South Africa has become a major holiday destination for international visitors thanks to attractions that include spectacularly diverse scenic beauty; safari and adventure options galore; fascinating historical sites and nearly 2,000 miles of gorgeous beaches. In addition, South Africa is proud of the richness of its multi-ethnic heritage, with its predominantly African character complemented by European and Asian influences. Recently African cultural villages have been opened throughout the country to provide visitors with an insight into traditional ways of life.
South Africa Travel Highlights
With its excellent road infrastructure and comprehensive network of regional and local air services, South Africa lends itself to touring holidays.
With so much to see, it's almost impossible to cover all the sights in one holiday, hence the country's appeal to repeat visitors as well as first-timers.
Many visitors start in Cape Town in Western Cape Province. With the dramatic backdrop of Table Mountain, this is surely one of the most beautiful cities in the world. A popular rendezvous is the Victoria and Alfred waterfront, with its lively collection of bars, restaurants and curio shops.
Within easy striking distance of the city are the winelands, where tourists can sample the vintages and admire the delightful Cape Dutch architecture of the estate buildings.
Inland, the semi-desert of Namaqualand is transformed into a vast carpet of multi-hued flowers after the rains in June/July while ostrich farms are to be found in the arid Karoo region.
Quaint fishing villages dot the western Atlantic coastline. South Africa's Coast of Whales stretches from St Helena Bay on the West Coast to Gansbaai on the east, roughly where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet. Courting, mating and calving whales can be seen, mostly between June and November - especially in the waters of Hermanus.
Further along the Indian Ocean coast, the picturesque Garden Route, which runs from Heidelberg to the Storms River and includes the stunning Plettenberg Bay and the lush Tsitsikamma Forest, is a particular favourite for visitors.
The wooded Amatola Mountains of the Eastern Cape are ideal for hikers and climbers while the beaches along this stretch of coast, particularly Jeffreys Bay, offer excellent surfing. Inland, two game reserves are habitats for unique sub-species, the Addo Elephant and the Mountain Zebra National Parks.
In Port Elizabeth, known as "The Friendly City", you will find the terraced houses of the first British settlement, dating back to 1820. North of East London, South Africa's only river port and a major recreational centre, is the rugged coastline of bays, cliffs and beaches known as the Wild Coast.
The province known as KwaZulu-Natal is home to the proud Zulu nation. Along a coastline dotted with resorts, Durban, with its "golden mile" of hotels, restaurants and promenades, has been dubbed South Africa's holiday playground and has many attractions, such as the Indian Market.
To the north, Hluhluwe-Umfolozi National Park, founded more than 100 years ago, was the first wildlife reserve to be set up in Africa and is credited with saving the rhino from extinction.
A touring option is to follow the Battlefield Route, visiting the sites of Zulu-Boer, Anglo-Zulu and Anglo-Boer military actions. Striking scenery is to be seen in the southern part of the Drakensberg Mountains, a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts such as hikers and horse riders. This mountain range runs like a jagged spine down South Africa.
To the north, in Mpumalanga province, the peaks are equally spectacular with viewing points such as the aptly-named God's Window and Blyde River Canyon, the world's third largest canyon. Yesteryear is evoked in the early gold rush towns like Pilgrims Rest.
The highveld drops dramatically to the lowveld, location of the world-famous Kruger National Park, home to a vast array of animals and birds, with 147 mammal species alone. Here, as in many of South Africa's private and public parks, there's the chance to see the "Big Five" - elephant, rhino, lion, leopard and buffalo. Part of the Park is situated in Northern Province, which is home of Venda people, with their legends and secret, sacred places. The Soutpansberg range, one of the loveliest regions of the country, can be explored by following forest trails.
The desert reserve of the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park in Northern Cape Province is surprisingly rich in wildlife, including springbok, gemsbok and the black-Kalahari lion, with its distinctive black mane.
The Augrabies Falls National Park, where the river plunges 200 ft. into a narrow ravine, is another attraction. At Kimberley, the only city in this vast province, the "Big Hole" bears testament to the diamond rush of the late 19th century.
