Full country name: The Republic of South Africa.

Area: 1,233,404 sq km

Population: 45 million.

Capital City: Pretoria (Administrative), Johannesburg (Commercial)

Other Major Towns: Cape Town, Durban, East London, Port Elizabeth, Bloemfontein

People: 75% black, 13% white, 8% mixed race, 3% indian descent.

Language: English, Afrikaans, seSotho, isiXhosa and isiZulu. Other indigenous languages such as isiNdebele, Setswana are also spoken.

Religion: Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Jewish and traditional religions.

Government: Independent member of the British Commonwealth.

President; Thabo Mbeki

Time: GMT Plus 2(two)

Currency: Rand (ZAR)

Electricity; 220v/230v (250v in Pretoria), 50 Hz

Weights and Measures: Metric

GDP: Rand 780 Billion ( USD 174 Billion)

GDP Per head: USD 4,420

Annual Growth: 1.2%

Inflation :9%

Major Industries: Mining, Finance, Agriculture, Manufacturing , Food Processing.

Major Trading Partners: USA, European Union, Japan, SADCC.

Visa
All visitors to South Africa require valid passports. Visa requirements vary from time to time and it is always advisable to check information regarding visa requirements with Travel Agents, South Africa High Commissions and Embassies abroad and the Department of Home Affairs. Visas are not issued at South Africa boarders.

Health
No immunization is required for visitors entering the country other than for those transiting yellow fever infected areas. Such visitors are required to have an International Certificate of vaccination. Certain regions of South Africa are prone to malaria. Anti –Malaria prophylaxis is therefore strongly advised. Generally tap water is generally safe. However it is advisable not to drink water direct from the tap. The country has the highest HIV- AIDS prevalence in the world. Precaution is strongly advised.

Climate.
The climate of South Africa is heavily influenced by the warm Mozambique currents and the cold Benguela current. Generally speaking, the winters are predominantly wet and mild and the summers very hot. Sun screen is highly recommended during summer. Mean annual rainfall is slightly over 500 mm .

Attractions.
South Africa has an extremely diverse and varied tourist attractions. Attractions for visitors range from internationally acclaimed wildlife parks diverse in flora and avi-fauna, scenic and cultural tours, historical tourism , pristine beaches and wine lands. Some of South Africa’s top tourist attractions include: the V&A waterfront, majestic Table Mountain, Cape of Good Hope, Cape Wine lands, the Garden Route, Kirstenbosch, Ostrich farms, Kruger National Park, Durban Beachfront and Robben Island where former president Nelson Mandela spent his jail sentence.

Travel
South Africa has a well developed transport and communication system. The country is served by 2 international airports in Johannesburg and Cape Town. Other major airports include Port Elizabeth, East London and Durban. Port cities include Durban, East London and Cape Town. Trains and buses operate between the major cities and towns including the luxury Blue Train which is internationally famed. All visitors must be in possession of an international driving license. The speed limit is 120km/h on freeways and 60 km/h in highways. Driving in South Africa is on the left.

Tipping
Tipping is mandatory due to the low wages.