South Africa

Country or Region Description

Where in the world can so much variety be expected? South Africa offers you magnificent natural beauty in so many different forms.

GOVERNMENT

South Africa has three capitals: Pretoria is the administrative, Cape Town, the legislative and Bloemfontein, the judicial.

The Republic of South Africa is a Constitutional State. The new Constitution became the sovereign law of the land on 4 February 1997, when it effectively replaced the interim Constitution of 1993. The Constitution was signed into law by President Mandela on 10 December l993 and will be implemented in stages until the general elections in 1999. It is a model of democracy and unequivocally establishes a separation of powers and fundamental human rights. Parliament consists of a 400-person National Assembly and 90-person Council of Provinces. The National Assembly is made up of 200 people from the national representatives list and 200 people from the regional representatives list of the various political parties, elected on the basis of proportional representation. The Council of Provinces, ten people elected indirectly by each of the nine provincial legislatures, has specific powers to protect regional interests.

Ordinary laws are passed by a simple majority in each house and if one house rejects a bill, it must be passed by a majority of the total number of the members of both houses. Finance bills, such as the budget and taxation laws, can only be introduced by the National Assembly. Bills affecting provincial boundaries or the exercise of powers functions allocated to provincial government must be approved both by the National Assembly and the Council of Provinces.

Country Facts

Location: The Republic of South Africa lies at the southern tip of the African continent between latitudes 22 and 35 south, flanked by the Indian Ocean on the east coast and the Atlantic on the west, and bordered by Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho and Swaziland. Washed by the cold Benguala current on the west coast and the warm Mozambique Agulhas current on the east, The Country has a coastline of 1,832 miles.

Size: The nine provinces - Gauteng (Capital - Johannesburg), KwaZulu-Natal (Capital - Pietersburg), North West (Capital - Mmbatho), Mpumalanga (Capital - Nelspruit), Free State (Capital - Bloemfontein), Northern Cape (Capital- Kimberley), Western Cape (Capital - Cape Town), Eastern Cape (Capital - Bisho), cover a total of 1,227,200 km (472, 359 square miles). Comparatively, South Africa is slightly less than twice the size of Texas.

Population: According to the 2006 Census, South Africa's population totalled 43,000,000 people - Blacks 79.6%, Whites 9.1%, Asians/Indian 2.5%. This heterogeneous composition embodies a unique diversity of cultures, religions, languages and lifestyles.

Population PER PROVINCE (2006 ESTIMATES):

◊ Western Cape - 4.7 million (10.9%)

◊ Northern Cape - 1 million (2.3%)

◊ Free State - 2.9 million (6.7%)

◊ Eastern Cape - 6.9 million (16.1%)

◊ KwaZulu/Natal - 9.9 million (23.0%)

◊ Mpumalanga - 3.5 million (8.1%)

◊ Northern Province - 1 million (2.3%)

◊ Gauteng - 9.5 million (22.1%)

◊ North West - 3.4 million (7.9%)

Population IN MAJOR CITIES (2006 ESTIMATES):

◊ Cape Town - 2,415,408

◊ Durban - 2,117,650

◊ Johannesburg - 1,480,530

◊ Soweto - 1,098,094

◊ Pretoria - 1,104,479

◊ Port Elizabeth - 749,921

◊ Bloemfontein - 33,769

Time: Two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time, one hour ahead of Central European Time and seven hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time, USA.

Climate: The Climate is generally sunny and temperate, with average number of sunshine hours each day among the highest in the world. Winters are mild and clear, although occasional snowfalls occur on the higher mountain ranges of the Eastern and Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, causing brief cold spells in the surrounding areas.

More than 40% of South Africa lies nearly 4,000 feet above sea level, which exerts a significant influence on temperatures and rainfall in the interior of The Country. The Western Cape Province enjoys a Mediterranean-type Climate (dry summer and winter rainfall, mostly in the form of short afternoon thunderstorms). As The Country lies in the southern hemisphere, seasons are the reverse of those in the northern hemisphere.

Things to know about South Africa before you go

Currency

South Africa's currency is the rand which is divided into 100 cents. The Oct 2007 rate of exchange was CA$1.00 = 7 rand approximately and US$1.00 = 6.9 rand approximately.

