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Specialties: African
Safaris, Big Animals (Great White Sharks), White Water
Rafting.
South Africa is located on the southern tip of
the African continent surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the
west and the Indian Ocean to the east. The great oceans meet
at Cape L'Agulhas, the southernmost point of the African
continent. South Africa is a land of year-round sunshine, nice
beaches, game reserves and great white sharks. During
traditional safaris, the thrill is to find and photograph the
"Big Five," which includes the elephant, lion, leopard, Cape
buffalo, and rhinoceros. However, the “Big Six” adds the
great white shark to the list and only South Africa provides
the opportunity to combine world-class game viewing with the
planet's best opportunities for white shark encounters.
The best
time of the year for white shark encounters and to go on
safari is during the South African winter, the summer months
in North America. Winter is normally a time of relative
drought, which means all game migrates toward the streams and
watering holes. This concentrates both prey and predators into
a much smaller area. Although the water may be calmer during
the South African summer, the plankton blooms degrade water
clarity. The best opportunity for underwater photography is
between the end of May and the end of August.
There are
several game reserves including the Kruger National Park (one
of the largest), Hluhluwe Game Reserve, Ndumu Game Reserve,
Umfolozi Game Reserve, Mkuzi Game Reserve, and St. Lucia
Reserve and Park. The best time of year to visit is during
the winter and spring months (June to October) when the grass
is low and it’s easier to spot the animals. Elephants,
giraffes, zebras, lions, leopards, cheetahs, wildebeests, and
impala are common and there are at least 450 species of
birds. To encounter the great white sharks, the departure
point is Gansbaai, a small fishing village near the
southernmost tip of the continent.
Best
Diving Months: May through August, during the South
African winter.
Water
Temperature: Water temperatures are very cool. A 3 mm to
7 mm wetsuit is recommended.
Underwater Visibility: Ranges between 15 and 100 feet.
Airport
Info: Johannesburg, South Africa
Documents and Customs Regulations: A passport, visa, and
round-trip ticket are required.
Language:
English and Afrikaans are the two official languages.
Health:
Water is safe to drink in towns, but not from inland rivers.
Many rivers and lakes are not suitable for bathing as they may
be contaminated with bilharzias. Precautions against malaria
are advisable.
Climate:
Average temperature from May through August is 45° F to 65° F,
sunny and temperate. Winters are generally mild although there
is snow on the mountain ranges in Cape Town and the Natal
areas.
Government: A republic.
Electrical Current: 220-230 volts, 50 cycles AC, not
compatible with American appliances. A converter is required.
Current Weather:
Get
current weather from Weather.com
Currency:
The South African Rand (ZAR).
Get
current exchange rate from XE.com
Current Time:
South Africa is
(GMT +2).Get
current time from WorldTimeServer.com
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