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Introduction
The hottest tourist
attraction in South Africa these days is Robben Island,
where former-president Nelson
Mandela spent almost 20 years as a political prisoner,
quarrying lime with pick and shovel. But the transformation
of dreaded prison to tour destination is only part of
South Africa's astonishing evolution from pariah state
to modern statehood -- a process that has been accompanied
by painful setbacks as well as exhilarating victories.
The new South Africa is an exciting place to visit. Cape
Town, with its vibrant nightlife, stylish young people
and beautiful surroundings, has become one of the most
desirable destinations in the world. And South Africa's
natural attractions are as appealing as ever: the green
vineyards and rocky coast of the Cape; the arid landscape
of the Karoo; the rich farmlands of Gauteng and Mpumalanga;
the snowcapped peaks of the Drakensberg range; and the
verdant hills and wide beaches of KwaZulu-Natal. The
country also has more than 300 game and nature reserves,
along with some of the finest lodges on the continent.
Your surroundings can be as wild or as genteel as you
want -- or both.
South Africa's progress
as a nation has been uneven, however, and huge inequities
remain between rich and
poor. Still, there is sense of reconciliation among
the people of South Africa -- and, on the whole, a surprising
lack of animosity between the races.
Capital
Description: Pretoria (administrative) and Cape
Town (legislative) both serve as government seats
Economy: Mining, manufacturing, agriculture.
Language
Description: Afrikaans, English, Zulu, others.
Overview: Major credit cards and traveler's checks are
widely accepted. In cities and large towns, ATMs are
plentiful sources for obtaining local currency. Smaller
towns and villages will often have at least one ATM,
but don't count on it being in working order. For security
reasons, we recommend that you only use ATMs that are
inside a bank or other institution.
Passport/Visa
U.S.: Citizens of Australia, Canada and
the U.S. need passports. A visa is required for citizens
of those countries if in South Africa on a lengthy business
trip. Passports only are required of U.K. citizens. Reconfirm
travel documentation requirements with your carrier before
departure.
Population: 43,421,021
Religion: Christian, Animist.
Telephone
Codes: 27, country code; 21, city code for
Cape Town; 11, city code for Johannesburg; 12, city code
for Pretoria
Time
Zone: 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (+2
GMT). Daylight Saving Time is not observed
Tipping
Overview: Tip taxi drivers about 10%, and give
a small tip to hotel porters. In restaurants, tip 10%-20%
if a service charge has not been added to the bill.
Voltage
Requirements: 220 volts
Recommended Vaccinations
See your doctor at least 4-6 weeks before your trip
to allow time for shots to take effect (as Appropriate
for Age)
- Hepatitis
A - Hepatitis A or immune globulin (IG). Hepatitis
B - Hepatitis B, if you might be exposed to blood (for
example, health-care workers), have sexual contact with
the local population, stay longer than 6 months, or be
exposed through medical treatment.
- Rabies - Rabies, if
you might be exposed to wild or domestic animals through
your work or recreation.
- Booster Shots - As needed, booster
doses for tetanus-diphtheria and measles, and a one-time
dose of polio for adults.
- Hepatitis B vaccine is now
recommended for all infants and for children ages 11-12
years who did not receive the series as infants.
- Typhoid - Typhoid, particularly if you are visiting developing
countries in this region.
Safety Information
Travelers' Diarrhea:
Food and waterborne diseases are the number one cause
of illness in travelers. Travelers'
Diarrhea can be caused by viruses, bacteria, or parasites,
which are found throughout Southern Africa and can contaminate
food or water. Infections may cause diarrhea and vomiting
(E. coli, Salmonella, cholera, and parasites), fever
(typhoid fever and toxoplasmosis), or liver damage (hepatitis).
Make sure your food and drinking water are safe.
