South Africa

South Africa is made of unforgettable scenery, from lofty mountains to sun-baked deserts and dramatic coastlines washed by the Atlantic and Indian oceans. Game viewing in the many parks and reserves is both spectacular and surprising - you'll find both penguins and elephants.

Faces Facts 

Climate: South Africa's climate is generally sunny and pleasant, but there is considerable regional variation: the Northwest is very arid, the south is temperate, and the north-east has a more typically tropical climate. Winters (May to August) are generally mild, particularly in the Western Cape; most of the rest of the country receives only a brief cold spell, when snow falls on the mountain ranges and occasionally in lower-lying areas. The rainiest months in Cape Town are May to August; Johannesburg receives most of its annual rainfall in the summer, between November and March.

Best time to dive: Year round. Sardine run is between June and July.

What you can see: Several cage-diving operations in Gansbaai and Mosselbaai, Western Cape, offer shark enthusiasts close-up encounters with great whites. Near Gansbaai, Dyer Island, with its penguins, seals and large game fish, is the sharks' natural hunting ground. Bull sharks, hammerhead sharks, tiger sharks, ragged tooth sharks, blacktip sharks, dusky sharks and guitar sharks. The world famous sardine run offers up humpback whales, brides whales, southern right whales, common dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, bronze whalers and more!

Visibility: 3 to 20 meters water temperature Summer (October to March) 24°C to 26°C. Winter (May to July) 20°C to 24°C

Language Spoken: The official languages are Afrikaans, English, isiNdebele, isiXhosa, isiZulu, Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, Siswati, Tshivenda and Xitsonga.

ATM's and Banks: Money can be changed at banks, bureaux de change and some hotels. Proof of identity may be requested; therefore, it is advisable to carry a passport. Visitors are restricted to bringing in and taking out a maximum of R5,000 in cash. Master Card and Visa are preferred. American Express and Diners Club are also widely accepted. ATM's are available all over the towns and cities including shopping malls and petrol stations, and accept all international debit and credit cards. Almost all hotels, shops and restaurants, and even national parks and game reserves, accept credit cards. Credit and debit cards are not always accepted at petrol stations, however, especially outside the big cities. Banking hours Monday to Friday 0900 – 1520. Saturday 0830 – 1100.

Time Zone: GMT + 2

Voltage: 220/230 volts AC, 50Hz, except Pretoria (230 volts AC) and Port Elizabeth (200/250 volts AC). Three-pin round plugs are in use.

Health Regulations: Please consult your doctor or nearest health authorities for up-to-date medical travel information well before departure.

Visa Requirements: Passport valid for at least 30 days after the intended date of departure. Not required by British, Australian, Canadian, USA and some European countries for stays of up to 90 days for business and tourist purposes. Other countries should check with the consulate or high commission.

Top Tip

Climbing Table Mountain Cape Town's Table Mountain, the famous flat-topped range, has unique vegetation and stunning views across the peninsula to the Atlantic Ocean. You can either walk up or take the dizzying Aerial Cableway Exploring the Winelands South Africa has 13 major wine-producing regions with signposted wine routes. Wine estates offer tastings in the vineyards or in old Cape-Dutch whitewashed mansions, many of which have excellent restaurants. Whale-watching Migrating whales make their way along the South African coast in the winter months, from June. The best place to watch them is Hermanus, which hosts a Whale Festival annually during the last week of September. Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve With rocky hillsides, open savannah and thick woodland, this huge protected area supports numerous mammals, including the ‘Big Five', and well over 300 bird species. There are more rhinos here than anywhere else on earth. Kruger National Park World-famous for its wildlife, the Kruger Park is one of Africa's most popular places to track down the ‘Big Five'. Surrounding the massive park are private concessions that are less crowded, with exclusive safari camps and lodges catering for luxury travellers.