- Is a visa required?
It depends on the country that
issued your passport. Citizens of the United States are exempt from
requiring a visa. Other citizens may not be exempt. Be sure to check the
requirements in advance because you must get a visa, if required, prior to
entering South Africa.
http://www.home-affairs.gov.za/visa_schedule.asp
- How big is South Africa?
The usual way of describing the
country is that it’s almost twice the size of Texas. South Africa extends 1,821 km (1,132 mi) NE–SW and 1,066 km (662 mi) SE–NW. It’s big!
- Are the seasons reversed?
Yes. South
Africa is south of the equator so its seasons are the
opposite of North America. That is, June 21 is
the longest day of the year with the most sunshine in North
America and December 21 is the shortest. In South Africa,
June 21 has the least light and December 21 has the most. Christmas comes the
middle of winter in North America; it’s in the middle of summer in South Africa.
- What is the weather like; when does it
rain?
South Africa's climate is generally
sunny and pleasant, but there is considerable regional variation: the northwest
is very arid, the south is temperate, and the northeast has a more typically
tropical climate. Winters (May to August) are generally mild, particularly in
the Western Cape;
most of the rest of the country receives only a brief cold spell, when snow
falls on the mountain ranges and occasionally in lower-lying areas. The rainiest months in Cape
Town are May to August; Johannesburg
receives most of its annual rainfall in the summer, between November and March.
- When is the best time to travel? It
depends what you want to see/do.
Picking a best time to visit South Africa
is not a task easily accomplished. After all, this is a country famous
for its sunshine and relatively warm winters.
Perhaps it's wise to consider what it is you wish to do and
see, along with the South African
tourism seasons. For example, if you are an avid bird watcher, the
country is on the flight path of birds from the north in mid-October -
November. If it's the floral carpet spread of the Cape
flower season that you wish to catch, visit the area when the winter rains are
over at the first sign of spring, namely August and September. If you are going
on a game safari, the best time may be July through September, when the
visibility is best and it's birthing season. However, there are game parks all
over the country, and the best time to go on a safari is whenever you are in
the country.
Another point you might want to take into account are the
major South African holiday seasons,
when the schools close and families en-masse head for the coast. The
busiest period of all falls between mid- December and early January, coinciding
with the Festive Season. Mid-winter is another prime time when locals
head for warmer climates. You'll find the holiday crowds in destinations
like Durban and Cape Town, but they do bring a lot of buzz in
their wake.
If action and adventure is your thing, a number of activities
are at their best after the summer's peak, such as diving, hiking and
surfing. You may also want to time your trip to include a major sporting
or entertainment event - these generally take place out of season too. And
don't discount winter holidays either - the South African winter compares
favorably with the European summer, and the tropical province of KwaZulu-Natal
with its fine coastline will still offer a good beach holiday.
Do you want to visit Victoria
Falls on your trip? Timing that is tricky, and once again, it
depends on your interests. For instance, if you
want to see the falls at its most impressive, you'll want to be here when it is
flowing well. If you want to do more things and get closer to the falls, you'll
want to be here when the falls have low flow. Of course, most of us like happy
mediums and would prefer to come when you can do both, but it's very difficult
to make such timing as there are numerous factors that come into play that are
hard to predict, especially if you're traveling from far and away.
The falls is in its highest flow around the May-June time
frame. Under this condition, you can expect the falls will span the entire
1.7km width of the Zambezi
River as it plunges over
its 108m basalt wall. Unfortunately, most viewpoints are too wet to photograph
effectively (be careful not to destroy your electronic equipment by exposing it
in the rain for too long) and ponchos are a must. This would be the time to see
the waterfall from the air and truly appreciate the falls' grandeur, scale,
magnitude, and sheer beauty.
The falls is in its lowest flow around the October-December
time frame. Under this condition, the falls will have been segmented into
several smaller "strands" of water with much of the underlying basalt
bedrock wall exposed. The falls will lack its thunderous impact at this time
(sometimes large sections of the falls seems dry due to some degree of water
diversion for hydroelectricity on the Zambia side), but plenty of other
activities become possible. Among such activities are the Devil's Swimming
Pool, which lets you swim right at the edge of the falls! Plus, aquatic
activities in the Zambezi
River below the falls
becomes possible. Moreover, mist obscuring your viewpoints won't be as much of
a problem.
Perhaps the most popular and optimal time to visit Victoria Falls (from the standpoint of good views and
best weather) would be around the July through September time frame. The falls is
gradually in transition from a flooded state to a low flow state so you might
have fewer problems
with mist while still having an acceptable volume of water so
as to not feel underwhelmed. But with this being perhaps the best time to go
(in terms of getting the best of both worlds of visual impact and most
activities), the cost of accommodations and amenities as well as the crowds
(though even this is relative to what the visitor is used to) are at their
worst.
Around January through March/April is the wet season at the
falls. This is when the area is the hottest and muggiest, and thundershowers
are more likely. Like the peak season, the falls is in a transitional period,
but it's going from low flow to high flow. Thus, you're likely to have
satisfying views of the falls without mist being as much of a problem as during
full flood. Actually, even though it does typically rain this time of year, the
flow of the Zambezi River really depends on drainage systems further
upstream so really it has to rain where water drains into the Zambezi River
from Western Zambia and Angola
The best time to visit South Africa? Well, just about
all year round. Go when you can, arrange your activities to suit the weather,
and enjoy your trip.
- How long does it take to get there?
You should plan 15-18 hours of
flying time from the U.S. east
coast to southern Africa. If you are flying
from the U.S. you have a
choice of either going through Europe or flying direct to Africa.
The choices depend on whether you want to do a stopover in Europe
on the way over or on your return, or if you want the most direct flight
without a stopover. There are flights from JFK and Washington
DC, as well as Atlanta
directly to Africa.
- How long should I spend?
This is a budget and time issue on
your part. You could stay in South
Africa for 4 weeks and not run out of things
to do. You can do the highlights of Cape Town, Johannesburg, a safari, and Victoria
Falls in two weeks. Beyond that is the Garden Route, famous for
its scenic beauty and whales in the winter/spring; the scenery of the
Drakensburg Mountains for hiking or just relaxing; going to Lesotho—a country
within a country and famous for its mountains, weavings, and horses; riding
trains across the country and seeing the famous Karoo; seeing the pristine
beaches northeast of Durban and watching turtles lay their eggs at night;
visiting villages and learning about the major tribes in the country; spending
a week volunteering at an orphanage, animal wildlife center, building a home,
or at a school; exploring museums and gardens full of unique indigenous plants;
experiencing the energy of the townships by staying in B&Bs and eating with
the locals; learning about traditional healers and experiencing local plants as
part of spa treatments; focusing on the Boer War through museums and
battlefields and learning how the discovery of gold and diamonds changed the
outcome of the country—the list of endless of how you can spend your time in
South Africa. What ever your choices, you’ll wish you’d stayed longer!
By Kathy Moroney
