South Africa - World-Class Experts In Dentistry
Introduction
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the 25th-largest country in the world by land area, and is the world's 24th-most populous nation.
South Africa is an attractive proposition for those considering dentistry and cosmetic dental treatment abroad abroad. Located on the southern tip of the African continent, it is an ideal country for those on a tight budget, or who are perhaps looking to combine treatment with a holiday or period of recuperation in a pleasant climate.
South Africa has seen an increase in tourism as a result of the superior quality of dental care available in combination with its general tourism appeal. English is generally spoken across the country, removing the likelihood of language difficulties.
South Africa has a generally temperate climate, due in part to being surrounded by the Atlantic and Indian Oceans on three sides, by its location in the climatically milder Southern Hemisphere and due to the average elevation rising steadily towards the north (towards the equator) and further inland. Due to this varied topography and oceanic influence, a great variety of climatic zones exist. The climatic zones range from the extreme desert of the southern Namib in the farthest northwest to the lush subtropical climate in the east along the Mozambique border and the Indian Ocean. Winters in South Africa occur between June and August.
Although expensive compared to more developed nations, broadband is easily obtainable in South Africa. Fixed line options such as ADSL, ISDN, Diginet and Leased Lines are available from the national operator Telkom. Wireless options are available from Sentech, iBurst, Vodacom, MTN, Cell C, Telkom and a number of other ISP's. They typically provide speeds of up to 7.6 Mbit/s with HSDPA. HSUPA is also available. MTN South Africa was among the very first mobile networks in the world to offer HSDPA services to its customers. Satellite options are available from both Sentech and Telkom.
English has been both a highly influential language in South Africa, and a language influenced, in turn, by adaptation in the country’s different communities. Around half of the country’s people have a speaking knowledge of English. Today, English is South Africa’s lingua franca, and the primary language of government, business, and commerce. The new education curriculum makes two languages compulsory at school, with English the language of learning and teaching at most schools and tertiary educations.
South African Dental Industry
Cape Town is one city that has seen the effects of this trend. The city is convenient to access from both the United States and Europe and has incredible appeal to typical tourists and medical tourists alike. The quality of care is extremely high all over South Africa. Combine this with the lower cost of care, and you have the recipe for a booming medical tourism industry.
In Cape Town, patients receive state of the art dental care, including CEREC (Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics,) and “The Wand,” a painless computer aided anesthetic injection system. In fact, all dentists in South Africa are required to continually develop, train, and increase their knowledge in the field. As a result of these high standards, most dental insurance will cover any treatments received in South Africa.
The decreased cost of care, combined with the high-tech quality, are not the only things driving dental tourism in the region. Once patients have received their dental treatment, they often check out the diverse culture and activities that abound in the area. After recovering in incredible comfort and privacy, or even before the procedure gets under way, dental tourists are welcome to enjoy activities like exploring the South African bush or visiting any number of South Africa’s World Heritage Sites.
Getting There for Dental Care
O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg is the air transport hub of Southern Africa and is linked to the rest of the world by many major airlines. This competition makes flights to South Africa relatively cheap and it is always worth looking for specials. Onward travel is mostly by car. Because of excellent roads and facilities in South Africa, some people choose the self-drive option. In most other cases your local tour operator will arrange pick-up from the airport and further transportation as part of your tour package.
Other international airports are located in Cape Town - Cape Town International Airport (CPT) and Durban - King Shaka International Airport (DUR), but these are less relevant for further travel to your safari destination. In any case, few flights from Europe or America fly directly to either destination.
Airfares depend on the season, with the highest prices and greatest demand in June, July, August, December and the first week of January. You get the best prices during the low season in October and November and from the last three weeks of January until March.
Visitor Highlights
South Africa is a unique place; a land of oceans, jungles and plains. Most of us think of safaris when we think of Africa, but South Africa has so much more to offer world travelers that her beautiful wildlife. South Africa also offers high-tech and modern cities, culture, arts, fine dining and the best in world-class hotel accommodations. South Africa offers experiences and sights that can be found nowhere else on the planet.
South Africa, officially known as the Republic of South Africa, offers a great introduction to the many jewels of the Dark Continent. Tourists here will find classic African scenery: golden savannah, great gaping gorges, and hauntingly beautiful deserts, as well as their favorite African creatures - and, as a bonus- the creature comforts. Apart from the big-name game parks of Kruger and the Kgalagadi (Kalahari) Transfrontier Park, South Africa is home to some of the world's most luxurious private game reserves and lodges. Wildlife lovers come here from all corners of the globe in search of the "Big Five": lion, buffalo, leopard, rhino, and elephant, and often they find it, and so much more.
Coral reefs, shark dives, dragon-backed mountain ranges, white-water rafting, and golden beaches lapped by legendary surf breaks are some of South Africa's many other attractions. Traveling around this vast land and touring the vibrant cities, visitors can learn about the nation's turbulent history: in Cape Town, one of the world's most beautiful cities; in Durban, a melting pot of cultures and cuisines, at the poignant museums and galleries in Johannesburg, and in Soweto, birthplace of Nelson Mandela, who helped birth democracy in this astoundingly diverse nation.
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