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GDP: US$146 billion
GDP per head: US$3,395
Annual growth: 0.9%
Inflation: 9%
Major industries: Mining, finance, insurance, food processing
Major trading partners: USA, UK, Germany, Japan, Italy

Events

Public holidays underwent a dramatic shake-up after the 1994 elections. For example the Day of the Vow, which celebrated the massacre of Zulus, has become the Day of Reconciliation (16 December). The officially ignored but widely observed Soweto Day, marking the student uprisings which eventually led to liberation, is now celebrated as Youth Day (16 June).

The National Arts Festival transforms Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape each July. As well as mainstream art, opera and theatre, there are fringe and student components to the festival, including theatre performed in many of the languages spoken in South Africa. The big Arts Alive Festival is held in Johannesburg in September and October. This is a great time to hear excellent music, on and off the official programme. There are also a lot of workshops exposing South Africans (and visitors) to the continent's rich cultures, so long denigrated during the apartheid years. Pretoria hosts the Jacaranda Festival during the third week of October when the petals are peaking. The immensely popular Pretoria Show is held during the third week of August.

Apartheid-induced cultural boycotts starved South Africa's mad sports fans - and competitors - of competition. Any international cricket or rugby game is therefore a big event.

Traveling Guidelines

Visas: No visas are required for travellers from Commonwealth countries, Japan, the USA and the European Union for visits of up to 90 days.
Health risks: Malaria is mainly confined to the eastern half of the region, especially on the lowveld (coastal plains). Bilharzia is also found mainly in the east but outbreaks do occur in other places so you should always check with knowledgeable local people before drinking water or swimming in it.
Time: GMT/UTC plus two hours
Electricity: 220/230V (250V in Pretoria), 50Hz
Weights & measures: Metric

Ideal Time to Visit

Summer can be uncomfortably hot, especially in the lowveld. Higher altitudes are pleasantly warm over summer, but the mountains are rain and mist-prone. The north-eastern regions can be annoyingly humid, but swimming on the east coast is a year-round proposition. Spring is the best time for wild flowers in the Northern and Western Cape provinces. Winters are mild everywhere except in the highest country, where there are frosts and occasional snowfalls.

Holiday-makers stream out of the cities from mid-December to late-January: resorts and national parks are heavily booked and prices on the coast can more than double. School holidays in April, July and September can clog up beaches and national parks.