South Africa
Our Top Picks For South Africa
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1 Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Revel in the Kalahari's haunting vistas and vastness
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2 Namaqualand
Visit Namaqualand in springtime, when the rugged landscapes soften under an explosion of wildflowers
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3 Winelands
Treat yourself to fine wining and dining in the verdant valleys around Franschhoek, Paarl and Stellenbosch
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4 Cape Town
Savour the cosmopolitan chic of one of the world's most beautiful cities and get pelted with spray at Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve
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5 Southern Coast
Explore South Africa's coastline, from Hermanus with its whales to the rivers and ravines of Tsitsikamma National Park
Fast Facts about South Africa
- Borders
- Visa
Free, 90-day entry permits issued on arrival to citizens of most Commonwealth countries (including Australia and the UK), most Western European countries, Japan and the USA
- Time
GMT/UTC + 2
- Telephone
Country code 27; international access 09
- Money
Rand; US$1 = R7.4
- Seasons
Cape Town: cold & wet (May to August); sunny & warm (September to May); Durban & Johannesburg: dry (May to September); wet (October to April)
- Population
46.9 million
- ATMs
Found in most cities and large towns
- Capital
Pretoria (administrative), Bloemfontein (judicial) and Cape Town (legislative)
- Budget
US$25 to US$50 a day
- Languages
11 (English, Afrikaans, Ndebele, Sepedi, Setswana, Sotho, Swati, Tshivenda, Xhosa, Xitsonga, and Zulu)
Related Groups
Our favourite South Africa Blogs (beta)
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On Safari in the game reserves of South Africa
Blog: Heather on her travels - 9 July 2009
My guest post today is for lovers of wildlife and the great outdoors who dream of a safari in Africa. Ker & Downey, the luxury holiday company for exotic locations, offer their advice on the best game parks to visit in South Africa. Many of us dream of taking that once in a lifetime vacation to Africa, to [...]
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A Kaleidoscope of Colour
Blog: velvet escape's blog - 7 July 2009
Imagine thick blankets made of billions of flowers laid over the mountain slopes and valleys that stretch till the horizon, with an astounding spectrum of colours. Experience this magnificent natural phenomenon in South Africa during the explosion of spring blooms in the region that encompasses the Western and Northern Cape provinces. If you’re in Cape Town [...]
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Are you traveling to Africa?
Blog: The 4 Season Travel Blog - 30 June 2009
If you are traveling to Africa and want to share your experiences with friends, family and the world, I have something you should check out: TheAfricaTravelBlog.com is a new website, created specifically for Africa Travelers.
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Introducing South Africa
Travel Alert: Crime is a problem throughout South Africa; see the Health & Safety section for details.
It’s no wonder that South Africa draws more visitors than anywhere else in sub-Saharan Africa. World-class wildlife-watching, cosmopolitan cities like the great big beating heart of Johannesburg, stunning natural panoramas from Table Mountain National Park and vibrant cultures make the country appealing to almost every taste and budget. Geographically, its extremes include the arid semidesert of the Karoo, the snowcapped peaks of the Drakensberg Range, the lush subtropical coast of KwaZulu-Natal and the fertile temperate valleys of Western Cape. Within the space of a day, you can journey from vineyard-clad hillsides in the Western Cape to the vast open spaces of the Kalahari; from waterfront chic in Cape Town to isolated Zulu villages; from elephant-spotting in Kruger National Park to the sublime seascapes of the coast.
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Latest headlines for South Africa
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Iraqi football team returns home
10 July 2009 5:53PM
Iraq takes on the Palestinian football team in the first home international match since the US-led invasion of 2003.
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Historic African trip for Obama
10 July 2009 5:25PM
Barack Obama, the first African-American president, is due in Ghana shortly on his first visit to sub-Saharan Africa.
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S Africa bosses flee mine captors
10 July 2009 5:09PM
All five South African managers escape after being held hostage underground oat a platinum mine overnight.
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