Know as the "Rainbow Nation" for it's diversity, South Africa is one of the most diverse and enchanting countries in the world. Exotic combinations of landscapes, people, and African culture offer a truly unique experience. The warm climate, natural beauty and value for money attract millions of tourists every year. South Africa is also known for having one of the highest crime rates in the world. It is not safe to walk anywhere after it's dark. Also outside of well policed tourist areas there are not that many places to go in the evenings.

The population is forty eight million. There are eleven official languages in South Africa. English is spoken as a first language by 8.2% of the population.

South Africa is not so much one culture as an example of many different cultures blending together with greater or lesser success. In the cities, the white minority live a lifestyle similar to Australia and New Zealand (the accents are also similar, the high walls and barbed wire around white communities are not).

The outdoors lifestyle is also important. South Africans make the most of the country's good weather and the braai (barbeque) is often the centre for social gatherings.

There are many cultural attractions. One of the most famous is Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned. The Zulu culture is still very much alive. Tribal dance and song is performed with vigor and you can gain a sense of the ancient traditions. Some of the oldest rock art in the country can be found in the Drakensberg Mountains where rock and cave paintings by the San date back 26,000 years. South African art and drama is easily access in the many museums and theatres in the cities.

Diveristy is found in South African music. European Classical music is enjoyed regularly at outdoor concerts often in large botanical gardens. Jazz is popular in the townships. Rock and pop are as popular in South Africa as they are anywhere else.

One way to see more of the culture is to do a township home stay or a rural village stay Facilities are usually not luxurious, but comfortable and clean - and a good way to meet local people. There is also a range of well organised township tours which allow you to visit the townships safely.


South Africa Culture Links

www.dac.gov.za	Department of Arts and Culture
www.south-africa-tourism.com	South Africa Tourism
www.drakensberg-tourism.com	Guide to Drakensberg Mountains and Natal Midlands
www.cape-town.org	Guide to Cape Town

South Africa is part of the Southern Hemisphere's subtropical zone. It experiences a wider diversity of weather than most other countries in sub-Saharan Africa, and also experiences lower temperatures.

Winter is from June to September and is generally cooler and dryer than summer. The cold Benguela Current, from the lower South Atlantic, causes moderate temperatures on the West Coast. The high altitude of the central plateau keeps the average temperatures there below 30°C. In Johannesburg (at an altitude of 1,753m) winter temperatures drop to 0°C and below. In recent year Johannesburg has experienced heavy snow.

It is warmest in the coastal regions, especially on the east coast. Rain is normal mainly in the summer months, with the exception of the Western Cape which has rain in winter and enjoys a Mediterranean climate.

More information on South Africa's climate can be found at www.sa-venues.com or the South African Weather Service.

Finance

The South African Rand (ZAR) is the legal currency of South Africa. South Africa uses a rand and cents system of decimal currency with 100 cents in a rand.

The banking system is well developed in South Africa. There are banks and ATMs in most large towns and all over the cities. International banks have branches in the major cities.

Due to the high crime rates, most South Africans carry only small amounts of cash and pay for most purchases with credit cards. All major credit cards can be used in South Africa. Visa and Mastercard are the most popular. In some small towns, you may find you'll need to use cash. Be aware that fraud is also a big problem in South Africa and take necessary precautions, such as never letting your card out of your sight or allowing anyone to see you enter your pin number.

Budget

The cost of living in South Africa is less than other English speaking countries, but you do not find the same low cost English courses that you will find in other countries. When you include the cost of getting there it doesn't work out cheaper at all. Most students who chose South Africa do so because they wish to explore more of the continent while there, or take advantage of the huge range of activities which are good value.

Banks are generally open from 09:00 to 15:30 Mondays to Fridays, and 08:30 to 11:00 on Saturdays.

It is quite easy to open a bank account in South Africa. Usually all that is required is a passport and proof of address.
Other documents that are useful include 3 months of statements from your bank and a reference letter from your bank.


For a list of South African banks click on this link.

Tipping

Tipping is customary in South Africa. Waiters, bar-staff and taxi drivers are usually tipped at a rate of 10 – 15%. Tour guides and drivers are usually tipped R10 - 15 per person on group tours. On longer safari trips guides, trackers and game wardens are tipped R30 - 50. If you are in a large group in a restaurant a service charge is sometimes included, in which case you should not tip.

Work

Working in South Africa is difficult unless you have a special skill. There is a vast amount of unemployment and a low wage, combined with high demand for jobs makes finding work difficult.

Citizens of the following countries do not require a visa to enter Ireland, provided that the stay does not exceed 3 months.

ARGENTINA AUSTRALIA AUSTRIA BELGIUM BRAZIL CANADA CHILE DENMARK ECUADOR FINLAND

FRANCE GERMANY GREECE IRELAND ISRAEL ITALY JAMAICA JAPAN LIECHTENSTEIN LUXEMBOURG

MALTA NETHERLANDS NEW ZEALAND NORWAY PARAGUAY PORTUGAL SPAIN SWAZILAND SWEDEN SWITZERLAND

UK US URUGUAY VENEZUELA

Visa Application form

Information on student visas
Current list of visa exempt countries
Further information on visas

Accommodation

Due to the high crime rates, it makes sense to get local advice on where is the best place to live. Schools are in general the best source of information on accommodation.

Some websites for finding accommodation are;

Mobile Phones

Mobile telephones can be brought into South Africa. Customers with subscriptions to GSM services, providing they have a roaming agreement with the South African network operator(s) may use their subscription. Pay-as-you-go mobile phones or SIM cards can also be purchased.

The most popular providers of mobile phones are;

Vodacom

MTN

Cell C

Calls cost around 25c but this depends on which network you choose and which plan you are on.