At the first acquaintance with the South African toponymy it seems that the cities of the old Europe, tired of struggling with volcanic eruptions and immigration problems, completely withdrew from their seats, picking up Victorian skirts, decently passed the Mediterranean Sea and resolutely walked the entire African continent, with a sigh of relief settle on the edge of the Earth: Pretoria and Johannesburg, Cape Town and Port Elizabeth, Durban and even more East London - the sheer aliens in the hot expanse of the cradle of humanity .The blame for all the British colonialists, in the early 19th century, opened the paradise region of South Africa - virgin, diamond and resort .Oh, why did Russia grow only in dense forests, cold seas and permafrost ?!
Of course, tours in South Africa are very expensive - but those travelers who can afford them, do not regret the money spent .Which is not surprising, because this country - one of the most popular tourist destinations of the African continent .A pungent mixture of ancient African cultures and modern times, unusual nature, penguins living next door to antelopes and crocodiles, fantastic Dragon Mountains, the legendary Cape of Good Hope and beautiful nature reserves ... yes, there is something to see in South Africa!
Content
|
The main resorts of the Republic of South Africa
The territory of South Africa is divided into nine provinces: Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, North-Western Province, Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape, Free State, Hauteng, Northern Cape, Limpopo. The provinces differ from each other not only in size - they are quite different worlds, each with its own climate, landscape and ethnic composition of the population.
The capital is Tsvane (Pretoria), the center of the judicial system is Bloemfontein.
Popular cities and resorts are Durban, Cape Town, Johannesburg, Sun City, Port Elizabeth. But, nevertheless, most of the tourists come to the country for the sake of the national parks of South Africa.
History of South Africa
The first written mention of South Africa dates back to 1652 - then the first Dutch settlement was founded on the Cape of Good Hope (present-day Cape Town).
The next period in the history of South Africa is characterized by British domination - it was then in 1797 that the Cape colony passed under British rule. In 1803, according to the conditions of the Amiens world, the Cape colony remained behind the Netherlands, and as early as 1806 it was re-administered by the UK.
In 1806, Britain banned slavery, the abolition of which was extended to its colony in 1833, which ultimately led to numerous skirmishes that resulted in the Dutch peasants, the so-called "Boers", who moved to the interior of the continent, where they founded their states - The Orange Republic and the Transvaal Republic.
1880-1881 years are known in the history of South Africa as the Boer War, and in the 1899-1902-ies - as the Second Anglo-Boer War, as a result of which Great Britain won.
In 1910, the South African Union was founded, which included the British Cape Colony and Natal and the Boer Orange Free State and the Republic of Transvaal. In subsequent years, the ruling party of South Africa pursued a policy of racial segregation, called apartheid and existed until 1994. After the abolition of the policy of apartheid, and up to now the country is run by the African National Congress.
How to get here
International airports are located in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. The national air carrier South African Airways (SAA) operates regular daily flights between Moscow and Johannesburg in conjunction with Lufthansa (through Frankfurt), British Airways (via London) and Aeroflot (through Zurich, Paris, London and Frankfurt).
Through London and Frankfurt, regular daily direct flights to Cape Town and back (without landing in Johannesburg) also fly. Daily flights from St. Petersburg are carried out through Frankfurt and London. Aircraft of the company Emirates every day fly from Moscow to Johannesburg via Dubai. In addition, the regular daily flights to Johannesburg and Cape Town are performed by many major airlines - Lufthansa, KLM, British Airways, Air France, Iberia, Qatar Airways, Swiss, Turkish Airlines, Egypt Air.
The duration of the flight without regard to the docking time is 14-15 hours.
From the CIS countries, regular flights to Johannesburg and Cape Town are carried out by all leading airlines with a transfer in major European cities.
Search for airline tickets to South Africa
Visa to South Africa
Russian citizens are required to enter South Africa in order to travel to the country.
