South Africa
From the desert to the wetland, or from the scrub land to the subtropics, South Africa boasts an incredible diversity of climate, flora, and fauna.
Although 13km of sea separate Africa and Europe at the strait of Gibraltar, merely the blink of an eye divides the regional heritage from these two continents in the country of South Africa.
The diverse population is 80% African, 10% Caucasian, and 3% Asian. The Dutch and the English gradually conquered the land that comprises South Africa through the 18th and 19th centuries. Until recently, the minority Europeans held a monopoly on political and economic power, so the country has received a strong European influence.
Today, South Africa is a parliamentary republic. It is known for being the strongest economy in Africa, but it is also outstanding in representing the abundance and variety of African plant and animal wildlife. In fact, the country is considered third in biodiversity, after the much bigger countries of Brazil and Indonesia. South Africa is known for possessing abundant natural resources, the most famous of which are diamond and gold, but the nation is also a reservoir of human resources with over a million university students in a country of 44 million. It is also home to universities outstanding in age or in size. Although a developed economy, it is estimated that half the population, mostly disadvantaged blacks, lie below the poverty line. The days of Apartheid are gone, since the free election held in 1994.
Study Abroad – South Africa
South Africa has 24 state-funded but politically autonomous universities, including eleven traditional universities, five institutes of technology and six comprehensive institutions, the latter of which strive to offer both technical and theoretical instruction.
The South African government spends a large fraction of its budget on education, and its universities are the top ranked on the continent. Most notable is the
University of Cape Town, South Africa’s oldest and most prestigious institution, ranked in the top 300 worldwide.* In the top 500 are the
University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg and the
University of KwaZulu-Natal in Durban. Other prestigious institutions are the
University of Pretoria, known for its business school, and
Rhodes University, well known for its journalism major.
Climate
The climate of South Africa is generally temperate, but just as with the flora and fauna, there is considerable range. In the northwest, on the border with Namibia, lies the ancient Namib Desert. The southwest, which includes the city of Cape Town, has a Mediterranean climate. The interior is a vast scrub land. Johannesburg, the largest city in South Africa, is situated on the eastern plateau known as the High veld, and has a dry, moderate climate. The eastern coast, which includes Durban, boasts a well-watered, subtropical climate.
Religion and Festivals
The primary religion of South Africa is Christianity. The nation celebrates holidays like Christmas and Easter, as well as Human Rights Day and Freedom Day, a legacy of the anti-Apartheid movement. Other holidays include New Year's Day, Good Friday, Youth Day, Worker’s Day, Women’s Day, and Heritage Day.
Health and Safety
HIV/AIDS is a major problem in South Africa, and adult HIV prevalence is estimated at 19%. As in much of the continent, malaria is also a risk in subtropical climates.
Visit the CDC’s South Africa page for updated information on health conditions in South Africa.
Transportation
Flights to South Africa mostly arrive at Johannesburg International Airport. The country is not yet a prime destination, so flights are on the expensive side. Major ports include Johannesburg and Cape town. Road conditions are good, and renting a private automobile is a convenient and flexible mode of travel. Public transportation options include bus and train, which run a range of prices depending on the level of comfort.
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