South Africa, described as "a world within one country", heads into the new century with a new and buoyant spirit. Dressing itself as the world's premier eco tourism destination, this beautiful country provides the traveler with a large variety of national parks and private wildlife conservancies.

For wildlife enthusiasts the Kruger National Park provides first rate wildlife with first world infrastructure. Fleeting images of true Africa are tempered with paved roads and multitudes of tourists. Private lodges adjoining the park provide a more exclusive and remote atmosphere. The country's private wildlife conservancies (large tracts of private land which have been restocked with indigenous game) are among Africa's finest, boasting numerous species of rare antelope and Africa's largest populations of both black and white rhino.

Other South African activities include scuba diving (Rocktail Bay is considered one of the world's top 10 dive locations), viewing rare leatherback and loggerhead turtles, whale watching (the world's leading land based viewing of southern right whales), viewing Jackass penguins, Great White Shark cage dives, touring the Cape Peninsula, the Cape winelands, and Table Mountain in cosmopolitan Cape Town, a visit to Nelson Mandela's boyhood home and to Robben Island where he was imprisoned for 27 years. You can tour Soweto and meet local people at the New Rest Township. You may enjoy a Blue Train (the world's most luxurious train), a Rovos Rail journey, or simply relax along the Garden Route. South Africa has been home to the world's several of the world’s leading hotels. The Cape Grace was voted #1 in 2001 and Singita was voted #1 in 2001 and 2004. Getting to South Africa from the USA is easy - travelers can fly direct aboard South African Airways from New York or Washington DC to Johannesburg.

When to Visit: Year round
Big 5 Wildlife Species: Yes
Overall Quality of Safari Guides: 3.5
Overall Quality of Wilderness Experience: 3.5
Personal Safety: 3.0 (violent urban and rural crime in Johannesburg area)
Health Concerns: 4.5
General Infrastructure (roads, telecommunications, water): 5.0
Medical Infrastructure: 5.0
Political Stability: 4.5
Overall Rating: 4.1
(ratings are based on a 5 point scale with 1 being the least desirable value and with 5 being the most desirable value)

Official Language: 11 official languages, English is widely spoken
Currency: South African Rand
Time Difference: EST +7
Electricity: 220/230 AC
Departure Tax: Included on international outward ticket
Embassy of South Africa
3051 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington D.C. 20008
Telephone: (202) 232-4400
Entry Visa: Visa not required for American tourists