Colombia: Adventure and Extreme Sport

Colombia’s rugged topography encloses an infinite number of environments that are ideal for exploring. Colombia adventure features varied landscapes and regions, rich in flora and fauna, which are an invitation to experience unforgettable thrills.

To explore our natural parks, valleys, mountains, savannas, deserts, seas, lakes, and rivers is to discover an exuberant nature where the practice of extreme sports is a permanent temptation. In Colombia, adventure is waiting for you.

Colombia is not only a tropical land. It possesses a gigantic aquatic garden in the Pacific Ocean and a virtually unlimited pool in the Caribbean Sea.

Indeed, our house is enormous and the only one in South America with such attractions. Located at the geographical center of the American continent, it occupies a small portion of the tropical zone, and is a country graced by abundant water, bathed by the two biggest oceans on the planet, and dotted with islands, cays, and coral reefs. Over 2,900 km of coastline, with cliffs and rocky and sandy beaches, constitute a large tourist attraction due to their expanse and color.

Colombia is one of the world’s diving marvels thanks to the privileged features of its two oceans, considered true living laboratories. On account of the unique adaptations of the fauna, the wealth of vegetation is home to endemic species.

Diving in Colombia involves visiting  national natural parks and flora and fauna sanctuaries, traveling across extensive virgin beaches  and jungles, and getting to know Indian villages and communities that preserve their ancestral traditions.

    Paragliding

A French poet once wrote that “flying is like looking at birds and smiling without envy, knowing that when one wishes, one can open one’s wings to accompany them.” As an action, flying is a dream common to all men, a dream of being carried away by a sense of freedom and surrendering to the will of the wind. In the context of expression, flying is about going beyond, about giving in to imagination to the point of abandoning logic.

Surely, these were the motives of the creators of paragliding - undoubtedly the sport that comes closer to man’s old illusion. Flying on a paraglider is safe, does not pollute, allows contact with the wind and, if as this were not enough, it is a delight to the senses when flying above spectacular and exotic landscapes.

Due to a variety of sites and the presence of experienced sportsmen and companies offering the service, Colombia has consolidated as a preferred destination for giving in to the thrills of paragliding. Contrary to what many think, the sport does not generate dizziness, but rather a sense of full tranquility.

Travel patterns of people of color

Over the decades, public and private travel among Americans has increased significantly, making America one of the most mobile of societies.  However, many policy-makers are concerned that the nature and distribution of travel are uneven, especially with regards to people of color.  Developing a broader understanding of travel behavior of people of color, which includes African-Americans, Hispanics, Asians, and others, is essential to create a more equitable distribution of transportation system options.  This understanding involves many aspects, including why, when, and how people travel, and how each of these aspects varies with time, geography, and population characteristics. There is still very little known about the travel patterns of people of color.  Only recently have significant efforts been made to better understand travel behavior among racial and ethnic groups.  This topic joins a small but growing field in transportation research that analyzes other issues of equity in travel including gender, age, disability, and wealth.

The population of people of color is growing and this growth is expected to grow much faster than thepopulation of Whites well into the 21th century.  Thus, this is an increasingly important share of total travel demand.  Travel by people of color is changing rapidly, with significant increases in travel and changes in mode choice.  A high level of mobility is essential to the lifestyles and economic well-being ofall people; historically, many people of color have not enjoyed as high a level of mobility as the White population.  In many ways, people of color have yet to experience some of the shifts in travel that have occurred for Whites.  The trends may be converging in some important measures of mobility, but the speed of convergence is slow.  Some of the delay is caused by the wide range of incomes, education, and travel choices within these populations.

This report begins to develop a body of literature on travel by people of color to better understand how Americans of all ethnic backgrounds are using our transportation systems today and to generate ideas to improve transportation mobility. The majority of the data used in these papers is from the Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey (NPTS) and the U.S. decennial Census.  This report is a compilation of seven separate papers, each with its own specific focus and point of view.  The topics include race, inequality, and travel patterns; demographics; commuting; residential location; mode choice; and gender differences.

