South Africa

The Country

South Africa is a country rich in extravagant beauty and extraordinary diversity. Situated at the foot of the African continent, South Africa covers an area of 1.3 million km². This is 5 times the size of Great Britain and greater than California, Arizona, Nevada and Utah combined.

The country is divided into nine provinces and stretches nearly 2000 kms, from Cape Agulhas and the Cape of Good Hope at the southern most tip to the Limpopo River in the North. South Africa's coastline stretches over 3600 kms, with the crisp waters of the Atlantic Ocean washing down the west coast and the warm Indian Ocean currents sweeping down the east coast.

South Africa's attraction can be found in its diverse cultures, heritage, wildlife and its rich flora. It's a country of contrasts with magnificent landscapes that range from stark deserts to inspiring mountains, lush grasslands and forests and a scenic coastline.

The country is home to an extraordinary selection of ethnic groups, cultures and languages. There are currently 11 official languages which include English, Afrikaans, Zulu, Xhosa, Sesotho, Ndebele, Sepedi, Tsonga, Venda, Swati and Tswana.

South Africa's earliest inhabitants, the San, survive in small numbers in the Kalahari. Kwazulu Natal is home to the largest black tribe, the Zulus. The Xhosas, Mandela's tribe, can be found in the Eastern Cape. The Ndebeles and the Sotho people can be found predominantly in Mpumalanga while the Swazis and Tsongas, whose forefathers originate from Mozambique, are found in eastern Mpumulanga. The Venda people are found mainly in the Soutpansberg Mountains in the Limpopo Province, and the Sotho people are spread between Limpopo, Lesotho and the North West Province. Kwazulu Natal is home to the largest population of Indians, whose forefathers arrived to work on the sugar plantations in the 1860's. English is spoken by the majority of whites in Kwazulu Natal while Afrikaans speakers dominate the other provinces. Most South Africans are able to converse in English!

The country is home to approximately 42 million people. It is here that you will find signs of the distinctive cultures overlapping and borrowing from each other. Its a country where European meets traditional, where first-world trends stand shoulder-to-shoulder with traditional customs.

South Africa is also rich in natural resources. Gold, diamonds and platinum are found in lavish seams beneath the ground. Visitors can explore the old mine-workings and perhaps take home a souvenir of their African Safari.

Climate

South Africa's high season falls in the warmer months from September to March. This is also the rainfall season for most of South Africa, with the exception of the Western Cape, which experiences winter rainfalls. Most tourists visit the country during this period however seasoned travelers to our country know that on average our temperatures are very mild making the country an ideal year-round destination. Below is the average temperatures, measured in degrees Celsius, at a few major centres: