Home. South Africa Tourism Information

A country worldwide for its diversity in tourist attractions, South Africa is world-famous for the country with different nationalities of citizens, where after its a big five wildlife destination. Dramatic land-shapes colours the regions and provinces like Western Cape, Gauteng or Kwazulu-Natal, seasons to seasons bringing-up picturesque scenery's for those travelers seeking a wildlife or birding safaris in popular reserves like the greater Kruger National Park or Addo National Park in the malaria free Eastern Cape district. While visitors are exploring our country South Africa they are entertained by its cultural histories and local activities in most gateway cities like Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Port Elizabeth.

We Tailor-made Holidays to or in South Africa:             

Geography:
Located on the most southern point of the larger Africa with its coastal borders on the east coastline stretches along the Indian Ocean while its west coast borders are stretching along the Atlantic Ocean. The neighboring countries starts with Namibia in the  north-western side, Botswana is up north, Zimbabwe tourist will find north-eastern side while the on the eastern side you will find the coastal country Mozambique. Geographical regions consist of plateau's, mountains and the coastal surrounds. Mountain and hills at some travel spots rises high up from the coastline, forming a green plateau on top. On the west coast you will find white sandy beaches with a mostly dry inland. Where the eastern coast has some rocky beaches in between awesome sandy beaches while its higher escarpments are covered with rain-forests.Up on the inland from Knysna the plateau region is the dry  Central Karoo a semi-desert district with savanna grasslands. If we look at all South Africa`s large & smaller regions or provinces there are Western Cape, Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu Natal, Eastern Cape, Northern Province, Northern Cape, Free State and North West Province. Under the country's wings you will find Prince Edward and Marion island.

Accommodation                        Tours & Safaris                         Overlanding Tips      

Weather & Climate:
South Africa or SA is a year travel destination, you just have to visit the right region in its right season. Temperatures are mild with a lot of sunny weather. The rainy winter months in the southern parts are from May to September, lasting a few days. Summer time in the eastern parts are from November to March having short but fierce electric-storms. Higher up the east coast around Durban, tourist will find tropical weather with a lot of warm days. The northern part that's covering the Kruger National Park Safaris in the country has summer rainfalls from September to October, the best time to experience the big five animals.

Summary:
Area size: 1,219,080 km2 (470,689 square miles)
Capital: Pretoria
Currency: Rand
Official Language: English, Xhosa, Zulu, Afrikaans, Tswana, Ndebele, Pedi, Sotho, Swati, Tsonga & Venda.
Citizens & People: Nguni that includes, Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele & Swazi, while others are the Sotho-Tswana, Tsonga & Venda. White South Africans forefathers was Dutch, German, French & Huguenot. Tribes include the Khoisan who was called the bushmen. The country are also rich of Indian immigrants and coloured people who was born in the country.
International Time: GMT + 2
Telephone Country Code: +27 or 0027
Electricity Currency: 220/230 V 3-pin round plug

Required Clothing:
Easy clothes made out of cotton fabrics the best for sunny summer periods, don`t forget South Africa have all seasons in spread out regions, so find its necessary to bring warmer sweaters for the chilly evenings. In the winter months it can be freezing if you don`t buy a African blanket, so pack warmer clothing for that cold and stormy winter nights. Rain-gear is essential throughout the year.

Safety:
Indian Lady in the Durban Market with traditional clothes, SA is a country with an abundance of attractions, we are not called "the rainbow nation" for nothing. There are over 46-million S.Africans with a wide variety of cultures, languages and religious beliefs. In our country you will be as safe as any where else in the Western world, if not more. The country is filled with hospitable, friendly people and one cannot afford miss out on the opportunity of travelling to this awesome country. 

Money Matters:
One Rand is equal to 100 cents.
A modernised country so banks, forex bureaus are situated in shopping centers cities and towns where they accept all major foreign currencies ot travellers' cheques. International credit cards like Visa and MasterCard are a normality these days at all venues and businesses. If the business is small, there will always be a ATM close-by, just be careful with the worldwide problem with ATM card swop's and theft so take a friend with when you want to draw money and don`t accept any advise, help or even to help other. SA Reserve Bank notes import and export are limited to R5000, with unlimited import of foreign currency, subjected to declaration. Just remember that the export of foreign currency is limited to the amount you have declared on arrival date.

