Flag

The six colours black, white, green, red, blue, and yellow can be interpreted to represent the country's political parties (green and yellow for the ANC, for example). Other sources, however, state that they are a synopsis of principal elements of the country's flag history and individual colours, or colour combinations were different meanings for different people and therefore no universal symbolism should be attached to any of the colours. The two green stripes merging into one symbolise South Africa's newly formed unity of diverse elements heading towards a future full of hope.

Facts

Other Name:   Suid-Afrika (in Afrikaans)

Capital:   Pretoria (official), Bloemfontein (judicial), and Cape Town (legislative)

Size:    1 219 090 sq km / 470 693 sq miles (9th biggest country in Africa, 25th biggest in the world)

Population:   43 309 000 (no. 5 in Africa; world rank 27)

Ethnic Groups:   African / Black, White (mainly of Afrikaaner and British origin), Coloured, Indian / Asian

Languages:   English, Afrikaans, isiNdebele, isiXhosa, isiZulu, Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, siSwati, Tshivenda, Xitsonga (all official)

Local time:   GMT +2

System:   metric

Driving:  On the left hand side of the road; you can use your country's driving license if it shows your picture; if not, an international one is required (always required if you want to rent a car).

South Africa consists mainly of two physiographic regions, the interior plateau and a narrow coastal plain. These two areas are divided by rugged hills known as the Great Escarpment, ranging from 1 500 m / 4 900 ft to about 3 500 m / 11 500 ft, stretching and inclining from west to east with the highest mountain being Mount-aux-Sources at the Lesotho border (3 300 m / 10 823 ft). The plateau lies further inland and has an average height of 1 200 m / 4 000 ft above sea level. The country completely surrounds the kingdom of Lesotho and almost completely surrounds the kingdom of Swaziland. 

South Africa’s climate is mostly semiarid. The east coast sees a subtropical climate influenced by the Indian Ocean; the west coast is cooler due to being at the Atlantic Ocean, but turning hot and dry towards Namibia. The two seas meet at Cape Agulhas (although many claim it is the more scenic Cape Point at the tip of the Cape of Good Hope). Generally, days are sunny, but it can cool down considerably at night. Temperatures further north do not vary much from those at the coast because of the higher altitude of the interior plateau. South Africa experiences most of its rainfall in summer, except for the Western Cape. In the latter, strong winds can occur as well.

On entering, citizens of most Commonwealth countries, most European countries and the US will receive a free entry permit, which allows you to stay for 90 days. The passport needs to be valid for at least six more months upon entering and has to contain at least one blank page. Furthermore, you need to have proof of a return or onward ticket as well as sufficient funds. Children’s ID's are accepted. 

Diplomatic Embassies and High Commissions of South Africa
 

Germany Tiergartenstr. 18 10785 Berlin Germany . .	Tel. ++49 30 220 730, 24-hour hotline ++49 171 36 42 679 Fax ++49 30 220 731 90 botschaft@suedafrika.org www.suedafrika.org .
United Kingdom South Africa House Trafalgar Square London WC2N 5DP United Kingdom .	Tel. ++44 20 7451 7299 Fax ++44 20 7451 7284 general@southafricahouse.com www.southafricahouse.com . .
United States 3051 Massachusetts Ave NW Washington DC 20008 United States .	Tel. ++1 202 232 4400 Fax ++1 202 265 1607 safrica@southafrica.net . .

Diplomatic Embassies and High Commissions in South Africa
 

European Union 1+2 Greenpark Estate 27 George Storrar Drive Groenkloof  0181 Pretoria South Africa Postal Address: P.O. Box 945, Groenkloof 0027, Pretoria,  South Africa .	Tel. ++27 12 4525 200 Fax ++27 12 4609 923 Delegation-s-africa@cec.eu.int . . . . . .
Germany 180 Blackwood Street Arcadia, Pretoria 0083 South Africa Postal Address: Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, P.O. Box 2023, Pretoria 0001, South Africa .	Tel. ++27 12 427 89 00 Fax ++27 12 343 94 01 GermanEmbassyPretoria@gonet.co.za . . . .
Germany(in Cape Town) Safmarine House (19th Floor) 22 Riebeek Street Cape Town 8001 South Africa Postal Address: Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany, P.O. Box 4273, Cape Town 8000, South Africa . .	Tel. ++27 21 405 30 00 Fax: ++27 21 421 04 00 info@germanconsulatecapetown.co.za . . . . . .
United Kingdom 255 Hill St Arcadia 2002 Pretoria South Africa . .	Tel. ++27 12 483 1200, ++27 12 421 7800, ++27 12 421 7733 (general enquiries) Fax ++27 12 421 7555 (main fax), ++27 12 421 7599 (general enquiries) media.pretoria@fco.gov.uk www.britain.org.za .
UK in Cape Town: Southern Life Centre (15th floor) 8 Riebeek Street Cape Town 8001 South Africa Postal Address: British Consulate General, P.O. Box 500, Cape Town 8000, South Africa .	Tel. ++27 21 405 2400 Fax ++27 21 425 1427, ++27 21 405 2449 (consulate) Consular.SectionCT@fco.gov.uk (consulate) . . . . . .
United States 877 Pretorius St Arcadia Pretoria South Africa Postal Address: P.O. Box 9536, Pretoria 0001, South Africa .	Tel. ++27 12 342 1048, ++27 12 431 4000, ++27 11 644 8000 (visa and American citizen service) Fax ++27 12 342 2299, ++27 11 646 6916 (visa and American citizen service) consularjohannesburg@state.gov embassy@pd.state.gov http://pretoria.usembassy.gov .

