South Africa
SOUTH AFRICAN FACT SHEET
The CEO of (BARSA) The Board of Airline Representative of South Africa, June Crawford, has confirmed that minors who have visas, or who are exempted from visas, if travelling with their parents with the same surname, no longer require a birth certificate when entering the country. The latest advisory, dated 2 April, states that only a passport is needed for children under 18 if they travel with parents on a visa-exempted passport. The DHA (The Department of Home Affairs) advisory makes it clear that, as children from countries that do require a visa need to present their birth certificate when applying for their visa, they do not have to have it with them when travelling. Children not accompanied by both parents will need to carry their birth certificate. If both parents’ names appear in their passport, they do not require a birth certificate. Minors travelling on a South African passport must either have the new passports with both parents’ names or their birth certificate.
The Republic of South Africa is often referred to as ‘A World In One Country’, combining the attributes of an economically developed country with those of the third world. A sophisticated tourist infrastructure makes it possible to enjoy the many facets of this complex country in luxurious comfort.
Professional conservation and land management provide the opportunity to experience high quality and unique game-viewing in both national and Private Game reserves. The country provides a wide variety of natural beauty including mountains, beaches, sub-tropical forest and desert; a photographer’s delight. A hospitable and friendly welcome is afforded to international guests by South Africa’s people. All are eager to share the cultures, customs, traditions and experiences which are not shared by many other countries.
The Republic of South Africa lies at the southern end of the vast African continent. It is flanked by the Indian Ocean on the east and the Atlantic Ocean on the west. It is bordered by Namibia to the north-west, Botswana and Zimbabwe to the north, and by Mocambique to the north-east.
South Africa has an area one eighth the size of the United States and more than 5 times larger than Great Britain. The country is divided into nine provinces – Northern, Western and Eastern Cape, North-West, Free State, Kwazulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Gauteng and Northern province.
HISTORY
It was the great trading combine, the Dutch East India Company, lead by Jan van Riebeeck, which first settled the Cape in 1652, after it’s discovery by Portuguese navigator Bartolomeu Dias in 1488. The purpose: a temporary refreshment post along the enormous sea links to the east. The number of settlers increased with the arrival of the French Huguenot refugees in 1688 and by the British Settlers in 1820 after the British occupation of the Cape. Dissatisfied, the Dutch – the Boer Pioneers – began migrating north and brought about the first major contact between the White and Black populations of South Africa. This caused the advent of large scale frontier clashes and wars, and the establishment of the Boer republics of the Orange Free State and the Transvaal and at the same time the Zulu empire under Shaka burst it’s boundaries in Zululand and various factions spread outwards either in flight from internal conflict, or in conquest.
The tribal migrations, the colonial expansion and the passionate desire of the Boers for their own republics might have achieved a live-and-let-live equilibrium were it not for the discovery of diamonds and gold. That changed everything, masses of fortune hunters – mainly from Britain – poured into South Africa. The result was the three year Anglo-Boer War, which ended in victory for the British, and the establishment of the Union of South Africa in 1910. For the next half-century, the history of South Africa was closely linked with the British Commonwealth. In 1961, the country became a Republic outside of the Commonwealth.
ECONOMY
Since 1886, South Africa has been the world’s leading producer of gold and diamonds and utilizes the most sophisticated mining and extraction techniques currently available. Rich deposits of many other valuable ors are also exported, including platinum, chromium, manganese and fluorine. Blessed with a benevolent climate and fertile soils, the country grows – both for internal use and export – a large range of fresh produce and tropical fruit. Cattle ranching, wine production and fishing also form an important part of South Africa’s economy. Since April 1994, when Nelson Mandela was voted into power, the country has benefitted by major foreign investments from many international countries.
