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 South Africa General InformationSouth Africa has long been known for its breathtaking environmental landscape, in particular, the wildlife and natural scenery that is spread over the vast and open land. The country has been at the centre of political and cultural conflicts, but it has done little to diminish the pristine beauty of the country and its people. South Africa has been steadily adding to its already high level of public infrastructure and facilities, and many visitors are pleasantly surprised by the standards of comfort and convenience compared to many other developed nations. Traditionally known for its high technology cosmetic surgery clinics that offer a high standard of treatment, there is now an impetus to expand its medical services to cash in on the boom of medical tourism. ‘Medical safaris’ is the latest spinoff of the marketing and advertising ventures that are hoping to take advantage of South Africa’s natural spectacles and improving healthcare services.
Facts and Figures
Capital: Pretoria (administrative), Cape Town (legislative), Bloemfontein (judicial) Government: Republic Currency: Rand Language: Afrikaans and English (both official); 11 other official languages in South Africa, many of which are indigenous Religion: Christian 68%; Animist 29%; Muslim 2% Climate: Summer is from November to February, with hot weather and periods of thunderstorms. Winters are typically dry and mild, and runs from May to October. Average temperatures are 67 and 52 during the summer and winter months respectively. The all-year round sunny weather is particularly appealing to Europeans, and South Africa averages 8.5 hours of daily sunshine, compared to 3.8 in London. |