Customs
Import and export of currency is not limited, including in traveler's checks and credit cards. Import and export of local currency is limited to not more than 500 ZAR per person. Duty-free imports of up to 400 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 250 g of tobacco, up to 2 liters of wine, up to 1 liter of spirits, up to 50 ml of perfume, 250 ml of toilet water, as well as gifts, souvenirs and other personal items worth no more than 500 ZAR. Persons under the age of 18 are not allowed to transport tobacco and alcoholic beverages.
It is prohibited to import weapons (hunting weapons require a special license for a period of 180 days, obtained at the point of crossing the border) and drugs, as well as fresh vegetables and fruits. It is forbidden to export rough diamonds, but for products made of precious metals and diamonds you need to have an appropriate certificate from the store. For export of animal skins, permission of the State Veterinary Service is required.
Useful phone numbers
Embassy of South Africa in Moscow: Granatny pereulok, 1, page 9; tel .: (495) 926-11-77, 926-11-78; fax: (495) 660-98-88.
The Russian Embassy in Pretoria: 316 Brooks Street, Menlo Park; tel .: (12) 362-13-37, 362-13-38.
Consulate General in Cape Town: Norton Rose House, 12th Floor, 8 Riebeek Street; tel .: (21) 418-36-56, 418-36-57.
The country's general reference system: 101-18, police: 101-11, ambulance: 101-17
The telephone codes for major cities are Johannesburg 11, Pretoria 12, Cape Town 21, Durban 31, Bloemfontein 51, Port Elizabeth 41, East London 43, Kimberley 53.
Transportation South Africa
In South Africa, air transport is well developed, and it is convenient to travel between distant cities by air.
Railways connect most of the country's cities, and besides ordinary trains there are special tourist. The Blu Train train follows the Pretoria-Cape Town route, while the luxurious Rovos Rail travels from Cape Town to Kruger Park.
A regular bus service is established between most major cities of the country. Tourists can take advantage of comfortable luxury buses for cross country trips and excursions. In smaller cities it is better to use a rented car or to order a transfer in advance.
Taxi - the most convenient (although very expensive) mode of transport in the cities of South Africa. "Catch" a taxi on the street is not accepted and unsafe: the car can be called by phone or take a special parking lot. In smaller cities it is better to use a rented car or to order a transfer in advance.
- Walk in the heart of Cape Town - the cradle of European culture on the hot African shores.
- Stand at the extreme southern point of Africa - Cape of Good Hope (and even try to see Antarctica).
- Start off in all the heavy in the city of entertainment Sun City.
- Go on a tour of the magnificent nature reserves of KwaZulu-Natal province.
- Drive along the most beautiful Road of the Gardens and admire the charm of the provincial landscapes of South Africa.
- Swim at the Golden Mile coast in Durban, remembering casually about Vasco da Gama.
- To be surprised at a spicy mixture of African and European cultures in the multifaceted capital of Tswana.
- To fulfill the dream of childhood and go to furrow the expanse of Limpopo.
- Feel the heat of the first days of creation in the Kalahari Desert.
- Try to see the "big five" at once in the Kruger National Park.
Rent a Car
Rent a car can be any driver is not younger than 23 years old, having an international driving license. The rental price always includes insurance. Upon receipt of the car, the customer must deposit for a full tank of gasoline in the amount of 400 ZAR (it is refunded upon delivery of the car with a full tank). If the receipt and delivery of the car occurs in different cities or provinces of the country, an additional charge of ~ 250 ZAR is usually charged for this. The country's tenant and road atlases are provided free of charge to the lessee.
Movement in the country is left-sided. The speed of traffic in cities is 60-80 km / h, on motorways - 120 km / h, on some roads - 100 km / h. To be fastened by belts necessarily.
Safety of tourists in the Republic of South Africa
"Typical" precautions: tourists should not carry expensive things and large sums of money, as well as leave valuables in rooms outside the safe. Traveling in the evening or at night alone on buses, shuttles and trains is also not recommended.
