SOUTH AFRICA
South Africa is a very desirable destination in Africa today. Because of its size and remarkable diversity - from world-famous game parks and reserves, miles of coastline along two oceans and dramatic mountains to sophisticated cities like Cape Town with gourmet restaurants, fine wines, museums and art galleries - there is something to interest everyone.
Renowned for the ultimate in luxury safari lodges and the scorecard game sightings of the "Big Five" (elephant, rhino, lion, leopard, buffalo), South Africa is also the place to visit wineries, gold and diamond mines, and Dutch-styled towns. History buffs can include archaeological sites where discoveries of early man continue to be made, rock art from the stone age, the famous Cape of Good Hope that Vasco da Gama rounded on his way to discovering the trade route to the East, the township of Soweto, and Robben Island the former prison where Nelson Mandela spent 27 years.
The entire world watched history in the making in 1994 when the country held its first democratic election and Nelson Mandela became the President of the New South Africa. This marked the end of the oppressive apartheid era and the more than 20 years of anti-apartheid protests, violence and boycotts in the country and economic sanctions by the international community. Today, the New South Africa is boldly moving forward as a vibrant democracy and stable economic power. This progress has opened up all of Southern Africa to robust tourism.
South Africa occupies the southern tip of the continent and is roughly three times the size of Texas and home to 46 million people. South Africa has nine provinces and governmental power is divided between three cities. Pretoria is the administrative capital, Cape Town is the legislative capital and Bloemfontein is the capital of the judiciary. English is one of the 11 official languages spoken here. Nine of the languages are African, reflecting the country's vibrant tribal and cultural mix. Archbishop Desmond Tutu offered the slogan "the rainbow nation" to inspire racial harmony and pride in the New South Africa.
Overland travel and self-drive touring is popular in South Africa due to the good road system. Most major routes are tarred and well marked with signs in English. Driving is on the left side. Renting a car in Cape Town is easily done with a valid driver's license and gives you the freedom to explore on your own schedule.
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When to go to South Africa
South Africa enjoys a pleasant climate and is on record as one of the sunniest places in the world. Summer lasts from November to February and is warm with some afternoon rain. Average high daytime temperatures are 80 and the rainfall varies throughout the country. Winter is generally mild with daytime highs reaching the mid-70s. Much of the country is dry, but the Kruger Park area and Cape Town generally have winter showers. Early spring (August to October) is considered to be an excellent time for observing game. The beaches of KwaZulu-Natal are warm and sunny year-round.
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Passport & Visa
A valid passport is required to enter South Africa. Your passport must have at least two blank facing Visa pages. Blank Amendment pages will not suffice. Tourist visas are not required for stays of up to 90 days.
For further information:
You may also contact the Embassy of South Africa's Consular Office, 3051 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20008 (202/232-4400) or your nearest Consulate office in California (323/651-0902), Illinois (312/939-7929), or New York (212/213-4880).
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Medical Information
Before traveling to Africa, please consult with your physician. No mandatory vaccinations are required to visit South Africa. Depending on where you will be in the country, you may need a malaria prophylaxis.
For further information:
http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/destinationSouthAfrica.aspx
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Highlights
Kruger National Park provides habitat for more than 300,000 animals and welcomes more than a million visitors annually. Situated in the northeastern corner of the country, the park was established in 1898. Today it is part of a network of private reserves and public game parks stretching into Mozambique and Zimbabwe where fences are coming down and animals are free to roam. Eventually this 14,000 square miles of bush will be known as the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Park. It is possible to see the "big 5" (elephant, rhino, lion, leopard, buffalo) along with over 140 other mammal species and 500 different bird species here. There are also significant archaeological sites and San rock paintings left by those who inhabited this land many centuries ago.
Those looking to experience the wilds of Africa in first world luxury style have a good number of choices in the private game reserves. Singita, Mala Mala, Sabi Sand, Londolozi and Phinda are just a few of these exclusive and award-winning lodges.
Cape Town is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Set on a sweeping bay with the immense Table Mountain in the background, this cosmopolitan, European styled city has much to see and do. Legend has it that Table Mountain holds the spirit of Mother Africa, and is known as the "Mother City." The spiritually powerful peak is known to have a powerful energy vortex. Take a hike or cable car to the top for a spectacular view.
There's The Victoria and Albert Waterfront for shopping, dining and entertainment, the enchanting Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens, Cape Point where the Atlantic and Indian Ocean waters meet, Boulders Penguin colony, and Robbin Island where tours are given by former political prisoners. Tours are offered to some of the townships and are generally co-led by a township resident giving you an authentic first-hand peek into a whole other world.
An excursion to the Winelands located just outside of Cape Town will take you to the lush valleys where you can visit wine estates and historic towns. The scenery of rolling vineyards and quaint Cape Dutch homesteads has its own history. The winelands are divided into various different regions, each offering their own wine route. The most popular are Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Wellington and Paarl.
The Garden Route named for its picturesque landscapes of forests, gardens and dunelands, runs along the southern coastline. Allowing two or three days gives you time to meander off the main road to the villages, ostrich farms, artist colonies, beaches and fashionable seaside resorts. The Garden Route stretches from Mossel Bay in the Western Cape all the way to Storms River in the Eastern Cape.
Hermanus is just 60 miles east of Cape Town is South Africa's top spot for whale watching, by boat or from scenic cliffs. You can see 40-ton Southern Right Whales only a short distance from your boat. This village is reputed to have the best land viewing for whale watching in the world. Hermanus has the world's only Whale Crier who sounds his kelp horn to announce whale sightings. Best time for whale watching is August through November. Nearby is Grootbos Private Reserve where you can boat to island refuges of huge sea bird colonies and admire the underwater antics of a 60,000 strong Cape Fur Seal colony.
Maputaland is in the northeastern corner of the province of KwaZulu-Natal. This lush region bordering the Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park - a World Heritage Site is where you will find the Phinda Private Game Reserve. There are seven distinct habitats within the 45,700 acres providing an outstanding place to see an abundance of game and 380 bird species. The marine diversity of the nearby coast of Sodwana is said to rival the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. Phinda is a success story of working with the rural communities in this area to reclaim damaged habitat and re-introduce wildlife and sustainable tourism business opportunities.
Johannesburg has the largest and busiest airport in Africa making it a gateway for international air travel to and from destinations in Southern Africa. This is a big city of six million people with a modern center and historical neighborhoods. The suburbs of Sandton and Rosebank have good shopping and art galleries specializing in African crafts, textiles and antiques. The Apartheid Museum opened in 2001 to provide a historical and honest portrayal of the rise and fall of apartheid. Now the city's leading tourist attraction, this museum is a beacon of hope showing the world how South Africa is coming to terms with it's past and working towards a future that all South Africans can call their own. The Market Theatre, known for challenging the apartheid regime since the mid 1970s, has evolved into an award-winning, world-class theatre in the post-apartheid South Africa. Township tours to Soweto and excursions to see the fossils at Sterkfontein Caves are also recommended.
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