Flüchtlinge e.V. und Förderverein Pro Asyl e.V.
Postfach 160624
60069
Frankfurt am Main
Office-hours: Mo – Fr; 10 am – 12 pm & 2 pm – 4 pm
Kindernothilfe (based in Düsseldorf) https://www.kindernothilfe.org/About+us/Contact+us.html
Kindernothilfe (German for “Supporting children in need”) was founded in Germany in 1959 as a Christian organisation to support vulnerable and marginalized children and youth to develop their full potential.
Address: Kindernothilfe e. V.
Duesseldorfer Landstr. 180
47249
Duisburg
Phone: +49 203 7789-0
E-mail: [email protected]
Herberge für Menschen auf der Flucht “Hostel for Refugees”
For more info, visit their website:
Climates to Travel. Germany. Available from: https://www.climatestotravel.com/climate/germany
International Electrotechnical Commission. World Plugs by Location. Available from: https://www.iec.ch/worldplugs/list_bylocation.htm
Last Updated 18 May 2020