Accommodation and Food:
If you compare South Africa stay and cuisine, you will find that it has Western standards, the difference is that the exchange rate is in you favour, meaning that some nationalities can spend up to 13 times more then locals, for them its a paradise. A full range of accommodation can be found throughout the country ranging from 5 star quality through to bed and breakfasts or campsites.
Cuisine is on high standards, with franchised restaurants that internationally branded to local restaurateurs that are highly qualified. On the average menu you will find a variety of seafood, like the catch of the day specials with Kingklip to Kabeljou, other specialities are crayfish, prawns, calamari with red meat dishes like steaks (Game, Pork or Beef), with healthy vegetable dishes as a option. Tap water in the cities is drinkable, while smaller towns it can go down to standard where you have to buy bottled water that's available in shops.

Social Behaviour:
With all nationalities in the country, greeting by hand are most formal way. Dressing code depends on the weather and climate, so where ever you are naked on street walkers will be arrested, but further be cool or professional. Beach rules have been changed over the years and therefore sunbathing has much less restrictions, so your way as others do, but maybe a few eyes will be staring because they not use to it.
In restaurants, coffee shops & pubs tipping are normally 10% if service charge is not included in the bill, except if the table has 6 persons & more the percentage of 10 % will be added to the bill.

Useful Addresses:
There is various diplomatic representation across the world including:

UK, England, United Kingdom.
S.African High Commission.
S.A House, Trafalgar Square.
London WC2N 5DP.
Tel: +44 171 9304488.
Fax: +44 171 4517284.
E-mail: london@businesssouthafrica.com.

Canada:
High Commission of the Republic of SA.
15 Sussex Drive, Ottawa.
Ontario K1M 1M8.
Tel: +1 613 7440330.
Fax: +1 613 7411639.
E-mail: rsafrica@sympatico.ca.

USA, United States of America.
S.A High Commission.
3051 Massachusetts Avenue, NW.
Washington, DC 20008.
Tel: +1 202 2324400.
Fax: +1 202 2651607 or +1 202 2323402.
E-mail: safrica@southafrica.net.

Entry Requirements
Valid passport's (at least half year before departing date) & visa`s are required from some countries and nationalities, while many tourist requirements will be issued at point of entry. For Diseases and Health, International vaccination certificate for yellow fever from travellers arriving from infected areas.Please read more about Malaria precautions, because there's some part in the northern Kruger Reserve where visitors have to be careful, while the luxury Shamawri game reserve is malaria free in the Eastern Cape.

Attractions & Activities:
The country has about all the imaginable activities that one can be thinking of. Snow skiing is on the call of the day when great amounts of snow has fell on the Drakensberg Mountains. Belief it the country  has places and landmarks accommodated with splendor equipment rentals for activities and things to do. Here is a few possibilities like sailing, mountain climbing, cycling, diving, jet-skiing and many more. With all the rivers, canoeing adventures on the Orange & Breede river to Doring white water rafting are just a few to mention. Mountaineering is one of the most famous adventures in all districts, travelers will find hundreds adventurous hiking trails across the country complemented with quality places to stay, a few to mention are Tabel Mountain, Cederberg and Drakensberg mountains. Daily guided sightseeing tours all cities are famous things to for tourist, school or business groups, these excursions include highlights like the history of South Africa, adventure sports to short safaris. To view a few of our web-pages containing theses activities, please see Johannesburg, Nelspruit, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Knysna and Cape Town pages.

Cities & Towns:

• Cape Town
• Durban
• Johannesburg
• Pretoria
  
• Small Towns
  

National Parks & Game Reserves:
The country is becoming the safari extravaganza of the African mainland, with such a huge option of wildlife parks & reserves, with its mixture of city life and finest bush venues . Even the smallest & private reserves offer attractive game viewings close to gateway cities, that include daily things to do like hiking and scenic sun-downers in spectacular surroundings. All hospitality services created to let you feel at home, but wake-up calls make u realised your exactly in the wild, far away from busy streets and away from the demanding office. The following are only a tiny proportion of the total amount of parks.

• Kruger National Park near Johannesburg in Mpumalanga & Limpopo district.
• Pilanesberg National Park near Sun City in the North-West Province.
  
• Addo Elephant Park near Port Elizabeth in malaria free East Cape Province.
• Shamwari Game Reserve on the Garden Route.
  
• Augrabies Falls National Park in the Northern Cape.
• Kalahari Gemsbok Park in the Northern Cape Province.