South Africa,
on the continent's southern tip, is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on the west and by the Indian Ocean on the south and east.Its neighbors are Namibia in the northwest, Zimbabwe and Botswana in the north, and Mozambique and Swaziland in the northeast.The kingdom of Lesotho forms an enclave within the southeast part of South Africa.
South Africa is located on the most southern tip of the African continent
where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet.It shares borders
with Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Swaziland and Mozambique.In addition, the small country of Lesotho is completely contained within South Africa.South Africa is home to more than 50 million residents who come
from a wide variety of cultures and religions and who speak a multitude of languages.South Africa is the most industrialized country in Africa.The unit of currency is the South African Rand (R), which has an exchange rate of about 0.1 USD.
Climate
South Africa is in the southern hemisphere, so the seasons are opposite those of the northern hemisphere –
summer is in January and winter is in July. The South African coastline is more than 2,500 km in length, but much of the land adjacent to the coastline is mountainous, which then turns into a high plateau in the interior. The northern part of the country becomes a desert.
Overall, South Africa has a relatively dry climate, and temperatures tend to be somewhat lower than countries at similar latitudes due to the mountainous terrain and high interior plateau. Interior temperatures rarely rise above 30 degrees C in the summertime. In Cape Town, the maximum summer temperatures are about 26 degrees C and minimum winter temperatures are about 7 degrees C.
Culture
South Africa boasts a wide variety of lifestyles and scenery with something for everyone, from cosmopolitan urban environments and quiet historic cities to mountains for climbing and hiking to deserts for safaris and beaches for surfing and scuba diving. In addition to cultural establishments such as art museums and art galleries and events such as theater, dance and festivals, a major stop
for visitors is the Apartheid Museum located in Johannesburg. The museum provides a powerful insight into the country’
s sometimes-violent past and the journey to recovery and reconciliation.
South African cuisine is heavily meat-based and barbecue is a favorite method of preparation. South Africa is also increasingly known as a producer of fine wines.
Cost of Living
The cost of living in South Africa is relatively low compared to other highly developed countries but varies between rural and urban centers.
Students can expect to find a variety of housing options in a range of prices.
South African currency is called the Rand, which is generally weaker than the American dollar, British pound or the Euro.
Students can expect to pay higher prices for imported goods, but South African produced products, especially food, are readily available and of high quality.