South Africa

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Overview

Covering a huge swathe of land, washed by the Atlantic and Indian oceans, South Africa has enormous wealth above and below ground, making it one of the richest natural storehouses on the planet.

In 1869, diamonds (and, later, gold) were discovered, attracting huge numbers of fortune hunters. President Paul Kruger of the Transvaal (now Gauteng) invoked strict franchise requirements. Britain's attempts at intervention resulted in the Anglo-Boer War; the British victory in 1902 established the Union of South Africa in 1910.

In 1948, the National Party came to power and cemented the policy of apartheid - officially, the separate development of all racial groups but, effectively, the creation of semi-autonomous 'homelands' for non-whites and the preservation of white supremacy.

In 1989, FW De Klerk became national party president, removed the ban of anti-apartheid groups, and released the jailed ANC leadership including, after 27 years of imprisonment, its leader, Nelson Mandela.

By 1993, all three main parties (ANC, Inkatha and the National Party) had laid out a blueprint for a new constitutional future for South Africa, the centrepiece of which was the first genuinely inclusive national election in South Africa, held in 1994. Nelson Mandela became the country's president.

As the attention shifted away from politics, the focus once again landed on South Africa's magnificent landscape; its desert dunes, savannah, subtropical forests and white-sand coast. Its game viewing equals the best in Africa: where else can you find both penguins and elephants? There are over 1,000 bird species, and the Western Cape alone has one of the richest floral kingdoms in the world.

The country's fascinating human and cultural history does not just start in apartheid, but stretches back to the aboriginal San (Bushmen) and Khoikhoi, through the black African peoples to the latest arrivals, the Afrikaans and British. Archbishop Desmond Tutu named the newly integrated South Africa 'the rainbow nation'. It is a fitting name for a country with 11 official languages and people of all colours, race and creed, living in a vividly coloured and sculpted landscape. No wonder its cities are so cosmopolitan.

The South Africans are charming hosts; most speak English, and all have a fascinating story to tell.

Area : 1,219,192 sq km (470,693 sq miles).
Population : 46 million (UN estimate 2005).
Population Density : 36.8 per sq km.
Capital : Pretoria (administrative). Population: 1.98 million (2001). Cape Town (legislative) population: 2.89 million (2001). Bloemfontein (judicial) population: 119,698 (2001).
Government
Republic. Gained independence from the UK in 1910.
Language : The official languages are Afrikaans, English, isiNdebele, isiXhosa, isiZulu, Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, Siswati, Tshivenda and Xitsonga.
Religion : Most inhabitants profess Christianity of some form and belong to either Catholic, Anglican and other protestant denominations, Afrikaner Calvinist churches or African independent churches. There are also significant Hindu, Muslim and Jewish communities, and traditional beliefs are still practised widely, sometimes in conjunction with Christianity.
Time : GMT + 2.

Social Conventions : Handshaking is the usual form of greeting. Normal courtesies should be shown when visiting someone's home. Casual wear is widely acceptable. Formal social functions often call for a dinner jacket and black tie for men and full-length dresses for women; this will be specified on the invitation. Smoking is prohibited in public buildings and on public transport.
Electricity : 220/240 volts AC; 250 volts AC (Pretoria), 50Hz. Three-pin round plugs are in use.
Head of State : President Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki since 1999.

Culture

Food and Drink
A thriving agricultural sector yields excellent fresh produce, meat, fruit and wines and the long coastline produces very fresh and cheap.

Things to know: Bars/cocktail lounges have bartender service. 'Liquor stores' are open weekdays 0900-1800 and Sat 0900-1300, although alcohol is now available in supermarkets outside these hours and under certain circumstances on a Sunday.

National specialities:
o Sosaties (a type of kebab).
o Bobotie (a curried mince dish, of which waterbolmmetjiebredie, made with a local water plant, is particularly good).
o Potjiekos (a casserole cooked for hours in an iron pot, usually outside).
o Bredies (meat, tomato and vegetable casseroles).
o Biltong (seasoned dried meat).

National drinks:
o Umqombothi, a home-brewed sorghum beer.
o Excellent local red and white wines (including chardonnay), sherries, brandies and some unusual liqueurs.

Tipping: Normally 10 to 15% if service is not included. It is customary to tip waiters. By law, hotel rates do not include a service charge.

Nightlife
Cinemas show a variety of international films. In the large cities, there are regular plays, operas and symphony concerts. The local music scene is thriving, and there is a unique South African township jazz style, exponents of which can be seen in all large cities. There are a number of nightclubs open until late. The large hotels usually have live music or cabaret.

Shopping
Upmarket boutiques and supermarkets generally coexist with a mass of street traders selling arts, crafts and anything else profitable. Special purchases include Swakara hand-crafted gold, coats, gold, diamond and semi-precious stone jewellery, leather, suede and fur goods, ceramics and crafts, of which there are now a bewildering variety including many from the rest of the continent. Local wine, brandy and liqueur are cheap and usually excellent.

Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700, Sat 0900-1400, although there is an increasing trend to open later and all weekend in major tourist spots.

Environment

Climate
South Africa's climate is generally sunny and pleasant. Winters are usually mild, although snow falls on the mountain ranges of the Cape and Natal and occasionally in lower-lying areas, when a brief cold spell can be expected throughout the country.

Required Clothing
Lightweight cottons and linens and rainwear. Warmer clothes are needed for winter.