The first chapter, “Race, Inequality, and Travel Patterns Among People of Color,” was written by Abel Valenzuela Jr., associate director for the Center for the Study of Urban Poverty, Institute for Social Science Research, University of California, Los Angeles.   The chapter provides a context for understanding social and economic inequality in the U.S. among people of color and how this inequality is connected to transportation patterns.  Valenzuela addresses two key issues: the nature of inequality in the U.S. and travel patterns as they relate to inequality.  He provides a broad overview of inequality, highlighting three particular areas of importance: immigration and rapid demographic change; economic restructuring and persistent inequality; and persistent racial residential segregation.

Valenzuela finds that uneven outcomes exist by race, ethnicity, gender, and age on a number of social indicators, including the distribution of transportation resources and travel patterns.  As travel patterns have changed, so have the contours of race and inequality in the U.S.  Travel patterns among people of color are complex but clearly differentiated from the White population and other subcategories such as gender and age.  Understanding inequality is part of the solution, as is understanding the role that uneven transportation opportunities, investments, and uses have in maintaining dichotomous relationships among different socioeconomic indicators.

Travel and exploration

In this context,  the literature of travel  and  exploration  refers  to  books written by Europeans or Americans about what came to  be  known  as the   "Third World Asia,  Africa, the islands of  the  Pacific, and t o  a certain extent the Americas (as relating to Amerindians) It would not include work in t h e  field of  anthropology. This literature of travel and exploration  (and  conquest] begins  around  the  time of  Columbus and goes onward until the early twentieth  century, when tourism  began  t o  make  the whole  world  a replica of  the  West  and nothing was left to  be explored Travel Literature.  

During  the  sixteenth,  seventeenth, and  eighteenth centuries, it was possible to write about "sodomie" with some frankness. Accordingly,  there  are numerous  candid references  to  homosexuality  in  the   various writings of  travelers which were collected in  massive multivolume anthologies  by Richard  Haklyt, Samuel  Purchas, and John Pinkerton.  Purchas  (the source  of Coleridge's  "Kubla  Khan") even  has  a unique reference t o  the homosexuality of the Emperor Jahangir of India. Many other travel books during this period not  collected by any later editor also contain data of  this kind.

As the eighteenth century drew to a close, a slow tidal wave of puritanism and prudery rolled over the West, and by 1835 it had ceased to be safe to make open references to homosexuality in books intended for general use. Here and there in France and Germany, scholars during the nineteenth  century were  able  t o   write articles or even books about homosexuality, or to mention i t  in passing, but in  the English speaking world there was  an almost  absolute taboo against mentioning such  an  "unspeakable"  subject  at  all. 

Travelers therefore either simply did not mention what they saw in foreign lands with regard to homosexual behavior, or else they mentioned i t in veiled phrases ("vice against nature," llabominablevice," "unnatural  propensities," and  similar expressions). This sort of nonsense went on until the  veil  was  rudely  lifted  by Arminius Vambery and Sir Richard Buaon in the late nineteenth century, Vambery being a Hungarian traveler who had visited the  court of  the pederastic Amir  of Bukhara in Central Asia, and Burton being the notorious explorer of  Asia and Africa who wrote a whole  essay  on pederasty, which  provoked  howls  of  "moral"  out- rage. But the Oscar Wilde trials in 1895 put the  lid back on until after World War I, and even  to a certain extent  until  after World War 11.

Tourism in the Developing World

Although often underestimated, the tourism industry can help promote peace and stability in developing countries by providing jobs, generating income, diversifying the economy, protecting the environment, and promoting cross-cultural awareness. Tourism is the fourth largest industry in the global economy.

