South Africa

South Africa is a treasure chest of unforgettable scenery, from lofty mountains to sun baked deserts and dramatic coastlines washed by the Atlantic and Indian oceans. Its game viewing equals the best in Africa, and where else can you find both penguins and elephants?

Cape Town
Cape Town is the third most populous city in South Africa, forming part of the metropolitan municipality of the City of Cape Town. Cape Town is famous for its harbour as well as its natural setting in the Cape floral kingdom, including such well known landmarks as Table Mountain and Cape Point. Often regarded as one of the world's most beautiful cities because of its geography, Cape Town is the most popular South African destination for tourism.

Johannesburg
A city of astonishing contrasts, a huge metropolis where opulent wealth and desperate poverty live side by side, Johannesburg is the intriguing, dynamic heart of this turbulent country. If you want to see the real South Africa and try to understand it Jo'burg has to be on your itinerary.

The Shipwreck Coast
This stretch of Eastern Cape coast, a graveyard for numerous ships, is largely unspoilt. There are a couple of resort towns and the inevitable casino, but it's easy to get away from it all. The Shipwreck Hiking Trail extends for 64km (38mi), but there are several entry and exit points for hikers. This is one of the few walking areas in South Africa where you can set your own pace, camp more or less where you choose and light fires (providing they are on sand and well away from vegetation). Those who make the effort are amply rewarded.

Activities and Tours

Kruger National Park
About the size of Israel, the Kruger Park is the greatest of South Africa's many national parks which attract a great number of visitors intent on drinking in the wilderness. On guided walks, drives or self drive, visitors have the best chance of spotting the Big Five (elephant, lion, leopard, rhino and buffalo) in this park.

Addo Elephant National Park
Deep within the shadows of the dense valley bushveld of the Sundays River region of the Eastern Cape lies the Addo Elephant National Park. Here, the evenings are punctuated by the strident howl of the black backed jackal, and the francolin's call heralds each new dawn. Safe from relentless persecution in the past, the grey leviathans of the bush now roam in peace.

Blyde River Canyon National Reserve
The Blyde River Canyon Reserve offers visitors a remarkable experience that they will still remember long after leaving the lowveld. This 29 000 hectare reserve is set against the Greater Drakensberg escarpment, stretching from the high mistlands down to the hotter and drier lowveld at the Blyde River Dam.

Cango Caves
29km from Oudtshoorn, at the head of the picturesque Cango Valley, lies the spectacular underground wonder of the Klein Karoo the Cango Caves. Situated in a limestone ridge parallel to the well known Swartberg Mountains, you will find the finest dripstone caverns, with their vast halls and towering formations.

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Where the red dunes and scrub fade into infinity and herds of gemsbok, springbok, eland and blue wildebeest follow the seasons, where imposing camel thorn trees provide shade for huge black mane lions and vantage points for leopard and many raptors... this is the Kgalagadi Transfrontier National Park.

Travel Tip and useful information

Climate
Known to some as sunny South Africa, the country has a warm to hot climate, making it one of the best year round destinations in the world. Most provinces enjoy a summer rainfall with occasional afternoon thunderstorms, which are spectacular to see. Snow sometimes occurs, especially on the mountain peaks. Some areas have such mild winters, that visitors will never guess it’s winter at all.

Time Zone
China is 2 hours ahead of GMT (+2 GMT)

Population
Diverse people and cultures combine to make the Rainbow Nation colourful. Population groups include the majority Nguni (incl. Zulu, Xhosa, Swazi); Sotho Tswana; Tsonga; Venda; Afrikaners; English; Coloureds; Indians; Khoi and San; and immigrants from Africa, Europe and Asia

Transport
Many first time visitors to our country are amazed at the sophisticated infrastructure of the country’s major transport networks. Getting around is relatively easy whether it is by:
• Air
• Road
• Rail

Currency and credit cards
The local currency is the South African Rand which exchanges favourably with the major international currencies. Most international traveller's cheques are accepted, however, it is advised that you bring them in a hard currency, such as US dollars or British Pounds. Most major international credit cards such as American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted.

Dress Code
In South Africa the dress code is generally casual (denims, t shirts, skirts etc.) when you are not working as the weather is mostly hot.
Dressing too revealing in any situation though is generally frowned upon as the majority of South Africans are pretty conservative.

Safety and security
Most parts of the country can be safely visited by tourists, provided they take basic common sense precautions e.g. not walking alone in deserted areas at night, not flashing photographic equipment or jewellery and, in traffic, maintaining a safe following distance. Most major cities run organized crime prevention programmes and Basic Safety Tip guidelines are available at hotels and tourism information offices.