South Africa Overview

Fast Facts

Main Languages: Amazingly, South Africa has 11 official languages - Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Xhosa, Zulu, Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, Swati, Tshivenda, and Xitsonga.

When to Go: A country that enjoys a lovely temperate climate all year long, South Africa can be visited at anytime, in terms of weather. Winter is from June to September, is usually cooler and drier, and best for outdoor activities, as well as for wildlife watching, as this is when animals congregate around water sources. Summer is from late November to March, and it brings in the rains and fog, which is beautiful in the interior regions, and is sultry on the coastal regions. Tourist peak is from spring in mid-September to November and autumn from April and May.

Local Transport: Buses are the main form of public transport, with wide network connecting all towns and villages. There are also many overnight buses. South Africa is great for hiring cars & motorcycles, as the qualities of roads are good, and this is the perfect way to get around to the places away from the main routes. Minibus taxis are everywhere, from cities to neighbouring towns, but are not very safe. There are plenty of trains, which offer great connectivity, and are safer and more comfortable than buses. Overnight trains are especially convenient for longer distances. There are also plenty of domestic air connections, and though they are not cheap, they provide great convenience and speed. Main domestic carriers include: South African Airways, SAAirlink, SA Express, 1time, Comair, Kulula, and Nationwide Airlines.

Phone Code: +27

Currency: Rand (ZAR) 1 ZAR is approximately 6.2 Indian Rupees (INR)

Voltage: 220-240 V / 50 Hz

Time Zone: GMT+2 hour. IST -7:30 hours.