South Africa     •       Cape Town      •      Cape Winelands     •     Garden Route      •      Kruger National Park      •     North West

Facts about South Africa

GOVERNMENT: South Africa is a Republic and has been a democratically elected Government since May 1994. Nelson Mandela was the first democratically elected President of the new South Africa, followed by his Excellency Thabo Mbeki, who was elected President in 1999. The current President is President Kgalema Motlanthe who was elected in 2009.

GEOGRAPHY: South Africa is located on the continent’s southern tip, with the Atlantic Ocean bordering it on the west and the Indian Ocean bordering it on the south and east. Countries that border South Africa are Nambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Mozambique, and Swaziland. This country is made up of various ethnic groups with a population of approximately 45 million people. South Africa is demarcated into nine provinces, each with its own capital. These provinces are the Gauteng, Northern Province, Mpumalanga, North West, KwaZulu/Natal, Eastern Cape, Western Cape, Northern Cape, and Free State.

CAPITAL: Pretoria is the administrative capital, Cape Town is the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein is the judicial capital. The international gateway into South Africa is Johannesburg. Other large cities include Durban, Cape Town, and Port Elizabeth.

CURRENCY: Rand.

LANGUAGES: South Africa currently has 11 official languages, with English being spoken throughout the country.

CLIMATE: As the country lies in the southern hemisphere, the seasons in South Africa are reverse of those in the northern hemisphere. Summer months are December through April. December and January are the main holiday months and bring delightfully warm days. Gauteng and the northern safari regions frequently have rain and thunderstorms, lasting no more than a few hours. South Africa has mild winters during the months from May to November. Days are refreshingly warm with cold nights.

WHEN TO GO: Although anytime of year is perfect for a South African vacation, the best time to view the game is from June through September, when the grass is dry and short, making it easier to see the game. January through March allows the opportunity to see the newborn babies and the beauty of a new earth after the rains. The whales come to Cape Town and the Garden Route from July through November.

VISAS: If you are a US citizen, South Africa doesn’t require you to have a visa. It’s crucial for you to have at least two blank pages per entry into South Africa for entry stamping. It’s also a requirement that your passport be valid for six months after date of travel.

CREDIT CARDS: Most establishments accept international credit cards as a standard form of payment. Major international credit cards such as VISA, MasterCard, American Express, and Diners Club are accepted throughout the region, with VISA being the most widely used. In addition, ATMs are easily accessible in all major cities.

Allow Hills of Africa Travel to create the perfect South African Safari Vacation for you and your loved ones. Our South Africa family safari and South African honeymoon safari fall nothing short of spectacular.

Contact us at (877) 845-4802 to learn more about our detailed itineraries and exceptional travel services. Why wait any longer to plan your trip of a lifetime…