The Republic of South Africa lies at the southern end of the African continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the east and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and is bordered to the north by Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Swaziland and totally encloses Lesotho. South Africa has three major geographical regions, namely plateau, mountains and the coastal belt. The high plateau has sharp escarpments which rise above the plains, or veld. Despite two major river systems, the Limpopo and the Orange, most of the plateau lacks surface water. Along the coastline are sandy beaches and rocky coves, and the vegetation is shrublike. The mountainous regions which run along the coastline from the Cape of Good Hope to the Limpopo Valley in the northeast of the country are split into the Drakensberg, Nuweveldberg and Stormberg ranges. Following the 1994 elections, South Africa was organised into nine regions. These comprise the Western Cape with its provincial and national capital of Cape Town, the Eastern Cape with its provincial capital of Bisho, the Northern Cape with its provincial capital of Kimberley, KwaZulu-Natal with its provincial capital of Pietermaritzburg, the Free State with its provincial capital of Bloemfontein, the North West Province with its provincial capital of Mmabatho, Limpopo (formerly called the Northern Province) with its provincial capital of Polokwane (formerly called Pietersburg), Mpumalanga with its provincial capital of Nelspruit, and Gauteng with its provincial capital of Johannesburg.

Money

Currency
Rand (ZAR) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of ZAR200, 100, 50, 20 and 10. Coins are in denominations of ZAR5, 2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents.
Currency Exchange
Money can be changed at banks, bureaux de change, some hotels, and larger shops and restaurants. Automated foreign exchange machines are available at various locations. Proof of identify may be requested; therefore, it is advisable to carry a passport.
Credit/Debit Cards and ATMs
MasterCard and Visa are preferred. American Express and Diners Club are also widely accepted. ATMs are available. Some ATMs will give cash advances with credit cards. Credit cards are not accepted at petrol stations.
Traveller's Cheques
Valid at banks, hotels, restaurants and shops. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller's cheques in Pounds Sterling or US Dollars.
Banking Hours
Mon-Fri 0900-1530, Sat 0830-1100.
Duty Free
The following goods may be imported into South Africa by passengers over 18 years of age without incurring customs duty:
o 200 cigarettes and 50 cigars and 250g of tobacco.
o 1l of spirits or liquor and 2l of wine.
o 50ml of perfume and 250ml of eau de toilette.
o Other goods up to a value of ZAR3000.
Restricted items
Plants and plant material without import permit, including margarine, honey and other vegetable oils.
Prohibited Imports
Narcotics; flick-knives; ammunition, explosives; meat, processed cheese and other dairy products; obscene literature.

Traveller's Guide

Passport Note
Passport must have at least one blank page for entry stamp. This cannot include the 'endorsement' page at the back. Passengers who also require a visa must have a passport with two blank facing pages, one for the visa and one for their entry stamp. Anyone attempting to enter South Africa without the required pages will be returned to their country of origin.
Passports
Passport valid for at least 30 days after the intended date of departure required.
Visas
Not required for stays of up to 90 days for business and tourist purposes, except the following :
(a) 1. nationals of Cyprus, Hungary, Poland and Slovak Republic who may stay for up to 30 days, and nationals of Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania and Slovenia who do require a visa, unless transit passengers continuing their journey by the same or first connecting aircraft provided holding onward or return documentation and not leaving the airport (advance notice of overnight stay is required).
Visa Note
(a) Proof of financial means may be required. (b) Unaccompanied children under the age of 18 years must hold written consent from their parents when travelling alone.
Types of Visa and Cost
Visitors, Transit: £35. Study Permits: £35 (depending on level of education). Business Permit: £125. UK nationals are exempt from visa fees.
Validity
Dependent on length of stay requested. Permits may be extended if done so 30 days prior to expiry of original permit.
Applications to:
Consulate (or consular section at embassy or high commission); see Contact Addresses. Applicants in countries where South Africa is not represented may send their applications to the embassy in the nearest country.
Working Days Required
10 calendar days.

Contact Addresses

South African Tourism Board (SATOUR) in the UK
Street address: 6 Alt Grove, Wimbledon, London SW19 4DZ, UK
Postal address: PO Box 49110, Wimbledon, London SW19 4XZ, UK
Tel: (020) 8971 9350 or 0870 155 0044 (tourism enquiry line and brochure request).
Website: www.southafrica.net

South African High Commission in the UK
South Africa House, Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DP, UK
Tel: (020) 7451 7299.
Website: www.southafricahouse.com
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700.

South African Consulate in the UK
15 Whitehall, London SW1A 2DD, UK
Tel: (020) 7925 8900/01/10 or 16 (for appointment booking line).
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0845-1245 (appointments only), 1500-1600 (collections).
Website: www.southafricahouse.com/Consulate.htm

Embassy of the Republic of South Africa in the USA
3051 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 232 4400 .
Website: www.saembassy.org

South African Consulate in the USA
Street address: 4301 Connecticut Ave, NW, Van Ness Building, Suite 220, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Postal Address: 3051 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 274 7991.
South African Tourism Board (SATOUR) in the USA
500 Fifth Avenue, 20th Floor, Suite 2040, New York, NY 10110, USA
Tel: (212) 730 2929.
Website: www.southafrica.net

Health Care
Medical facilities are good in urban areas but limited elsewhere. Doctors and hospitals often require immediate cash payment. Comprehensive health insurance is recommended. A leaflet on health precautions is available from the South African High Commission (see Contact Addresses).

Note
* A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over one year of age arriving from an infected area.

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