Weather

Sunny South Africa has mild winters, though snow occasionally falls on lower-lying areas as well as in the mountain ranges of the Cape and Natal.

Visa, Immigration, Customs

Passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your date of entry.

Visa/Permit/Tourist Card:A visa is not required for stays of up to 90 days.

Single parents or other adults vacationing alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country.

Transportation

South African Airways serves the country both internationally as well as domestically.

Airports in South Africa:There are 728 airports in South Africa.

Travel by Rail:There are many trains that link the major centres together. Probably the most famous of these is the Blue Train. Others include the Trans-Natal Express, and the Trans-Karoo Express. All long distance trains include a sleeping compartment. Local trains run frequently and are reasonably priced.

Travel by Water: There are cruises between both the major ports.

Travel by Road:Public transport is expensive and inconvenient, but the roads are mostly good and people travel everywhere by car. Buy or rent one to see the country, or get rides with other tourists.

Bus and minibus taxis are extensive but not altogether comfortable. There are two major national bus operators on the main routes. On safari: many tours are available for groups. Many are 3-week, and go from Cape Town to the Garden Route (with its forests and beaches) to KwaZulu-Natal (wildlife and Zulu culture) through Mpumalanga (Kruger National Park), ending in Johannesburg. The level of luxury depends on your budget

What Side of the Road?: Driving is on the left side of the road.

Speed Limits:Town - 60 kph; motorways - 120 kph; other roads - 100 kph

Culture & Food

Languages Spoken:11 official languages, including Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Pedi, Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu.

Religions:Christian 68% (includes most whites and coloreds, about 60% of blacks and about 40% of Indians), Muslim 2%, Hindu 1.5%.

People and Culture:11 official languages are spoken in this "rainbow nation" of cultures, some of which are Zulu, Tswana, Khosa, Sotho, Indian, Dutch and British. Apartheid is officially history-but too recent to he invisible in its effects. Rich and poor live vastly different lives. Most people here speak English.


Tipping and Bargaining: Tipping is expected. A 10% service charge is added to your bill in hotels and restaurants. Most prices for merchandise are non-negotiable except for some open-air market stalls.

Restaurants:	10 - 15% if no service charge
*Porters:	3-4 Rand total
Taxi:	10%

* Try to use local currency. Foreign coins cannot be exchanged and will be useless to the person receiving them. Foreign paper money requires a trip to the bank for exchange. However paper US dollars are accepted almost universally

Food:Seafood-rock lobster being the specialty-is basic to South African cuisine, but foods from all the cultures contributing to the country's culture are present and happily influenced by each other. The British food is flavourful, but less spicy than the Dutch dishes. Malaysian and Indian foods are spiciest. Try a boerewors, it is a type of farmers sausage, grilled and eaten in a bun hotdog-style; excellent for a rugby game! A popular fast food is meat pie. You should know that a "pie" is savoury and a "tart" is sweet, no matter what size it is. The ubiquitous dessert is milk tart, much like a vanilla custard pie.

Money Conversion

South Africa's currency is called the Rand (ZAR)

Currency Converter :use the following currency converter tool to help you with your vacation. Currency Convertor Tool

Currency Cheat Sheet: use the following currency cheat sheet as a quick conversion reference on your vacation.Currency Cheat Sheet

Attractions

Destination Cities:The cities of South Africa boast fascinating museums and art galleries, with craft markets to die for. Cape Town, the Mother City, is the capital, with the vineyards close by. Johannesburg was a gold rush city in the late 19th century, and is now the most powerful and cosmopolitan commercial centre on the continent. Pretoria, named the Jacaranda City for its purple-blossomed trees, and Durban are both beautiful, the former a gracious lady north of Johannesburg, the latter a seaside paradise of resort hotels. The weather in Durban is tourist-friendly all year round. Stellenbosch, the second oldest town after Cape Town, is historically-preserved. Pietermaritzburg, "the last outpost of the British Empire, has the genteel feel of the English countryside-although never colonized by the British!

Points of Interest:There are four World Heritage Sites of great interest here-the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Parkand the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park, the Cradle of Mankind at the Sterkfontein Caves complex in Gauteng, and the island prison of Robben Island in the Western Cape. Near Cape Town, visit the world-famous Cango Caves. Birding is as fascinating and rewarding in South Africa as going on safari. Zululand is the richest region, with 63 endemic species. Combine birding with game viewing in the North East, the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park, and many game reserves, including Tembe Elephant Park and legendary Ndumo. Inland, birders will find themselves at the sites of several famous battles, including Chaka and Phongola, and will go to Emakhosini Heritage Park. Ongoye in South Zululand overlooking the Indian Ocean is home to the Green Barbet. The aerial board walk at Eshowe with the Dlinza Forest takes you into the forest canopy. Several rare species inhabit the wetlands of Richards Bay.