The country has a very high level of solar radiation, therefore it is strongly recommended to use protective glasses, creams, hats and light clothes with long sleeves. Bottled drinking water and most local soft drinks are safe.
No vaccinations are required for a trip to South Africa, the only requirement is a certificate of vaccination against yellow fever .This certificate will be required if tourists enter from countries in which there is a risk of contracting the disease .The risk of malaria exists in some parts of the country on the border with Mozambique .For prolonged stay in the northern regions of the country it is recommended to take antimalarial pills, wear long-sleeved clothing and use insecticides .Malarial mosquitoes are most active at dusk .Air conditioners and fans reduce the risk of mosquito bites .
- Trip to South Africa: what you need to know
- Tourism in South Africa
The climate of South Africa
The summer in South Africa lasts from October to March. It's sunny in the morning and thunderstorms in the second half of the day - this contrasting weather is typical for the whole country, except for the region of the Cape provinces, where the rains fall mainly in the winter. In the Transvaal and Natal winter months, on the contrary, are the driest. In summer, the average daily air temperature is about +30 ° C, at night the thermometer drops to +15 .. + 20 ° C.
Winter lasts from June to August. In the afternoon the weather is dry, sunny and cool (up to +20 ° C), at night the temperature drops sharply to +5 ° C. In KwaZulu-Natal winter is warmer: from +10 .. + 15 ° C at night to +25 .. + 27 ° C during the day. Spring (August-September) and autumn (April-May) are short in the country.
See also the weather forecast for the main resorts and in the cities of South Africa.
- What to wear safari in South Africa in October
South Africa hotels
Hotels in the country - high-class, according to the level of service fully meet international standards. The choice is wide: from budget options to luxury "five-star". National parks and nature reserves offer all kinds of accommodation: camping, bungalows, chalets, huts and lodges. Their interior is quite consistent with the outside view: animal skins, wooden furniture, in general, all is sustained in the traditional African style.
The voltage in the mains is usually 220 V, 50 Hz (except Pretoria: 230-250 V and Port Elizabeth: 200-250 V).
Most plugs have three round pins, but there are devices with two smaller pins. Adapters can be found on sale, but not everywhere.
Book hotel in South Africa at the best price
Banks and exchange offices
Currency can be exchanged at airports, railway stations, hotels and numerous branches of banks. Doing this in hotels is relatively unprofitable: the rate there is usually somewhat exaggerated, in addition, a commission fee of about 1% is charged.
Banks are open from Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 15:30, on Saturday from 8:30 to 11:00. ATMs work around the clock, just like banking offices at airports.
In all major shops, hotels and restaurants, the main types of credit cards are accepted for payment, but only cash is available for gas station calculations. Tourist checks can be cashed in banks and tourist offices (commission - about 1%).
Shopping and shopping in South Africa
Most shops are open from Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 17:00, on Saturdays - from 8:30 to 15:00. Some shops are open and on Sundays from 9:00 to 13:00. Large trading networks usually set for themselves a longer time.
In big cities of South Africa, you can buy anything: from a fur coat to a bag of crocodile or ostrich leather, handmade carpets or copyright jewelry .Indian bazaars specialize in oriental jewelry, silk items and spices .Diamonds are best bought in Johannesburg and Cape Town .Products of black artisans are also brought from all over the continent to the Cape Town and Johannesburg "fleet markets" - flea markets .When buying mass-produced souvenirs, you must always check their quality .
- What souvenirs to bring from South Africa
Kitchen and restaurants
Restaurants in South Africa are very good - both in terms of service, and, especially, its diverse cuisine. It is worth to try a meat assortment of "carat of Lambs", pieces of dried beef "biltong", meat of fish, poultry or pork in pots with vegetables and rice "Biryani", and for dessert - spicy biscuits with meat "samusas."
The wine industry is well developed in the country - wines from Stellenbosch, Parlia, Franshuk, Konstanche and other regions deserve the closest attention. Also interesting are the national "epttaser" and "grapeyzer", a kind of sparkling drinks made from fruit juices. The most famous brands of beer are Castle and Lion, although Okhlsons, Hansa, Windhoek and Hunters, as well as many world beer brands are equally popular.
