South Africa is one of the continent’s best safari destinations, offering the Big Five (lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhino) and more in accessible parks and reserves. You can drive right into the epic wilderness at Kruger, Kgalagadi and other parks, or join khaki-clad rangers on guided drives and walks. But it’s not all about big-game sightings – wildlife watching here also teaches you to enjoy the little things: a leopard tortoise ambling alongside the road, a go-away bird chirping its distinctive chant in the trees, or an encounter with seals, whales or a great white shark along the coast.

Total Area: A total of 1,221,037 km (471,443 square miles).

Capital: Pretoria (executive), Bloemfontein (judicial), Cape Town (legislative)

Country Code: +27

Country Population: 51,770,56

Credit Cards: All major credit cards are accepted. Master Card and Visa are more popular than American Express and Diners Club. If you have a chip card, you will be required to enter a pin code.

Currency: South African rand (ZAR)

Departure Tax: There is no departure tax for South Africa

Drives: Left

Electricity: 220 – 230 V (South African configuration)

Ethnic Groups: 79.6% Black, 9.0% Coloured, 8.9% White, 2.5% Asian

Location: The Republic of South Africa lies at the southern tip of the African continent between latitudes 22 and 35 south, flanked by the Indian Ocean on the east coast and the Atlantic on the west, and bordered by Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho and Swaziland. Washed by the cold Benguala current on the west coast and the warm Mozambique Agulhas current on the east, the country has a coastline of 1, 832 miles.

Official Language(s): Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Sotho, Swazi, Tswana, Tsonga, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu

Religion: Christian (Zion, Pentecostal, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Dutch Reformed, Anglican), Muslim, Hindu

Time Zone: SAST (UTC+2)

Tipping: Tipping is expected in South Africa. Restaurants may add a tip automatically depending on your party size. Gas station/parking attendants may be given R3-R5. Porters may get R3 per bag.