South Africa
Discover South Africa
South Africa is a superb destination rich in culture, fauna, flora and history. Africa's southernmost country is a large country with widely varying landscapes, 12 official languages, and an equally diverse population and is often known as the "Rainbow Nation". South Africa is a paradise for anyone interested in natural history. A wide range of species (some potentially dangerous and endangered) may be encountered in parks, farms, private reserves and even on the roads.
What to Experience in South Africa
Taste of South Africa...
South African cuisine is just as diverse as its cultures, with influences from British, Dutch, German, Indian, Malay, Portuguese, Greek, Italian and of course the native African influences. You will find the usual array of international fast food outlets. McDonald's, KFC, Domino's Pizza and Wimpy are found throughout the country. Local franchises worth mentioning are Black Steer, Spur and Steers for the best burgers and Nando's peri-peri chicken. Chicken Licken is also a very popular choice for the locals, especially for their hot wings. Pizza delivery is available in most urban areas whereby food can be ordered online with places such as Domino's Pizza and Debonairs. If you want to keep to a budget and not bother with cooking, everywhere all supermarket chains have a deli, bakery and kitchen sections providing a wide range of ready to eat meals and sandwiches or you can choose yourself from the hot buffet or salad bar. These items are sold by weight at reasonable prices. Most restaurants and even pubs have been declared "smoke-free" areas. However, this is often ignored. In some restaurants you will find a dedicated smokers area where children are not allowed. Rule of thumb is to check for an ashtray on your table. You will, however, in all probability be greeted at the door of the establishment with a "smoking-or-nonsmoking". Check as smoking in non-designated areas is not permitted and you'll be met with some rude gestures. Municipal tap water is usually safe to drink.
Culture & Religion
Religion
Generally speaking, South Africans tend to be more religious than Westerners, and most South Africans attend church regularly. By far the dominant religion in South Africa is Christianity, though South African Christians belong to a wide range of different denominations, with no denomination forming a majority. It is common for South Africans to invite new acquaintances to their church, though no offence will be taken if you decline. Islam is practised by most of the Cape Malays and Hinduism by many of the Indians, while there is also a small community of Ashkenazi Jews, most of whom are descended from 19th and early 20th century immigrants from Lithuania. Generally speaking, freedom of religion is respected in South Africa, and you should not run into any problems regardless of what faith you profess.
A Rich Past
Explore the historical roots that shaped South Africa into what it is today.
The tip of Africa has been home to the Khoikhoi (collective name for Hottentot (derogatory)), Bushmen (San) and Bantu people for thousands of years. Khoisan or according to the contemporary Khoekhoegowab orthography Khoesān (pronounced: [kxʰoesaːn]), is an artificial catch-all name for the so-called "non-Bantu" indigenous peoples of Southern Africa, combining the Khoekhoen(formerly "Khoikhoi") and the Sān or Sākhoen (also, in Kitchen Dutch: Boesmans, or in English: Bushmen). Rock art believed to be of Khoisan tribes can still be found in many places throughout the South Africa. It is thought that Bantu tribes may have started to slowly expand into the northernmost areas of what is today South Africa more than 2,500 years ago the different cultural groups as we know them today had been established in the areas to the north, east, east central and south east of South Africa. The desert and semi-desert areas of the Western and Northern Cape provinces, as well as the western parts of the Eastern Cape province remained unsettled by the Bantu as the arid climate, limited seasonal rainfall, sparse vegetation, scarcity of natural resources and water could not sustain large migrations of people and herds of cattle. Nguni Cattle were the primary livestock reared by the Bantu and fulfilled numerous cultural and economic functions within the tribal society while growing numbers of Bantu populations settled within green fertile areas....
Location & Landscape
South Africa is located at the southernmost tip of Africa, with a long coastline that stretches more than 2,500 km (1,553 mi) and along two oceans (the South Atlantic and the Indian). It is a relatively dry country within the interior and the Kalahari Desert proof of this, particularly in the Northern Cape and north west Atlantic region. The two major river systems are the Limpopo, running easterly along the northern border and the Orange river, running roughly from the central regions southwestwards to the Atlantic Ocean. The Drakensberg Mountain range runs from the lower Eastern Cape to the KwaZulu-Natal and Eswatini with elevations exceeding 3000 metres (Mafadi is 3450m). The Highfelt and Platterland regions of Free State, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and Northwest, range between 1200 and 1800 metres altitude and is home to some of the best wildlife conservation reserves in the world.
