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South Africa tourist information with details about travel to and around the country. Where to stay and what to see is made easier with insider tips and hand-selected South Africa links, by dedicated editors and visitors to TravelNotes.org - The Online Guide to Travel. Order South Africa Travel Brochures - for Free.
South Africa Country Information The Republic of South Africa has some of the most spectacular coastline on the continent; between Port Elizabeth and The Cape. Countries neighbouring South Africa are: Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Swaziland. The independent country of Lesotho forms an enclave in the eastern part of the country.
The Portuguese were the first Europeans to explore the African coast for a sea route to the East. See Portugal. In 1652, the Dutch established a settlement on the Cape as a supply base for the Dutch East India Company. As more Dutch settlers arrived, joined by French Hugenots fleeing persecution at home, the Khoikhoin slowly lost their lands. During the Napoleonic Wars the British briefly occupied South Africa, then in 1814 purchased the Cape Colony from the Dutch for £6 million. Thousands of British colonists arrived to impose British law in the area, and give protection to the Khoikhoin. English became the official language in 1822. The Boers resented this and started the Great Trek -- a move north by 10,000 voortrekkers. Bloody battles followed as the Boers sought fertile lands and able locals to work them. The British also pushed their protectorates further and increased the Boer loathing of them. The discovery of Gold in the Boer controlled areas encouraged thousands of British prospectors to move up in search of fortunes. They were taxed heavily by the Boers and denied the right to vote, causing a rebellion against Paul Kruger. The uprising was soon supported by soldiers from the cape colony and the Boer War broke out. The British suffered large early loses, but the Boer commandos were gradually defeated, and the war formally ended with the signing of the Treaty of Vereeniging in 1902. Weather in South AfricaView a graphical weather forecast for the week ahead in places around South Africa. Bloemfontein Weather, Cape Town Weather, Durban Weather, East London Weather, Johannesburg Weather, Kimberley Weather, Port Elizabeth Weather, Pretoria Weather, Upington Weather. The financial centre of South Africa is in the north-east of the country. The city was founded in 1886, above the world's largest known gold deposits, and the Johannesburg Stock Exchange soon followed. Most of today's gold mining occurs elsewhere on the Witwatersrand, although corporate headquarters remain in Johannesburg. Commissioner Street is the heart of the commercial area. Other important buildings can be found around Eloff Street's shopping thoroughfare, south of the city's railway station. The Market Theatre complex includes several theatres as well as art galleries. Gold Reef City is recreation of a Victorian-era mining town for tourists. Accommodation in JohannesburgHotels
in Johannesburg: Sort Johannesburg Hotels by: Hotel Price, Hotel Rating, Hotel Name. To the south-west of Johannesburg lies the black township of Soweto; established by South Africa's former white government to segregate the country's black and white populations. There are organised tours to the township from Johannesburg. The most famous national park in South Africa is the Kruger National Park. The administrative capital of South Africa is well planned, with large parks and a number of landmarks commemorating the history of Transvaal. The people here speak mostly Africaans. Sir Herbert Baker designed the curving Parliament Buildings in Pretoria. You can also visit the home of Paul Kruger, the president of the breakaway South African Republic, or Transvaal, from 1883 to 1900. The Transvaal Museum contains natural history displays, while the Municipal Art Gallery features South African art and the Pretoria Art Museum has a collection of 17th-century Dutch art. Other collections are housed in the National Cultural History and Open-Air Museum, and the Military Museum is located in the 19th century Fort Schanskop. The National Zoological Gardens are also in Pretoria. No beaches in the capital though, for that you'll have to head out to Durban and follow the coast down to Cape Town. Accommodation in PretoriaHotels
in Pretoria: Known as Kaapstad in Afrikaans, Cape Town is the legislative capital of South Africa. Located at the northern end of the Cape Peninsula, Cape Town is one of South Africa's most popular holiday destinations; renowned for its scenic beauty and selection of beaches. It is also a regular port of call for freight and passenger vessels rounding the Cape of Good Hope to the south. There are many restaurants and tourist shops around the harbour, with street entertainers performing below the magnificent backdrop of Table Mountain. You can get to the top of Table Mountain by cable car if you don't want to walk or drive. The view of the surrounding area is excellent. On a Sunday, take the train out to Kalk Bay and enjoy your Fish Braai to live music. The oldest buildings in Cape Town are the Castle, and the Dutch Reformed Church. The Malay Quarter on Signal Hill has interesting old Dutch-style buildings and mosques. As well as the houses of Parliament, Cape Town has a good selection of museums to visit; most notably the Michaelis Collection of 17th-century Dutch and Flemish paintings. Cape
