Your Complete Guide To South Africa

The best way to describe South Africa – fondly known as the Rainbow Nation– is its diversity. An eclectic amalgamation of landscapes, cultures and languages makes it one of the most extraordinary destinations in the world. This complete guide to South Africa will give you everything you need to visit our incredible home country. From practical information, bucket list items, and the best places to catch a tan, as locals, we know it all!

Quick South African Geography Lesson

South Africa is the southernmost country in Africa and is surrounded by both the Indian and Atlantic Oceans. Various countries also border this beautiful country.

 It's the 25th largest country in the world, around double the size of France and five times the size of the United Kingdom.

Unlike most other countries, South Africa technically has three capital cities, namely:

• Pretoria (executive)
• Bloemfontein (judicial)
• Cape Town (legislative)

Taking a Look at South Africa's History

South Africa is believed to have been inhabited over 100,000 years ago. Since then, the country has gone through five distinct eras, namely pre-colonial, colonial, post-colonial, apartheid, and now post-apartheid.

After a period of war, the country became a sovereign state known as the Republic of South Africa. One of the most known periods was apartheid, which stretched from 1948-1994 and included racial segregation and discrimination. After many uprisings and international outcry, an election was held, and Nelson Mandela was elected president. With a new ruling party, the apartheid system was disbanded, and a road to democracy began.

Cultural Diversity

South Africa is a truly multi-cultural country and has become the melting pot it is today thanks to hugely diverse ancestry. We now celebrate a total of 12 official languages that add to the vibrancy of this beautiful land. There have been several influences and tribal migrations throughout the years.

The Khoikhoi and San 

The original indigenous people were known as the first African artists due to the intricate rock paintings found throughout the country. The San are known as the true "Bushmen" with incredible tracking and hunting skills. 

Two other significant groups joined these original inhabitants – the Bantu peoples, a diverse group from the north, and Europeans representing a variety of cultures and languages emerging from the south.

The Zulu Culture

Looking at tradition, the Zulu are well known for their warriors, beadwork, basketry, and unique grass huts in the shape of beehives. In the Zulu culture, there is not only a belief in ancestral spirits but also appointed diviners who use herbs and prayers to cast away illness or evil spirits.

The Xhosa Culture

One of the main things to admire about this culture is the incredibly complex dress code used to indicate a person's social standing – whether they are married, their general rank or if they have a baby. For example, the more elaborate a person's hat, the more senior the position they hold. There is also a robust story-telling tradition, which primarily conveys tales of ancestral heroes.

Sotho Culture 

The Sotho groups vary from the Nguni groups (Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele, and Swazi) in that they traditionally organise their homes into a village structure rather than more scattered settlements.  The Sotho are often grouped with the Batswana, found mainly in Gauteng and Botswana, and the Bapedi people, in the northern part of the country – even though they are distinctly separate groups.

The Tsonga Culture

Primarily located in the Kruger National Park area in Mpumalanga and parts of Mozambique, the Tsonga are a diverse collection of nations. Their most unusual delicacy is a Mopani worm that is usually fried in butter or dried – not to be missed if you're an adventurous visitor! A part of this culture is the Sangoma – otherwise known as a healer and spiritual guide.

The Venda Culture 

The Venda culture is built on a vibrant mythical belief system where rain and water, especially in rivers and lakes, are believed to be sacred. This belief and that of the spirit world have largely influenced the designs of Venda art and how their buildings are decorated.

Dutch Influences

Although several European cultures influenced South Africa, the largest of which would have to be Dutch. This not only became the official European language – and later merged into what we know today as Afrikaans – but largely influenced the legal systems and architecture of the country.

It must be noted that the French Huguenots religious refugees who settled in what is now the Cape Winelands brought the art of winemaking to the region in around 1688.

Complete Guide to South Africa's Wildlife and Safaris

South Africa is home to many incredible safari destinations and an incredibly diverse array of wildlife. These also range from more well-known spots like the Kruger National Park to lesser-known hideaways in the Eastern Cape within our complete guide.

The Kruger National Park

Known to be South Africa's most iconic game-viewing destination and the second largest national park in Africa, Kruger National Park is any wildlife lover's dream destination. As an incredibly well-established safari destination, there are lodges, camps and hideaways to suit every visitor. Not to mention, it's known to have the highest density of Big 5 in South Africa.

The Western Cape Safaris

Fear not – if you're staying in Cape Town and its surroundings, there's no need to travel too far for some safari adventuring. With several reserves just a few hours away from the Mother City, you can see the Big 5 and various other flora and fauna species without worrying about malaria. Two examples would be Inverdoorn Game Reserve, Botlierskop Game Reserve, Sanbona Wildlife Reserve, and Gondwana Game Reserve, to name a few.

