GENERAL

Although South Africans come from many cultural traditions, they belong to one nation, a dynamic blend of age-old customs and modern ways, building a South African society to create a better life for all.
 

South Africa is one of the most diverse and interesting countries in the world. Tourists flock to South Africa for its natural beauty, wildlife and sunshine. South Africa's immensely varied terrain supports a rich diversity of animals, birds, and plant-life and offers an incomparable range of experiences.

Best Times to Visit South Africa:

South Africa is an all year destination so when you visit depends on what you intend and prefer to do. Although the 2008 World Carp Angling Championships take place in October, at which time a lot of fish will be caught, the best time for freshwater fishing is actually form November to February. The best time for game viewing is August to October; whales can be seen off our coasts from June to October, and the humpback whales from August to December.

Location and Climate:

South Africa is located on the southern tip of the African continent, bordered by northern neighbours Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. It encompasses the independent mountain kingdoms of Lesotho and Swaziland and is flanked by the Atlantic Ocean on the west and the warm Indian Ocean on the east - giving the country its spectacular range of biodiversity.

South Africa enjoys a temperate and pleasant climate, with warm sunny days most of the year. The seasons of the southern hemisphere are opposite to those in the northern hemisphere so our summer runs from November to February, when most of the country is characterised by warm to hot weather. The temperature in Bloemhof were the 2008 Carp Angling Championships will be held in October very on average from a low of 10 to ‘n high of 30 degrees Celsius.

The people and Languages:

South Africans have been referred to as the 'rainbow nation', a title which illuminates the country's cultural diversity. The population of South Africa is one of the most complex and diverse in the world. Of the 45 million South Africans, nearly 31 million are Black, 5 million White, 3 million Coloured (a term used peoples of mixed African, Asian and white descent) and one million Indian. The population density is 32.9 people per km²

There are 11 officially recognised languages, most of which are indigenous to South Africa. English is spoken everywhere you go. English is the language of the cities, of commerce and banking, of government and official documents. All our road signs and official forms are in English and at any hotel, Bed and Breakfast or Guest House the service staff will speak English. Other languages you can expect to hear are Xhosa, Zulu and Afrikaans.

What can you expect:

When visiting South Africa, whether you are young or old, there's an adventure option within your fitness range that will add a lot of fun to your life. There are plenty to choose from and the choice is growing all the time. Intrepid, ultra-fit thrill-seekers opt for hair raising stunts such as bungee jumping, riding the rapids, diving with great white sharks, and leaping from the skies with parachutes strapped to their backs. Hikers follow adventure trails, climbers scale the mountain peaks, and anglers stand thigh-high in streams waiting for trout to snatch the fly.

Standard Time:

South African standard Time is two hours in advance of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT + 2), one hour in advance of central European winter time and seven hours in advance of United States eastern standard time throughout the year. There are no time zone differences within the country.

World-class infrastructure:

South Africa has world-class infrastructure - including a modern transport system, low-cost and widely available energy, and sophisticated telecommunications facilities. Modern highways, trains and airways make travel in SA comfortable and convenient. And the many ports serve as conduits for trade with South Africa's partners in Africa and the rest of the world.