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Traveling in South Africa: Guide & Practical information
Travelling in South Africa
South Africa ID
South Africa main figures
South Africa, the 9th largest country in Africa, stretches over an impressive 1.22 million km² of land. Within this vast territory reside 61 million inhabitants. The country is the 6th most populous African country and stands proudly as the 24th most populous country globally, behind Tanzania and France.
Renowned as the Rainbow Nation, South Africa celebrates its multicultural tapestry, reflected in its diverse array of languages and cultures. The country has 11 official languages: English (mother tongue of 8.2% of South Africans), Zulu (23.8%), Xhosa (17.6%), Afrikaans (13.3%), Swazi, Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Southern Sotho, Tswana, Venda, Tsonga-Shangaan.
South Africa is the 2nd economic power on the African continent behind Nigeria, and is one of the driving forces behind the continent's development.
The country's geography
South Africa, as its name implies, is located in the south of the continent, in southern Africa, between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. The country is bordered by Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Eswatini and Lesotho, for a total of over 5,200 km (3231 miles) of land borders.
The country has several capital cities: Pretoria, the administrative capital, in the north, Johannesburg, the judicial capital, and Cape Town, the legislative capital, in the southwest.
The country is divided between mountains in the southeast, plains in the northwest and coastline on the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.
Practical information about South Africa
Climate
The South African summer begins in October and ends in March. Temperatures during this period range from 15°C (59°F) at night to 35°C (95°F) at midday. The green season begins in September and intensifies from December to March. Winter runs from April to September, with temperatures ranging from 0°C (32°F) or less at night to 20°C (68°F) at midday. Despite some regional variations, South Africa's climate is generally mild all year round. This means that you can go on holiday in South Africa all year round.
Currency
The local currency is the rand (ZAR). $1 = 18 ZAR. The banking network is highly developed, so you can change your money without difficulty. Visa and MasterCard are accepted in most restaurants, stores and hotels.
Communications and networks
Cell phone reception is good in town and along main roads and most hotels offer Wi-Fi access. Postal services are slow, so expect your postcard to arrive in Europe or America within 2-3 weeks.
Travel to South Africa with CroisiEurope
Cape Town
If you choose CroisiEurope "Cape Peninsula" pre-programmed trip, you'll discover the famous city of Cape Town.
Located in the south-west of the country, on the Atlantic coast, Cape Town is home to over 430,000 Captonians, and over 3.7 million inhabitants, making it the second largest city in South Africa.
During your Safari-Cruise, you'll explore Robben Island, a World Heritage Site, as well as breathtaking panoramas from Table Mountain and along Chapman's Peak Drive, before meeting the penguins of Simon's Town.
Johannesburg
Included in all our Safari Cruises, Johannesburg, South Africa's largest city, will amaze you with its richness, diversity and atmosphere. With almost 6 million inhabitants, it is the wealthiest city in Africa.
During your stay in Johannesburg, you'll visit the must-see Apartheid Museum, recognized worldwide as the first museumdealing with the history of Apartheid. Afterwards, we'll take you on a panoramic tour of the city of superlatives.
