South Africa: Country Factfile
Geography
The Republic of South Africa covers about 472,000 square miles (1,222,000 km2) and is the tenth largest country in Africa. It is five times the size of Britain and twice as big as France. An escarpment, varying between 30 and 160 miles (50—250 kilometres) inland from the coast, divides the coastal belt from the highveld.
There are nine provinces: Limpopo Province, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Kwazulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Free State, Northern Cape, North West and Western Cape.
Languages
Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Pedi, Sotho, Swati, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu.
Climate
Most of the country has a mild or temperate climate though parts of the northern Cape, the sub-tropical Natal coast and the Lowveld bordering Zimbabwe and Botswana become very hot in summer (October to March). At this time country temperatures average between 60°F (15°C) at night and 96°F (35°C) at noon, whilst winter temperatures are between 32°F (O°C) and 68°F (20°C). Winters can be frosty but snowfalls are limited to high peaks, notably the Drakensburg and Maluti (Lesotho) mountains.
On the whole South Africa is a dry country with a mean annual rainfall of 20 inches (502 mms). Rains fall during the summer, except in the western Cape which has a Mediterranean-type climate with dry summers and cold wet winters. Rainfalls are higher in the east (about 40 inches or 1,000mms annually) whilst the west receives a quarter or less of that.
Entry
Visas are not required for nationals of the UK, EC countries and USA. You could be asked to show a return ticket and prove “sufficient funds” for your holiday.
Money
South Africa Rand (R). Traveller’s cheques in major currencies can be cashed at most banks, while credit cards are accepted widely. ATMs giving cash are available in major towns.
General
Good airline, road and rail links cover the country and car hire is easy. Health facilities are excellent, but expensive. There is a very wide selection of accommodation available. This ranges from five star hotels, through luxury guest houses, lodges, safari camps, self-catering facilities, bed and breakfast inns to youth and backpacker hostels.
Dining and entertaining facilities are varied and excellent. You can find all types of national cuisine, eastern and western. Traditional South African, Halaal and Kosher food are widely available.
Time
GMT+2
International Dialling Code
+27
Health
Check that your tetanus, diphtheria, typhoid and hepatitis A & B vaccinations are up to date. Malaria is mainly confined to the low-lying areas in the north-east of the country.
Activities and Special Interests
Adventure addicts will find plenty to do. There are several locations for bungee jumping and paragliding; white water rafting takes place on the Orange river; horse riding and mountain-biking are popular, and there are superb hiking and rambling locations, particularly in the Drakensburg mountains; the sea allows for excellent surfing and rewarding scuba diving, and there are some of Africa’s finest golf courses.
Most special interests are catered for: South Africa boasts over 700 species of birds; it has some excellent rock art sites; several steam train operations; superb land-based whale-watching is possible on the Cape Coast; and the wild flowers of the Namaqualand (Western Cape) are extraordinary.
Sport is widely played throughout South Africa, and so there is usually something to watch.
Top Spots
KRUGER NATIONAL PARK: Accommodation in Kruger’s 23 camps can be fully booked up to a year in advance. There are a number of private camps in the park. Three of the world’s largest private reserves, Klaserie, Timbavati and Sabi Sand, are among the numerous independent five-star establishments along the Kruger’s western border. The park is open between sunrise and sunset, actual times depending on the season. It is about a five hour drive from Johannesburg.
V & A WATERFRONT: Cape Town’s cosmopolitan waterfront development is the province’s principal shopping and entertainment centre. There are speciality shops and markets, theatres, cinemas and restaurants. Worth visiting are: the Maritime Museum, famous for its model ships; The Telkom Exploratorium, exhibiting a history of telephonic communications; the BMW Pavilion with its five-storey cinema screen; and the Two Oceans Aquarium. For concerts, shows and festivals the Amphitheatre is the place to go, whilst the Arts and Crafts Market houses over 140 stalls offering a wide range of goods, many made on the spot.
GOLD REEF CITY: This is a reconstruction of old gold rush Johannesburg. It is situated 8 km from the centre of the present day city, on the site of what was the world’s richest gold mine. The reconstructions include shops, saloons, restaurants and snack bars, and a number of museums portraying the city’s history. Traditional mine worker dances are performed to marimba bands, an old steam train runs and a Victorian-style fairground provides continuous entertainment. Highlights of a visit are the old mine headgear; a 30-minute Underground Mine Tour some 220m below the surface; the opportunity to watch a gold bullion bar being poured and to see the oldest working coin press in the world. Gold Reef City is open daily, except Mondays, between 0930 and 1700 hours.
DIAMOND CITY: If you watched Rhodes on the BBC, the Big Hole at Kimberley is a must. From here 14.5 million carats of diamonds were extracted. The Big Hole is the focal point of the Kimberley Mine Museum, a full-scale, open-air site including 48 reconstructed historial buildings. There is the town’s first (prefabricated wooden) house, its oldest existing church, and its most famous bar, “Diggers Rest”. An exhibition shows the development of the diamond industry and a display of genuine diamonds, including the 10.73 carat “Eureka”, the first discovered in South Africa. The Big Hole, the world’s largest man-made hole, can be viewed from a platform adjoining the Museum and the visit completed with a ride back to the City Hall on a restored electric tram, the last of its kind. Whilst in Kimberley also visit the Duggan-Cronin Gallery, the McGregor Museum, the Aviation Memorial and the Sister Henrietta Chapel — all historically interesting. Kimberley is well endowed with hotels, motels and guest-houses.
SHAKALAND: Shakaland is a cultural centre built on the site where the original Zulus settled in the 18th century and is a recreation of their life style. It was built as the film set for Shaka Zulu and later used in the production of Ipi-Tombe. Morning and afternoon tours lead visitors through activities such as beadwork, pottery, weaving, weapon making and the brewing of traditional beer. Sangomas (herbalists) may be consulted and ritual dances watched. Overnight guests stay in thatched ‘beehive’ huts, which cleverly incorporate modern en-suite conveniences, and are offered traditional cuisine including maize meal and stew relish. A conventional restaurant, bar and swimming pool are, however, available.
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Published in Travel Africa Magazine Edition Six This edition and subscriptions are available via the Travel Africa Magazine website. |
