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Full country name: The Republic of South Africa Capital City: Pretoria (official); Bloemfontein (judicial) and Cape Town (legislative) Currency: Rand Population: 43.8 million
People:
77% black, 10% white Time: GMT/UTC +2 Voltage: 220/230V ,50Hz Entry requirements: Entry permits are issued free on arrival to visitors on holiday from many Commonwealth and most Western European countries, as well as Japan and the USA. If you aren't entitled to an entry permit, you'll need to get a visa (also free) before you arrive. How to get there: Johannesburg International Airport remains the main international airport, but there are an increasing number of flights to Cape Town and a few to Durban. There's an airport departure tax of 5.30 for domestic flights, 9 for flights to regional (African) countries and 29 for other international flights. The tax is usually included in the ticket price. Events: The Festival of the Arts transforms Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape each July. As well as mainstream art, opera and theatre, there are fringe and student components to the festival, including theatre performed in many of the languages spoken in South Africa. The big Arts Alive Festival is held in Johannesburg in September and October. This is a great time to hear excellent music, on and off the official programme. There are also a lot of workshops exposing South Africans (and visitors) to the continent's rich cultures, so long denigrated during the apartheid years. The immensely popular Pretoria Show is held during the third week of August. Apartheid-induced cultural boycotts starved South Africa's mad sports fans - and competitors - of competition. Any international cricket or rugby game is therefore a big event. |
