About South Africa
Situated on the southern tip of the African continent, South Africa has a land area of 1,3 million square kilometres, five times the size of Great Britain and greater than California, Nevada, Utah and Arizona combined. This impressive stretch of land runs from the great Limpopo River in the North, down to Cape of Good Hope and Cape Agulhas on the southernmost coast – a distance of nearly 2000 km. South Africa has common boundaries with the Republics of Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe, while the Republic of Mozambique and the Kingdom of Swaziland lie to the northeast.
South Africa’s climate runs from temperate to sub-tropical, its landscape ranges from stark deserts and spectacular mountains to lush grasslands and forests, and its cultural diversity can be found in rural subsistence or in cities as sophisticated and cosmopolitan as anywhere in the world.
South Africa is known for its abundant wildlife as well as its fantastic birding and eco-tourism possibilities. However, the real heart of this vibrant country is the diversity of people and cultures.
How to get there
International flights service both Johannesburg and Cape Town daily. An excellent network of local scheduled flights are available out of these two major cities, to all tourist areas within the country.
Currency
Rand (R) = 100 cents
Drinking Water
Tap water is 100 % purified and safe to drink in major cities, towns and game reserves.
Health and Entry Requirements
A valid passport is required. Passport holders of more than 80 countries can visit without visas. Contact your nearest South African Tourism Office or Consulate for the latest update.
Visitors arriving from a yellow fever zone require a valid international yellow fever inoculation certificate.
Medical Services
South Africa has excellent medical facilities, with doctors listed under ‘Medical Practitioners’ in the local telephone directories.
Insurance covering travel, accidents, illness and hospitalisation is advised for the duration of your stay.
Climate
Seasons are opposite to those of the Northern hemisphere. Warm temperature conditions are typical of South Africa, making it a popular destination for sun-seekers. The country is renowned for almost 7 months of sunshine.
The best times to travel are between September and May.
Temperatures
Average maximum daily temperatures in degrees Celsius are:
|
Tourist Centre
|
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Summer
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Winter
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Cape Town
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(Western Cape)
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29.0 degrees
|
18.5 degrees
|
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Durban
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(KwaZulu Natal)
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28.5 degrees
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22.6 degrees
|
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Johannesburg
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(Gauteng)
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24.7 degrees
|
18.0 degrees
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|
Nelspruit
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(Mpumalanga)
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28.5 degrees
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23.0 degrees
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