South Africa is one of the
most diverse countries in the world. From Cape Town and the
Garden Route on the South coast to the big five in the Kruger
National Park in the North East and Pilanesberg in
the North West. The visitor can experience a variety of landscapes
includes savannahs, mountains, forests, tropical swamps, endless
beaches, tranquil rivers and bustling urban epicenters, history
from the Bushman to the Dutch and British Colonist, the people
and cultures offer a larger-than-life experience for the traveler
in search of a truly unique and inspiring experience. South
Africa is the place to be.
South Africa's coast line from Namibia in the west
to Mozambique in the east
South Africa has almost 3,000 km's of coast line from the Gariep
River (Orange River) on the Diamond west coast of the Atlantic
down to Cape Town and Cape Agulhas where the two currents of
the cold Benguela crashes into the warm Agulhas, the coast line
continues up the all year round warm Indian Ocean passing through
the diversity of the Wild Coast and Durban.
South Africa is almost five times
the size of the UK and about twice the size of France
South Africa is best known
for its abundant wildlife with its fantastic
birding and eco-tourism possibilities. You can also experience
a variety of scenery and destinations from the BIG 5 African
Wildlife of the many game reserves to the history and Battlefields
of the early pioneers.
South Africa's family tree goes
way back to the start of time. The country has been touted as
the Cradle of Humankind, because it was here that archaeologists
discovered 2,5 million year old fossil of Mrs Ples as well as
the 100 000 year old remains of modern humankind of Homo Hablis.
Many of South Africa's cultures have their roots in an ancient
world of the Bushman of the Kalahari some 25000 yrs ago, whilst
most of the Bantu cultures are relatively new, these migrated
from Central and East African regions around 1200 to 1400 AD.
The People- according to a
statistics census taken in 2011 South Africa's population was
recorded as 48 million people. The results across the racial
groups were: African 80%, White 10%, Colored 8% and Indian/Asian
2%.
Languages- There are 11
official languages spoken in South Africa, namely:
English, Afrikaans, isiNdebele, isiXhosa, isiZulu, Sepedi, Sesotho,
Setswana, siSwati, Tshivenda and Xitsonga. However, English
is largely spoken in most large urban areas of the country,
the rural area's is mostly the cultural language of the chiefdom.
Currency - South Africa's unit
of currency is the Rand (ZAR) which is divided into 100 cents.
Notes are R10, R20, R50, R100 & R200 all displaying the Big 5
of the animal kingdom.
Climate - Many call it sunny
South Africa, for good reason. Warm temperate conditions are typical
of South Africa, making it a popular destination for sunshine-seekers.
South Africa is renowned for almost seven months of sunshine (give
or take a few chilly spells in the higher and southern regions).
From May to August, temperatures drop. However, generally speaking,
April and May are the most temperate months. August and September
are the best months for game viewing as the grass is at it's shortest
after the winter period. In certain areas, however, notably the
hot, humid KwaZulu-Natal coast, Mpumalanga and the Northern Province,
July and August are the ideal holiday months in malaria effected
area's. The wide expanses of ocean on three sides of South Africa
have a moderating influence on its climate. More apparent, however,
are the effects of the warm Agulhas and cold Benguela currents
along the east and west coasts, respectively. While Durban (east
coast) and Port Nolloth (west coast) lie more or less on the same
latitude, there is a difference of at least 6 degrees centigrade
in their mean annual temperatures.
Religion - Almost 80% of South
Africa's population adheres to the Christian faith. Other major
religious groups are the Hindus, Muslims and Jews. A minority
of South Africa's population do not belong to any of the major
religions, but regard themselves as traditionalists or of no specific
religious affiliation. Freedom of worship is guaranteed by the
Constitution, and official policy is one of non-interference in
religious practices.
South Africa Wildlife - Southern
Africa is privileged to have one of the largest variety of animals
anywhere in the world. It is home to more than 920 bird species,
150 mammal species, about 35 snake and 15 lizard species, 11
tortoise species and thousands of invertebrate animals.
Honeymoon in the Kruger National
Park
The small Luxury Private Safari Camps in the Kruger Park are
a favorite for Honeymooners and for that romantic holiday getaway.
Time Zone - South African time
zone is GMT + 2 hrs
Electricity Supply - 220 volts
50 hz, plugs are the large 3 pin round type rated at 15 amps.
Airports -There are 3 world class
airports being Jo'Burg, Cape Town and Durban, some visitors plan
their holidays by arriving at one airport and departing from one
of the others after their vacation
Johannesburg - Known as "Egoli"
the City of Gold, established after the worlds largest gold
deposits where discovered in 1886, today Jo'Burg is a cosmopolitan
city and the Business hub of Africa, nearby is the famous township
of "Soweto" pivotal in the downfall
of the old political structure of inequality.
Jo'Burg is an ideal place to start your tour to South Africa with
the Capital City of Pretoria, Sun City, the Kruger
Park and Blyderiver Canyon, Swaziland and the Anglo-Zulu Battlefields.
Cape Town is possibly one
of the most popular cities in the world and with one visit it
is clear to see why. The mountainous scenery is spectacular,
the rugged coastline is magnificent and the activities to entertain
are endless. The scuba diving in Cape Town provides a great
diversity of marine life; this is attributed to the differences
in sea temperature created by the cold Benguela and warm Agulhas
currents colliding off the Cape peninsula. Whale watching is
one of the best experiences that you'll probably ever see.
South Africa is one of the best-kept secrets in golf
and is fast growing into one of the world's premier destinations.
The fantastic courses and exotic locations provide a unique golfing
experience found nowhere else in the world. It's little
wonder South Africa has established itself as a top golfing destination.
Perfect golfing conditions, the vast and natural beauty of South
Africa's countryside together with the diversity of different
regions and courses all play a part in providing the absolute
best when it comes to golfing.