However, key challenges must be addressed if peace-enhancing benefits from this industry are to be realized. These include investments in infrastructure and human capacity, the development of comprehensive national strategies, the adoption of robust regulatory frameworks, mechanisms to maximize in-country foreign currency earnings, and efforts to reduce crime and corruption.

The case studies of India, Kenya, and Nigeria reveal several important points. First, relative peace and a degree of economic development are preconditions for a successful tourist industry. Second, although it has the capacity to help promote peace and prosperity, tourism can also cause a great deal of harm unless it is carefully developed. Third, to deliver optimal benefits, tourism must be respectful of the environment and mindful of cultural and social traditions. Fourth, tourism must be supported by a coherent national strategy and robust laws.

 For tourism to help deliver prosperity and stabilize communities effectively, specific action must be taken by three main constituencies: host communities, host governments, and foreign stakeholders. Host communities should work to leverage their competitive advantage, improve service delivery, and protect their environment and culture. Host governments should establish supportive strategies, introduce and implement necessary regulations, remove bottlenecks, and adopt internationally recognized tourism standards. Foreign stakeholders could prioritize tourism as a viable economic force, direct investment to this sector, and facilitate knowledge and technological transfers.

Dubai cruise tourism

The number of cruise passengers who visited Dubai rose 37 percent last year and is expected to grow another 30 percent in 2010, according to figures from the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM.Around 250,000 cruise tourists visited the emirate in 2009. In 2010, it is expected that the new Dubai Cruise Terminal will host 120 ships and around 325,000 passengers.

The new Dubai Cruise Terminal is expected to become fully operational by the end of January and will enable Dubai to handle bigger cruise liners. Spanning an area of 3,450 sq m, the new terminal is designed to handle up to three to four ships simultaneously.Costa Cruises set up its regional base in Dubai in 2007 and will be inaugurate its latest ship, the Costa Deliziosa, on February 23.

Last month, Royal Caribbean International announced it would begin seven-day cruises around the Middle East on board the vessel Brilliance of the Seas.Dubailand, a member of Dubai Properties Group, and Royal Caribbean International, will offer the new holiday cruise package from January 18 until April, the firm said at the time.

The Brilliance of the Seas cruise will stop at Muscat, Fujairah, Abu Dhabi and Bahrain and include visits to some of Dubailand's tourism developments, like Dubai Autodrome in MotorCity, Dubai Outlet Mall in Outlet City, The Global Village and Dubai Sports City.

Sea, Sky and everything in between!

Madeira: A safe haven from today's modern society and just a short traveling distance from most European major cities.

Where is Madeira? It's located in the Atlantic Ocean, just north-west of the Canary islands and a little further away from Africa, which gives it the balmy summers and warm winters it's famous for... the ideal holiday destination all the year round.

In this website you will find general information about Madeira, plus specific information from various tourism service providers. We hope you enjoy browsing through our pages which have information on hotels, bed & breakfast, property for sale, levada walks, big game fishing and much much more . . . .

Start off by looking through the menu items above or look at the LIVE WEBCAMS where you can see what the weather is doing at many points around the island, and then perhaps come back to the home page to check hotel reviews and what's happening in Madeira over the coming months

Madeira Carnival

4th - 8th March
Madeira Carnival is an extravagant bonanza, celebrated in the capital, Funchal. Costumes, music, food… Everything you could ask for is here. No costume is too crazy for this beautiful Carnival!

Flower Festival

7th – 8th May
The Madeira Flower Festival attracts thousands of visitors from all around the world to witness what is, arguably, one of the most beautiful sights you will ever see! Fresh flowers flood the streets and a delicate fragrance fills the air. If you choose to visit Madeira, make sure you attend this event. It is not to be missed!

São João Festival

June
This festival takes place on the island of Porto Santo, just off the coast of Madeira. Though it is of a religious origin, it also symbolises the beginning of summer festivites for all Madeirans. The festival encompasses beautiful firework displays, music and plenty of local gastronomy to try out!