PLANT AND ANIMAL LIFE

South Africa has an extraordinary wealth of flora and fauna. Found here are some 22,000 species of flowering plants (of which 730 are classified as trees) which are endemic to The Country, and about 900 species of birds, representing 22 of the world's living orders. Indigenous animals include many carnivores, as well as a large number and variety of antelope and other herbivore - the largest being the elephant. The Country's game parks preserve an amazing diversity of habitats to which different species have adapted over hundreds of thousands of years: desert and semi-desert, mountain, savannah bushveld, temperate and subtropical coast, lake, estuary and river. Apart from the 800 game reserves and 17 National Parks Board Reserves, there are several privately owned sanctuaries, where conservation is strictly enforced.

Electricity

Power supply is 220/240 volt 50 cycle in most parts of The Country. Adapters are usually available on loan at major hotels in South Africa. Be certain, however, to bring along transformers where needed. Although some stores in major cities carry transformers, they are not readily available. Three to five star hotels usually have 110 volt outlets for electric shavers in bathrooms and often provide hair dryers and irons. An NW 4 plug with two prongs, 0,19 inches in diameter is required for compatibility.

Clothing

Usually informal, casual dress is sufficient, with elegant or smart casual wear for occasions where tie and jacket are required at restaurants, nightclubs or concerts. For the summer months from October to April light-weight clothing is sufficient, but keep in mind that even hot areas such as the Lowveld where the game parks are situated, may experience chilly nights in summer and require at least a sweater or jacket. Most of The Country, with the exception of the Western Cape region, has rains in summer. A compact umbrella or raincoat is useful. During the winter months warm clothing is needed, as temperatures can decrease dramatically.

Health Requisites

BILHARZIA

It is inadvisable to swim in rivers and lakes in the eastern and northern regions of The Country, as the bilharzia parasite may be present in the water. There are usually warning signs indicating that swimming is not allowed in the particular affected rivers or streams.

CHOLERA

Vaccination against cholera is not required.

MALARIA

Malaria is caused by the bite of an infected mosquito and is endemic (transmission occurs throughout the year) in certain areas of the Northern Transvaal, Eastern Lowveld and Northern Natal. Although this disease is very much under control in South Africa, visitors are advised to take a course of anti-malaria tablets, containing both CHLOROQUIN and PYRIMETHAMINE. These tablets are obtainable from any chemist (drug store) in South Africa, inexpensively. The tablets can be taken 24 hours before entering the malaria affected area (preferably at bedtime) and then on a weekly basis for a maximum of five to six weeks.

Please note that blood donors will be unable to donate blood for at least 2 years after taking anti-malaria tablets. If any doubt exists, a local physician should be consulted.

SMALLPOX

Vaccination against smallpox is not required.

YELLOW FEVER

IMPORTANT

Any person entering from, or via, a yellow fever infected area must be in possession of a valid International Certificate of Vaccination against yellow fever. This notice is until otherwise advised and includes Zambia.

People, History, Culture

Throughout its History, South Africa has been a geographic designation rather than a reflection of a national reality. The result is that today the Republic of South Africa has one of the most complex and diversified population mixes in the world, a rich mosaic of distinctive minorities. This is underscored by the fact that not one of South Africa's major languages is spoken by a majority of all The People.

The four major ethnic divisions among black people are the Nguni, Sotho, Shangaan-Tsonga and Venda. Together the Nguni and Sotho account for the largest percentage of the total black population.

White people trace their origins to the Dutch East India Company settlement at the Cape in 1652 and the British settlements of the 1700's. The main language groups are English and Afrikaans. English speakers are descendants of English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh, Australian, American and Canadian. They have contributed to the establishment of exclusive clubs, African paintings by artists such as Baines and Bowler, Victorian and Edwardian architecture, Scottish music and Welsh song. The Afrikaans language was developed locally from Dutch roots and its speakers are known for their pioneering spirit, desire for independence, adaptability and hospitality. The Afrikaaner community is unity-conscious, strongly bound to its culture, nation, country, language, religion, institutions and organizations.

The Griquas, largely of Hottentot (Khoi-Khoi) ancestry, have developed a culture of their own, characterized linguistically by a broken form of Dutch-Afrikaans with a peculiar yet dignified power of expression. Their religion, love of sacred song and choirs are their chief cultural features.

The Cape Malays are descendants of the early Muslim people brought to the Cape by the Dutch East India Company. Despite bondage and isolation, they have remained faithful to Islam, still manifest in all their traditional ceremonies, feasts, weddings, funerals and pilgrimages to Mecca.

The first Indians came to South Africa in l860 as indentured labourers of the Natal colonial government for Natal's sugar plantations. For many decades, it was assumed that the Indians should eventually be repatriated. It was only in 1961, after South Africa became a republic, that this notion was abandoned and the Indian community was allowed to stay as a permanent part of the South African population.