Malaria: Malaria
is a preventable infection that can be fatal if left
untreated. Prevent infection by taking
prescription antimalarial drugs and protecting yourself
against mosquito bites. Most travelers to Southern
Africa should take mefloquine to prevent malaria. Risk
for malaria
exists all year in the northern part of Botswana, rural
areas of South Africa, all nonmountainous areas of
Swaziland, and all areas of Zimbabwe except the cities
of Harare
and Bulawayo. There is no reported risk for travelers
visiting Lesotho and St. Helena. For more detailed
information about risk in specific locations, see Malaria
in Southern
Africa[on the CDC website].
Yellow
Fever Vaccination Certificate: A certificate of yellow fever vaccination
may be required for entry
into certain of these countries if you are coming
from a country in tropical South America or sub-Saharan
Africa. (There is no risk for yellow fever in Southern
Africa.)
For detailed information, see Comprehensive Yellow
Fever Vaccination Requirements[on the CDC website].
Insect
Carried Diseases: Dengue, filariasis, leishmaniasis, onchocerciasis,
and trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness)
are other diseases carried by insects that also
occur in this region. Protecting yourself against insect
bites will help to prevent these diseases.
Schistosomiasis: Schistosomiasis, a parasitic infection, is found in fresh
water in this region.
Do not swim
in fresh water (except in well-chlorinated swimming
pools)
in Southern African countries.
Motor
Vehicle Crashes: Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of
injury among travelers.
Walk
and drive
defensively.
Avoid nighttime travel if possible and always
use seat belts.
The information contained above is intended for general
reference purposes only and is neither a complete medical
guide for travelers to this region nor a substitute for
professional medical advice or a medical exam. In addition,
conditions change over time and the recommendations for
various countries at the time you travel may differ from
the information contained above. Recommendations may
also differ for pregnant women, young children, and persons
who have chronic medical conditions. Always seek the
advice of your physician or other qualified health professional
or visit the CDC website for specific information related
to your needs and your medical history.
South Africa Dining
South African cuisine, or Cape cuisine as it's called,
is a blend of Dutch, French, German and Malay flavors
typically applied to lamb, beef or seafood. In the local
restaurants, try bredie (braised and stewed mutton and
vegetables), saltwater crayfish (like lobsters, but without
the claws) and bobotie (a curried meat dish). Braai is
a South African barbecue usually featuring a spicy sausage
called boerewors. You'll find many Chinese, French, Portuguese
and Indian restaurants as well. The private game reserves
often serve wild game in their restaurants (gazelle and
wild boar are good, though the latter can be tough).
South African wines are both excellent and inexpensive.
South Africa Shopping
The value of the rand against most foreign currencies
makes South Africa one of the most inexpensive sources
of African souvenirs. Semiprecious stones, gold and diamonds
are very reasonable, and the best prices are usually
found in Cape Town and Johannesburg. Beadwork, wood carvings,
baskets and woven rugs are some of the most popular handicrafts
available. And don't be surprised if you come across
traditional crafts made from nontraditional resources
(like a basket woven with wire instead of reed). South
Africa is a great place to buy art from all over Africa.
While you might pay a bit more, the quality will be high
and shipping will be much easier than elsewhere on the
continent.
South Africa Climate
The climate is mild throughout South Africa. There's
really not a bad time to visit, but October is our favorite
month -- it's spring then, an ideal season for touring.
Snow is a possibility June-August in the mountain areas.
It generally rains in the afternoon during the summer
(November-February) everywhere in the country except
in the Cape Province, where it rains during the winter.
Durban has a very moderate climate, with swimming possible
year-round. November-February is best for Cape Town.
During the rest of the year, it's usually quite cool,
often rainy/windy/foggy and too cold to lie on the beach.
Johannesburg, at 5,700 ft/1,735 m above sea level, can
be quite cool in the winter.
Those who go to South Africa specifically for animal
viewing may want to go during winter -- grass is short,
and the animals tend to gather around watering holes.
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South Africa Travel Information
