South Africa Destination Guide

The place

There are some amazing experiences to be had on any visit to South Africa but it is a big country and you will need to travel to get to them. Some of the distances are vast, so will almost certainly involve some internal flights. Car hire is recommended for more local sightseeing in Cape Town and the Garden Route - driving is on the left and roads are generally good, so this is a great way to see the country.

The culture

The "rainbow nation" has 11 official languages, boasts a kaleidoscope of different cultures, religions and traditions and is a visual showpiece for the international tourist. South Africa's history of Apartheid has been well documented and even though democracy was only achieved in 1994, the people show a new spirit of pride in their multi-ethnic roots.

The shopping

In the cities, shopping malls selling mainstream goods can be found, but many of the more interesting stores have moved into side streets, so don’t neglect them. The main attraction is a fine range of handcrafted goods, including authentic African art and beautiful jewellery made from locally mined gold.

The nightlife

Try the typical South African "farmhouse" cooking. Seafood and curries are staples and the barbecue, known locally as a "braai", is a South African way of life. Meat is big! South African wines have gained a worldwide reputation and should, of course, be appreciated in their homeland! Eating out is amazing value for money. Outside the cities, nightlife is limited.

The facts

Geography: a vast country, five times the size of Great Britain with a population of 41 million. The scenery ranges from bush lands, arid flat lands, mountains, forests and magnificent seascapes.

Language: - English, Afrikaans and nine "majority languages"!

Passports: you will need a full British passport valid for a minimum of six months beyond your date of return. Two clear pages are required.

Visas - Visas are not required for full British passport holders. Non-British passport holders should check with the relevant embassy for documentation requirements.

Vaccinations: Vaccinations are recommended. For further information, please consult your doctor. Some of the game parks are malarial and a course of malaria tablets is highly recommended.

Travelling time: Johannesburg is approximately 11 hours and Cape Town is 12 hours by non-stop flight from the UK

Local time: GMT + 2 hours

Currency: South African Rand

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