Religion

African Indigenous Churches, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu.

History

Discoveries in Taung and other sites in The Country bear witness to the fact that prehistoric man lived about one and a half million years ago in what is today known as South Africa. The San were the first people to settle, about 2,000 years ago. They were followed by the Khoikhoi, in the Western Cape. Disease, displacement by new inhabitants and miscegenation gradually caused these groups to become extinct. The first Europeans to reach the Cape of Good Hope, toward the end of the 15th century, were Portuguese explorers seeking a sea route to the east.

The first permanent European settlement was established by the Dutch East India Company in 1652. By the middle of the 18th century, this growing Dutch colony came into contact with the African tribes that were established in the southeast coastal regions and expanding south-westward. In 1820, 5,000 British immigrants arrived in Algoa Bay, representing the largest organized group of white settlers ever to come to The Country. The first decades of the 19th century were filled with wars between the black nations, resulting in the emergence of the Zulu nation under Shaka and later Dingaan as the dominant power in South Central Africa. The establishment of vassal states and virtual depopulation of the central plateau left the way for Dutch-descended Voortrekkers, who were dissatisfied with the ruling British Government, to move into the area. The population patterns established in the first half of the 19th century remain largely unchanged to the present.

Discovery of lucrative deposits of diamonds, gold and other minerals, starting in 1866, was the impetus for the development of towns and cities in the interior. The cosmopolitan population of the goldfields was in constant conflict with the conservative government of the pastoral Boers, who resented the influx of foreigners. This was the era when British imperialism reached its peak.

Black nations were subjugated, their lands annexed and the Boer republics threatened; the result was the Anglo-Boer War of 1899-1902. The British Empire emerged victorious from the war. In l910 the Cape Colony and Natal (British) and the Orange Free State and Transvaal (Boer republics) were joined to form the Union of South Africa under the leadership of Boer generals Louis Botha and Jan Smuts. The Act of Union was followed by a resurgence of Afrikaaner nationalism, reaching its ultimate apartheid legislation in the 1940s. Restrictions were placed on the movements of Africans and Indians and they were prohibited from acquiring title to land in 1913, although certain territories were reserved for black tribal ownership. African voters were removed from the common role in 1936. The Afrikaaner Nationalist movement grew steadily on a foundation of sectarian preference and achieved its immediate objectives when the National Party, under Dr. D. F. Malan, won the election in 1948.

Organized political activity among black Africans started with the establishment of the African National Congress (ANC) in 1912. In 1959 the Pan African Congress (PAC) was founded as a breakaway from the ANC because of its dissatisfaction with the non-violent and non-racial policies of the ANC. The first major violent confrontation between government and African nationalist movements occurred in June 1960, when police fired on a demonstration mounted by the PAC at Sharpeville. Shortly after, virtually all black political organizations were banned.

In 1963 Nelson Mandela and a number of conspirators were convicted of treason and sentenced to life imprisonment. Mr. Mandela was released from prison on February 11, 1990, after serving 27 years of a life sentence. Taking a conciliatory attitude toward the government, he led his party into negotiations, culminating in the democratic election on April 27-29, 1994 and his inauguration as President of South Africa on 10 May 1994.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is South Africa a country, a republic, or a province?

The Republic of South Africa is more than a country; it is a republic with an elected president. Since the 1994 elections, it is redivided into nine provinces, roughly along tribal lines: Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, Northwest Province, Gauteng, Northern Province, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal.

Will I need a visa?

A valid passport is all that is required for a stay of up to 90 days. All visitors from the U.S. need to present a valid passport during check-in at the airport before embarking the aircraft, to immigration upon arrival, and once more upon departure. During your flight, you will fill out a form detailing the length and purpose of your visit. When you arrive, present this form along with your passport to the immigration officer. After immigration, go through customs. Items for personal use are duty free.

When is the best time to go?

South Africa is great all year long, but the best time to visit the bush is in October, when the vegetation isn't as thick and game viewing is easier. The best time to visit Cape Town may be July to November when migrating whales are easy to spot. Travellers should avoid visiting popular attractions during major holidays, such as Christmas and Easter, when South Africans take their vacations.

How strong is the sun?

The sun throughout South Africa is very strong all year round. Travellers are advised to wear sun screen with an SPF of at least 15 and more if you sunburn easily.

What kind of photo equipment should I bring?