Atlantic Festival Fireworks Competition

4th, 11th, 18th and 25th June
This breathtaking festival boasts some of the fireworks displays you will ever see. Combining fireworks with the best classical music creates a feast for your eyes and your ears!

Funchal Jazz Festival

July
Jazz fans flock to this Mecca of the jazz world, taking place annually at the Parque de Santa Catarina in Funchal.

Madeira Wine Rally (European Rally Championship)

4th – 6th August
If racing is your thing, visit Madeira in August to witness some of the best rally car racing in Europe!

Madeira Wine Festival

1st – 9th September – Shows and Exhibitions in Funchal
This festival commemorates Madeira's wine-growing roots with traditional old-style wine making processes, such as the treading of grapes, along with many other activities. Any wine lover cannot afford to miss this!

Columbus Festival - Porto Santo Island

15th – 17th September
This festival celebrates the life and adventures of the famous navigator Christopher Columbus, who lived on Porto Santo Island for a couple of years. The festival takes place on Porto Santo Island itself, with various activities taking place, the highlight being the re-enactment of Columbus' arrival at Porto Santo Harbour.

Christmas Lights

Late November to early January Fantastic Decorations and Exhibitions

End of the Year Madeira Festivities

Madeira celebrates the festive season in style, and when I say in style, I mean it! Mind-blowing fireworks displays, street parties and people flooding through the streets to celebrate. Madeira is the perfect place to celebrate your Christmas or New Years, and make it one to remember!

travel to Switzerland

If you could travel through only one European country, which might you choose? Italy?France? Germany? How about a taste of three in one? That can only mean Switzerland!

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Known as a summer and winter sports paradise (just look at those glistening white 4000m-plus Alpine peaks and glittering lakes), Switzerland is where people first skied for fun. Illustrious names evoke all the romance and glamorous drama of the mountain high life: Zermatt, St Moritz,Interlaken, Gstaad, the Jungfrau, Verbier and more. Cities like Geneva (the most cosmopolitan), Zürich (the most outrageous), Basel and Lausanne heave with heady artistic activity and sometimes incendiary nightlife.

Beyond the après-ski chic, edelweiss and Heidi lies a complex country of cohabiting cultures. It not only has four languages (Swiss German, French, Italian and Romansch), but the cultural variety to match. You could be chomping on sausages over beer in an oom-pah-pah Stübli one day and pasta over a glass of merlot in a granite grotto the next. And if over-indulgence becomes a problem try one of the country's thermal baths, from Yverdon-les-Bains to Scuol.

The grandeur of the finest churches, such as the cathedrals in Lausanne and Bern, contrasts with sparkling but lesser-known treasures like the frescoes of Müstair or the abbey complex of St Gallen (both World Heritage sites).

The list of enchanting towns is endless: from Lucerne with its covered bridge to Neuchâtel and its fountains; from Gruyères with its cheese, and Grimentz with its traditional timber houses to the sgraffito-blazoned buildings of Engadine towns like Scuol and Zuoz.

Whether visiting the remotest Ticino villages or sampling the finest of Valais wines, you'll find Switzerland a chocolate box bursting with unexpected flavours.

Turning Your Travel Dreams into Reality

Homeschooling families often turn the impossible into reality. For many families, the dream of turning the learning into a tangible reality often however seems too far out of reach. Imagine, after studying the life of Leonardo De Vinci, traveling to his birthplace in the small Tuscan town of Vinci or visit Clos Luce Manor in France, his home in the Loire Valley. In 1516 King Francois I gave this home to Leonardo along with 700 golden crowns per year and asked only for the pleasure of listening to Leonardo converse. See first hand the underground passage connecting the manor to the Royal Castle Amboise which gave the King direct access to the home of De Vinci.  Leonardo De Vinci is buried in the small chapel at Amboise, and much of his work can be viewed in the museum which is on the grounds of his former manor. 

