Much of Africa is high about sea level, we live at 6000 ft. This altitude effects the weather considerably, although it is a sub tropical zone, we do have frost, even if only 1 or 2 degrees. This however means many tropical fruits and vegetables, must be shaded from the frost, either by nature, hills, or by man, by covering such trees or plants. (bananas, as an example.)
Perhaps the most difficult thing to appreciate, is the rain fall pattern. Inland, it is summer rains, while the coast more winter rains, although they do get some rains occasionally during the summer. Inland, where we live, we have approximately 6 month without more than a shower during that period. The storage of water is therefore a primary aspect in being able to support cities in such an environment.
The main storage for the Johannesburg area is a dam that is about the area of England, it also doubles as a major recreation facility, it is called the Vaal Dam. It is so large that there are storms, high winds and much of what you tend to relate to the open sea. The great lakes are the nearest I can think of, in term of such large expanses of water, but ours is man made. Those of us living outside the city, use boreholes, with submersible pumps, you will also see many windmills, when electricity is not available.
During the winter months the sky is blue, not a cloud to be seen, and the sun shines all day. In the shade the temperature will be between 65 and 75, but in the sun, much higher. You often need the Aircom on in the car. When the sun goes down, then the temperature drops rapidly, as there is no cloud coverage to prevent the heat radiating away. At the East coast, swimming is possible year round, but only overseas visitors find the water acceptable during the winter period. There is never frost at the coast.
By the end of winter the country side is just reddish brown, but within 24 hours after the rains, the grass is green again. The fruit trees blossom, even with no rain, it is a sight we all long for as it heralds that spring is about to occur. The roads become slippery, the accumulation of oil drippings over the winter, turns the surface into something similar to ice. It however lasts only for the first rains, then the oil has been washed away.
Our rains are dominantly thunder storm related. Most evening between 4 and 5, thunder storms will sweep across, and deposit vast amounts of rain in a period of about an hour. Then the sky will clear, and the evening is cool and refreshing. Hail is often part of the storm, more towards the end of the summer rains.
We have a good infrastructure of roads, motorways between major cities, a mixture of free and toll roads being found. None of the motorways have many traffic lanes, mostly two or three, in each direction, except at the primary city entries and exits, were the lanes will increase to six. We do not change the lane ratios between morning and evenings. In the country side, the roads are normally very straight, and well maintained. We drive on the left side of the road. Our road marking are dominantly white, yellow for edge, and red for danger areas, fire hydrants etc. Road signs are International.
The cars are now dominantly European and Japanese origin, manufactures locally. American cars are no longer seen, I think the price of Petrol has become to high for the large engines we associate with American designed cars. However until 15 or so years ago, almost all cars were of American or Australian origin.
