|
Lesotho, the 'Kingdom of the Sky', is
also part of these mountainous ranges, a small country totally
surrounded by South Africa. There is good hiking here or pony
treks through the region. The unique part of visiting Lesotho
is the opportunity to meet and stay with people living traditional
lifestyles, or you can indulge in more luxurious accommodation
in the capital Maseru. The Lesothan people are far
more self - assured as they are not suffering the after effects
of Apartheid and are a very open and friendly people. This
is the ideal place for those who enjoy spectacular views and
challenges such as climbing Thaba - Boisu (Mountain
at Night).
Swaziland is similar to Lesotho in that there is little
animosity between the races and the people are relaxed about
hostility between races. Outside of the capital Mbabane,
the country is very rural and walking is still a feasible
way of getting around for the visitor. This is also a good
place for fans of extreme sports as there are a range of bungee
jumps and other activities to thrill the biggest thrill seekers.
Swaziland is still a monarchy and this is evident in cultural
celebrations such as Incwala and Umhlanga (Reed)
dances that are in evidence.
Cash
The local currency in South Africa is the Rand.
1 $US = 10 ZAR (South African Rand)
£ 1 = 16 ZAR
1 EURO = 11 ZAR
For up to date currency information, check the Currency
Converter.
The local currency in Lesotho is the Maloti (M) and
in Swaziland it is the Lilangeni (E). Both are at a
fixed rate equal to the South African Rand. Rand is accepted
in both countries so there is no need to change your money
if you are only paying a short visit.
People
South Africa
Although Apartheid has disintegrated, population statistics
are still collected by race. The majority of the population
are Black (approximately 28 million), mainly made up from
members of the Zulu and Xhosa tribes. There
are also the northern Sotho people, the biggest tribe being
the Tswana. There is a plethora of tribal people in
South Africa who are both indigenous or have emigrated from
other African countries.
The majority of white South Africans are of British extraction.
The rest are Afrikaners who are of Dutch extraction
and make up about two million people. The total white population
is about 5.6 million people. There are three and a half million
mixed race (known as 'coloured') people and one million Indians
who make up the rest of the population. The majority of coloured
people live in the Northern and Western Cape Provinces and
the majority of the Indian people live in KwaZulu - Natal.
Lesotho
The two million people of Lesotho are known as the Basotho
people. They are Southern Sotho people and most of them speak
the dialect seSotho. Lesotho as a nation was the result
of King Moshoeshoe who had outstanding victories in the 19th
century both in military and diplomatic terms when the kingdom
of Lesotho came into being.
Swaziland
Practically all of Swaziland's 870,000 people are of the Swazi
people. The remainder are Tsonga-Shangaan, Zulu and European
or Mozambiquan refugees. The ruling clan are the Dlamini,
and this is a common surname even though it is the royal name.
Climate
South Africa
There is an extremely varied climate in South Africa, Swaziland
and Lesotho. Naturally, being in the Southern Hemisphere,
remember that the seasons are opposite to those in Europe
and North America. The best time to visit is November - February,
the South African summer. In the Great Karoo however
it can get extremely hot in these months as it can in the
Kalahari, so it is not a good time to visit the desert!
The Eastern Highveld, which includes Gauteng and the
Free State, is dry and sunny in winter but cold from October
to April. The most impressive sight is the presence of spectacular
lightning storms as this is also the rainy season. On the
other side in the Western Cape there are it is dry
and sunny and temperatures can go as high as 70°F. It
is, however, windier on this side and the south easterly 'cape
doctor' can reach gale force speeds. In the winter it can
get very cold however and there is sometimes snow on the peaks
in the area. As you travel up the coast from the Cape it gets
hotter and rainfall decreases.
The Transkei and KwaZulu-Natal become progressively
more tropical, meaning that it can get extremely humid in
the summer. The Highlands are sunny but have a summer rainfall.
This is a place to witness some breathtaking electrical storms.
Lesotho
In Lesotho, the high peaks are packed in snow during the winter,
sometimes spreading down into the valleys. The rainy season
is the same as South Africa, between October and April. The
storms here are also just as impressive if not more so, but
be warned: quite a few people die each year through being
struck by lightning. In the summer it goes to the other extreme
and gets very hot and temperatures can go well beyond 80°F.
The biggest problem climate wise for travellers is the mist
and fog, which hangs and builds around the peaks. It is recommended
that if you go into the mountains always take a sleeping bag,
tent and enough food for a couple of days as there is a threat
of being fogged in.
Swaziland
Swaziland has a very similar climate to the lowveld in South
Africa. The temperature is extreme: in summer it can rise
to over 100°F, whereas in winter there is frost and it
can get bitterly cold. The rainy season is slightly shorter
and affects the mountains in the west the most.
