Africa - South Africa - Country Information

Why not indulge yourself at some of the world's most exclusive private game reserves, enjoying superb hospitality and searching for the 'Big Five' in the company of an expert tracker? Or why not wonder at the incredible scenic beauty of the 'Garden Route' as you travel along the coastal route to Cape Town. South Africa is graced with some of the richest and most diverse scenery in the world, and keeps visitors returning again and again.

 

Key Facts
Full Country Name	The Republic of South Africa
Area	1.23 million sq km
Population	43.8 million
Capital	Pretoria (official); Bloemfontein (judicial) and Cape Town (legislative).
Time Difference	2 Hours Ahead of GMT
Visa	A Visa is not required
Currency	Rand
People	77% black, 10% white (60% of whites are of Afrikaaner descent, most of the rest are of British descent), 8% mixed race, 2.5% of Indian or Asian descent
Language	Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, English, Tswana
Dialling Code	00 27
Electricity	220/230V 50 Hz

Visas:

A Visa is not required

Health risks:

Diphtheria, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Malaria, Polio, TB, Tetanus, Typhoid

When to Go:

South Africa has a pleasant climate throughout the year; even its winter (our summer) is mild, with sunny, warm days. The southern part of South Africa, around Cape Town, has a Mediterranean type of climate with mild, though changeable, winters and a warm to hot sunny summer.  Most of the annual rainfall occurs during the winter months.  Further east, along the coast, similar temperate conditions operate although rainfall is spread more evenly through the year.