The problem is who has the thousands of dollars to take their family to such destinations? Not us. However, we have spent summer after summer doing just this. How do we do it? How do you turn what should be an $18,000.00 vacation into a $3800.00 experience of a lifetime? 

For many families their yearly vacation is one of fun, but for our family it is an adventure of learning and fun, exploring this entire world, both new and old, and all it has to offer. We began five years ago researching how we could travel cheap. The interesting thing was, the more we researched the more we discovered that much of our travel could be free. After spending several summers in Europe many asked us to share our tricks with them so they too might be able to have similar adventures. We eventually wrote a book entitled Have Kids - Will Travel which has changed the way many families travel, opening the doors of the world and creating adventures families could only dream of before. 

Our family consisting of my wife and I, our four children, ages 8, 14, 16 and 18 have visited such places as England, France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy. We have also traveled extensively throughout the United States including a two and a half week Revolutionary War self guided tour of the East Coast which cost us just over $700.00 for the entire family, including air, car, places to stay, food etc. 

Traveling cheap and free isn’t something you can do next week. It takes both time and planning. We usually plan our trips one to two years in advance. After deciding where we want to go we start the planning process of gathering our frequent flyer points, free accommodations, car etc. The free flights take the longest to accumulate. The great thing about frequent flyer points these days is that you don’t have fly to get them. There are so many companies that will give them to you for doing business with them. The great thing is, you are probably already doing business with many of them already. They include credit cards, internet providers, cell phone and long distance phone companies along with many more. The first trick is to learn how to create an accumulative effect with your points so you are not collecting a few points in different programs, but that they all go into one big pot. The second trick is to collect enough points without buying things you don’t need and or going into debt. This is simply a matter of changing the way you purchase the every day items we are already buying. 

Getting free accommodations for your trip can be accomplished by using the same methods the Kings of old did. They contacted a Duke, Earl, or someone else who had a castle and asked if they wanted to exchange castles for a time.  There are hundreds of thousands of families just like yours, living all over the world who would love to exchange homes with your family. This is very popular among the upper middle and upper classes in Europe. We usually get around ten offers from families all over the world and many of them include the use of their cars which takes care of an additional cost. 

In our book we talk about other ways to get free airfare, free hotel, very cheap car rentals, how to save on food and much more. We go through the safety aspects of traveling abroad with children and how to see sites both free and cheap. Using these methods we have spent over three weeks in Europe for less than it would cost a family of four to visit Disneyland. Yes the kids have had to trade Mickey Mouse for the Eiffel Tower, or swimming in a hotel pool for swimming in a crystal clear lake of the Swiss Alps. Or maybe you will have to trade a long hot car ride for an airplane ride with TV’s and movies in front of every seat. Maybe you will have to substitute a tour of the studio where they filmed Jaws for the beautiful city of Salzburg where they filmed Sound of Music, creating memories and adventures which will change the way our children look at history and the world. 

you want to go to Armenia?

The border between Armenia and Azerbaijan is closed and we advise against all but essential travel near the border with Azerbaijan due to the unresolved dispute over Nagorno Karabakh. This particularly covers the border areas of Tavush and Gegharkunik regions, where there has been sporadic gunfire. In Tavush Marz we specifically advise against travel on the road from Ijevan to Noyemberyan, which passes close to the border and military emplacements, and on the roads beyond Berd.

The British Embassy cannot provide consular assistance to you if you are in the Nagorno-Karabakh region. 

There is a low threat from terrorism. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks, which could be in public areas including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.

British citizens should avoid locations where demonstrations may take place. If it is necessary to be in the vicinity of a demonstration or gatherings, you should exercise vigilance and caution at all times. See Political Situation.

We advise all British citizens travelling in or living in Armenia to register with the FCO via the Locate online registration service. We would be grateful for any assistance registered British citizens could provide in making other Britons aware of the Locate service if they have not registered.

