ABOUT SOUTH AFRICA
LocationThe Republic of South Africa is located on the southern tip of Africa from latitudes 22° and 35° south and from longitudes 17° to 33° east. South Africa is 1,219,090 million square kilometres in size and is approximately one seventh the size of the USA. In the northwest, north and northeast Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and the Kingdom of Swaziland border South Africa. Landlocked inside South Africa is the Kingdom of Lesotho. On the east, South Africa is flanked by the Indian Ocean and on the south and west by the Atlantic Ocean. South Africa has a coastline of about 3000 kilometres. Ocean CurrentsThe warm Mozambique-Agulhas current flows along the eastern and southern coastlines whereas the cold Benguela current flows from south to north along the western coastline. These currents meet at Cape Agulhas, the southernmost point of South Africa. The two currents differ in temperature and make for a wide diversity of marine life along the South African coastline. It also brings about a remarkable difference in the vegetation type along the east coast and the west coast. The warm water of the east coast is not nearly as rich in phosphates, nitrates plankton and oxygen as that of the west coast and its abundant marine life. The fishing industry is mainly based on the west coast, due to the prolific marine life and abundance of fish species, caused by the cold Benguela current flowing along the west coast. ProvincesSouth Africa has 9 provinces namely:
Major CitiesPretoria is the administrative Capital City of South Africa. Other major cities are Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Bloemfontein, Port Elizabeth and East London. Name changes of cities, towns, places of interest and morePlease note! Many cities, towns, roads, buildings, rivers, dams, mountains, regions and places of interest have been renamed during the last few years. In cases of uncertainty please consult a local travel agent. MoneyThe Rand is the official monetary unit. One Rand is a hundred cents. Culture, people and languagesAt the last census in October 2001, South Africa officially had about 45 million people. South Africa has a unique diversity of cultures, religions and lifestyles. Although many more languages are spoken in South Africa, there are 11 official languages and sign language written into the constitution. The 11 official languages are English, Afrikaans, IsiZulu, Tshivenda, Xitshonga, SiSwati, Sepedi, Sesotho, IsiNdebele, Setswana and isiXhosa. English is spoken generally throughout South Africa. Climate, Seasons & RainfallSouth Africa is mainly semi-arid with a subtropical climate along the east coast. It is generally sunny and most of the country has summer rainfall, however the southern part (Western Cape Province and surrounds) has a mediterranean climate and winter rainfall. South Africa has an average rainfall of about 460 millimetres per year and to compare, the world average is about 860 millimetres. SeasonsSpring and Summer: September to March. The best time of the year to visit South Africa depends on personal preferences as every season has its advantages. Generally, April and May are the most pleasant months with the most moderate temperatures. October to April are ideal months to visit our south and western coastal areas. April to October are the best months to visit our eastern coastline and subtropical region, as well as the game reserves, wildlife areas and national parks, especially in the northern and northeastern part of South Africa. |
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Cuisine and WineCuisine These must rank amongst the finest in the world with meals catering to every taste. South Africa;s fresh produce, meat, fish and wines are of the finest quality. Visitors can select from a large variety of affordable meals and dishes at the various establishments throughout the country. All tastes are catered for, from the Western and European, to the traditional, African, and exotic Eastern dishes. Restaurants serving cultural dishes from all over the world can be found in most of the large cities. Throughout the country, there are establishments that serve traditional South African meals such as Bobotie (a curried Cape Malay dish), Sosaties (a type of Kebab), Bredie (meat and vegetable casserole), Waterblommetjiebredie (a dish made from mutton and indigenous water lily), Afval (a traditional Afrikaner meal of tripe) and many more. On a cultural excursion or tour you can savour some of the following traditional African dishes or meals: Pap and Sheba (cooked maize or corn meal with gravy), Marog (wild spinach either alone or mixed with potato), Braaivleis (a variety of barbecued meat) usually eaten with pap (cooked corn meal) and gravy, Biltong (dried salted meat strips similar to beef or venison jerky), Masonja (mopanie worms), flying ants and many more. You could also try some traditional drinks like Tshwala and Mqombothi which are traditional African drinks as well as marula beer (a brew made of the fruit of the Marula tree) and iLala palm brew (made out of the rootsap of the iLala palm). Wines South Africa is also well known for its large variety of quality wine, which compares favourably with the best and can be found in establishments all over the world. The main wine producing area is the Western Cape region with its Mediterranean climate. Arts and cultureWith all the many languages spoken throughout South Africa and a complex history, the country has a vibrant arts and culture tradition. Visitors can experience or visit music and dance, arts and crafts, performing arts, literature, films, museums and monuments, visual arts, and living culture. There is also an abundance of national and regional arts festivals. Religion All the major religions of the world are represented in South Africa. Time South Africa is 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time and 6 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time, USA. Agriculture Agriculture is one of the sectors that employ the most people. Major agricultural produce includes maize, corn, grain sorghum, cotton, tobacco, wheat, sugarcane, fruits (citrus and other) and vegetables. Major livestock produce includes cattle, dairy products, sheep, wool, pigs, poultry, goats, ostriches, and wildlife products. Industry Besides the very large service industry, which employ the majority of people in SA, there are also textiles, automobile assembly, iron and steel, fertilizer, machinery, metalworking, chemicals, foodstuffs, oil and natural gas production, mining Mining and Minerals South Africa is the world’s largest producer of gold, platinum and chromium. South Africa has the deepest gold mine in the world extending about 3.5 kilometres. There are several shafts in various mines deeper than 3 kilometres. Besides the above other minerals that are mined include diamonds, other precious minerals, coal, uranium, iron ore, antimony, nickel, manganese, tin, phosphates, copper, vanadium, salt. Transport With over 500 000 kilometres of streets and roads, South Africa has the largest road network of any country in Africa. The public transport network consists of buses, trains and aeroplanes, with private taxis available in all the large cities and in many smaller cities and towns. Major Harbours & Ports Saldanha Bay, Cape Town, Mossel Bay, Port Elizabeth, East London, Durban and Richards Bay Major Airports The largest and busiest airport is the OR Tambo International Airport near Johannesburg (formerly called the Johannesburg International Airport and before that, the Jan Smuts Airport). Cape Town International Airport is also one of the largest and busiest airports. Other major airports are Durban, Port Elizabeth and Bloemfontein. Domestic flights are available to all major cities and many towns. Charter flights are available to other areas. Accommodation Standards and services are generally of a high quality. Accommodation facilities to choose from, ranging from backpacking accommodation to the most luxurious hotels. Main Attractions in South Africa Nature scenery, wildlife and wilderness areas, national parks, private game reserves, mountains, coastlines, adventure activities, museums and monuments, cultural villages. World Heritage Sites South Africa has eight World Heritage Sites. They are:
For more info about these sites visit: UNESCO World Heritage Sites/South Africa Wetlands South Africa has 17 wetlands on the list of Ramsar Wetlands of International Importance. Rivers and Dams Of the many rivers in South Africa, the two largest are the Orange River or Gariep which flows west and the Limpopo River, which like most rivers in the country, flows east. Mountains Of the mountain ranges in South Africa, the largest is the Drakensberg / Maluti with highest peaks above 3400 m. Electricity The power supply is 220 / 230 / 250 Volts AC but conversion or adapters plugs can be bought if needed. Many hotels have sockets for 110 / 220 volts which can be used for hairdryers, shavers and other appliances. National Symbols
Besides the South African Flag and Coat of Arms, the following fauna and flora
are also national symbols:
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