- Capital: Cape Town, Bloemfontein, Pretoria
- Time Zone: GMT +2
- Currency: The South African unit of currency is the Rand, officially called the ZAR (South African Rand). Preferably exchange your money or make a withdrawal on arrival in South Africa. This exchange or withdrawal will be made at the official daily rate. Euro-cheques are not accepted in South Africa, so we recommend you make use of either traveller’s cheques or a credit card. International credit cards, with the possible exception of American Express, are accepted at most hotels, shops and restaurants.
South Africa occupies the southern tip of Africa, its long coastline stretching more than 2 500 km from the desert border with Namibia on the Atlantic coast, southwards around the tip of Africa, then north to the border with Mozambique on the Indian Ocean. Going from west to east, South Africa shares long borders with Namibia and Botswana, touches Zimbabwe, has a strip of border with Mozambique to the east, and lastly curves in around Swaziland before rejoining Mozambique’s southern border. In the interior is the small mountainous country of Lesotho, completely surrounded by South African territory.
Cities
Pretoria
Pretoria is the administrative capital of South Africa. Also known as the City of Jacarandas because of its thousands of jacarandas, it is home to universities and government buildings. The semi-circular Union Buildings house the offices of the President, and was the site of Nelson Mandela’s inauguration. Nearby is the Voortrekker Monument, a tribute to the 19th-century Afrikaner settlers from the Cape Colony.
Cape Town
Cape Town is a port city located on the south-west coast of South Africa, on a peninsula dominated by the imposing Table Mountain. Cable cars slowly climb to its flat summit offering unobstructed views of the city, the bustling harbor and boats to Robben Island, the famous prison where Nelson Mandela was detained, now a living museum.
Johannesburg
Is the largest city in South Africa and the capital of Gauteng Province. It developed after the discovery of gold on the site in the nineteenth century. The vast township of Soweto welcomed Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu. The former home of Nelson Mandela has now become the Nelson Mandela Museum. Soweto also has museums devoted to the fight against segregation, including the sober Apartheid Museum and Constitution Hill, a former prison.
Durban
A coastal town in KwaZulu-Natal province in eastern South Africa, is known for its African, Indian and colonial influences. Rehabilitated for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the seaside promenade stretches from the gigantic uShaka Marine World theme park, with its aquarium, to the futuristic Moses Mabhida stadium. The Durban Botanical Gardens are home to endemic plant species from Africa.
Kruger Park
Kruger National Park is located in northeastern South Africa. It is now the largest national park in the country with changing scenery, from mountains to plains and tropical forests. This incredible place will allow you to discover one of the largest animal reserves in Africa, where you will have the chance to observe the inevitable “Big 5”: lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants and buffaloes. The observation of birds and reptiles is also very popular with over a hundred different species.
Language
Although there are 11 official languages, English and Afrikaans are spoken throughout the country.
Electricity
220 volt, three-pin plugs are freely available for purchase in South Africa, and in many hotels they may be obtained from reception in exchange for a small deposit.
Entry requirements
Kindly make sure to have the proper documents
required to enter the countries you are visiting. Please refer to www.travel.gc.ca for updated information. Regarding visas, you can refer to the link: www.travel.gc.ca/travelling/advisories.
Failure to obtain these documents prior to travel can result in being denied entry or exit from the country.
Communication
International access code: 00 International dialing code: 27 Concerning national calls made in South Africa, it is not necessary to dial the 27 country code. If you are calling from Canada, please dial 011, then 27 and finally the local phone number in South Africa.