Lovers of "the Great Outdoors" will revel in the wide-open spaces of the Free State.The Golden Gate National Park, with its spectacular sandstone formations, has a network of nature trails.
North-West Province is best known, internationally, for Sun City, a fabulous sports and entertainment resort. Next to Sun City is the Pilanesburg National Park, a large reserve with a rich variety of wildlife. The province is also home to the Madikwe Game Reserve, famous for Operation Phoenix, which involved re-location to the park of 10,000 animals or 27 different species.
Those interested in the Anglo-Boer War, may wish to visit Mafeking, where Baden Powell and his forces withstood a 217 day siege. Gauteng Province is the commercial and administrative heart of South Africa. Johannesburg, with its museums, art galleries, theatres and curio markets, is a city throbbing with action. Nearby is Gold Reef City, a re-creation of a century-old gold prospectors' town with its own, authentic mine
In Pretoria, about 30 miles north of Johannesburg, there is a wealth of historic buildings to see like the grand Union Buildings, scene of the inauguration of Nelson Mandela as South Africa's first democratically elected President.
South Africa money
The unit of currency is the South African Rand, divided into 100 Cents. Notes are issued in Rand denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200. International Credit Cards are widely accepted, as are Travellers Cheques in South African Rands, Pounds Sterling or United States Dollars. Most petrol stations in South Africa however do not accept Credit Cards as a means of payment.
South Africa Activities & Pursuits
South Africa is a great place for the activity enthusiast with a wide range of options.
There are more than 300 hiking trails to be explored throughout the country, while mountain ranges such as the Cedarberg and the Drakensberg offer great challenges for climbers. Alternatively the scenery can be explored on horse riding, camel or even ox-wagon safaris.
South Africa's coastal waters support some of the richest fish populations in the world so the scuba diving, snorkelling and deep sea fishing is superb.
White-water rafting is possible on several rivers, including the Doring in the Cape and the Orange River. Other watersports include yachting, kayaking, canoeing while those looking for an adrenaline rush might like to try bungee jumping, hang-gliding skydiving or micro-lighting.
Getting to South Africa
South Africa can be reached from many other worldwide destinations including Australia, Mauritius, Singapore and U.S.A.and there is an extensive network of flights from most countries in Africa. South Africa can be reached by ship on the scheduled services of RMS St Helena and many cruise ships include South Africa on part of their itineraries.South African Airways, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic operate high frequency services to both Johannesburg and Cape Town with connecting flights to Durban and most provincial airports. Most major European Airlines (e.g. Air France, Iberia, KLM, Lufthansa and Sabena) serve Johannesburg with additional services to Cape Town. In addition,
South Africa Accommodation
There is a huge range, from luxury, mid-range and budget hotels, to game lodges, tented camps, country houses, farm stays and self-catering units.
South Africa Visa requirements
British tourists visa requirements:
Visas are not required by Citizens of the United Kingdom for entry into South Africa either for tourist or business purposes.For tourist travel, passports must be valid for 6 months after the planned date of departure from South Africa but for Business Travel, the passports must be valid for 12 months beyond the intended date of departure from South Africa.
South Africa Health
Health Requirements:
A Yellow Fever certificate is required if arriving from Zambia or within 6 days from an infected area or if your journey entails passing through the Yellow fever belt of Africa or South America by any means other than a scheduled air service. Immunisation is recommended against hepatitis A, polio, tetanus and typhoid. Malaria exists throughout the year in the low altitude areas of the Northern Province, Mpumalanga and North Eastern KwaZulu-Natal as far south as the Tugela River. There is also a risk of rabies. It is generally safe to drink tap water throughout South Africa.
South Africa Climate
Seasons are the reverse of those in the Northern Hemisphere, although in general the country enjoys a sunny climate year round. Cape Town has a Mediterranean-type climate, with mild, rainy winters and warm to hot summers. The Kwa-Zulu-Natal coast enjoys a sub-tropical climate, with plenty of sunshine year round and high temperatures during the summer.
Getting around South Africa
There is a comprehensive network of domestic flights and air- conditioned coach services. Alternatively you can add an extra dimension to your holiday by travelling on the luxury train services such as those of the Blue Train or Rovos Rail which run between key tourist destinations. In cities and towns taxis are plentiful but ensure you travel with a licensed operator or book through the hotel. Check the metre is running as the journey starts.