You should carry a photocopy of your passport as identification at all times.

You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. 

SAFETY AND SECURITY

Safety and Security - Terrorism 

There is a low threat from terrorism.  But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks, which could be in public areas including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.  

Safety and Security - Crime 

Crime, especially violent crime, remains relatively low in Armenia.  But there are incidents of pick pocketing, bag snatching, theft from cars and burglary involving British or other foreign nationals. You should not carry your passport, credit card, travel tickets and money together.  We advise you to leave spare cash, passports and valuables in a safe place.  

There have been occasional shooting incidents, chiefly related to organised crime. Although tourists and foreigners were not targeted, there is a risk of being caught up in such events and you should remain vigilant at all times. 

We also advise that you take the same personal safety precautions on the street and when using ATMs as you would in the UK.  Take particular care if using them after dark, especially if you are alone.  Check no one has followed you after conducting your business.  

Safety and Security - Local Travel

The border between Armenia and Azerbaijan is closed and we advise against all but essential travel close to the border with Azerbaijan, particularly the border areas of Tavush and Gegharkunik regions, where there have been reports of sporadic gunfire. We specifically advise against all travel on the road from Ijevan to Noyemberyan, which passes close to the border and military emplacements, where there have also been some reports of sporadic gunfire. If travelling between Armenia and Georgia we advise you to use one of the routes further west, or through the Lori region.

The land border with Turkey is also closed, but there are now direct flights from Yerevan to Istanbul. Travelling within the South Caucasus can be difficult and needs careful planning. 

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Road travel 

You are permitted to drive in Armenia on an International driving licence. The local standard of driving is poor. If you plan to drive in Armenia, you should be prepared for drivers who drive recklessly and flout traffic laws. The roads are also in a poor state, particularly in the coldest months (November to February).   If you are walking, you should be careful when crossing roads and use subways where available. 

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Rail Travel 

Public transport is often overcrowded and poorly maintained. If you have to travel by train, secure your valuables, do not leave the compartment unattended, and lock the door from the inside.

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Air travel 

Evidence suggests that some airlines serving Armenia do not always comply with international safety standards in respect of maintenance procedures.  Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) staff have therefore been advised to avoid flying with non-scheduled or non-international airlines from Armenia if an acceptable alternative means of travel exists.

Western airlines currently serving Armenia are BMI, Czech Airlines, Lot Polish Airlines, Air France and Austrian Airlines.

On 15 July 2009, a Caspian Airlines flight from Tehran to Yerevan crashed 75 miles northwest of Tehran shortly after takeoff.  All 168 passengers and crew onboard were killed. The cause of the crash has not yet been revealed.

A Canadian-built CRJ-100, operated by the Belarussian state airline Belavia, crashed shortly after taking off from Yerevan airport on 14 February 2008. There were no fatalities. An investigation concluded poor aircraft maintenance was to blame.

Lake Titicaca

Worlds collide around Lake Titicaca. Here the desolate altiplano (Andean plateau) meets the storied peaks and fertile valleys of the Andes. Green, sun-dazed islands contrast with freezing dirt farms. Ancient agrarian communities live alongside the chaos of the international marketplace.

Campesinas (peasant women) in bowler hats and sandals made from recycled truck tires tend to their llamas as light aircraft full of contraband fly overhead. Coca smugglers count their money in tumbledown towns that rear out of the dust like anthills. On howling cold nights, people huddle together, yet this place parties like nowhere else. In a country known for its riotous religious fiestas, Puno’s Candelaria is one of the greatest shows of all.

Lake Titicaca shimmers with a distinctive navy blue, and its gemlike islands and gentle shores are an agricultural paradise. Crumbling cathedrals, rolling hills, checkerboard valleys and Bolivia’s highest mountains in the background all conspire to make anyone a pro photographer. According to Andean belief, this lake gave birth to the sun, as well as the father and mother of all the Incas, Manco Cápac and Mama Ocllo. Pre-Inca Pukara, Tiwanaku and Collas all lived here and left monuments scattered across the landscape – from waist-high burial towers for dwarves to comical oversized stone penises. This is the heartland of South America, where priests bless taxis and lawyers sacrifice llamas. Rug up and jump in.