CLIMATE
Mid-winter occurs June thru August and mid-summer December thru February. The climate ranges from Mediterranean in the Cape Peninsula to subtropical on the KwaZulu Natal coast and the north-eastern Gauteng; temperate conditions prevail on the Highveld. In general, a perennially sunny climate means that it’s a pleasure to visit South Africa at any time of the year. December-February is the best time to enjoy a Mediterranean summer in Cape Town, while June to September is the ideal time to visit the game reserves. Climatically South Africa may be divided into two regions:
Cape Coastal Belt: the coastal strip surrounding Cape Town and extending eastwards along the garden Route to Port Elizabeth and northward from Cape Town to the mouth of the Orange River. In Cape Town and its hinterland, summer days are dry and sunny with most of the rain falling in winter. Further east along the Garden Route, the rainfall is distributed evenly throughout the year. Frost is rare, and snow, when it falls, is generally seen on the high mountain ranges.
Other Regions of the Country: these encompass the high inland plateau as well as the hill country of KwaZulu Natal rolling down to the coast, and the Lowveld of Mpumalanga. Over most of these areas rain falls in summer, when temperatures are usually high. In Gauteng, rain falls mainly in the form of late afternoon showers. Some humidity will be found along the KwaZulu Natal coast. Winters are dry. On the high inland areas, winter days are sunny and warm, and nights are cold and crisp.
PLACES OF INTEREST
JOHANNESBURG
Situated in Gauteng 5751 feet above sea level, it is the largest city and commercial centre in South Africa. The city came to be when gold was discovered in 1886; since then it has grown from a shanty town to a modern sophisticated city. Johannesburg is the main gateway to the major tourist regions of Southern Africa.
KRUGER NATIONAL PARK
The first National Park created in Africa, Kruger Park covers an area of over 12,000 square miles of the Mpumalanga bushveld – the natural habitat of hundreds of species of animals and birds. Lion, elephant, giraffe, crocodile, baboon, zebra and a large number and variety of antelope are some of the animals often spotted in a day’s game-viewing. Lilac-breasted rollers, vultures, hornbills, secretary birds – these are a few of the birds that are bound to be seen. The entire region is a gigantic parkland covered with shrubs and trees, with rocky outcrops, an occasional line of hills and watercourses edged with thick dark riverine growth. The park’s rest camps provide comfortable accommodations in huts and chalets, and most camps have a restaurant and curio shop.
CAPE TOWN
“Mother City” is the affectionate term for Cape Town, the oldest city in South Africa and the country’s legislative capital. With Table Mountain as a dramatic backdrop, Cape Town is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Founded in 1652 as a station for the ships of the Dutch East India Company on their way to and from the East, Cape Town has grown to a great modern complex. Cape Town lies at the northern end of the Cape Peninsula which also contains its suburbs, and the busy harbor of Table Bay, fishing villages, extensive vineyards, a spectacularly beautiful marine drive, innumerable beaches along its two shorelines, several nature reserves including the Cape of Good Hope Reserve at the southern tip of the Peninsula, and the world-renowned National Botanical Gardens at Kirstenbosch on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain. The newly-developed Waterfront district offers hotels, restaurants and bistros, a shopping mall, flea markets and African Craft warehouses.
GARDEN ROUTE
The Garden Route runs between Port Elizabeth and Cape Town. The area between Mossel Bay and Storms River runs parallel to the coastline, which features lakes, mountains, golden beaches, cliffs and dense indigenous forests. The Oudtshoorn area in the Little Karoo (a semi desert region) is famous for its Ostrich Show Farms and Cango Caves. Knysna is the artsy district of the country.
DURBAN
Durban, the ‘holiday city’ offers a sub-tropical carnival atmosphere, endless summers, an effervescent ocean lined with golden beaches, and thousands of pleasure options. It is also a large and important harbor. The Port of Durban handles more cargo than any other port along the African coastline. Durban’s sub-tropical climate has made it South Africa’s most popular holiday resort, and is warm enough for swimming and sunbathing in any season. It is a city full of color, bustle and excitement with gleaming seafront hotels and miles of golden beaches edging the blue Indian Ocean. A combination race course and golf club near the centre of the city reinforces the holiday city image. Tennis courts and bowling greens add their quota, as do the restaurants, nightclubs and discotheques. North and south of Durban, a chain of resorts fringe KwaZulu Natal’s Indian Ocean coastline where every taste and budget is catered to.
