SOUTH AFRICA

South Africa is a big kaleidoscope that unfurls itself scene by scene – bustling cities juxtaposed against towering mountains, different cultures and a long standing heritage, vast game reserves teeming with wildlife, the abundant flora and fauna and miles and miles of undulating grasslands. You name it and South Africa’s got it!

South Africans are also welcoming visitors like never before, and tourist infrastructure has geared up to make the country’s immense natural beauty accessible to outsiders. From spectacular sunsets over the Cape to endless national parks and reserves, from thousands of species of exotic birds and beasts and marine life to mist-covered mountains and gentle rolling velds, South Africa has it all.

So go on, make the effort and see what makes South Africa beautiful!

Capital:  Pretoria, Cape Town, Bloemfontein

Best time to visit:

South Africa has the climatic and topographical diversity of a continent rolled into one country, so when you should go depends on what you plan as your major holiday activity.

 In southernmost tip of the Western Cape Cape Town, temperate Mediterranean climate ensures that one can even visit in the summer, between October and April.

June and July, when the humidity is low, are ideal months to visit Durban and the coast.

The best time for game viewing is during the drier period from June to September, when the vegetation is sparse and big game frequents waterholes.

If its the flowers on the Garden Route you would like to see, then Spring time in August-September is when they burst into bloom – the flowers are a riot of color and a very pretty sight indeed!

Minimum days required:

Places of Interest:

Cape Town – Table Mountain ,Robben Island, Cape of Good Hope, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Two Oceans Aquarium, Kirstenbosch

Durban– uShaka Marine World, Moses Mahbida Stadium, Durban Botanical Gardens

Johannesburg – Gold Reef City, Johannesburg Zoo, Montecasino, Lion Park, Johannesburg Botanical Garden

Sun City -Pilanesburg Game Reserve, The Valley of Waves, Kwena Crocodile Farm

Climate:

South Africa is in the bottom half of the world, which means that one shivers in June and sizzles in December! It is generally dry and sunny but due to the size and topography of the country, there is a huge variation in climate in different parts of the country.

Cape Town and the southernmost part of Western Cape enjoy Mediterranean-type climate – temperate but unpredictable winters with the bulk of the rainfall, and a warm to hot summer. In the interior known as the Highveld, the sun shines throughout the year and winters are bright and dry, with some chill during the night.

Durban and the KwaZulu-Natal coast have typical sub-tropical climate, again with plenty of sunshine. Summers are hot and humid at sea level, and prone to dramatic thundershowers.

Currency:  Rand

Things to carry:

Photography enthusiasts claim that few continents in the world rival Africa for the amazing quality of light and the range of wildlife and cultural photo opportunities – South Africa is no exception; so don’t forget your camera or camcorder.

 Insect repellent to ward off mosquitoes and other bugs is invaluable. Binoculars and a torch are other basic equipment for safaris and wildlife tours.

Any personal medicines should be included in your luggage, as well as sunscreen products and anti-malaria pills.

How to get there:

Air:

South Africa’s main airport, the Johannesburg International Airport, is 30 km from Johannesburg and 60 km from Pretoria.

It is reasonably well connected to many parts of the world.

Airport buses to the SAA terminal run every 30 minutes and there are also services to and from Pretoria. Several hotels provide courtesy buses.

Otherwise, taxis are a ready and relatively inexpensive option. There are also international airports at Cape Town (about 20 km from the city) and Durban (16 km).