South Africa Travel Guide

South Africa, as the name indicates, is a country in Southern Africa. The countries Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe border South Africa to the north. Also, Mozambique and Swaziland neighbor to the east and northeast respectively. Furthermore, as the southernmost country in mainland Africa, it has coastlines with both the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean.

The country has 11 official languages, English being one of them. Also, the predominant religion is Christianity.

The government of South Africa has three branches, including the legislative, administrative and judiciary. Each branch of the government has their headquarters in a different city. Pretoria is the headquarters for the administrative branch. Cape Town is home to the legislative branch. Finally, Bloemfontein is the base of operation for the judiciary branch.

As for electricity, the country uses types D, M and N sockets. You need to bring a travel adapter to fit the proper socket type. Check out the above-linked page to see the photos and other useful information. The standard voltage is 230 V.  Many of your devices may need a step-up transformer to match the electrical voltage.

The currency is Rand. The approximate exchange rate is 14, 2 Rands for 1 US Dollar. Currency exchange is available at banks, bureaus de change, and major hotels. You may need to provide a proof of identity, so take your passport with you. Credit cards are widely accepted. However, Visa and MasterCard are preferred. ATMs are available in towns, cities, shopping malls, petrol stations, etc.

There are numerous car rental companies in South Africa. However, you need to be at least 18 years old to hire a car. And keep in mind that they drive on the left side of the road here.

The hippos in the Limpopo River and the Penguins swarming the Cape are iconic for South Africa. South Africa has several national parks where a multitude of wild species live on the farms, private reserves and even on the roads. Because of this, the country is designated a safari powerhouse.

Of the parks, Kruger National Park is a favorite among tourists. Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park has vast and wide-open space. Consequently, it is a great place for photographers to use their zoom lens to capture close-up shots of unique wildlife. 

Also, South Africa is home to multiple UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as the Cradle of Humankind near Johannesburg. This site is a must visit for anyone who wants to see caves rich in hominid and ape fossils. Other UNESCO World Heritage Sites include the Cape Floral Region in the Western Cape, Simangaliso Wetland Park, the Mapungubwe Kingdom in Limpopo, Ukhahlamba (Maloti) Drakensberg Park, and the Vredefort Dome.

August 10, 2016 12:00 am Published by Neha Rizal 1 Comment