Come to Ecuador

The Galápagos Islands Climate

The weather in the Galápagos Islands is largely determined by the ocean currents. Normally from June to December, there is a cold current rising from the south which creates a cool moist fog called "garúa", close to the ocean making the climate rather cool and dry. In December, the wind has less force, the ocean is calm and the currents change, surrounding the islands with the warm Pánama Current from the North. These currents create a definable weather pattern of hot sunny mornings followed by clouds and occaisional showers in the afternoons. Needless to say, this is usually the favorite time to visit. Based on all of this information, it would be safe to say: from June to December it's cool, cloudy and dry. From December to June it's warm, sunny and rainy.

The Andes Climate

Even though this region is layed on top of the equator it's not as hot as you might expect it to be. The temperature ranges and the weather alway depends on the altitude and the time of year. Obviously, as a general rule, the higher you are in altitude, the colder it will be. Given this, in Quito the temperature won't get lower than 5ºC (42ºF) at night, and about 28ºC (88ºF) during the day. The rainy season of the Andes takes place usually from December to May and the rest of the year is relatively sunny. It's hard to predict Ecuador's weather. During the rainy season it may rain in the afternoons, if it rains at all.

The Amazon Climate 

A relatively constant thing in the Amazon is that it's humid and warm. The average temperatures are from about 20ºC to 28ºC (72ºF to 88ºF) and "dry season" is usually from November to March, which, like everything else related with the ecuadorian weather, isn't constant.

The Coast Climate

The coast, is where you can always expect with a  hot atmosphere, making a swim in the Pacific Ocean pleasent. The teperatures range stretches from 24ºC to 30ºC (80ºF to 92ºF). Rainy season is usually is from December until May and the dryer stage takes place the rest of the year. 

South Africa and your dreams

Health

Visitors entering South Africa from yellow fever infected areas require yellow fever international certificate of vaccination. Certain low altitude regions in Northern Province, Eastern Transvaal (including the Kruger National Park) and north east of KwaZulu-Natal are prone to malaria. Visitors to these areas are strongly advised to take anti-malaria medication before traveling. Tap water is generally considered safe in urban areas but not so elsewhere. Bilharzia occurs in the north and east of the country where you are advised not to swim in fresh water. HIV-AIDS is prevalent in the country and due care is called for.

Visas

All visitors to South Africa require passports valid for at least 30 days after planned date of exit. For those visiting for upto 90 days no visas are required from citizens of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, United States, Switzerland and the European Union. There is also visa waiver for between 30-90 days for a few other selected countries. But visa requirements vary from time to time and you are advised to check on prevailing status well ahead of travel. Visas are not issued at South Africa border points.

People & Culture

South Africa is such a vibrant country due to the diversity of its people. There is a lot to be said for the wildlife and natural attractions of this land but you will have missed much if you have no encounters with its people. The Khoi-San (bushmen) are entitled to claim of having the deepest roots and some of their ancestors’ rock and cave paintings date back 26,000 years ago. Other prominent members of this “rainbow nation” include Zulu, Tswana, Ndebele, Xhosa, Sotho, Indian, Afrikaans and those of British origin. The Zulu is one of the more vibrant of traditional black cultures and their dance and dress is quite striking.

In historic terms, apartheid has just recently been dethroned and it is not surprising that colour is still such as an important part of peoples identity. Some knowledge of English will help you get by in urban areas and almost elsewhere in the country. Beer and brandy are the popular routes to getting tipsy though many are increasingly finding South Africa’s excellent wines tempting. The music scene is vibrant and groups such as Ladysmith Black Mambazo are now well known in the west. The country has so many stories to be told as the grandees who award the Nobel Prize for literature have recognized. The 2003 winner was Cape Town born J.M Coetzee, who follows in the footsteps of Nadine Gordimer winner of the prize in 1991.

