With post-apartheid optimism melding South Africa into a new society of great energy and significance, travelers are returning to a place that has been off the trail for most of the century. It's an exciting time to visit.
For the first time traveler to Africa, South Africa is not a bad place to start: the infrastructure is constantly improving, the climate is kind and there are few better places to see Africa's wildlife. But if you want to understand the country, you'll have to deal with the full spectrum South Africa dishes up, and it's not always from one side of the rainbow to the other.

Full country name: The Republic of South Africa
Area: 1,221,037 sq km
Population: 43.1 million
Capitals: Pretoria (administrative); Bloemfontein (judicial) and Cape Town (legislative).
People: 77% black, 10% white (60% of whites are of Afrikaner descent, most of the rest are of British descent), 8% mixed race, 2.5% of Indian or Asian descent.
Languages: Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, Pedi, English, Tswana, Sotho, Tsonga, Swati, Venda, Ndebele.
Religion: Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Jewish and traditional religions.
Government: Republic and independent member of the British Commonwealth
Major industries: Mining, finance, insurance, food processing
Major trading partners: USA, UK, Germany, Japan, Italy

Facts for the Traveler

Visas: 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.
Health risks: Malaria is mainly confined to the eastern half of South Africa, especially on the lowveld (coastal plain). Bilharzia is also found mainly in the east but outbreaks do occur in other places, so you should always check with knowledgeable local people before drinking water or swimming in it.
Time: GMT/UTC plus two hours
Electricity: 220/230V (250V in Pretoria), 50Hz
Weights & measures: Metric

When to Go
Summer can be uncomfortably hot, especially in the lowveld. Higher-altitude areas are pleasantly warm over summer, but the mountains are rain- and mist-prone. The north-eastern regions can be annoyingly humid, but swimming on the east coast is a year-round proposition. Spring is the best time for wildflowers in the Northern Cape and Western Cape provinces. Winters are mild everywhere except in the highest country, where there are frosts and occasional snowfalls. Tourist stream out of the cities from mid-December to late January: resorts and national parks are heavily booked and prices on the coast can more than double. School holidays in April, July and September can clog up beaches and national parks.

Events
Public holidays underwent a dramatic shake-up after the 1994 elections. For example, the Day of the Vow, which celebrated the massacre of Zulus, has become the Day of Reconciliation (16 December). The officially ignored but widely observed Soweto Day, marking the student uprisings that eventually led to liberation, is now celebrated as Youth Day (16 June). Human Rights Day is held on the anniversary of the Sharpeville massacre (21 March).
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 program. 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.

SIGHTSEEING

CAPE TOWN:

Half day city tour, (Duration: 4 hours): A guided city tour with photo stops wherever possible. Some of the place covered in the city tour are as follows:
HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT: An architectural masterpiece.
COMPANY GARDENS: Originally a vegetable garden to supply local settlers is now a popular meeting place for locals and hundreds of squirrels.
ST. GEORGE'S CATHEDRAL: Built with Table Mountain sandstone, the cathedral is the mother church of community is South Africa.
MALAY QUARTER: Descendants of slaves brought in from India and East Indies in early days mainly inhabit Bo-Kaap (Malay Quarter). This area of narrow cobblestone streets and mosques is notable for a distinctive architectural style.
SIGNAL HILL: After dark, from a vantage point, the view of the lights of the city is unforgettable.

Cape Pomt:
A scenic journey will take you to the southwestern tip of Cape Town, the Cape point. From a loojoutpoint platform you can the indianOcean and the Atlantic Ocean meeting each other.

Table Mountain:
A cable car ride will take you on top of the Table Mountain, which offers spectacular views from the summit across the spine of cape Peninsula and Robben Island.

Chapman's Peak:
Carved into solid rock, chapman's Peak drive is one of the most beautiful mountain drives in the world.

Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens:
Beautifully situated on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain, these gardens are dedicated to the preservation of indigenous plants of South Africa.

Wine Lands Tour:
A full day trip to Stellenbosch, will take you through beautiful vineyards. Visit a wine cellar and get to know about wines and wine making and do some wine tasting too.

Robben Island:
Best known as the place where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for almost two decades, is famous for its indigenos flora and jackass penguins.

OUDTSHOORN:

Cango Caves:
A major tourist attraction has some fantastic limestone formations, sculpted by nature through the ages.

Cheetahland:
A conservation and research area, allows pax a unique opportunity to pat a cheetah.

Ostrich Farm:
Get to know about the hitory of Ostrich- the national bird of South Africa. Pick up a souvenir, try some ostrich egg omelet or may be an ostrich stake and make your trip unforgettable by riding on an Ostrich.

GEORGE:

Outenique Choo-Tjoe:
One of the few remaining steam trains in the country offers splendid views of lakes, forests, beaches and cliffs on the train's coastal route between george and knysna.

DURBAN:

Golden Mile:
Flanked by luxury hotels, amusement center, paved walkways, gardens, fountains and of course the beach, the Golden Mile is a stretch for unlimited fun.

Botanical Gardens:
Besides flowering trees and tropical vegetation, it is famous for its orchid house and special garden for the blind.

Victoria Street Market:
An Indian market where stallholders sell goods ranging from spices to curios.

PRETORIA:

Union Buildings:
Quite similar to our Rashtrapati Bhavan, is one of South Africa's greatest architectural achievements ( the print was rejected by rejected by the Indians). This was the setting for president Nelson Mandela's historic inauguration.

Church Square:
Dominated by the statue of Paul Kruger (President of SA in 1883) is surrounded by find old buildings.

PANORAMIC ROUTE:

Gods Window:
Provides a boundless view, stretching across miles of thickly forested mountains, the lush and fertile low veld and the Blyde River Canyon.

Blyde River Canyon:
A gigantic gorge 26 km long carved out of the face of the escarpment is one of the natural wonders of Africa.

Bourke's Luck Potholes:
Deep cylindrical cavities were formed by river erosion and the action of floodwater.

SUN CITY

2 NIGHTS / 3 DAYS
Whatever you want, you'll find it at Sun City from sizzling entertainment, world-class casino's and restaurants to cater for all tastes, to our more relaxed poolside venues, quiet places, lush botanical gardens and extensive sporting facilities including the valley of waves and two world-class golf courses. These are just some of the elements that make sun city unique to the world's entertainment resorts.

Sightseeing

Sun city:
South Africa's answer to Las Vegas and one of the country's major pleasure resorts with its palm trees and a man-made sea complete with waves and beaches, the resort springs form the arid surroundings like a lush oasis. It offers up-market accommodation options like the Palace wherre one feels like a king. The valley of waves is a man-made beach with mechanically regulated waves; The Lost City offers an experience of an earthquake. The resort also offers an 18-hole golf course, a game drive at the pilanesberg Game Reserve and water sports.