Wines of South Africa
Wines of South Africa have their history since 1659, since European settlers first began to grow grapes on South African soil. Soon sweet dessert Muscat wine "Constance" became known all over the world.
Extensive export opportunities have caused a surge in labor and new investment in the country, which led to a concentration of wine production around Cape Town with major centers in Paarl, Stellenbosch and Worcester.
Currently, there are about 60 wine regions in South Africa, allotted at their place of origin in 1973, together with the adoption of a law on wine quality control. And of the cultivated varieties of grapes are popular Shenen Blanc, Cleret, Rismene, Cabernet Sauvignon, Senso, Pinotage.
The largest volumes of wine production in South Africa fall to the Cape province, in particular to its south-western part, which is near the Coastal region. This area is still, like many hundreds of years ago, home to the main wine-growing regions, although today grapes are also grown in the Western Cape, some regions of the Northern Cape, in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape.
Regions located in the valleys of the rivers Brid, Olifent and Orange are considered to be the warmest, and therefore the bulk of the total volume of wine is produced here, while the cooler regions east of Cape Town along the Indian Ocean coast have been widely developed only in recent years
| Cape Town from a bird's eye view |
| Wild inhabitants of South Africa |
| Table Mountain |
Education in South Africa
The oldest universities in South Africa are the University of Pretoria and Cape Town University, while the youngest is the University of Vista. In most universities, the training is conducted in English and only in 4 - including Afrikaans.
The students of the University of Stellenbosch's Faculty of Jewelry Design enjoy great popularity among students, whose diploma is highly regarded all over the world; political faculties of the Western Cape University, whose graduates work in the UN and other international organizations; and the Faculty of Arts at Cape Town University.
Foreign students on admission are required to have a diploma of full secondary education, as well as TOEFL or IELTS certificates.
The cost of training in universities in South Africa varies depending on the university and the training program. The average cost for 1 year of training is from 9000 to 21000 ZAR for a diploma, 16000-22000 ZAR for a bachelor's degree, 20000-30000 ZAR for a master's / doctorate.
Rest in South Africa
South Africa is in great demand among lovers of beach recreation and surfers, although most travelers come to the country for the sake of its national parks.
Thanks to snow-white sand, mild climate and warm ocean, South Africa is popular even among the most demanding tourists, while a rich underwater world and raging elements attract a large number of surfers and divers to the country. And, here, the fullness of the sensations, both of which will be given by the excellent South African cuisine and excellent local wines.
Beaches of South Africa
South Africa boasts some of the best beaches in the world, stretching from the pristine shores of Cape Vidal Cape to the Wild Coast, from Boulders with its penguin colony to sunny Camps Bay.
The Eastern Cape is famous for the beautiful beaches of Port Elizabeth and East London, popular with surfers, as well as the beautiful beaches of the Wild Coast, famous for its rocky scenery and raging sea.
KwaZulu-Natal enjoys warm and sunny weather all year round, because the beaches of this province are in great demand and often crowded. The popularity of KwaZulu-Natal is also underscored by the fact that perhaps one of the best beaches in the country is here - Cape Vidal with its white sand.
In the Western Cape, you should pay attention to the trendy Clifton beach, the unofficially nude beach of Sandy Bay, Long Beach and the penguin's Boulders beach.
Active rest in South Africa
South Africa - one of the most famous hunting places in the world: there are a lot of game and a well-developed hunting infrastructure. You can hunt in public as well as in private hunting grounds and farms.
Hunting in South Africa is strictly controlled and regulated by the state and hunting associations: there are quotas for shooting animals, which are distributed annually by the authorities in each province. On the most rare animals there is even a kind of "waiting list". Hunting season continues all year round, and the choice of hunting area depends on the season, but the main "hunting season" in the country is from April to October.
