From the big game safaris to the penguin-patrolled white beaches, you’ll find a rich variety of places to visit in South Africa. This is a country of dramatic contrasts, which you can appreciate in its full glory along the Garden Route, a drive that takes you from the valleys of the lush Winelands to Cape Town’s craggy coastal cliffs. And that’s still just a fraction of all the things you can see here.
With 2,500km of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, the many beaches in South Africa never end. Watch the sunset at Cape Town’s Bloubergstrand Beach, try bodyboarding at Durban’s North Beach or get away from it all on the secluded, coppery sand of Sodwana Bay in KwaZulu-Natal. When you’re not swimming, sailing, diving and windsurfing, try shark diving to get exhilaratingly close to those great whites. Shark Alley is one of the top cage-diving destinations in the world and you don’t have to be a qualified diver to try it. The country’s transition from divisive and unjust apartheid to a democracy with Nelson Mandela as president is one of the most remarkable events of the 20th century. South Africans are rightly proud of their leader and you can visit memorials to Mandela everywhere, from his modest house in Johannesburg to Robben Island where he was jailed for 18 years. With its fascinating mix of cultures and tribes, it’s no surprise South Africa is called the Rainbow Nation.
The currency takes its name from Witwatersrand, the ‘ridge of white waters’ upon which Johannesburg is built. One rand is worth roughly 6p, so a R100 note is just under £6, though exchange rates fluctuate daily. Notes range from 10 rand up to R200. They bear the images of Nelson Mandela and the Big Five game animals. There are also coins ranging from one cent through 10c (worth about half a penny) to 50c. If you don’t have time before you leave, there are plenty of places to exchange money in South Africa. The minute you step off the plane, you’ll see banks, money exchanges and ATMs. Don’t be tempted to change money with unlicensed traders in the street. They may say they offer a good deal but you risk getting cheated or robbed, so stick to the many banks and established exchanges. Hotels may also swap your money for you. You’ll also be able to withdraw rand from a local cash machine, as there are plenty of ATMs around the country, even in rural towns. But make sure you’re aware of any charges and limits your bank may have as some may charge you to withdraw in a foreign country.Credit cards like MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted in most places, though be on the alert for fraud. We also suggest having some cash to hand for markets and tipping. Occasionally, sterling and dollars may be taken in tourist areas, but the locals much prefer rand. If you cross any borders during your holiday, it’s worth noting that the rand is also accepted in the Common Monetary Area which includes Swaziland, Lesotho and Namibia.