1 South African Rand (ZAR) = 100 Cents

You can exchange cash or traveller cheques at banks and foreign exchange bureaus. Credit cards are widely accepted, and can be used for cash advance and withdrawals from ATM's without problem. Major banks are ABSA, First National Bank, Nedbank, and Standard Chartered Bank; Rennies is the main foreign exchange bureau.

Most banks are open from Monday to Friday from 9.00 to 15.30 and Saturdays from 9.00 to 11.00.

As a foreign tourist, you can claim the 14% VAT back on goods you are taking out of South Africa. In order to get your money back, you will need a receipt indicating the shop's VAT registration number and be prepared to have the goods inspected by a custom's officer on departure. Minimum value of your goods must be 250 South African Rand.

Country code: ++27. City code Johannesburg: 011. City code Pretoria: 012. City code Cape Town: 021. Mobile phone codes: 072, 073, 082, 083 and 084
International access code from South Africa: 09
Internet code: co.za

Other important numbers: 
Police: 10111
Ambulance: 10177

South Africa's post and telecommunication system almost meet first world standards with post, telephone, fax and internet being available almost everywhere.

Post offices are usually open Monday to Friday from 8.30 to 16.30 and Saturdays from 8.00 to 12.00.

Electricity

South Africa uses 220 V / 230 V / 250 V / 50 Hz. 
The plug fits a three-pin 15A socket.

The Public Holidays Act (Act No. 36 of 1994) determines whenever any public holiday falls on a Sunday, the Monday following it, shall be a public holiday.

Air

South African Airways, British Airways, KLM, Lufthansa, Virgin and many more international airlines fly into Johannesburg or Cape Town (and sometimes Durban). Johannesburg is also well connected to most major cities in South Africa and neighbouring countries. Note that the departure tax should be included in your ticket. 

Overland

Driving

The main border crossings are: 

From Botswana: Limpopo River, Molopo River, Pioneer, Ramatlabama – Mmabatho, Skilpadshek and Tlokweng Gate (near Gaborone)

From Lesotho: Maseru Bridge, Ficksburg, Makhaleng Bridge and Sani Pass (4WD necessary)

From Mozambique: Ressango Garcia and Kosi Bay

From Namibia: Nakop, Rietfontein and Vioolsdrif – Noordoewer

From Swaziland: Ngwenya – Oshoek, Lunatsi – Waverley, Sandlane – Nerston, Sicunusa – Houdkop, Gege – Bothashoop, Mahamba, Salitje – Onverwacht, Lavumisa – Golela, Mananga – Bordergate, Matsamo - Jeppe's Reef and Bulembu – Jossefdal

From Zimbabwe: Beitbridge - Messina (across the Limpopo River Bridge)

The general speed limit is 120 km/h (75 mph) on speedways, 100 km/h (62 mph) on ordinary roads and 60 km/h (37 mph) in built-up areas.

Bus

From Botswana: There is a direct bus line between Gaborone and Johannesburg. Minibuses from Palapye run via Gaborone to Johannesburg, too. Lobatse is connected to Mafikeng close to the border by minibus as well.

From Lesotho: Minibuses connect Lesotho to the Drakensberg, from where you can catch the Baz Bus for further travel in South Africa. It runs between Johannesburg and Durban (and vice versa) several times a week. You can also catch a minibus from Johannesburg, Bloemfontein or Ladybrand to Maseru.

From Mozambique: Maputo to Johannesburg and Pretoria via Nelspruit can be done either in one stretch by bus or by several minibus trips with changes at the Ressano Garcia border crossing. Buses via Swaziland also link Maputo with Durban.

From Namibia: Direct buses link Windhoek with Cape Town as well as Johannesburg (via Upington).

From Swaziland: The Baz Bus connects Mbabane and Manzini with Johannesburg as well as Durban. From Mbabane, minibuses run to Johannesburg, Nelspruit and Piet Retief. Starting in Manzini, you can catch minibuses to Durban. 

From Zimbabwe: Buses run from Harare as well as Bulawayo to Johannesburg and Pretoria via Pietersburg. Catch a minibus from Harare to Bulawayo or Masvingo and then another one to the Beitbridge – Messina border crossing. 

Train

From Botswana: Gaborone is linked by train with Mafikeng, from where you can travel on south towards Kimberley or north to Johannesburg and Pretoria.

From Lesotho: There is no train connection between Lesotho and South Africa, but the South African railway line Bloemfontein – Bohlokong runs along the north-western Lesotho border with a stop in Meqheleng. 

From Mozambique: Trains connect Maputo via the Ressango Garcia border crossing and Nelspruit with Johannesburg and Pretoria. Going south from Maputo, there is a train line to Durban via Swaziland. 

From Namibia: From Tsumeb or Swakopmund (via Windhoek) or from Luederitz, you can go to Seeheim which is connected to Upington. 

From Swaziland:  The Maputo – Durban railway line runs through Swaziland. The South African railway linking Richards Bay with Johannesburg stops at Piet Retief and the Maputo – Nelspruit line has a connection to Barberton. Both Piet Retief and Barberton are not far from the Swazi border. 

From Zimbabwe: Trains from Harare and from Victoria Falls via Bulawayo run to the Beitbridge – Messina border crossing and from there to Johannesburg and Pretoria. 

Boat

Mozambique Channel:
Passenger and cargo boats will take you from Maputo, Beira, Nacala and Pemba to Durban. 

It also seems possible to come to South Africa from overseas on cargo boats.