For hunting you can use both leased and own weapons .The temporary permit for the import of hunting weapons is issued for a period of 90 to 180 days upon entry into the country .At the end of the trip, all weapons indicated in the permit must be removed from the country .Those wishing to come to the country to hunt with their weapons must apply for the import of weapons 8 weeks before the start of the safari .Hunters who do not have time to obtain a temporary permit for the import of weapons can get it at the border, having declared it at the passport control .It is also necessary to have proof of the rights to the weapon (license and permission to export weapons from your country) .
The cost of hunting consists of the cost of trophies and escorts. The price of escorts, as a rule, includes: accommodation, meals (full board), services of the huntsman, all licenses, transportation of the trophy to the taxidermist, laundry services. In different hunting farms this price will be from 200 to 500 USD per day per hunter depending on the type of animal and the level of hunting service. At the same time, hunting for a specific species of animals requires a certain period of time and the corresponding number of days.
Entertainment, excursions and sightseeing South Africa
Sights of South Africa - mostly natural and colonial.
The most interesting places in Western Cape are Cape Town, the Cape Peninsula with the legendary Cape of Good Hope, Table Mountain, wine districts and Garden Route. From there it is very convenient to take walks on the ocean and observe the marine inhabitants of coastal waters.
The Eastern Cape, yet not very famous among tourists, is distinguished by hilly landscapes and a beautiful coastline, cut by lagoons and rocky cliffs. There are many national parks here: Tsitsikamma, Neiches Valley, Donkin, Mkambati, the Zebra Mountain national park and the Addo national elephant park. The local tourist center, the city of Port Elizabeth, is famous for its warm sandy beaches.
Free state is located in the central part of the country, far from the ocean coast. The city of Taba-Nchu is famous for its reserve of Maria Moroka. Klokoan and Fixburg attract tourists with an abundance of cherry orchards and unique rock carvings of ancient Bushmen tribes. There is also the most full-flowing river in the country of Baal, where amateurs of rafting, canoeing and water skiing are not without pleasure.
The Hauteng province is the most densely populated and at the same time the smallest in the territory. In fact, it is a single giant metropolis, which includes the financial, industrial and transport heart of South Africa, Johannesburg. Hauteng boasts one of the most valuable UNESCO World Heritage sites - a complex of calcareous caves "Cradle of Mankind", where the remains of a man who lived more than 2 million years ago were found.
In KwaZulu-Natal, the endless sandy beaches of the Indian Ocean coexist with the green hills of Zululand, the majestic Draconian mountains and countless sugar cane plantations. There are the kingdom of the Zulus, the city of Durban and the relict lake of Santa Lucia, entered by UNESCO on the World Heritage List.
Mpumalanga is one of the pearls of South Africa. Many mountains and hills, covered with forests, mountain rivers and waterfalls, canyons and the famous Kruger National Park have made this province a very popular holiday destination for active tourists.
In the overgrown dense rainforest of Limpopo province, the main conservation and hunting grounds of southern Africa are located.
The North-Western Province is famous for its wonderful natural conditions for active recreation and a rich animal world, as well as many caves, clean lakes and streams. This region is the main supplier of diamonds, gold and platinum in the country. There is also one of the best resorts and entertainment complexes in the world, Sun City.
Northern Cape: the city of Kimberley, which is considered the "Diamond Capital of the World", the Kalahari Desert, the Augrabis Falls, the Orange River.
A lot of active sports - kiting, surfing, diving, yachting, mountain biking, paragliding, hiking, sea fishing for tuna and sharks, fishing in the mountains for trout, safaris in the nearest private reserves.
Diving in the Republic of South Africa
Dives in South Africa are held all year round. Divers on the Atlantic coast enjoy many species of fish, seals, sea lions, dugongs and diving penguins. Thermophilic corals in these cool waters replace the abundance of quaint oceanic algae. The southern extremity of Africa has a bad, but inviting divers the glory of the cemetery of sunken ships. Photo by South Africa (217)