Dress
Travellers can basically wear anything in South Africa. In
the beach areas it is fine to wander around in beachwear.
Rules about topless sunbathing also differ but it is not generally
advised. When visiting the Transkei or local villages,
it's recommended to cover up a bit more. It is also important
to remember appropriate clothes for the activity, such as
strong shoes and hardwearing materials when on safari or in
the bush.
Travel
Travelling around South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland is
a fairly easy process for travellers. If you are crossing
the country, flying is a good option. South Africa Airways
is the main domestic carrier in the region. Booking within
the country a month in advance gives you a whopping 50% discount
off your ticket.
All three countries have excellent bus networks that connect
all the main towns as well as a selection of periphery locations.
In South Africa there are two operators: Translux and
Greyhound. There are also minibuses but these are often
cramped and pretty dangerous as quite a few of the drivers
are not licensed to drive a bus. A much better alternative
is the Baz Bus that travellers have used between the
three countries. It is designed for backpackers and runs a
hop-on, hop-off system, which gives you the freedom to make
your way gradually between major destinations. As it covers
all three destinations, it is one of the most convenient ways
to travel.
Alternatively you can buy or rent a car. The latter is relatively
expensive and to buy is a very time consuming process so it
is only advisable if you are going to be travelling for some
months. Car jacking is a very real problem in South Africa.
It is important to consult someone familiar with the routes
as it is dangerous to deviate off them.
If you feel like indulging yourself then why not travel part
of your route on the famous Blue Train in South Africa?
Fares do drop for the low season (the beginning of May until
the end of August) and if you can't afford the whole trip
it is possible to do sections. There are also a number of
steam trains running in South Africa, which are an equally
enjoyable experience.
Food
The three countries are a meat eater's paradise as there
is meat of every description from wonderful beef to impala,
ostrich and crocodile. The selection of game is mind-boggling
and can be quite overwhelming. One local speciality is Biltong
which is dried game meat and as well as being delicious is
also the ideal snack for long journeys. Naturally, for vegetarians
there is a huge selection of everything you can imagine. The
huge vineyards of the Western Cape also produce some of the
world's best wines. A traveller will never need nor want for
anything in this area.
Ostriches have become a huge success as a foodstuff
along with other game. They are indigenous to the Oudtshoorn
area of South Africa and have been farmed since the early
19th Century. Today they are mainly farmed for meat and leather,
however when they were first farmed it was their feathers
that are in the most demand by the fashionable of Europe.
The other amazing thing about these birds are their eggs that
can take a weight of up to 400lbs, meaning you can stand on
them without them breaking.
Swaziland and Lesotho serve basic and traditional African
food that comprises of rice or miele (maize) meal, which is
served with stews made of goat and game. This is something
that is cheap and found everywhere, such as taxi and bus stands
when you are travelling. In Swaziland you can try some more
outlandish local delicacies. These include nyiza that are
locusts or alternatively mopani worms. These are caterpillars
that live on the Mopani tree.
Visas
South Africa
Visas are issued on arrival in South Africa to members of
the Commonwealth, most Western European Countries and citizens
of Japan and the USA. The visa is valid for a 90 - day period.
If you are planning to visit Swaziland or Lesotho it is better
to get a multiple re-entry visa to South Africa as it may
be difficult to organise another South African visa from Maseru
or Mbabane.
Lesotho
Lesotho basically has the same visa policies as South Africa
but it is worth checking as they have changed several times
in the last few years. The standard issue time is for two
weeks so if you want to stay for longer you need to apply
for it.
Swaziland
Swaziland has very few visa restrictions for foreign nationals.
The usual stay issued is for a period of 60 days.
Health
There are not many serious health risks in these countries
and good medical facilities throughout. Malaria and
bilharzias is a risk in some remote regions, but there
are flying doctors. The suggested vaccinations for the area
are Diphtheria & Tetanus, Hepatitis A & B, Typhoid
and Yellow Fever.
The only other caution is sexually transmitted diseases (STD's)
as this is one of the most Prolific AIDS areas of the
world. The current estimates suggest that although figures
suggest that around 25% of the population is infected, the
figure may be closer to 40% or even higher. It is vital to
carry protection if you want to have safe sex in this region
as throughout many parts of Africa.
The water in these countries is safe practically anywhere
and travellers are in no danger when drinking from taps. There
is a risk when drinking from streams whilst hiking in the
region. The easiest way to purify water in this scenario is
to boil the water for ten minutes or carry water-purifying
tablets with you.
|
