WINDSURFING HOLIDAYS IN SOUTH AFRICA
Geographically, its extremes include the arid semi desert of the Karoo, the snowcapped peaks of the Drakensberg Range, the lush subtropical coast of KwaZulu-Natal and the fertile temperate valleys of Western Cape.
With its large coastline and bounty of rivers, dams and lakes, South African is a perfect country for your windsurfing holidays.
Windsurfing in South Africa will make you discover a wide range of stunning locations, world-class cities, golden beaches, wild scenery, vineyards, the world-famous Kruger National Park and more. The accommodation, food and fine wines of South Africa are superb and few places in the world offer such value for money. Clean, consistent winds and flat, warm waters make South Africa a premier windsurfing destination.
Planet suggested tour itineraries
MONEY
South Africa’s currency is the rand (R).
The best currencies to bring are US dollars, euros or British pounds in a mixture of travellers cheques and cash, plus a Visa or MasterCard for withdrawing money from ATMs.
There are ATMs in all cities in South Africa, most of which give cash advances against cards belonging to the Cirrus network.
Credit cards are widely accepted in South Africa, especially MasterCard and Visa. Nedbank is an official Visa agent, and Standard Bank is a MasterCard agent – both have branches across the country.
WEATHER
South Africa has been favored by nature with one of the most temperate climates on the African continent, and can be visited comfortably any time. Winter (June to September) is cooler and drier, and ideal for hiking and outdoor pursuits. Because vegetation is less dense, and thirsty animals congregate around water sources, winter is also the best time for wildlife-watching.
Summer (late November to March) brings rain, mists and – in the lowveld – some uncomfortably hot days. Along the Indian Ocean coast, conditions are sultry and tropical, with high humidity.
More of considerations than weather are school holidays. From mid-December to January, waves of vacation-hungry South Africans stream out of the cities, with visitors from Europe and North America adding to the crush. The absolute peak is from Christmas to mid-January, followed by Easter.
Spring (mid-September to November) and autumn (April and May) are ideal almost every¬where. Spring is also the best time to see vast expanses of Northern Cape carpeted with wildflowers.
RECCOMMENDED VACCINATION
TB, rabies, malaria and cholera are common to South Africa. Malaria is common to Kruger Park and parts of Mpumalanga, Limpopo province and KwaZulu Natal (particularly the Wetlands area around St Lucia).
THE ENTRY REQUIRMENT
Visitors on holiday from most Commonwealth countries (including Australia and the UK), most Western European countries, Japan and the USA don’t require visas. Instead, you’ll be issued with a free entry permit on arrival. These are valid for a stay of up to 90 days.