About South Africa

Information about South Africa

TRANSPORT

Two major international airports are the gateways to South Africa. As an international traveler, you have two major airports at your disposal: OR Tambo International Airport (Johannesburg) and Cape Town International Airport.

Once here, you can choose one of the domestic flights, cabs, tour operators such as Mjoli Prestige Tours, buses . From the airport you can use Mjoli Prestige Tours as a shuttle to your hotel.

Getting Around

From One City to Another Many domestic flights link the main cities. Since you’ll be arriving either in Cape Town or Johannesburg, make sure to check in advance the schedules for the domestic flights. The major South African airlines include: South African Airways, 1Time, and British Airways (Comair), and several low-cost airlines operate in South Africa as well.

Public Transportation

Unfortunately the public transport system in South Africa is not exactly reliable, efficient or user friendly. It consists of trains and mini taxis, but not as organized as the ones in Europe /Asia and elsewhere in the world. Cabs and tour operators will give the peace of mind.

BANKS

South Africa's financial sector

South Africa's banking sector compares favourably with those of industrialised countries. Foreign banks are well represented and electronic banking facilities are extensive, with a nationwide network of automatic teller machines (ATMs) and internet banking facilities available.

The Banks Regulation is primarily based on similar legislation as in the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada.

The currency in South Africa is Rand denoted by (R) on all bank notes. Though the Rand fluctuates against major currencies such as US Dollar, Pound and Euro, the following can give an estimate that can assist in budgeting.

1US $ = R7……R10
1GBP = R13……R15
1EURO = R9…..R11
For any price quoted in Rands, divide that amount by R7 to R10 (to get US $ equivalent).
For any price quoted in Rands, divide that amount by R13 to R15 (to get GBP equivalent).
For any price quoted in Rands, divide that amount by R9 to R11 (to get Euro equivalent).

The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE Limited) is the 18th largest exchange in the world by market capitalisation With approximately 400 listed companies and a market liquidity of 34.2%. South Africa's exchange is only marginally smaller than Stockholm's and larger than no fewer than nine exchanges officially classified as "developed".

PEOPLE

South Africa's population

South Africa is a nation of over 47-million people of diverse origins, cultures, languages and beliefs.

According to the mid-2007 estimates from Statistics South Africa, the country's population stands at some 47.9-million, up from the census 2001 count of 44.8-million.

Africans are in the majority at just over 38-million, making up 79.6% of the total population. The white population is estimated at 4.3-million (9.1%), the coloured population at 4.2-million (8.9%) and the Indian/Asian population at just short of 1.2-million (2.5%).

English remains the most dominant official language in South Africa.

CLIMATE & WEATHER

South Africa is situated on a subtropical location, moderated by ocean on the two sides of the country and the altitude of the interior plateau, account for the warm temperate conditions so typical of South Africa - and so popular with its foreign visitors.

South Africa is famous for its sunshine. While the Western Cape gets most of its rainfall in winter (May to July), the rest of the country is generally a summer-rainfall region. The summer starts from September until February the following year.

Being in the southern hemisphere, our seasons stand in opposition to those of Europe and North America, so, yes - we spend Christmas and New Year on the beach!!! Especially in Durban.

Spring

Nowhere in South Africa is spring (August to mid-October) more spectacular than in the Cape provinces and Pretoria. Here the grey winter is forgotten as thousands of small, otherwise insignificant plants cover the plains in an iridescent carpet of flowers.

Pretoria has magnificent Jakaranda trees which offer an exquisite view during Spring.