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South Africa is a top African safari destination; with year-round sunshine, countless world-famous game parks teeming with wildlife, dramatic landscapes and pristine, white beaches and a fascinating mix of rural and cosmopolitan towns and cities, an eclectic mix of vibrant cultures and breathtaking scenery.
WHY VISIT SOUTH AFRICA?
The following points are just some of the reasons why a South African safari is an experience second-to-none:
South Africa VAT refunds
Foreign tourists in South Africa can have their VAT refunded, provided they spend more than R250 on one item. All VAT refunds
happen when you depart the country. Travellers MUST keep all of their tax invoices, the items which you would like a refund from
and your foreign passport.
When trying to claim VAT back upon your departure, you will be required to fill out forms and declare all goods.
VAT in South Africa is at 14%.
Travellers to South Africa must have 2 blank pages in their passport that lie side by side to one another. Passports must be valid for
travel for at least six months. It has happened in the past when travellers have been turned away because they do not have these
two blank pages. Do not put yourself in this situation as it can be very frustrating!
A parent travelling with children will need a letter from the other parent if they are travelling alone. The letter is a letter of
consent and has to be certified.
SOUTH AFRICA
National Airline: South African Airways
IATA Code: SA
Airports Company South Africa
South Africa is a vast country – almost 2000km from north to south and 1500km from east to west.
Travel in South Africa is usually safe and relatively uncomplicated; the infrastructure is excellent with well-maintained main roads,
frequently situated fuel stations and a wide variety of shops and accommodation establishments; travel by road, air and luxury train is easy.
How to get there:
International flights service Johannesburg and Cape Town and an excellent network of domestic scheduled flights service
all tourist centres
within the country.
A sophisticated network of domestic and regional flights link the main tourist destinations in South Africa and those of
neighbouring countries.
SOUTH AFRICA - Interesting Information
GEOGRAPHY:
GEOGRAPHIC COORDINATES:
29 00 S, 24 00 E
TOTAL LAND AREA:
Total: 1,219,912 sq km
Note: includes Prince Edward Islands (Marion Island and Prince Edward Island)
LAND BOUNDARIES:
Total: 4,862 km
BORDER COUNTRIES:
Botswana 1,840 km, Lesotho 909 km, Mozambique 491 km, Namibia 967 km, Swaziland 430 km, Zimbabwe 225 km
COASTLINE:
2,798 km
MARITIME CLAIMS:
Contiguous Zone: 24 nm
Territorial Sea: 12 nm
Continental Shelf: 200 nm or to edge of the Continental Margin
Exclusive Economic Zone: 200 NM
TERRAIN:
Vast interior plateau rimmed by rugged hills and narrow coastal plain
ELEVATION EXTREMES:
Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Highest point: Njesuthi 3,408 m
Geography - note: South Africa completely surrounds Lesotho and almost completely surrounds Swaziland.