South Africa Travel Guide
Endowed with glorious beaches, gracious winelands, cosmopolitan cities and sanctuaries teeming with game, South Africa offers the visitor an endless range of excellent options.
Climate:The climate is generally pleasant throughout the year but the best time to visit for game viewing is July to October and from November to April for general touring.
Getting There
Air: There are flights from many European capitals to Johannesburg. Malaysia and Qantas Airways provide flights from Asia and Australia. The regional routes are covered by South Africa Airways (SAA), Alliance Air, Uganda Airlines, Air Botswana, Comair, Royal Swazi and Air Zimbabwe among others.
Road: There are regular scheduled buses between Johannesburg and Gaborone in Botswana, Mbabane in Swaziland and Bulawayo in Zimbabwe and between Cape Town and Windhoek in Namibia.
Rail: A train runs from Komati on the Mozambique border to Johannesburg three times a week. There are weekly services between Bulawayo and Johannesburg via Gaborone, and between Harare and Johannesburg.
Sea: The Unicorn lines cargo vessels sail weekly between Nacala in Mozambique and Durban.
Travel Around
Air: There are daily flights to most destinations. South African Airways offers internal services. There are also several regional airlines.
Road: There are minibuses providing services between many places in the country. Most major roads are excellent. Buses also operate round the country; Translux and Greyhound are the popular operators.
Rail: There is a railway network connecting major cities. The Blue Train is the famous train running between Pretoria, Johannesburg and Cape Town. There are also metro services in and around several cities.
Travel Highlights
Cape Town, with its familiar landmark, Table Mountain, remains a favourite destination. The wine estates and quality wines produced there attract great interest.
Any visitor to Johannesburg should also include a visit to Gold Reef City, while to the north-west of the “City of Gold” lies Sun City, South Africa’s answer to Las Vegas.
At Gold reef city, six kilometres outside Johannesburg on the M1, you can watch molten gold being poured and take a trip down an old mine shaft. Other attractions include a Victorian fun-fair, miners’ houses, a brewery, pubs, restaurants and a stock exchange.
Accommodation: Hotels are the cheapest option; they are very common in cities like Johannesburg, Durban , and Cape town. Camping spaces are available at many hostels. There are also a good number of magnificent hotels and lodges in notable cities and towns.
Post and Communication: Post offices are available and efficient. There are also many phone centres where one can cash and call. Internet cafes are available in big cities.
Driving: Driving is done on the left-hand side of the road. You will need an international driving permit.
Electricity: South Africa uses 220/230 volts 50Hz. Three pin round plugs are commonly used.
Tipping: It is customary to tip caddies, taxi drivers, hotel and railway porters, chambermaids, stewards, waiters and tour guides.
Food: Try the traditional Cape cuisine which is an intriguing mix of Malay and Dutch. There is also a traditional sausage called Boerewors. There is a wide range of wines in South Africa. Blanc de Blanc and Chemin Blank are some of the most available blends.
Culture: Insights into South African tradition can be seen at various museums. There is also a big Arts Alive Festival, showcasing South African music and culture. The Voortrekker Monument and Museum holds a thrilling history of the Boers.
Health: Visitors are advised to obtain medical insurance prior to leaving their country of origin. There are no major health risks associated with travelling however.
Language: There are 12 official national languages including Ndebele, SeSotho, Lebowa, SiSwati, Xitsonga, SeTswana, Tshivenda, Xosha and Zulu.
Currency: International credit cards and traveller’s cheques are widely accepted. Foreign currency may be exchanged at commercial banks. Rand notes are issued in 100, 50, 20 and 10 denominations.
Entertainment: Cities provide a wide array of entertainment including cinemas and discotheques.
Shopping: A wide collection of traditional items can be bought from shops and markets.
Popular Searches