Best time to visit South Africa
November to April for touring and July to October for game viewing. However, the climate is pleasant all year round.
With its excellent road infrastructure and comprehensive network of regional and local air services, South Africa lends itself to touring holidays.
With so much to see, it's almost impossible to cover all the sights in one holiday, hence the country's appeal to repeat visitors as well as first-timers.
Many visitors start in Cape Town in Western Cape Province. With the dramatic backdrop of Table Mountain, this is surely one of the most beautiful cities in the world. A popular rendezvous is the Victoria and Alfred waterfront, with its lively collection of bars, restaurants and curio shops.
Within easy striking distance of the city are the winelands, where tourists can sample the vintages and admire the delightful Cape Dutch architecture of the estate buildings.
Inland, the semi-desert of Namaqualand is transformed into a vast carpet of multi-hued flowers after the rains in June/July while ostrich farms are to be found in the arid Karoo region.
Quaint fishing villages dot the western Atlantic coastline. South Africa's Coast of Whales stretches from St Helena Bay on the West Coast to Gansbaai on the east, roughly where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet. Courting, mating and calving whales can be seen, mostly between June and November - especially in the waters of Hermanus.
Further along the Indian Ocean coast, the picturesque Garden Route, which runs from Heidelberg to the Storms River and includes the stunning Plettenberg Bay and the lush Tsitsikamma Forest, is a particular favourite for visitors.
The wooded Amatola Mountains of the Eastern Cape are ideal for hikers and climbers while the beaches along this stretch of coast, particularly Jeffreys Bay, offer excellent surfing. Inland, two game reserves are habitats for unique sub-species, the Addo Elephant and the Mountain Zebra National Parks.
In Port Elizabeth, known as "The Friendly City", you will find the terraced houses of the first British settlement, dating back to 1820. North of East London, South Africa's only river port and a major recreational centre, is the rugged coastline of bays, cliffs and beaches known as the Wild Coast.
The province known as KwaZulu-Natal is home to the proud Zulu nation. Along a coastline dotted with resorts, Durban, with its "golden mile" of hotels, restaurants and promenades, has been dubbed South Africa's holiday playground and has many attractions, such as the Indian Market.
To the north, Hluhluwe-Umfolozi National Park, founded more than 100 years ago, was the first wildlife reserve to be set up in Africa and is credited with saving the rhino from extinction.
A touring option is to follow the Battlefield Route, visiting the sites of Zulu-Boer, Anglo-Zulu and Anglo-Boer military actions. Striking scenery is to be seen in the southern part of the Drakensberg Mountains, a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts such as hikers and horse riders. This mountain range runs like a jagged spine down South Africa.
To the north, in Mpumalanga province, the peaks are equally spectacular with viewing points such as the aptly-named God's Window and Blyde River Canyon, the world's third largest canyon. Yesteryear is evoked in the early gold rush towns like Pilgrims Rest.
The highveld drops dramatically to the lowveld, location of the world-famous Kruger National Park, home to a vast array of animals and birds, with 147 mammal species alone. Here, as in many of South Africa's private and public parks, there's the chance to see the "Big Five" - elephant, rhino, lion, leopard and buffalo. Part of the Park is situated in Northern Province, which is home of Venda people, with their legends and secret, sacred places. The Soutpansberg range, one of the loveliest regions of the country, can be explored by following forest trails.
The desert reserve of the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park in Northern Cape Province is surprisingly rich in wildlife, including springbok, gemsbok and the black-Kalahari lion, with its distinctive black mane.
The Augrabies Falls National Park, where the river plunges 200 ft. into a narrow ravine, is another attraction. At Kimberley, the only city in this vast province, the "Big Hole" bears testament to the diamond rush of the late 19th century.
Lovers of "the Great Outdoors" will revel in the wide-open spaces of the Free State.The Golden Gate National Park, with its spectacular sandstone formations, has a network of nature trails.
