South Africa Travel Information

South Africa is an exhilarating, spectacular and complex country. It has become a favourite holiday destination, due to its constantly improving infrastructure, mild climate and amazing wildlife.

As a backdrop to all this, South Africa continues to go through huge upheavals as it comes to terms with democracy. Democracy ended the 'apartheid' era, but government still has to contend with pressing problems like increasing crime, housing backlogs, poverty and AIDS. It is both an invigorating and challenging time for South Africa, and a great time to visit and observe this metamorphosis first hand.

The People Of South Africa

South Africa is one of the most diverse and enchanting countries in the world. Exotic combinations of landscapes, people, history and culture offer a larger-than-life experience for the traveler in search of a truly unique and inspiring experience.

Until 1991, South African law divided the population into four major racial categories: Africans (black), whites, Coloureds, and Asians. Although this law has been abolished, many South Africans still view themselves and each other according to these categories.

Africans comprise about 78% of the population and are divided into a number of different ethnic groups. Whites comprise about 10% of the population. They are primarily descendants of Dutch, French, English, and German settlers who began arriving at the Cape in the late 17th century. Coloureds (9%) are mixed-race people primarily descending from the earliest settlers and the indigenous peoples. Asians (3%) descend from Indian workers brought to South Africa in the mid-19th century to work on the sugar estates in Natal.

There are 11 official languages in South Africa. They are

• English
• Afrikaans
• Ndebele
• Pedi
• Sotho
• Swazi
• Tsonga
• Tswana
• Venda
• Xhosa
• Zulu

Geography Of South Africa

South Africa's vast landscape includes savannahs, snow-covered mountains, forests, tropical swamps, endless beaches, tranquil rivers and bustling urban epicentres.

It has a moderate climate, mostly semiarid. It is subtropical along the east coast, with sunny days and cool nights.

South African History

Southern Africa has an old and rich history, guaranteed to enthrall tourists with its stories of racial conflict and reconciliation. Today, South Africa is viewed as a single nation who has realised its dream of unity and common purpose. Tourists are able to interact with different cultures who successfully overcame massive obstacles and tremendous diversity. Each culture has a story to tell, and people are generally quite happy to share their personal view and experiences of South Africa's history.

Dutch settlers in Cape Town established control over the southern tip of South Africa about 300 years ago by driving out the Khoikhoi (also known as Hottentots) and San (Bushmen).

The British gained control of the Cape of Good Hope at the end of the 18th century. Beginning in 1836, partly to escape British rule and partly out of resentment at the recent abolition of slavery, many Afrikaner farmers (Boers) undertook a northern migration that became known as the "Great Trek." They came into contact with the Zulu tribes, who were coming from the east. A series of wars broke out, ending in the defeat of the Zulus at Blood River.

• 1878: The British also fought the Zulus and defeated them the following year
• 1899 - 1902: The British and the Afrikaners engage in the South African War (also known as the Boer War). The Afrikaners are defeated
• 1910: The British and Boer lands were united to form the present-day South Africa
• 1912: The South Africa Native National Congress was founded in Bloemfontein. It eventually became known as the African National Congress (ANC). Its goals were the elimination of restrictions based on colour and the enfranchisement of and parliamentary representation for blacks. Despite these efforts the government continued to pass laws limiting the rights and freedom of blacks
• 1948: The National Party (NP) won the all-white elections and began passing legislation enforcing an even stricter policy of white domination and racial separation known as "apartheid" (separateness)
• 1960's: 69 protesters were killed by police during a protest in Sharpeville and 180 injured. The ANC and Pan-African Congress (PAC) were banned, forcing them to go underground and fight apartheid through guerrilla warfare and sabotage. Nelson Mandela and many other anti-apartheid leaders were convicted and imprisoned on charges of treason
• 1990: State President F.W. de Klerk, who had come to power in September 1989, announced the unbanning of the ANC, the PAC, and all other anti-apartheid groups. Two weeks later, Nelson Mandela was released from prison
• 1994: The country's first non-racial elections were held, resulting in the inauguration of Nelson Mandela as president
• 1997: Nelson Mandela stepped down as President of the ANC. Thabo Mbeki assumed the leadership, and won the presidency of South Africa after national elections in 1999.

Mbeki shifted the focus of government from reconciliation to transformation, particularly on the economic front. He started focusing on bringing economic power to the black majority in South Africa, as well as political power.

South African Culture

With a dynamic fusion of African, European and Asian influences, South Africa is a hotbed of originality and creativity. This is particularly evident in the music, which ranges from indigenous township rave music, known as kwaito, to world-renowned African jazz by such legendary talents as Hugh Masekela and Miriam Makeba.

Theatre, too, is alive and well, with sophisticated venues in each city presenting everything from the classics to homegrown drama, dance and comedy. A range of galleries, shops, studios and streetside stalls exhibit traditional African art as well as contemporary fine art. But its people are South Africa's greatest asset - and it is the interplay between its various cultures and the heritage of the individual and shared histories, which shapes the nation.

South African cuisine utilises the natural bounty of the land and oceans in a heady mix of European, Asian and African ingredients and styles.

South Africa's Economy

South Africa is a middle-income, emerging market with an abundant supply of natural resources. It has well-developed financial, legal, communications, energy, and transport sectors. Its modern infrastructure supports an efficient distribution of goods to major urban centres throughout the region.

South Africa's economy is in many areas highly developed. However, the exclusionary nature of apartheid and distortions caused in part by the country's international isolation until the 1990s, have left major weaknesses. The economy is now in a process of transition as the government seeks to address the inequities of apartheid, stimulate growth, and create jobs.

Business, meanwhile, is becoming more integrated into the international system, and foreign investment has increased dramatically over the past several years. Still, the economic disparities between population groups are expected to persist for many years, remaining an area of priority attention for the government.

Vaccination Information

Yellow Fever Vaccination

International Certificate of Vaccination for Yellow Fever is required upon arrival if traveling from a country ANY PART OF WHICH IS INFECTED and the traveler is more than 1 year of age.

Malaria

Malaria exists in rural areas (including game parks) in the northern, eastern, and western low altitude areas of Transvaal and the Natal coastal areas north of 28 degrees south.

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