Garden Route Safaris

The Garden Route is a spectacular self-drive ideal for travellers venturing from the Western to Eastern Cape with plentiful exciting, malaria-free stops along the way. Located along this route is Addo Elephant Park, known to be the only national park to conserve the Big 7 – the Big 5 plus the southern right whale and great white shark. Other safari stops include Kwandwe Game Reserve and Shamwari Private Game Reserve, which are also not to be missed!

For more exciting activities to be found along this iconic route, read our complete guide to the Garden Route.

KwaZulu-Natal Safaris

Combining the best of the bush and beach with an abundance of wildlife and other sights to see. For example, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi National Park has the Big 5 and a vast array of aviary species, whereas iSimangaliso Wetland Park is another must-see for safari adventures in this region.

When to Go to South Africa – The Climate

South Africa is a year-round destination, depending on what you want to do. Although summer is our hottest month, our winters are warmer than other parts of the world, averaging around 19 degrees, and warm days pop up in every season.

For safari-goers, May to October are the best months for an ultimate safari experience, as this is the dry winter season. During this time, the bush is sparse, and waterholes are limited, making it much easier to spot wildlife.

Those wanting to spend time on South Africa's incredible beaches should visit in the summer, which is from December to March. Read more on the best times to visit South Africa.

Complete Guide to South Africa – Attractions

South Africa is overflowing with incredible landscapes, sights, and activities, and with unlimited time, we'd love for you to see them all. However, we've picked out a few we feel are not to be missed.

1. Table Mountain, Western Cape

A trip to our beautiful country seems incomplete if you don't see or summit Table Mountain. As part of the new Seven Wonders of Nature and an icon of the Mother City, we feel this is an absolute must – so much so that we even wrote a blog about tickets and general information! The vibrant city of Cape Town as a whole is also not something to be missed, along with all its incredible sights.

2. The Cape Winelands, Western Cape

Home to some of the best wines in the world, Cape Winelands isn't an experience to pass up. The Wine Route is also home to many exceptional restaurants well worth the additions to your waistline. For this exact adventure, we developed a Tasting Guide to the Cape Winelands.

3. The Whale Route, Western Cape

Although there is much to be done along this incredible Whale Route, one of the key activities is in the quaint seaside town of Hermanus, known to have the best land-based whale-watching in the world. The whales usually start to arrive at the end of May and leave in December, so listen out for the local Whale Crier for hints of activity offshore.

4. Sun City, Gauteng

Known as South Africa's Vegas, Sun City is a two-hour drive from Johannesburg and is the perfect spot to tee off, unleash your poker prowess or get lost in the Valley of Waves. Plus, it shares a border with the Pilanesberg National Park, with some of the very best game viewing opportunities.

5. The Panorama Route, Mpumalanga

The Panorama Route is the perfect route to travel to another of our top spots, Kruger National Park. Stop along this scenic meander to view God's Window, Blyde River Canyon, Bourke's Potholes and the Three Rondavels for spectacular scenery and incredible landscapes developed over centuries.

6. The West Coast, Western Cape

A haven for all water sports enthusiasts, the West Coast may be mistaken for one in the Indian Ocean Islands, but in fact, these palm trees and opalescent oceans are all ours.

Often, the West Coast is also used to refer to the Cape's coastline, where visitors go to see the incredible flowers in the West Coast National Park – read our 'Bloom Bashing' article for more information!

Getting There and Getting Around

Fortunately, as the financial and commercial hub of Africa, Johannesburg's International Airport receives daily flights from around the world. It makes South Africa one of the easiest countries to fly into from abroad. If you want to head straight to the Mother City, aka Cape Town, fear not, as their International Airport also receives its fair share of direct flights. Domestic flights around the country are also frequent, so flying here is not an issue!

Cars are easy to rent, and roads are usually navigatable – just remember, South Africa is a leftie country when it comes to driving! Our public transport system has room to improve, but Uber and the MyCiTi buses are generally reliable and have many convenient stops.

Travel Tips and Important Information

• Visitors from Asian, European, Commonwealth and American countries are issued with a 90-day free permit on arrival, so no visa is required
• There are no mandatory vaccinations required except for visitors from Yellow Fever countries, where a certificate needs to be presented on arrival
• All minors (anyone under the age of 18) are required to have an unabridged birth certificate in addition to their passport
• South Africa works in Rands denoted by a ZAR when consulting currency trading, but foreign cards are readily accepted
• As with anywhere in the world, there is a degree of crime. At Rhino Africa, your safety is our highest priority, and we do what we can to help. However, we ask for vigilance on your part. Please be aware of wearing flashy valuables or leaving things in your car when unattended, and be as cautious as you would be anywhere else

Ready to See More?

If this complete guide for South Africa isn't enough, and if this is sounding like a country you can't wait to visit, chat to our Travel Experts about a tailor-made holiday or look at some of our tour ideas and visit our magnificent home!