South Africa

South Africa has a well-run financial system. ATMs can be found nearly everywhere. Credit and debit cards are also easily accepted, as are traveller's cheques. Banks and hotels will also help you exchange currency safely and quickly. However, several experts and frequent travellers say that it is better to always carry cash with you. There are a couple of national parks in the country that will only accept US dollars as their entry fee!

South African nightlife is pretty amazing. The country boasts of a lot of nightclubs scattered across cities. Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Sandto and Johannesburg are the top cities to visit to enjoy the nightlife. Dance clubs, pubs, bars and more can be found at all of these cities. Electro dance music has taken South Africa by storm, so you can expect to groove to those beats at most of the clubs. International DJs are also known to host nights at several clubs.

South Africa can cater to all your shopping needs. There are sprawling complexes such as shopping malls in all the major cities. Apart from these commercial giants, you will also find tiny boutique stores selling everything from fine jewellery to beautiful clothes. Shops tucked away into street corners, bustling flea markets and more make up the rest of the shopping scenario in South Africa. Flea markets are great if you'd like to shop for knick-knacks and souvenirs. The country also has a lot of hawkers who will try and sell their wares on the streets, at traffic signals and in the rural areas. These hawkers sell homemade sweets, sculptures, fruits and home decor items.

The most popular festivals of South Africa are Knysna Oyster Festival, Ficksburg Cherry Festival, Splashy Fen Music Festival, Hermanus Whale Festival, Prince Albert Olive Festival, Robertson Wacky Wine Weekend, Cape Town Jazz Festival and Oppikoppi Bushveld Music Festival. Fun, games, music and dance fill the streets of the cities during all of these celebrations.

Tap water is safe to drink. But if you're travelling in rural areas, do not drink from the taps there. Public toilets are available at several tourist spots and are maintained and cleaned regularly, by the staff.

Do not initiate a handshake with a South African woman. It is always safer to wait for them to do so. If you are invited to somebody's home, do not go without a gift for the host such as flowers or chocolates. Always be punctual, as time is valued. Tipping is expected here.

Make sure to carry binoculars, as there are lots of beautiful and rare bird species to be spotted here. Do not walk around the city during the night, as even big groups of tourists can be harassed. Tipping is expected, especially by drivers and valet services. Note that the word 'robot' here means 'traffic signal', so do not be surprised if someone tells you to stop at the next robot.

As a result of the colonisation and immigration that took place in the country, South African cuisine contains a lot of different influences. Apart from foreign influences, the local indigenous people have also contributed towards the flavour and diversity of the cuisine. The Cape Dutch form of cuisine is very popular here, characterised by the use of chilli peppers, nutmeg, and allspice. The name of this cuisine traces its roots back to the Dutch East India Company, also explaining why so many spices are used. Cape Malay cuisine, on the other hand, includes a variety of stews, pickled fish, minced meat and spiced curries. The influence of Indians is also seen in their cuisine. They prepare a lot of Indian curries, chutneys, samosas and other sweets. Some popular South African dishes are Bunny Chow, Potjiekos, Chakalaka relish, etc. Regarding beverages, beer is most popularly consumed.

The airlines that go from India to South Africa are Kenya Airways, Emirates, Qatar Airways, British Airways, Ethiopian Airlines and Jet Airways and Turkish Airlines.