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Capital: Tshwane, formerly Pretoria, is the administrative capital; Cape Town is the legislative capital; and Bloemfontein is the judicial capital.
Airports: Go to the airports page for related information.
Currency: The rand is the basic monetary unit. For the current rate of exchange visit the Olson and Anderson web site.
Time Zones: Current local time. Standard time is two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
Languages: Afrikaans, English, Sotho, Tswana, Zulu and other tribal languages.
Visit the CIA World Fact Book for a large variety of particulars regarding South Africa.
Travel Advisories: Travelers should check the web sites listed on our international pages that provide advice of possible security and health risks when visiting this region.
The web site for the South African Embassy in Washington, DC is an excellent source of information regarding political, cultural, consular, commercial and travel affairs.
The official Travel and Tourism web site is in English, German, French, Italian and Dutch and is a very good resource to begin planning for a trip to South Africa. The Museums On Line web site will be of interest to visitors with an interest in the history and culture of South Africa.
The South African National Parks web site is an excellent place to discover some of the most scenic attractions in this country.
The web site for the John H. Marsh Maritime Research Centre at the Iziko South African Maritime Museum provides historical information about the importance of the maritime industry to South Africa. For other museums see Iziko Museums Website: http://www.museums.org.za/iziko
The official web site of the South African government is another excellent source of information about South Africa.
Seven sites in South Africa have been designated as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.
The Africa Guide web site is another good source of information about South Africa.
Visit the Hostelling International-South Africa web site for information about hostels and low-cost accommodations in South Africa.
Recommended Reading: Any of the excellent biographies of Nelson Mandela who led the African movement against Apartheid; Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton with photographs by Umberto Adaggi focuses on the racial inequality in 20th Century South Africa and has long been regarded as one of the most important novels to come out of this troubled era.
Kaffir Boy by Mark Mathabane and Miriam's Song by Miriam Mathabane as told to Mark Mathabane are two stories of young people growing up under apartheid in South Africa. The original edition of Kaffir Boy was on the New York Times bestseller list after its publication in 1986. The current edition (1998) is a sequel to the original based on the author's experiences living in the United States.
Guides: Baedeker - South Africa; Let's Go - South Africa; Lonely Planet - Cape Town | South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland | South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland travel atlas; Rough Guides - Capetown Miniguide | South Africa