South Africa

South Africa!!! A trip to this great country keeps its promises: great outdoors, with amazing views, national parks and nature reserves, favorable beaches for surfing, fishing, and mountains which give the possibility to make walks. South Africa is a country which is on the southern border of the African continent. The administrative capital is Pretoria, the legislative capital is Cape Town and judicial capital is Bloemfontein. One can find iconic fauna such as adansonia, teak, ebony, hibiscus and others.

NOS OFFRES & FORFAITS

Practical Infos

Area: 1, 221,037 km2

Situation: In the extreme south of the African continent. South Africa is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east and the Atlantic Ocean to the west.

Climate: South Africa is in the southern hemisphere so the months of December, January and February correspond to the austral summer and “major holidays”.
The climate varies from one region to another.

- Cape Town (Cape Town), Summer ( September to April ) are hot and dry, with 28 ° C. Winter (May to August) is mild (17 ° C- 8 ° C) .
- In Durban, climate changes from temperate to subtropical. The cooler months are June and July, and hottest are December, January and February.

- In Johannesburg and the High Veldt (Gauteng) From October to April , the climate is dry and sunny in winter ( 20 ° C day at 5 ° C overnight).

- In the Lower Veld (Mpumalanga) , summers are very hot and punctuated by storms, mild and sunny winters.
Cape region: Mediterranean climate
Southeast, Durban area: humid subtropical climate
Atlantic Coast : desert climate
Northern Plateaus : tropical climate

Population : - 54,002,000 (2014 estimate)

Languages : 11 official languages, including Afrikaans , English , Ndebele, Pedi , Sotho , Swazi , Tsonga, Tswana , Venda , Xhosa , Zulu

Religion : 80% Christians : especially including whites and mixed, about 60% of blacks and Indians, Muslims 1.5 % , 1% Hindus , Jews 0.2 % and 15 % have no religion.

Currency: The rand (ZAR)

Time difference: There are 2 hrs time lag between Mauritius and South Africa

Culture

WORLD HERITAGE SITES (UNESCO) :

• The Fossil Hominid Sites of Sterkfontein, Swartkrans, Kromdraai
• UKhalamba / Drakensberg Park;
• Robben Island;
• The wetland park of the iSimangaliso

EVENTS

1st January: New Year
2st of March: Human rights Day
22nd of April: Earth Day
27th of April: Freedom Day
1st of May: Labor Day
18th of July: Mandela Day
24th of September: Heritage Day
25th of December: Christmas
26th of December: Kindness Day

Variables Dates: Family Day, Youth Day, National Women's Day, Culture Day, Reconciliation Day , Good Friday

DISHES:

In South Africa, the influence of various communities and its cosmopolitanism play a major role in the way South Africans eat.
In every small town, in the section "Cheap”, you will find steak houses and pizzerias. In fact, the only true cuisine of South African is “Cape Malay”

TYPICAL DISHES:

1. Biltong,
2. le bobotie
3. le sosatie
4. Tomato bredie
5. Du pap
6. Note: Fish, shrimp and squid served in Durban and Cape Town often imported from other African countriess

DRINKS

Many varieties of beer: South African Breweries,
• Castle Lager
• Carling Black Label,
• Milk Stout, Hansa Pilsener
• la Windhoek est une bière namibienne.

Cidres dry (dry) or semi-sweet (semi-dry)
• Hunter or Savana.

Liquors
• Black Sambucca
• Amarula
• Bailey's.

Wine of South Africa

The basic varieties
• Cabernet-sauvignon
• syrah (shiraz)
• merlot
• chardonnay and sauvignon
• Pinotage (Red)

Sightseeing

Places to visit

Cape Town: One of the most beautiful cities in the world.
•   Table Mountain
•   Victoria and Alfred Waterfront
•   Port Elizabeth
•   A starting point for the Garden route
•   The Cape Winelands
•   R 62 The wine road – Constantia
•   Castle Military Museum
•   Botanical garden of Kristanbosch
•   Robben island museum – Prison Nelson Mandela
•   Boulder Beach
•   Two Ocean Aquarium
•   Hermanus - Whale watching from November – April
•   Oudtshoorn- Capital of the World Ostrich Feather

Johannesburg: A rich cultural City, with museum, Art gallery and cities
•   Delta Park
•   Cradle of Humankinds
•   Hyde Park
•   Johannesburg Botanical garden
•   Railway Museum
•   Gold Reef City –Attraction Park
•   Soweto
•   Ellis park stadium
•   James Hall museum
•   African museum
•   Sun City
•   Soccer City
•   National Kruger Park

Durban: Seaside Resort
•   Kill Campell museum
•   Victoria Street market
•   Sea World Aquarium
•   Durban Botanical garden
•   The Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal
•   Golden Mile Waterfront
•   Ushaka Marine World
•   Beachwood golf course
•   PheZulu Safari Park
•   St Emmanuel Cathedral