Communications

Telephone, fax, telegram, post and Internet services are available. Direct dialing to many countries is available at most hotels. The country code for South Africa is 27. Mobile phones are based on GSM 900 network and coverage extends to most urban areas. You can obtain a GSM card that will allow you to make international calls to any country. E-mail is accessible at Internet cafes around the country.

Accommodation

Hotels and resorts in South Africa are plenty in the popular tourist routes and are equal to the needs of most. From the discerning traveler who accepts none else than 5-star luxury to the cost conscious who is happy to wake up in a plain and cosy guesthouse. Accommodation options encompass hotels, game lodges and camps, resorts, health spas, motels, guesthouses, bed and breakfasts, holiday farms, beach cottages, holiday flats and bungalows. There are also over 800 camp and caravan sites in the country.

Money

The local currency is the South African Rand (ZAR). Foreign currency can be exchanged at bureaux de change, some hotels, and larger shops and restaurants. Automated foreign exchange machines and ATMs are also available at limited locations. Travelers cheques (i.e checks) are valid at banks, hotels, shops and restaurants. You get the most reasonable exchange rates for US dollar, Euro and Pound Sterling. Visa and Mastercard credit cards have the widest acceptance. American Express and Diners Club have slightly less acceptability.

Climate

In general South Africa has a warm temperate climate to the delight of many sunshine-seekers. The country experiences about seven months of sunshine. The colder part of the year falls between May and August. But for such a large country there are of course variations. The coast of KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and Northern Province are generally hot and humid and June and July are the preferred holiday months.

Winters are generally mild except at the higher altitudes where there are occasional snowfalls to the consternation of those visitors with fixed ideas about climatic conditions in Africa. Summer can be uncomfortably hot in the Low Veld. The hotter areas include the lower Orange River valley and the Mpumalanga Lowveld. Regions in the north east of the country can get quite humid. In Cape Town region rainfall is highest in winter. Most of the rest of the country experiences the highest rainfall in the summer. Those who have come to view game are advised to travel in winter when the grass is short and the animals are much easier to sight.

International Travel

Johannesburg is fast becoming a regional hub for air travel. The country’s national carrier is South African Airways (SAA). There are numerous direct and indirect South Africa flights for those traveling from Europe and North America. There are also flights from other parts of Africa, the Far East and South America. International airports in the country are: Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Bloemfontein and Port Elizabeth. As Cape Town’s stature as a destination grows, there is an increasing number of direct international flights.

Local Travel

The road infrastructure is good and it is easy and convenient to get around the country by car. Self-drive and chauffeur-driven rental cars in South Africa are widely available. Visitors must be in possession of an international driving license. The country has taken after the British and driving is on the left.

The principal cities of Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Durban, East London, Johannesburg, Kimberley, Port Elizabeth and Pretoria are serviced by daily flights. South African Airways among other domestic carriers operates on the principal routes. Cruises offer links between the country’s major ports such as Durban, Port Elizabeth, Cape Town and East London.

Rail services of varying quality link the main cities. The luxury and very pricey Blue Train offers an express service between Pretoria, Victoria Falls, Hoedspruit, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town. Long-distance trains are equipped with sleeping compartments. You should reserve ahead of travel especially for overnight journeys. A number of bus operators run intercity express links using modern air-conditioned coaches.

Travel Insurance

There are world-class medical facilities in South Africa. Health and the usual travel insurance are recommended.

What to Wear

If you travel in summer you should pack light cottons, linens and rainwear. For winter you need warmer clothes and rainwear if you travel to the Cape region. Casual wear will be adequate for most occasions. On formal social functions however men should turn out in dinner jackets and black ties and women in full-length dresses.