World Guide

South Africa

Country · Africa, Southern Africa

Vredefort impact structure
Pictured: Vredefort impact structure · Photo: Tadpolefarm, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

South Africa is located in Southern Africa and covers about 1,221,037 square kilometers with a population of about 65 million. The country has multiple capitals: Pretoria, Bloemfontein, and Cape Town. It offers travellers diverse landscapes, wildlife, and cultural sights.

Highlights

The site covers 20 top sights. Key locations include Kruger National Park, Table Mountain National Park, Cape Floristic Region, and Robben Island. Major cities listed are Cape Town, Pretoria, and Simon's Town. Other sights feature the Vredefort impact structure, Cradle of Humankind, and iSimangaliso Wetland Park.

Food and drink

Local dishes include bobotie, boerewors, bunny chow, chakalaka, vetkoek, potjiekos, sosatie, koeksister, malva pudding, gatsby, hertzoggie, and samp.

When to go

The climate data reflects the capital. June and July are the coolest months with average highs of 18 °C to 19 °C and lows of 5 °C to 6 °C, alongside very low rainfall of 3 mm to 9 mm. January sees daily highs of 27 °C and lows of 17 °C with peak rain of 126 mm over about 16 days.

Practical notes

The currency is the rand. Languages spoken include English, Afrikaans, Southern Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Sesotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu, and South African Sign Language. Driving is on the left side of the road. Time zones are UTC+02:00. Plugs use types C, D, and N at a voltage of 230 V.

Cities

Food and drink to try in South Africa

  • Bobotie
  • Boerewors
  • Bunny chow
  • Chakalaka
  • Vetkoek
  • Potjiekos
  • Sosatie
  • Koeksister
  • Malva pudding
  • Gatsby
  • Hertzoggie
  • Samp

Top sights in South Africa

  1. Vredefort impact structureUNESCOVredefort impact structure
  2. Ponte CityPonte CityJohannesburg
  3. Kruger National ParkKruger National Park
  4. Robben IslandUNESCORobben Island
  5. Cradle of HumankindUNESCOCradle of Humankind
  6. Bo-KaapBo-KaapCape Town
  7. Voortrekker MonumentVoortrekker MonumentPretoria
  8. Big HoleBig HoleKimberley
  9. Tugela FallsTugela Falls
  10. Castle of Good HopeCastle of Good HopeCape Town
  11. Union BuildingsUnion BuildingsPretoria
  12. Boulders BeachBoulders BeachSimon's Town
  1. Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden · Cape Town
  2. V&A Waterfront · Cape Town
  3. Cape Floristic Region · Simon's TownUNESCO
  4. Table Mountain National Park · Cape TownUNESCO
  5. Makhonjwa MountainsUNESCO
  6. iSimangaliso Wetland ParkUNESCO
  7. CederbergUNESCO
  8. RichtersveldUNESCO
  9. Wonderboom · Pretoria
  10. National Women's Monument · Bloemfontein
  11. Anglo-Boer War Museum · Bloemfontein

UNESCO sites in South Africa →

Weather by month

The warmest month is January, with an average high of 27 °C. The wettest is January, with about 126 mm of rain.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Average high, °C272726232119192226272727
Average low, °C17171512965811131516
Rainfall, mm126104923514936177298123
Rainy days1613982110261116

Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for Pretoria (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.

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