When visiting other countries, it may be fine to bring along any kind of camera, but in the South African bush, travellers need a good camera to accurately record their experiences. Disposable cameras just don't do the landscape justice, and you won't be able to effectively capture the action of the animals without a telephoto lens. Most rangers recommend a 200 mm SLR camera with a zoom lens. They also prefer slower Fuji film (either 50 or 100 ASA), which gives almost perfect quality photos in normal light.

What are the medical facilities like?

The private hospitals in South Africa are some of the best in the world. In fact, doctors at the Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town performed the world's first heart transplant in 1967. Private hospitals are more advanced than public hospitals and tend to be less crowded. Tourists are advised to visit private hospitals in the event of an emergency and are expected to pay cash for medical services rendered.

Should I get travel insurance?

Yes. Most medical facilities require cash for services rendered, and many health plans in the U.S. will not reimburse expenses incurred out of The Country. Check with your health plan well before travelling.

Are the animals dangerous?

During game drives in the bush, predatory animals like lions, leopards, and hyena often come so close to your vehicle that danger would seem imminent. Amazingly, the animals who live in and around the private game reserves are accustomed to the sight and sound of a Land Rover filled with people, and will often appear not even to notice you. However, anything could happen in the wild, so guests are instructed not to stand up in the vehicle or make any sudden movements, and all rangers are trained to handle an attack situation and are armed with loaded shotguns.

What are the hotels like?

South Africa is home to some of the most luxurious hotels in the world. In fact, the Cape Grace in Cape Town was voted "Best Hotel in the World" by the readers of Conde Nast Traveller in 2000. Other five-star properties that have received international acclaim include the magnificent Saxon in Johannesburg, the historic Royal Hotel in Durban, and the elegant Steenberg Country Hotel in the Winelands. An entirely different kind of luxury is found in the bush, where guests can spend an afternoon immersed in their private plunge pool to the sound of elephants in the distance and enjoy dinner by candlelit lanterns in an authentic African boma. There are many bush lodges of note, include Sabi Sabi's romantic Selati Lodge and the more architecturally fascinating Earth Lodge, as well as Richard Branson's celebrity magnet, Ulusaba Safari Lodge.

What is the night life like?

The night life in South Africa varies from region to region and city to city. In the bush, the only real night life involves an exciting evening game drive followed by a traditional African dinner around a smouldering fire in an open-air boma. In Cape Town, long, lingering dinners with plenty of local wine is enough night life for some people, but others can take advantage of the many bars and pubs located in the waterfront. Clubs with live music are also popular in Cape Town, as are a number of jazz clubs that double as restaurants. Visitors to Johannesburg can get a taste of traditional and township South African jazz at Kippies in the Market Theatre complex in Newton. Jo-Burg's Rosebank suburb is also rich in night life, offering visitors the chance to experience "kwaito," South Africa's version of "house" music at the Palladium. In Durban, some of the best jazz can be heard at Rivets in the Wilton Hotel, and Zoom is a club featuring celebrity DJs. There are also a number of bars and pubs scattered throughout the city.

What is a township?

During apartheid, black South Africans were forced to live in areas set apart from whites. These areas, which came to be known as townships, remain today even though apartheid has disappeared, and many are struggling to overcome poverty, poor housing, and overcrowding. Soweto, which is an acronym for the South Western Township, is home to an estimated two to four million people and is by far the largest township in South Africa. It is also the most developed, boasting 48 high schools, the largest hospital in the world, and a thriving middle class. Other townships throughout South Africa may not be as large as Soweto, but they still have the same warmth, spirit and vibrancy that make a visit unforgettable.

Is South Africa a good place to take kids?

South Africa is the most child-friendly country in Africa, but care should be taken when entering the bush. In fact, most private game reserves will not accept children under 12, which is understandable given that three-hour game drives can be tedious for restless kids. Outside of the bush, however, most hotels offer special amenities for children, and most restaurants have an abundant child's menu.

How are the roads?

All major roads and highways in South Africa are excellent and typical of any first-world country. Some of South Africa's back roads aren't as well maintained, so care should be taken while driving on them. Driving in South Africa occurs on the left-hand side of the road, and the speed limit is 75 miles per hour. Be on the look out for animals in the bush and in rural areas.

Can I direct dial my phone calls and use my own long distance service?

Long distance calls can be direct dialled by using the appropriate country code (91 for the U.S.). AT&T, MCI, and Sprint all make calling long distance relatively easy, but you may find the local access number blocked in many hotel rooms. A way around this problem is to ask the hotel operator to connect you to the access number instead of placing the call through the hotel operator.

