South Africa | EL Vacations

SOUTH AFRICA
the southernmost country in Africa

It is the southernmost country on the mainland of the Old World, and the most populous country located entirely south of the equator.

Officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa.

With over 60 million people, the country is the world's 23rd-most populous nation and covers an area of 1,221,037 square kilometers (471,445 square miles).

South Africa has three capital cities, with the executive, judicial and legislative branches of government based in Pretoria, Bloemfontein and Cape Town respectively.

The largest city is Johannesburg in the Gauteng Province.

coastline

South Africa is bounded to the south by 2,798 kilometres (1,739 mi) of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighboring countries of Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe; and to the east and northeast by Mozambique and Eswatini and it surrounds the enclaved country of Lesotho.

South Africa is a biodiversity hotspot, with a diversity of unique biomes and plant and animal life.

South Africa has nine provinces, which vary considerably in size. The smallest is tiny and crowded Gauteng, a highly urbanised region, and the largest the vast, arid and empty Northern Cape, which takes up almost a third of South Africa’s total land area.

EASTERN CAPE

Capital: Bhisho
Principal languages:
isiXhosa (78,8%)
Afrikaans (10,6%)
English (5,6%)
Population: 6 916 200 (12,6% of total)
Area (km2): 168 966 (13,8%)

The Eastern Cape, lying on the south-eastern South African coast, is a region of great natural beauty, particularly the rugged cliffs, rough seas and dense green bush of the stretch known as the Wild Coast. The province is serviced by airports situated in Port Elizabeth, East London, Mthatha and Bhisho.

The Eastern Cape, at 168 966 km2, is South Africa's second-largest province after the Northern Cape, taking up 13,9% of South Africa's land area.

The province has a population of more than 6,9 million people, the majority of whom speak isiXhosa, followed by Afrikaans and English.

FREE STATE

Capital: Bloemfontein
Principal languages:
Sesotho (64,2%)
Afrikaans (12,7%)
isiXhosa (7,5%)
Population: 2 817 900 (5,1% of total)
Area (km2): 129 825 (10,6% of total)

In 2015 there were over 2,8 million people in the Free State on about 129 825 km2 of land. The main languages spoken are Sesotho, Afrikaans and isiXhosa.

With Bloemfontein being South Africa’s judicial capital, the province houses the Supreme Court of Appeal.

Agriculture dominates the Free State landscape with cultivated land covering 32 000 km2 and natural veld and grazing a further 87 000 km2 of the province.

The Free State also produces high-quality diamonds from its kimberlite pipes and fissures, and the country's largest deposit of bentonite is found in the Koppies district.

GAUTENG

Capital: Johannesburg
Principal languages:
isiZulu (19,8%)
Afrikaans (12,4%)
English (13,3%)
Population: 13 200 300 (24% of total)
Area (km2): 18 178 (1,4% of total)

Gauteng contributes 33,9% to South Africa’s gross domestic product (GDP) and is also one of the biggest contributors to the economy of the continent.

The population of 13 million people has the highest per-capita income level in the country.

Most overseas visitors enter South Africa via OR Tambo International Airport.

Some 50 km north of Johannesburg lies Pretoria, the administrative capital of South Africa. The magnificent Union Buildings, which overlook the city from where it sits on Meintjieskop, represent the official seat of the South African Government and house the offices of the country's President.

KwaZulu-Natal

Capital: Pietermaritzburg
Principal languages:
isiZulu (77,8%)
English (13,2%)
Afrikaans (1,5%)
Population: 10 919 100 (19,9%)
Area (km2): 94 361 (7,7%)

KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) province has a population of more than 10 million people living on 92 100 km2 of land. IsiZulu is spoken by the majority of the people, followed by English.

Visitors can enter the province through the King Shaka International Airport at La Mercy, north of Durban, or use the extensive national road network. There are also two major harbours – the port of Durban, which is one the busiest in Africa, and Richards Bay, which is an important coal-export harbour.

Tertiary institutions of learning in the province include the University of KwaZulu-Natal and the Durban Institute of Technology.

KwaZulu-Natal is the only province with a monarchy specifically provided for in the Constitution.

LIMPOPO

Capital: Polokwane
Principal languages:
Sepedi (52,9%)
Xitsonga (16.9%)
Tshivenda (16,7%)
Population: 5 726 800 (10,4%)
Area (km2): 125 754 (10,3%)

Known as The Great North, the Limpopo Province is the gateway to sub-Saharan Africa, bordering three African countries, namely Botswana, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. It is a diverse landscape of bushveld, savanna, semi-desert, and subtropical vegetation.

Limpopo produces a wide range of agricultural products. It produces 75% of the country's mangoes; 65% of its papayas; 36% of its tea; 25% of its citrus, bananas and litchis; 60% of its avocados and two thirds of its tomatoes.