Town - The Fairest Cape: Robben Island: Somerton Manor: Accommodation in Cape TownHotels
in Cape Town: Sort Cape Town Hotels by: Hotel Price, Hotel Rating, Hotel Name. Located in KwaZulu-Natal Province, Durban is a seaport and whaling station on the Indian Ocean. It is also a popular beach resort. Durban is blessed with balmy weather all year round, making it a perfect holiday paradise. The beachfront is bordered by five star hotels and luxury apartments, all of which have an idyllic view of the Indian Ocean. KwaZulu-Natal: Accommodation in DurbanHotels
in Durban: East London is another popular beach resort, halfway down the Indian Ocean coast of South Africa. It was used as a British garrison during a war between the British and the indigenous Xhosas in 1847. Fine beaches are also found at Port Elizabeth, further south of East London. The King George VI Art Gallery has collections of British and South African art, while the Port Elizabeth Museum has natural history exhibits, an Oceanarium, and a collection of reptiles. You can also visit Fort Frederick, built by the British in 1799, and the nearby Addo Elephant National Park. Accommodation in Port ElizabethHotels
in Port Elizabeth: The capital of the Free State is the judicial capital of South Africa; home to the highest court in the land. The beautiful natural setting helped to give Bloemfontein its name: 'Fountain of Flowers'. Accommodation in BloemfonteinHotels
in Bloemfontein: South Africa by RailThe railway system in South Africa links all main centres. The Blue Train: South Africa by RoadThe best way to enjoy the scenery is to travel down South Africa, along the coast. Baz Bus: Buy one ticket to your final destination and you can stop-off wherever and as many times as you like. Baz Bus Routes: Johannesburg or Pretoria to Cape Town, via Swaziland or Drakensburg. Cape Town to Durban. Cape Town to Port Elizabeth. Johannesburg or Pretoria to Durban, via Swaziland and Drakensburg on a 'Loop Ticket'. South Africa by AirThe busiest airport is Johannesburg, but you can also fly to Rio de Janeiro from Cape Town. Airlines & Airports: Coast to Coast: South Africa Explored: South African Museums: Coach House: Phalaborwa: Soutpansberg Tourism: The Ranch: Hostels in South Africa - popular hostels fill up early, so it helps to reserve in advance to avoid disappointment. Budget accommodation around South Africa: Paradise Found - Knysna: The Place On The Bay: South Africa Hotel DirectoryHotels in Bloemfontein, Hotels in Cape Town, Hotels in Durban, Hotels in Johannesburg, Hotels in Port Elizabeth, Hotels in Pretoria. African Safaris: Planning a trip to South AfricaMake sure you plan your trip to include two thirds of your time on the Eastern side of South Africa. This is rural Africa rich in cultural heritage, history and the oldest game park in Africa - Hluhluwe-Umfolozi. Home to the Zulu Nation, the Kingdom of KwaZulu-Natal has everything from mountains to beaches, from nature to buzzing city life (Durban). Sent in by: Gibela Safaris. PhalaborwaPhalaborwa is surrounded by game farms and natural wonders. The area is a natural heritage site and evidence of ancient copper workings by tribes such as the Ba-Phalaborwa people can still be seen. Play 18-holes of golf on the championship Hans Merensky Golf Course, while giving way to wildlife. Skydiving, river rafting, river cruises, 4x4 trails, bird watching, hiking, horse safaris are some of the activities on offer. Phalaborwa is a safe and peaceful town with all the modern facilities to make your stay comfortable. Best Time to Visit South AfricaIt all depends on what you want to visit. In general between April and May, or September and November; when the weather is at its best. This falls into South Africa's Autumn and Spring. The rainy seasons for the Kruger Park is in December-January and for Cape Town during June and July. South Africa's Winter runs from the end of May to the end of August. Then you can expect very cold temperature and snowfalls on the mountains. What To Take When Visiting South AfricaComfortable clothes! In summer, wear something cool with a warmer clothing for the evenings. In Winter, a bit of both, since during the day temperatures can get warm, but evenings are cold. In general: Some comfortable Shoes to walk with, a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses. Safety in South AfricaCrime is a problem in any country. Please make sure to leave valuables in the hotel safe. Don't travel with large amounts of cash at a time. Stay in groups and out of dark lonely alleys. Will we be able to travel by ourselves? Yes, the roads in South Africa are in a good condition. Rental Cars are available with unlimited kilometres. Ananzi: South Africa Travel Guides Books
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