South Africa
South Africa
South Africa is one of the most diverse and enchanting countries in the world. The combinations of incredible landscapes, people, history and culture offer the visitor a truly unique and exciting experience.
Highlights
First-time visitors to South Africa generally spend a short stay in Johannesburg and Pretoria, Gauteng, where they can visit the world famous African township of Soweto and experience a truly cosmopolitan culture, bustling with an urban rhythm that can be found in the nightclubs, theaters, restaurants and people. Then they will head for the bush regions, such as the Kruger National Park, for a wildlife experience, and probably spend some time in the Western Cape, more specifically Cape Town and the fantastic Garden Route.
Geography/Environment
South Africa occupies 4% of the continent's total landmass. The country is five times larger than Great Britain and three times the size of Texas (1.22 million sq km/470,693 sq miles)
Activities
The animals alone are reason to visit South Africa. One of the world's first wildlife conservation areas was South Africa's Kruger Park. Today it is just one part of a single broad conservation area that spans private and public game parks, and even stretches across national borders into neighboring Mozambique and Zimbabwe. An hour's drive from such urban jungles as Pretoria and Johannesburg, you can see lions, elephants, buffalo and hundreds more species in their natural environments. South Africa is also a bird watcher's - paradise.
Modern shopping malls, arts & crafts routes and markets, flea markets and informal vendors provide a wide variety of goods, curios, and shopping experiences. South Africa’s fashion, gold and diamond jewelery, and art are sought-after. As are the traditional handcrafted items such as Zulu beadwork; carved chessboards; painted ostrich eggs; colorful woven baskets, handbags and soft furnishings; mohair or sisal rugs; traditional wooden masks and carvings; pottery and leather items. And don’t forget the world-renowned Cape wines, exotic fruit liqueurs, brandy, rooibos tea, dried fruit, biltong (dried meat snacks) and chutney. Most major shopping centers and malls operate 7 days a week, but small town shops are often closed on Sunday.
Climate and Weather
South Africa has a temperate and pleasant climate with mostly sunny days throughout the year. Being in the southern hemisphere, the summer runs from November to February. Winters are generally mild and dry.
Other Important Information
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