South Africa
The Republic of South Africa (The Republic of South Africa), referred to as "South Africa", has the reputation of "Rainbow Country". It is located at the southern tip of the African continent, with a land area of 1,219,090 square kilometers. Its east, south, and west sides are surrounded by the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean. , borders on land with Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Swaziland.
has many beautiful rural areas such as the Cape Winelands, the Wild Coast with its towering sand dunes, the magnificent game parks of Kruger and Zululand and the Kalahari Desert and the Karoo Desert, these majestic vistas offer endless possibilities for visitors.
There are also many beautiful and complex cities in South Africa, such as Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban and Cape Town, and some small towns with rich history, such as Stellenbosch, Pitnaritzburg, etc.; Townships like Tuo, which were once notorious, have finally become the focus of the city because of their rich history and stories.
basic information
* language
According to the new constitution of South Africa in 1999, there are 11 official languages in South Africa, namely Afrikaans (Afrikaans), English, Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele, Sepedi, Sotho, Si Wati, Setswana, Venda and Tsonga.
* Population
59.62 million (2020), including 29.13 males and 30.49 million females.
80.8%, colored 8.8%, white 7.8%, and Asian 2.6%.
* religion
79.8% believe in Christianity, and other major religions are Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Buddhism. A few people believe in primitive religions.
* Administrative districts and capitals
The nine provinces are Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, Limpopo, Eastern Cape, Western Cape, Northern Cape, Mpumalanga and North West Province. The South African government, parliament and Supreme Court are located in three cities, so there are three capitals. South Africa is the only country in the world with three capitals.
Pretoria) is the seat of the central government of South Africa with a population of 2.35 million;
Cape Town) is the seat of the South African Congress, the second largest city in the country and an important port and tourist attraction, with a population of 3.5 million;
Bloemfontein) is the seat of the national judiciary with a population of 750,000.
* jet lag
6 hours. For example, China time is 9:00 am, and South Africa time is 15:00 pm.
* Socket and current
220/240 Volts AC , three-core round plug.
* Electronic equipment
Telephone: IDD available. Country code: +27. International long-distance code: +09.
Mobile: GSM 900/1800 network
Fax: Fax services are available in most hotels.
Network: Hotel WiFi coverage.
* Currency: South African currency is Rand (ZAR)
Banknote denominations: R200, R100, R50, R20 and R10.
Coin denominations: five rand, two rand, one rand, fifty cents, twenty cents, ten cents, five cents, two cents and one cent.
* currency conversion: Can be changed at bank counters, Buresux de change, some hotels and some large shops and restaurants. Or switch at ATMs and ATMs.
* Credit and debit cards: MasterCard and Visa are available, American Express and Diners Club are also available in most places.
* travel check: Can be used in banks, hotels, restaurants and shops. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travelers are advised to withdraw GBP or USD.
* Bank working hours: Monday to Friday: 08:30 – 15:30
_cc781905-5cde-3194 -bb3b-136bad5cf58d_ Saturday: 08:00 – 11:30.
* climate:
The climate in South Africa is generally sunny and very pleasant. Winters are generally mild, but with occasional snowfall in the Cape and Natal ranges and in low-lying areas, brief cold snaps are possible across the country. In most parts of South Africa, there are four distinct seasons in spring, summer, autumn and winter, but the time is just opposite to that in the northern hemisphere. September-October is spring, November-February is summer, March-April is autumn, and May-August is winter.
Cape Town, a tourist destination, has warm, dry, and sometimes cloudy summers; cool, humid, and cloudy winters; and is windy year-round. Year-round temperatures generally range from 9°C to 25°C.
* health:
Traveling anywhere has health risks; however, considering South Africa's relatively comfortable climate, level of health care, etc., traveling here is relatively safe.
For adults, proof of vaccination is not required as long as you are not from a yellow fever area (mainly African and South American countries); otherwise, you will need proof of yellow fever vaccination. This proof is preferably vaccinated four to six weeks ago. The yellow fever vaccine takes effect ten days after vaccination and is valid for ten years.
Children under 12 years of age may need the hepatitis B vaccine, as well as the tetanus and measles vaccines.
Malaria risk, mainly in lower elevations (east) of Limpopo province, eastern Mpumalanga province (including Kruger National Park) and north-east KwaZulu-Natal, south to the Tugela River. The risk is highest from October to May.
Schistosomiasis, endemic in the north and east. Avoid swimming and paddling in fresh water; chlorinated and maintained pools are safe.
South Africa's large cities and larger towns have world-class medical care with well-trained professionals. In addition to public emergency agencies, there are also private emergency services. The drug reserves in South Africa are very complete, but some prescription drugs need to be ordered by a doctor. Therefore, it is best for patients with chronic diseases to carry relevant drugs with them. Moreover, private medical care in South Africa is very expensive, so it is best for overseas people to have a comprehensive medical insurance before coming to South Africa.