DRAKENSBERG
Extending for about 1000 miles from the cape Midlands to Northern Gauteng, the Drakensberg is Southern Africa’s principal mountain range, its highest peaks being on the border of KwaZulu Natal and the country of Lesotho. Along the lower slopes of the Natal Drakensberg are some of South Africa’s most appealing country hotels, guest farms and nature reserves. Stone Age paintings decorate the walls of many caves and rocky overhangs, the flora and fauna of the mountains are a source of constant delight to naturalists.
ZULULAND GAME PARKS
Zululand has many splendid game and nature reserves. The best known and most accessible are St. Lucia Game Reserve which is primarily a reserve for hippos and crocodiles, and further inland, Umfolozi, Hluhluwe and Mkuzi, all three of which contain among their varied animal population, both the black and white rhino. Northward, on the border with Mocambique, is Ndumu, noted especially or its unique concentration of birdlife. All these game parks have comfortable hutted camps.
TOURIST INFORMATION
DOCUMENTARY REQUIREMENTS
US citizens must be in possession of a valid passport with at least THREE BLANK PAGES and the passport must be valid for at least 6 months after departure from South Africa. They are very strict about this!
No visas are required at this time.
VACCINATION CERTIFICATES
No inoculations are required if arriving direct from Europe or the United States. Anti-malaria precautions need be taken for the safari regions. If traveling thru a Yellow Fever infected country to get to South Africa, i.e. Brazil, you need a Yellow Fever certificate to board the aircraft
WHAT TO PACK
Dress for outdoor comfort during the day. Comfortable walking shoes, subdued-colored safari outfits and sun hats are recommended for those visiting game parks. The dress code in some finer hotels and restaurants is semi-formal and men may be required to wear jackets and ties, including on the Blue Train and Rovos Rail.
Pack swimsuits and sunglasses, a light sweater or jacket for evening when temperatures may drop. In the game reserves, binoculars are also useful and a small flashlight is essential at night, although most game lodges provide them.
CURRENCY
The currency unit is Rand and R1 = 100 cents. Rates of exchange should be checked with your hotel or bank. Major credit cards are accepted at most hotels, restaurants and stores throughout the country.
SHOPPING HOURS
Shops are open daily from 8am – 5pm with some stores having shorter weekend hours.
LANGUAGE
English and Afrikaans (derived from Dutch) are the two main languages spoken, with several African dialects now being heard more often in the cities.
VOLTAGE
City and town power systems are 220/230 volts AC at 50 cycles per second. As at January 2008, the country is experiencing mandatory power outages for a few hours each day.
WATER
Tap water is purified and safe to drink throughout South Africa.
LOCAL FOOD AND WINE
Most of the dishes served are similar to those in Europe and America, but typical South African dishes include bobotie (a curry dish), sosaties (a type of kebob), various bredies (casseroles), crayfish, and many other seafood dishes traditional to the Western Cape province. The soil and Mediterranean-type climate of the Cape produce some of the finest wines in the world.
TIPPING
It is customary to tip 15% to taxi drivers, waitresses, waiters, stewards and delivery persons. Hotel, airport and railway porters are usually given R4 per bag. On safari, approximately US $10 per person per day for your game ranger, and US $5 pppd for the tracker.
TAXES
There is a current Value Added Tax (VAT) of 14% levied on all goods and services manufactured or rendered within South Africa. You can claim this back when departing from SA by showing the item purchased and the receipt. There are NO Departure Taxes when leaving South Africa. If arriving at Hoedspruit Airport (outside Kruger Park) there is a tax payable of R75 per person, or R80 per person when using the new Mpumalanga Int. Airport. Some airtickets already have this tax built into the price.
