Volunteer Travel Guide South Africa - Volunteering Abroad South Africa www.abroaderview.org

Nov. 5, 2008 - PRLog -- Throughout the second half of the 20th century South Africa was regarded by most of the world as a pariah state where the ruling white minority passed a range of draconian laws to subdue and enslave the black majority. All this changed in 1994 with the release from prison of world-renowned freedom fighter and icon of the oppressed, Nelson Mandela. A new age of democracy was ushered in, and South Africa was suddenly revealed to the world in her beautiful true colors: a rainbow nation with a kaleidoscope of cultures and a host of attractions to enthrall and entrance visitors.

A decade later tourists are flocking to sunny South Africa in droves, particularly to the Western Cape with its magnificent scenery, beautiful beaches, majestic mountains and green winelands.

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The Republic, at the southern tip of Africa surrounded by ocean on three sides, offers a taste of the African experience with the chance to visit traditional tribal villages, game reserves and sprawling townships. At the same time it also offers the trappings of a first world holiday experience, with luxury hotels, sophisticated shopping, exciting theme parks and clean beaches. Have breakfast in a New York style deli; lunch in an African shebeen; cocktails on a sunset cruise; and dine in style in a fine British colonial restaurant. This is all possible in a South African city.

It is not only cultural diversity that makes South Africa magical. The country has a wealth of animal and plant life scattered across its varied climactic zones from desert to snow-covered mountains, forests to grasslands and mangrove swamps. Historically, too, there is plenty to discover, from the fossils of ancient hominids, to the pioneering spirit of the Dutch 'voortrekkers' and the settlement of the Eastern Cape frontier by the British colonialists.

South Africa has been billed as 'a world in one country', and any visitor who has experienced its delights, from the jumble of Johannesburg, the city built on gold mines in the north, to the sophistication of Cape Town in the south, is bound to agree.

The Basics
Time:
Local time is GMT +2.
Electricity:
Electrical current is 230 volts, 50Hz. Round, three-pin plugs are standard.
Language:
South Africa has 11 official languages, including Afrikaans, English, Xhosa, Zulu and Sotho. English is widely spoken.

Health:

Travelers arriving in South Africa from infected areas require a yellow fever vaccination certificate; otherwise no vaccination is required. There is a malaria risk in the low-lying areas of the Northern Province and Mpumalanga (including the Kruger National Park) and northeastern KwaZulu Natal, and precautions are advised when traveling to these areas.

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Communications:

The international access code for South Africa is +27. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). As of 8 January 2007, South Africa has changed to 10-digit dialling (so city codes must be included, e.g. 021 for Cape Town) and international dialling has changed from 09 to 00. GSM mobile phone networks providing 900 and 1800 frequencies serve the country.

South Africa Embassies
South African Embassy, Washington, United States: +1 202 232 4400.
South African Embassy, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7451 7299.
South African High Commission, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 744 0330.
South African High Commission, Canberra, Australia (also responsible for New Zealand): +61 (0)2 6272 7300.
South African Embassy, Dublin, Ireland: +353 (0)1 661 5553.

Foreign Embassies in South Africa

United States Embassy, Pretoria: +27 (0)12 431 4000.
British High Commission, Pretoria: +27 (0)12 421 7733.
Canadian High Commission, Pretoria: +27 (0)12 422 3000.
Australian High Commission, Pretoria: +27 (0)12 423 6000.
Irish Embassy, Pretoria: +27 (0)12 342 5062.
New Zealand High Commission, Pretoria: +27 (0)12 342 8656/7/8/9.
South Africa Emergency Numbers
Emergencies: 10111 (Police); 10177 (Ambulance)

Airports
Cape Town International Airport (CPT)

Location: The airport is situated 13 miles (20km) east of Cape Town.
Time: GMT +2.
Contacts: Tel: +27 (0)21 937 1200.
Facilities: ATMs, bars, restaurants and currency exchange facilities are available throughout the airport. There are several shops, including duty-free in the International Departures' section. A VAT refund service is available by the International check in desk. Hotels reservations and tourist information are available in the International Terminal. There is a Vodacom shop in International Arrivals where visitors can buy local SIM cards for their mobile phones. A free magazine called The Other Guide is handed out in International Arrivals; it's packed with ideas on where to eat and what to do in Cape Town that month.
Departure Tax: None.

Website: www.airports.co.za

Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP)
Location: The airport is situated 16 miles (25km) from Nelspruit at White River.
Time: GMT +2.

Contacts: Tel: +27 (0)13 753 7500.

Facilities: Facilities include an ATM and currency exchange facilities, a restaurant, café and curio shops.
Parking: Short and long-term parking is available.
Departure Tax: None.

Website: www.kmiairport.co.za

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Climate

Cape Town, on the Cape Peninsula, has a Mediterranean climate with dry summers and wet winters. Seasons are well defined, with winter, between May and August, being influenced by a series of cold fronts that cross the Peninsula from the Atlantic Ocean. Winters are characterized by heavy rain, particularly on the mountain slopes, strong north-westerly winds, and low temperatures. In summer the weather in Cape Town is warm and dry, but the idyllic sunny weather is often punctuated with strong south easterly winds.

Passport & Visa

Visa Agencies: Avoid the stress and queues, get a visa agency to arrange your visa.
Travel Visa Pro, San Francisco, USA. 1-888-470-8472 or www.TravelVisaPro.com
Global Visas, London, UK. 0207 190 3903 or www.globalvisas.com

Entry requirements for Americans: United States nationals need a valid passport, but no visa is needed for stays of up to 90 days.
Entry requirements for UK nationals: British nationals need a valid passport, but no visa is needed for stays of up to 90 days if passport is endorsed British Citizen including Guernsey, Jersey and Isle of Man, British Dependent Territories Citizen, or British Overseas Territories Citizen (Virgin Islands). Those whose passports state British National (Overseas) may stay up to 30 days without a visa. All others require a visa.
Entry requirements for Canadians: Canadian nationals need a valid passport, but no visa is needed for stays of up to 90 days.
Entry requirements for Australians: Australian nationals need a valid passport, but no visa is needed for stays of up to 90 days.
Entry requirements for New Zealanders: New Zealand nationals require a valid passport, but no visa is necessary for stays of up to 90 days.
Entry requirements for Irish nationals: Irish nationals require a valid passport, but no visa is necessary for a stay of up to 90 days.

Passport/Visa Note: Passports must be valid for at least 30 days beyond the period of intended stay. An onward or return ticket is required, as well as sufficient funds and documents needed for further travel. Note that visitors to South Africa must have at least one blank (unstamped) page in their passport, each time entry is sought; these pages are in addition to the endorsement/amendment pages at the back of the passport.

Note: Passport and visa requirements are liable to change at short notice. Travelers are advised to check their entry requirements with their embassy or consulate.

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