South Africa Land of Sunshine

South Africa, land of ethnic diversity and magnificent natural beauty is a unique travel destination. The infrastructure for tourism is highly developed, thanks to the enormous mineral wealth of the country and the most vibrant economy in Africa.

South Africa Land of Natural Beauty

The most well-known destinations in South Africa include Cape Town, the mother city of S.A. It is dominated by the magnificent Table Mountain and the unique Protea floral kingdom only found here. It is contrasted by Johannesburg the city where the streets are literally built on gold. Johannesburg is the financial and economic hub of Africa and it accounts for 40% of the GDP of the whole country.

African wildlife has been preserved in many reserves. The famous Kruger National Park is the largest and most spectacular. All the big five roam freely and tourists will experience the excitement only the wild can offer.

A visit to South Africa will not be complete without experiencing the grandeur of the Natal Drakensberg. Apart, from the spectacular mountain views, many prehistoric rock paintings wait to be discovered.

Travelling to South Africa

Air transport is normally required when travelling to South Africa due to its remote location on the southern most tip of Africa. Some cruise liners travel past South Africa and provide an alternative, yet less popular way of getting to here. Travelling to South Africa by road or rail is definitely not an option due to the poor road and rail infrastructure in Africa.

Touring in South Africa

Drakensberg

Following the success of the FIFA World Cup hosted in South Africa in 2010, all the major roads have been upgraded or brought up to acceptable standards. This allows tourists to travel by car to all the worthwhile destinations in the country.

Other modes of transport include taxis and public transport. Tourists are advised to avoid using taxis as they are normally poorly maintained and presents a safety risk. Bus routes are not developed very well and should not be considered as a main method of transport, unless it forms part of a tour package. The Gautrain, a high speed train service has given a major boost to rail travel between Johannesburg International Airport, Pretoria and Johannesburg.

Health and Safety

High crime rates in South Africa raises a major concern about safety. By limiting your travel and other holiday activities to day time while remaining in the safety of your accommodation during the evening and night, will ensure your safety. Travelling in large groups also discourages crime. Do not venture out at night; it is not safe.

The private medical services and private clinics are well developed, while the state health services and hospitals are poorly run and maintained. Visitors are advised to get travel insurance to allow them to access private health care should they require medical assistance.

Documentation Required

With the increasing number of illegal immigrants into South Africa, the government has clamped down by requiring visas for tourists from virtually every country. Visas may be obtained from South African Embassies or High Commissions.

Historical Background

Flag of South Africa

Dutch traders landed at the southern tip of modern day South Africa in 1652 and established a stopover point on the spice route between the Netherlands and the Far East, founding the city of Cape Town. After the British seized the Cape of Good Hope area in 1806, many of the Dutch settlers (the Boers) trekked north to found their own republics.

The discovery of diamonds (1867) and gold (1886) spurred wealth and immigration and intensified the subjugation of the native inhabitants. The Boers resisted British encroachments but were defeated in the Boer War (1899-1902); however, the British and the Afrikaners, as the Boers became known, ruled together beginning in 1910 under the Union of South Africa, which became a republic in 1961 after a whites-only referendum. In 1948, the National Party was voted into power and instituted a policy of apartheid - the separate development of the races - which favored the white minority at the expense of the black majority.

The African National Congress (ANC) led the opposition to apartheid and many top ANC leaders, such as Nelson MANDELA, spent decades in South Africa's prisons. Internal protests and insurgency, as well as boycotts by some Western nations and institutions, led to the regime's eventual willingness to negotiate a peaceful transition to majority rule. The first multi-racial elections in 1994 brought an end to apartheid and ushered in majority rule under an ANC-led government. South Africa since then has struggled to address apartheid-era imbalances in decent housing, education, and health care.

ANC infighting, which has grown in recent years, came to a head in September 2008 when President Thabo MBEKI resigned, and Kgalema MOTLANTHE, the party's General-Secretary, succeeded him as interim president. Jacob ZUMA became president after the ANC won general elections in April 2009. In January 2011, South Africa assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2011-12 term.

Although it is remote, South Africa is an excellent destination to experience Africa.

Some of the information on this page was sourced from the Central Intelligence Agency