Climate
The climate in South Africa ranges from desert and semi-desert in the north west of the country to sub-tropical on the eastern coastline. The rainy season for most of the country is in the summer, except in the Western Cape where the rains come in the winter. Rainfall in the Eastern Cape is distributed evenly throughout the year. Winter temperatures hover around zero, summers can be very hot, in excess of 35 °C (95 °F) in some places. The South African Weather Service provides up to date weather information, forecasts and radar imaging. Football, cricket, rugby union and track and field athletics are the most supported and participated national sports. South African swimming, cycling and tennis produce some world-class athletes from time to time. In 2010, South Africa hosted the first FIFA World Cup to be held on the African continent. South Africa was also host of the 1995 Rugby World Cup, the only edition of that tournament to be held in Africa.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsForeign nationals of the following countries/territories can enter South Africa visa-free: Other nations require a visa application to enter South Africa. The country has trialed an e-visa system for the following nationalities with 90-day entry and the obligation to enter through O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg: Albania, Algeria, Belarus, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Comoros, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Liberia, Lithuania, Mali, Mexico, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, China, Philippines, Republic of Guinea, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Slovakia, Uganda. Countries not eligible for e-visa must apply for a visa on paper at a South African embassy or consulate. If needed, you can extend your visa in South Africa. With an extension the total amount of time you are allowed to stay is 6 months....
Regions
Explore AreasSouth Africa is a paradise for anyone interested in natural history. A wide range of species (some potentially dangerous and endangered) may be encountered in parks, farms, private reserves and even o…...
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
South Africa has a well-established domestic air travel infrastructure with links between all major centres. There are multiple daily flights to all the major airports within the country. Contact any of the airlines for details. It is worth comparing low cost airlines like Mango with the SAA rates as they usually have online specials which can be cheaper than the "low cost" carriers. Driving can be a practical way of getting around in South Africa, for instance national parks are some of the country's foremost attractions but they are rarely served by public transport. Visitors hiring or buying a car is fairly common. Major roads are in general in good condition, though South Africa still has a high rate of road accidents. Traffic rules including speed limits are not always respected, and in the countryside animals (wild and domestic) next to or on the road are not an uncommon sight.
Where to Stay
Establishments in South Africa can have themselves graded by the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa on a 5-star basis. Many establishments make use of this service and you will see the star grading displayed on most advertising material. An inconsistent pricing system that sees many establishments offering a "per person" price instead of a "per room" rate, should be made aware of. Also, not everyone makes it very clear if breakfast is included or not and if not, how much extra will be. If you are budget sensitive, in the last few years, accommodation costs at many greedy establishments, in big or small towns alike, have been going up far out of sync with actual inflation, making it unwise to pre-book without doing a thorough search. In certain instances, a global brand or comparable hotel will cost much less in Europe or America than in SA. One of the excuses for this is the exchange rate, so shop around. Another anomaly is the inconsistency within the star rating.
Money & Budget
The currency is the rand, denoted by the symbol "R" (ISO code: ZAR). It is divided into 100 cents (c). Notes are in denominations of R200, R100, R50, R20 and R10. Higher value notes are slightly larger in physical size than small value notes. All notes have a metallic security strip and a watermark. Two series of banknotes are in circulation and are legal tender in South Africa, the "Big Five" series (current version issued in 2005) and the "Nelson Mandela" series (introduced in 2012). Coins are in denominations of R5, R2, R1, 50c, 20c, 10c and 5c. Production of 2c and 1c coins was suspended in 2002 although those still in circulation remain legal tender. All transactions are rounded down to the nearest lower 5c, so as not to require the use of 2c and 1c coins.
Language & Talk
South Africa has 12 official languages, namely Afrikaans, Southern Ndebele, Xhosa, Zulu, Swazi, Northern Sotho, Southern Sotho, Tswana, Tsonga, Venda, English and Sign Language. Afrikaans is the mother tongue of the majority of the white and Coloured population, a first language of 14% of the population, spoken by 30%. Referring to this language as 'African' is very incorrect as South African corresponds with the native African languages: Zulu, Xhosa, Pedi, etc. (and of course, there are thousands of languages in Africa, so no single language can be called 'African'). Afrikaans has roots in 17th-century Dutch dialects, so it can be understood by Dutch speakers and sometimes deciphered by German speakers.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
The main safety issues in South Africa are violent crime, including gun crime, and HIV. You should be aware of the risks, but you can still have a safe and pleasant trip as millions of other people have each year. Most crime is concentrated around certain specific townships or perpetrated by specialised criminal organizations connected to specific trades not much affecting travellers, as long as you keep away from such dealings. To avoid opportunistic attacks like robberies, avoid unsafe neighbourhoods and never walk around in deserted areas at night. Don't mix with low life characters or ventures into seedy joints. Most embassies and tourist organizations have lists of known areas to avoid. Don't ignore common safety advice, such as to have a separate purse for routine shopping, not to carry valuables around more than necessary and keeping them out of sight, and to stay vigilant. You should avoid standing out as a tourist or as somebody wealthy and generally keep a long profile.
Glimpses of South Africa
aerial view of city near mountain during daytime
Have a look at Worlds End
Cities have their own mystique. Dynamic, Chaotic, Alive.
giraffe during daytime
Penguins at Boulders Beach
Sunset in Serengeti
Sunset tree in Kenya Safari, Africa
Cape Town At Sunrise
A drone view of my past Sunday’s sunset on Clifton 4th Beach, Cape Town, South Africa.
The sun sets over Nature Valley in South Africa.
aerial view of city near mountain during daytime
Have a look at Worlds End
Cities have their own mystique. Dynamic, Chaotic, Alive.