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         SOUTH AFRICA
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South Africa lies at the
southern tip of the African
continent and has a huge
coastline on both the Atlantic
and Indian Oceans. The country
occupies a huge saucer-shaped
plateau, surrounded by a belt
of land that drops in steps to
the sea. In general the
climate is healthy, with
plenty of sunshine and
relatively low rainfall. Of
the total land area, 58% is
used as natural pasture. The
main crops grown are maize,
sorghum, wheat, groundnuts and
sugar cane. It is South
Africa's extraordinary mineral
wealth that overshadows all
its other natural resources.
These include gold, coal,
copper, iron ore, manganese
and chrome ore.

Area (Sq. Km.): 1,223,404

Population: 36,696,000

Capital: Pretoria
            (Administrative)
         Cape Town
            (Legislative)
         Bloemfontein
            (Judicial)

Language:
Afrikaans
English

Religion:
Mainly Christian

Government Type:
Democracy

Currency: Rand

Embassy:
South Africa House,
Trafalgar Square,
London,
WC2N 5DP.
0171-930-4488

The country of South Africa
has potentially one of the
biggest tourist possibilities
in the world. There is a vast
range and variety of scenery,
culture and peoples and could
well become THE boom travel
area of the 1990's.

There are already a small
number of tour operators
flying to South Africa and
very frequent flights from
Manchester, Gatwick and
Heathrow to Johannesburg as
well as other possible flights
through Lisbon with TAP or
even through Luxiar and
Luxembourg - shop around for a
good flight deal and remember
the more indirect the flight,
the cheaper it is (normally!)

South Africa boasts beaches,
safaris, mountains, city tours
and family reunion and the
climate is best in our winter
- south of the equator
remember the seasons are
reversed!

Other main towns:
Durban
Johannesburg
East London
Port Elizabeth
Kimberley

Pop: 26,000,000

Languages:
Official language is Afrikaans
and English.
There are nine main African
languages the most widely
spoken being Xhosa and Zulu.

Time: GMT+2

Electricity: 230 volts

Currency: Rand = 100 Cents.

Credit Cards:
All major credit cards are
widely accepted.

Airline:
South Africa's national
airline is South African
Airways.

By sea:
South Africa is a popular
cruise call destination and
its main ports are Durban,
Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and
East London.

Health: There are no
compulsory health regulations
from the UK and the tap water
is considered safe to drink -
though take precautions in
rural areas. Rabies is a
hazard and is endemic.

Airports:
South Africa has THREE
international airports at -
Capetown
Durban
Johannesburg

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Foreign Office Advice:

Following the successful
elections, there has been a
sharp reduction in the level
of political violence
nationally. However, the
threat from muggers and
violent crime remains high in
city centres and elsewhere.

Isolated areas should be
avoided. Caution should be
exercised when visiting
townships and surrounding
areas.

Visitors are welcome to
contact the British Embassy
and Consulates for further
guidance.

Embassy:
Pretoria (Tel: 433121)
Consulates:
Cape Town (Tel: 253670)
East London (Tel: 55260-8)
Port Elizabeth (Tel: 22423)
Johannesburg (Tel: 3378940)
Durban (Tel: 3052929)

For more information ring:

 Foreign Office Travel Unit

       0171-270-4129