South Africa, as you would expect, sits on the southern tip of the African continent.
The Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet along its 2,500kms of stunning coastline, and inland there is a diverse landscape of mountains, lakes, forests and sweeping plains. Travellers who come here for an adventure are rarely disappointed.
South Africa borders Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland and Zimbabwe. All of South Africa runs on South African Standard Time (SAST), which is 2 hours ahead of Universal Coordinated Time (UTC+2) and is the same as Central Africa Time.
Weather and temperatures vary across this large country, so the best time to travel will depend on your destination. If animals are your thing, the best time is May to September during dry season when animals congregate around water holes and the weather is beautiful.
South Africa has moderate temperatures all year round with a generally dry climate. Temperatures below are averages for Johannesburg:
Once you prepare yourself for the long travel distances, getting around South Africa is fairly easy with a good network of public transport, rental car companies, flights and taxis. However, public transport out to urban areas or safari parks may be non-existent, so you might need to rent a car or book a tour to head out to these areas.
National icons are the South African flag, the King Protea flower and the Springbok.
DISCLAIMER: While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of all information as of the date of publishing, Allianz Global Assistance does not accept liability for any errors or omissions. Allianz Global Assistance strongly recommends seeking the guidance of a professional travel agent/agency for further information on a specific destination. On your next trip, whether to another province or country, ensure you have travel insurance as it may assist you in cases of unforeseen medical emergencies and other types of mishaps that can happen while you travel. Travel insurance does not cover everything, please always refer to the policy document for full terms and conditions, including limitations and exclusions. Travel insurance is underwritten by CUMIS General Insurance Company, a member of The Co-operators Group of Companies, administered by Allianz Global Assistance, which is a registered business name of AZGA Service Canada Inc.
