Southern Africa
South Africa is a large, scenically splendid and humanly diverse country and home to approximately 40 million people. It's size (1,219,090 km²) makes it bigger than Germany, France, Italy, Belgium and Holland put together, or Texas and California combined.

Washed by the cold Benguela current on the west coast and the warm Mozambique-Agulhas current on the east, the country has a long coastline of 2,954 kilometres, a temperate climate and a topography ranging from highveld grasslands to bleak semi-desert to subtropical swamps. Within these contrasting zones, some of the world's most diverse animal and plant kingdoms are found. South Africa is the only country in the world with an entire floral kingdom, the Cape 'fynbos', within it's boundaries. It is flanked by the Indian Ocean on the east and the Atlantic on the west. It is bordered by Namibia to the north-west, Botswana and Zimbabwe to the north and by Mozambique to the north-east, while the tiny land-locked states of Swaziland and Lesotho, although fully independent countries, lie within the geographical area of South Africa.

Car rental:
Rentals are available throughout the country. South Africa drives on the left and has an excellent network of roads, linking the largest metropolitan areas to the remotest villages. Speed limits: Urban areas 60 km/h, rural areas 100 km/h, freeways 120 km/h. An International Driving Permit is recommended (valid driver's licenses are accepted, provided they have a clear photograph and English print).

Currency:
Rand (R) = 100 cents. Denominations: coins - 1c, 2c, 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, R1, R2, R5; notes - R10, R20, R50, R100, R200

Drinking water:
Tap water is 100% purified and safe to drink in major cities, towns and game reserves.

Electricity:
220/230 volts AC

Entry requirements:
Passport holders of more than 80 countries, including the USA, Canada, Japan and the EU can visit without visas. Contact your nearest SA Tourism office or South African Consulate.

Passports:
Passports MUST be valid for at least six months from the guest’s return date. We recommend a validity of nine months to prevent any problems in this regard. There MUST be at least three blank visa pages in the passport (not endorsement pages). Guests have been refused entry due to not having sufficient blank visa pages in their passports.

Immunization:
Visitors arriving from a yellow fever zone require a valid international yellow fever inoculation certificate. Infants under the age of one are exempt. Cholera and smallpox immunization is not required. Visitors to malaria areas, i.e. the Lowveld, must obtain the prophylactic medicine to be taken before, during and after their trip, available from their doctor or pharmacist.

Medical services:
South Africa has excellent medical facilities, with doctors listed under "Medical Practitioners" in the local telephone directories. Insurance covering travel, accidents, illness and hospitalization is advised for the duration of your stay.

Transport:
International and domestic airlines operate between the main cities, with charter services available. Coach tours operate daily nation-wide with Greyhound Citiliner, Translux Express and Intercape among the largest. Intercity train services are good with regular bus services available. Local taxis don't cruise! Call the taxi companies or find them at a centrally located taxi rank (usually at city centers and major airports). Make sure the meter starts from zero.

Climate:
Seasons are opposite to those in the Northern hemisphere. The average daytime temperatures in degrees Celsius are:

DO NOT FORGET:

• Comfortable shoes
• Sun hat
• Sunglasses
• Sunblock (Very important!)
• Cameras and binoculars
• Anti-malarial precautions (please consult your doctor / pharmacist)
• Insect-repellant
• Light, neutral coloured clothing
• Swimming costume