One item of note can be the extreme heat. If you study abroad during the South Africa summer, keep a watch on soaring temperatures and take heat sickness precautions, especially when you are in remote parts of the country. The last thing you want disrupting your time overseas is a stint in the hospital due to dehydration! Certain parts of South Africa have experienced significant drought the past few years, which can lead to some health risks.
In addition, if you are traveling to the very remote areas of South Africa, such as on safari, make sure to keep track of the nearest healthcare facilities as they can be quite far and difficult to reach as some of the larger cities will be over two hours away. No matter where you are in the world, whether it is your hometown or a new city, it is important to be alert and practice awareness of your surroundings. South Africa can be a safe place, although it does have more widespread crime and a more notorious reputation, however there are a few precautions any traveler should take while navigating the country.
Pickpocketing can happen in city centers and sites that are attractive to tourists. There are many giveaways that can signal someone is a tourist from accent to something as subtle as mannerisms and the way one walks. The goal is not to mask that you are a visitor, but to protect your belongings and ensure you do not fall victim to theft. We recommend following these general tips:.
Aside from petty crimes, such as pickpocketing or scamming, most travelers can expect a fairly safe and comfortable experience in South Africa. One recommendation from the State Department is registering in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program STEP , which allows you to register your trip with the local embassy or consulate which can provide support should you need it.
Lonely Planet provides a list of tips regarding different threats to safety while in South Africa, ranging from ATM scams to drugs and situations while in transit.
To access more in-depth, identity-based resources regarding health and safety, view the Diversity Guides below. South Africa Travel Advisory and Tips. Is it Safe to Travel to South Africa?
Health Information for Travelers. There are many scholarships to fund your study abroad experience in South Africa. Here is a list of Diversity Abroad scholarships available for study in South Africa:.
Diversity Abroad Overseas Ambassador Scholarship. Diversity Abroad Consortium Summer Scholarship. For more scholarships, visit our Scholarships page. Welcome to South Africa The South Africa Destination Guide will provide a historical overview, scholarship information, health and safety tips, plus identity-specific resources to ensure students feel prepared with insight and resources for their global experience in South Africa.
Note per the World Factbook: Colored is a term used in South Africa, including on the national census, for persons of mixed race ancestry Languages: isiZulu official Health Health risks of traveling to South Africa are relatively low.
Safety No matter where you are in the world, whether it is your hometown or a new city, it is important to be alert and practice awareness of your surroundings. South African English, for example, is littered with words and phrases from Afrikaans, Zulu, Nama and other African languages.
Other major religious groups are the Hindus, Muslims, Jews and Buddhists. South African Languages [online]. Available at: SAlanguages. The Languages of South Africa [online]. Available at: southafrica. National symbols and heritage [online]. Available at: sahistory. The land and its people [online]. Available at: info. Gough, D. Available at: www. For example, the white Afrikaner and English minorities were politically, socially and economically privileged over the black, mixed- race and Asian populations for years as part of the Apartheid system.
Today, the nation is endeavouring to overcome these divides; recognition of legal equality and fair distribution of resources is pushed to encourage unification. However, resentment and underlying post- colonial attitudes have been hard to shake.
South Africa remains socially divided across racial lines in many ways. As South African society is deeply stratified, it is hard to describe cultural concepts from a national perspective. Instead, values and behaviours of the population differ strongly among the cultural groups to which people belong. To understand them, one must first look at these populations individually. This is acknowledged. However, the South African census and statistical authority gathers data based on these racial distinctions to clearly differentiate between microcultural groups.
Black Population Black South Africans are generally warm, patient, tolerant, creative and charismatic people. They also incredibly culturally diverse, consisting of populations from multiple tribal groups for example, the Zulu, Xhosa, Sotho, Tswana, Tsonga, Swazi and Venda tribes.
Members tend to see other tribes as very different to themselves and feel unaffiliated with them despite being of the same race. Each tribe has traditional belief systems, languages and cultural practices unique to them that trace back in history.
Tribes tend to provide most black South Africans with their truest form of self-identity. For example, people might acknowledge that they are South African, but recognise themselves as primarily Zulu. Despite being the majority, there is a significant disparity between the wealth and opportunity available to the average black South African compared to other groups.
However, the new post- Apartheid civil landscape of South Africa has seen the black population urbanise and educate faster than others. The number of black South Africans in the middle class and occupying high positions in society and government is increasing exponentially. The white population of South Africa mainly includes two ethnic groups: the Afrikaners and the English-speakers.
Communication is functionally-purposed, with people speaking honestly and clearly to arrive straight to the point. The English-speakers come from British ancestry and have a more reserved approach, reflecting British communication styles.
For example, they generally use conditional phrases to make their point in a more indirect way. However, English-speaking South Africans tend to be more outspoken and abrupt in their speech than other British colonial groups e.
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