South Afica has so much to offer - it has wildlife, (lions giraffes, etc.) marine life, ( dolphins, whales, etc.) greenery, (garden routes, vineyards, etc.) beaches, (some of the most beautiful beaches you'll ever see) as well as it being a city so you can shop, tour, and best of all the low exchange rate gives you great value for money.
You'll live like royalty on a trip to Cape Town, the fine local cuisine costs next to nothing. After eating fillet steak for about £4, we left a £3 tip and the waiter was over the moon!! He works for about 50p an hour and that's a good salary!!
Quick Tips:
The waterfront makes a really good day out. There are shows on constantly, the marina is beautiful, and boat trips to Robin Island or Seal Island are readily available, but don't buy anything in the waterfront shops. It's targeted for tourists and you'll pay up to three times more than the shops down the road.
When you go to Table Mountain, take some bread with you, as the dassies (a mountain animal) will actually come up to you and feed from your hand.
Always carry loose change with you. South Africa is known for it's crime, but I lived there for 18 years and never saw anything, not even a pick pocket, but high walls and security gates are a common sight, which although daunting at first, are just a way of life there. One of the security measures is when you park your car an allocated person watches over your it. He doesn't get paid for doing this, but it's his way of income so you're expected to pay him some loose change, generally around R3.
Best Way To Get Around:
There is no public transportation in South Africa and because of the size of the country, car hire is essential. Guided tours are arranged and taxi's can be organized for special trips like going to airports etc., but they are quite pricey.