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Most new visitors to South Africa are bowled over by the First World sophistication that exists in our major cities. There are modern skyscrapers, highways & flyovers, hospitals, architectural masterpieces, shopping centres and markets brimming with the latest clothing, home decor, technology and supermarkets. There's an endless choice of places to eat & drink - no matter what your taste and budget - from family restaurants chains to exclusive eateries on par with any other major city on the globe. Credit cards & internet banking are the norm. Then there's the rural, traditional areas - like remote Zululand and Wild Coast - where time has just stood still. Cows, goat & pigs have right of way on the dusty roads. Round huts dot the hills and countryside. Barefoot children watch your passing with fascination ... Life is slower; more basic ... way less stressed. No cell phone signals. This is real Africa. Here are some common questions we are often asked by 'newbies' ...
Depends on what you'd like to do. Eg Game viewing - best in dry season (June - Aug) when grasses are low & animals gather at waterholes. Whale watching - best season is from June to November:Hermanus, Witsand, Plettenberg & Mossel Bays are great viewing sites. Namaqualand Wild Flower Extravanganza - late August to early October Botswana/Namibia - cooler winter months eg June, July, August (Mid-summer temperatures can reach 40 deg C and more!)
Mostly temperate - Cape has a Mediterranean climate, hot dry summers, cool, wet winters. The interior eg Johannesburg has hot summers with afternoon thundershowers. Winters are Clear blue, sunny skies - about 16 deg or more by day, temps can plummet at night eg minus 4 deg!
The best. Major shopping malls in the big cities - Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Bloemfontein, Pretoria would rival their sisters in Paris, London, Sydney ...
In South Africa, this can mean one of two things:
1.
The type of board - breakfast is included in the price of the night's accommodation. Other types of board include DBB (dinner, bed and breakfast), FB (full board with all meals provided) and SC (self-catering with no meals provided).
2. A
B&B - a bed & breakfast lodge. Usually smaller than
a guest house, eg less than 5 rooms. Owners usually live on the
property. Rooms have ensuite bathrooms (unless specified otherwise),
kitchen is usually off-limits to guests, but there are generally communal lounges & dining rooms. Other meals are usually available on request.
Some B&Bs are very humble, and some are 5-star plus!
The wild life - game watching, safaris, historical and cultural interests.
Our incredible scenery and how diverse it is. And definitely, the friendliness of our people.
Crime is a serious problem - and our new President, Jacob Zuma looks serious about combatting this. Media hype can also blow things way out of proportion. Best advice is be aware, but don't be paranoid. Ask your lodge or hotel about what areas are good and which areas to avoid. Try to 'blend in' with the people around you - for example, don't visit a poor area with all your gold jewellery on display & huge cameras slung over your shoulder!
Please also read section on Travel Safety for some good tips & advice.
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