What can I expect at the airport when I leave?

Upon departure, you may want to claim your VAT refund. You can do this at the airport as long as you have the receipts and the merchandise you purchased with you. You will also have to go through customs again.

Arrival Guide

Food

Up-market restaurants serve culinary masterpieces accompanied by a five-star wine list. For less formal occasions, you have a choice of steak houses, pizza/pasta parlours and French, Portuguese, Greek, German, Chinese and Japanese establishments. Seafood is always in great demand. Some restaurants specialize in regional South African dishes. Traditional Cape cooking has a delightful Malay influence, and Natal is renowned for its spicy Indian heritage.

Restaurant guides are available from most publicity associations. The concierge at hotels are also up-to-date with restaurants as well as local newspapers.

Shopping

Local manufacturers set a high premium on workmanship, and at the current Rand value, one can afford to be really extravagant!

In the cities, you can buy anything from a karakul coat to a crocodile bag, antiques, hand-woven rugs, and individually designed treasures in gold and precious stones.

Up-market boutiques offer quality garments and accessories. For ethnic chic, flea markets and curio shops are the places to peruse. The better curio shops also stock original creations by tribal artists: wooden carvings, shields, drums, masks, tapestries, beadwork, copperware and pottery.

In Durban's aromatic Indian Quarter, you'll find filigree jewellery, oriental ornaments, silk saris and spices. In Cape Town, Long Street's enticing specialist shops offer items not always obtainable in the rest of The Country: rare books, Africana maps, old pictures, antique jewellery and bric-a-brac. Department and chain stores, supermarkets and delicatessens stock a wide range of merchandise. Films, cameras and accessories are readily available. Processing of film is carried out locally by companies of international repute.

Most shops open between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday to Friday; mornings only on Saturday. Sunday opening times vary throughout The Country, but supermarket chains normally open in the mornings. Cafes (delis) stay open until late and generally close only on major religious holidays. They stock mainly basic foodstuffs, soft drinks, cigarettes, newspapers and magazines.

VALUE ADDED TAX

14% is included in the cost of items purchased.

Tipping

Is appreciated - not more than 10%.

SECURITY

Seasoned travellers know the potential pitfalls when leaving valuables unattended or strolling down dark and lonely alleys in cities anywhere in the world.

Unfortunately, petty thievery and more serious crime is also a factor in South Africa. Take the same precautions as you would in any major city.

Here are a few universal rules:

Don't walk alone in apparently deserted areas, especially in and around the cities. It is preferable and usually more enjoyable to walk with company or in groups.

Don't carry large sums of cash in your purse or pocket.

Be aware of the possibility of pick-pockets and bag snatchers in crowded areas.

Don't leave valuables in a hotel room. Most of them offer safety deposit lock services.

Make photocopies of the first few pages of your passport, air ticket and other important travel documents. These should obviously be in safe-keeping separate from the originals and will help towards expediting replacement in case of loss or theft.

Be certain that you have adequate insurance coverage.

ECONOMY

South Africa is the largest and most advanced economy in Africa. The Country was subjected to an increasingly severe array of economic sanctions during the past decade. However, its unique range of minerals, including vast coal resources, gold and diamonds, and its well-developed agricultural, industrial and commercial sectors enabled it to survive. With the release of Nelson Mandela in 1990 and the clear intention of the existing government to enter into negotiations, South Africa began its return to the international community. By mid 1993 the economy was picking up and that trend has continued. Business and investor confidence has been boosted by the government's current fiscal and monetary policy.

Culture

South Africa offers vital and diverse cultural fare. The Country's artists are active both locally and abroad in the fields of theatre, classical and modern music, opera, ballet, the visual arts and literature (drama, poetry and prose). Many South African productions are showcased on stages and at exhibitions abroad.

SPORT

South African sportsmen and women continue to excel on the playing fields of the world and at home, establishing new world and South African records and scoring remarkable feats. One of the reasons is probably South Africa's ideal Climate which permits all forms of outdoor sport and recreation virtually throughout the year in most parts of The Country. Rugby, tennis, field hockey, soccer, cricket, squash, badminton, golf, surfing, sailing, running, sky diving, cycling, triathlons are among major sports. The South African rugby team triumphed in the 1995 World Rugby Cup and the national soccer team Bafana, was the African Cup winner in 1996. At the Atlanta Olympics, South Africans achieved notable placements, including two golds for swimmer Penny Heyns and the marathon gold for Josia Thugwane. The city of Cape Town was one of five candidate cities for the 2004 Summer Olympics.