Limpopo also has abundant mineral resources, making mining the critical sector of the province's economy by contributing 22% of the gross geographic product.

population

The population of South Africa is about 58.8 million people of diverse origins, cultures, languages, and religions. About 81% of the population are Black South Africans.

The remaining population consists of Africa's largest communities of

European (White South Africans), Asian (Indian South Africans and Chinese South Africans),

and Multiracial (Coloured South Africans) ancestry.

culture

South Africa is a multiethnic society encompassing a wide variety of cultures, languages, and religions. Its pluralistic makeup is reflected in the constitution's recognition of 11 official languages, the fourth-highest number in the world.

Racial groups in South Africa have a variety of origins.

The racial categories introduced by Apartheid remain ingrained in South African society with South Africans continuing to classify themselves, and each other, as belonging to one of the four defined race groups (Black, Whites, Coloureds and Indians)

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The country is one of the few in Africa never to have had a coup d'état, and regular elections have been held for almost a century. However, the vast majority of black South Africans were not enfranchised until 1994.

language

At least thirty-five languages indigenous to South Africa are spoken in the Republic, ten of which are official languages of South Africa: Ndebele, Pedi, Sotho, Swati, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu and Afrikaans.

The eleventh official language is English, which is the primary language used in parliamentary and state discourse, though all official languages are equal in legal status, and unofficial languages are protected under the Constitution of South Africa, though few are mentioned by any name.

According to the 2011 census, the two most spoken first languages are Zulu (22.7%) and Xhosa (16.0%) The next two are of European origin: Afrikaans (13.5%) developed from Dutch and serves as the first language of most Coloured and White South Africans; English (9.6%) reflects the legacy of British colonialism, and is commonly used in public and commercial life.

South African Sign Language has legal recognition but is not an official language, despite a campaign and parliamentary recommendation for it to be declared one.

Climate

South Africa is a sunny country, averaging 8–10 daily sunshine hours in most regions.

The average annual rainfall for South Africa is about 464 mm (compared to a global average of 786 mm) but large and unpredictable variations are common.

This varied topography and oceanic influence result in a great variety of climatic zones.

The climatic zones range from the extreme desert of the southern Namib in the farthest northwest to the lush subtropical climate in the east along the border with Mozambique and the Indian Ocean.

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seasons

Winters in South Africa occur between June and August.

Johannesburg enjoys a dry, sunny climate, with the exception of occasional late afternoon downpours in the summer months of October to April. Winter is the sunniest time of the year, with cool days and cold nights.

The Western Cape province has a Mediterranean climate with warm to hot, dry, sunny summer weather and mild, rainy conditions in winter.

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit South Africa for a wildlife safari is from May to September. During these winter months, the east of the country (where the main parks are located) experiences its Dry season. Wildlife is easier to spot during the Dry season because vegetation thins, and animals gather around waterholes and rivers.

Cape Town’s Dry and Wet seasons are opposite to those in Kruger and Johannesburg. Therefore, the best time for visiting Cape Town and surrounds is during the dry summer months of November to March.

SLEEP

South Africa's accommodation choices are as diverse as its landscapes, ranging from wine estate country houses to bayside lodges and city-center hotels.

From indulgent 5-star opulence to rustic budget-friendly basics.

GETTING THERE

There are many different ways of travelling to South Africa, but most visitors fly to Johannesburg or Cape Town, depending on where their tour starts from.

Most international airlines fly into South Africa direct be that from Australia, Europe, the UK , the Far East and most recently direct flights between the US and South Africa.

We assist our international travelers with flights for their entire journey starting in their home country. We book and co-ordinate your entire South African Experience.

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VISAS

If you want to visit South Africa, you must produce a valid visa before you can enter into the country.

A visa will be issued for a visit for tourism or business purposes and is valid for a period of 90 days.

Some countries are exempted from visa control, which means that citizens from those countries do not need a visa to visit South Africa.

Visas are not issued at South African ports of entry, and airline officials must insist on visas before allowing passengers to board. If you arrive without a visa, immigration officials are obliged to put you onto a flight back to your home country.

Depending on your intended visit, you can apply for a Visitor’s Visa or a Transit Visa.

Visa information

Currency

South African rand

The rand is the official currency of South Africa.

It is subdivided into 100 cents.

The South African rand is also legal tender in the Common Monetary Area member states of Namibia, Lesotho and Eswatini.

Currency Conversion

COVID-19

Health regulations (in place from 4 May 2022)

All international travelers arriving at South African Ports of Entry must:
(a) be vaccinated against COVID-19 and produce a valid vaccination certificate; or produce PCR or antigen Tests upon arrival.

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SOUTH AFRICA the southernmost country in Africa