Introduction to South Africa

South Africa is a large, diverse and incredibly beautiful country. The size of France and Spain combined, and roughly twice the size of Texas, it varies from the picturesque Garden Route towns of the Western Cape to the raw subtropical coast of northern KwaZulu-Natal, with the vast Karoo semi-desert across its heart and one of Africa's premier safari destinations, Kruger National Park, in the northeast. It's also one of the great cultural meeting points of the African continent, a fact obscured by years of enforced racial segregation, but now manifest in the big cities.

Many visitors are pleasantly surprised by South Africa's excellent infrastructure, which draws favourable comparison with countries such as Australia or the United States. Good air links and bus networks, excellent roads and a growing number of first-class B&Bs and guesthouses make South Africa a perfect touring country. For those on a budget, mushrooming backpacker hostels and backpacker buses provide cost-efficient means of exploring.

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Posted: 02.03.07

Crime in South Africa

Introduction: Crime in South Africa is an issue every tourist should be aware of. Still South Africa is a near to perfect tourist destination. Its beaches and wildlife are spectacular, the standard of accommodation surpasses that of most first world counties and the value for money is unbeatable. Unfortunately South Africa does suffer from far too much crime and we hope that this information about crime in South Africa will assist your safe holiday in South Africa.

Safety and Security: Political violence has significantly decreased in most areas of South Africa since the establishment of a democratically-elected government in May 1994. Areas most frequented by tourists, such as major hotels, game parks, and beaches, have generally been unaffected by political violence. Although foreigners have not been specifically targeted, travelers are encouraged to be vigilant and avoid any large gathering. Nevertheless, the possibility of renewed violence particularly in times of heightened world tension. It may be advisable to avoid the large public gatherings that are common on the following South African holidays: March 21 (Human Rights Day), April 27 (Freedom Day), May 1 (Worker's Day), and June 16 (Youth Day).

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Posted: 02.03.07