North-West Province is best known, internationally, for Sun City, a fabulous sports and entertainment resort. Next to Sun City is the Pilanesburg National Park, a large reserve with a rich variety of wildlife. The province is also home to the Madikwe Game Reserve, famous for Operation Phoenix, which involved re-location to the park of 10,000 animals or 27 different species.
Those interested in the Anglo-Boer War, may wish to visit Mafeking, where Baden Powell and his forces withstood a 217 day siege. Gauteng Province is the commercial and administrative heart of South Africa. Johannesburg, with its museums, art galleries, theatres and curio markets, is a city throbbing with action. Nearby is Gold Reef City, a re-creation of a century-old gold prospectors' town with its own, authentic mine
In Pretoria, about 30 miles north of Johannesburg, there is a wealth of historic buildings to see like the grand Union Buildings, scene of the inauguration of Nelson Mandela as South Africa's first democratically elected President.
South Africa money
The unit of currency is the South African Rand, divided into 100 Cents. Notes are issued in Rand denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200. International Credit Cards are widely accepted, as are Travellers Cheques in South African Rands, Pounds Sterling or United States Dollars. Most petrol stations in South Africa however do not accept Credit Cards as a means of payment.
South Africa Activities & Pursuits
South Africa is a great place for the activity enthusiast with a wide range of options.
There are more than 300 hiking trails to be explored throughout the country, while mountain ranges such as the Cedarberg and the Drakensberg offer great challenges for climbers. Alternatively the scenery can be explored on horse riding, camel or even ox-wagon safaris.
South Africa's coastal waters support some of the richest fish populations in the world so the scuba diving, snorkelling and deep sea fishing is superb.
White-water rafting is possible on several rivers, including the Doring in the Cape and the Orange River. Other watersports include yachting, kayaking, canoeing while those looking for an adrenaline rush might like to try bungee jumping, hang-gliding skydiving or micro-lighting.
Getting to South Africa
South Africa can be reached from many other worldwide destinations including Australia, Mauritius, Singapore and U.S.A.and there is an extensive network of flights from most countries in Africa. South Africa can be reached by ship on the scheduled services of RMS St Helena and many cruise ships include South Africa on part of their itineraries.South African Airways, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic operate high frequency services to both Johannesburg and Cape Town with connecting flights to Durban and most provincial airports. Most major European Airlines (e.g. Air France, Iberia, KLM, Lufthansa and Sabena) serve Johannesburg with additional services to Cape Town. In addition,
South Africa Accommodation
There is a huge range, from luxury, mid-range and budget hotels, to game lodges, tented camps, country houses, farm stays and self-catering units.
South Africa Visa requirements
British tourists visa requirements:
Visas are not required by Citizens of the United Kingdom for entry into South Africa either for tourist or business purposes.For tourist travel, passports must be valid for 6 months after the planned date of departure from South Africa but for Business Travel, the passports must be valid for 12 months beyond the intended date of departure from South Africa.
South Africa Health
Health Requirements:
A Yellow Fever certificate is required if arriving from Zambia or within 6 days from an infected area or if your journey entails passing through the Yellow fever belt of Africa or South America by any means other than a scheduled air service. Immunisation is recommended against hepatitis A, polio, tetanus and typhoid. Malaria exists throughout the year in the low altitude areas of the Northern Province, Mpumalanga and North Eastern KwaZulu-Natal as far south as the Tugela River. There is also a risk of rabies. It is generally safe to drink tap water throughout South Africa.
South Africa Climate
Seasons are the reverse of those in the Northern Hemisphere, although in general the country enjoys a sunny climate year round. Cape Town has a Mediterranean-type climate, with mild, rainy winters and warm to hot summers. The Kwa-Zulu-Natal coast enjoys a sub-tropical climate, with plenty of sunshine year round and high temperatures during the summer.
Getting around South Africa
There is a comprehensive network of domestic flights and air- conditioned coach services. Alternatively you can add an extra dimension to your holiday by travelling on the luxury train services such as those of the Blue Train or Rovos Rail which run between key tourist destinations. In cities and towns taxis are plentiful but ensure you travel with a licensed operator or book through the hotel. Check the metre is running as the journey starts.
Best time to visit South Africa
November to April for touring and July to October for game viewing. However, the climate is pleasant all year round.
