A Short History The earliest inhabitants of southern Africa were the San (Bushmen) and Khoisan peoples who were both resident for thousands of years before its written history began with the arrival of European seafarers. The hunter-gatherer San ranged widely over the area, while the pastoral Khoisan lived in comparatively well-watered areas, chiefly along the southern and western coastal strips, where adequate grazing was to be found. In 1652, Jan van Riebeeck and the 90 men who landed with him in at the Cape of Good Hope were under instruction by the Dutch East India Company to build a fort and develop a vegetable garden for the benefit of ships on the Eastern trade route. With the arrival of Dutch settlers, this supply depot developed into the Cape Colony over the next 200 years. The British too were aware of the strategic importance of the Cape on the route to the East Indies, and Sir Francis Drake rounded the Cape on his ship The Golden Hind, as early as 1580. He was so enchanted by Table Mountain that he is reputed to have declared “it is the fairest Cape of them all." The British increased their numbers in the colony and by the end of the 18th century had gained control. Hostilities emerged between the Dutch and the British, and many Dutch people packed up their ox-wagons and trekked into the interior to establish their own self-governing colonies. The Dutch (by then known as Boers) and the British went to war twice in the Anglo-Boer Wars in the late 1800s, which ended in the defeat of the Boers and of their independent republics, and the Cape Colony, Natal and the two Boer republics united in 1910 as the Union of South Africa. The National Party came to power in 1948 and through legislation implemented their system of apartheid (“being apart� in Afrikaans) which separated privileged whites from the black and coloured masses in all aspects of society. Schools, transport, hospitals, public parks, beaches and shops were designated white or non- white and laws were passed to prevent mixed marriages and designate blacks to live in townships and not amongst the whites. Over the next 40 years, South Africas blacks demanded freedom and political rights, while the Afrikaner-dominated government answered with increased apartheid policies which then became deeply entrenched in South African society, despite continued resistance. The African National Congress (ANC) offered the most active black-run opposition to apartheid, and after decades of protest within the country and international pressure, the government of F.W. de Klerk dismantled the apartheid system in 1992. The first multi cultural elections were held in 1994 and former political prisoner and ANC activist Nelson Mandela became president of a democratic South Africa. After the enactment of a new constitution, focus turned to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which was established in 1995 to expose crimes of the apartheid era under the dictum of Archbishop Desmond Tutu. The commission heard many stories of horrific brutality and injustice from all sides of the struggle, but offered amnesty to those who made a full confession. In 1997, Mandela handed over leadership of the ANC to his deputy, Thabo Mbeki, who became president in the 1999 elections, and won again in 2004. According to the constitution he is not permitted to serve a third term. Climate Climatic conditions generally range from Mediterranean in the south western corner of the country to temperate in the interior plateau, and subtropical in the northeast. A small area in the northwest has a desert climate. Most of the country has warm, sunny days and cool nights. Rainfall generally occurs during summer (November-March), although in the southwest, around Cape Town, rainfall occurs in winter (from June-August). Temperatures are influenced by variations in elevation, terrain, and ocean currents. On all our tours, it is best to bring warm clothing - raincoat, warm hat, socks etc. - as across Africa wet/dry and hot/cool climatic periods change invariably. Start or Finish in South Africa Cape Town If you are starting or finishing your tour in Cape Town, do allow yourself extra days to discover this dynamic city. There are a range of things to do and see and the shopping, nightlife and restaurant scene are well worth exploring. Highlights include a half day township tour which includes a visit to the District Six Museum to learn about how apartheid affected Cape Town, a city tour on a open-topped bus, a ferry ride and tour of Robben Island, the infamous prison home of Nelson Mandela, which is now a fascinating museum, a tour of the Cape Winelands, and a cable car ride to the top of Table Mountain for the sweeping views. Accommodation We can organise pre and post tour accommodation for you in Cape Town at Ashanti Lodge & Travel Centre, a centrally located and friendly backpackers and guest house with a swimming pool, bar and restaurant, that can organise all your Cape Town activities; Bed only and p/p/p/n; Dorm: R100, Standard Single: R210, Standard Double/Twin: R160, One Way Airport Transfer: R170. Johannesburg At least a couple of days are warranted in Johannesburg before or at the end of your tour to shop til you drop in the giant mega shopping malls, take an informative tour of the famous Soweto township, drop down a gold mine shaft at Gold Reef City, and take a though provoking visit to the critically acclaimed Apartheid Museum. Accommodation We can organise pre and post accommodation for you in Johannesburg at the Backpackers Ritz, a centrally located and friendly backpackers and guest house with a swimming pool and travel centre that can organise all your Johannesburg activities; Bed only and p/p/p/n; Dorm: R85 Twin/Double: R130 Single: R175; One Way Airport Transfer: R170. Health Matters Yellow fever: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over one year of age coming from infected areas. Malaria: A low malaria risk occurs in the north eastern region of the country around Kruger National Park, though on our longer tours, in countries to the north of South Africa there is a high malaria risk so prophylaxis are recommended. Precautionary measures to take to prevent contact with mosquitoes include: insect repellent, cover up at sundown, sleep under a mosquito net and wear long sleeve clothing and long trousers in the evenings. Other: Seek advice from your doctor or travel clinic at least six weeks prior to departure about what vaccinations you require. Typically the list includes typhoid, tetanus, polio, hepatitis A and B and meningitis. All tap water is treated and is safe to drink. Hospital facilities are generally very good in towns and cities but in rural regions medical facilities are limited. Insurance: Health insurance is essential; adequate medical provision is often only provided privately and may require health insurance or a cash payment before admission. It is recommended that visitors carry personal medical supplies with them. Money Guide Currency: South African Rand. Exchange Rates: US$1 = R7.12, GB£ = R13.90 The following information is provided to assist you in planning the finances you will require for your safari. It is intended as a general guide only and may change with local conditions. African currencies tend to fluctuate more rapidly than your own currencies. You are able to change money and use ATMs at banks at each sizeable town. Bureau de changes offer quicker and commission free service but are only found in the main centres such as Cape Town and Johannesburg. ATMs are widely accessible and very reliable and offer the best rates of exchange. Rand can be used in Botswana, Namibia and South Africa, so ample money for these three countries can be obtained prior to beginning your trip in Cape Town or Johannesburg. The Rand and Namibian dollar are tied to each other on an equal level and can be used interchangeably in Namibia. The Rand can be easily converted to Pula in Botswana at good rates. All souvenirs, snacks, refreshments and local services such as taxis, internet and laundry are payable using Rand. Optional activities in South Africa are mainly adventure or scenic activities in Cape Town and Johannesburg. These activities can be paid for using credit card (no fees), and Rand. Canoeing trips are also available at Orange River. This can be paid using Rand, US$ and GB£ cash. Visa requirements: Only very few nationalities require South African visas prior to entry into the country. Most nationalities are able to get an entry stamp at the border on entering South Africa. Please contact your local South African embassy to find out if you require a visa prior to entering SA. Average Costs: Internet, R15 per half hour. Beer, R10. Bottle of water, R8. International phone call, R15-20 per minute.