| | Must Visits | Need to Know | Capital City Pretoria | | Tipping 10% | | Electricity 220/240 V | | Weights and Measurements Metric system.
|
|
|
|
| |
People & Language
One half of the South African population lives in its cities. More than 50,000 inhabitants live in major urban areas. The rest of the country is sparsely populated. South Africa has been not simply the cradle of mankind, but is also one of its great melting pots. An amazing variety of strains run through the nation’s blood, from Afrikaner/Dutch to Asian immigrants and native African tribes like the Xhosa and the Zulu. The Xhosa are part of the Nguni people including the Zulu, the Swazi-speaking people and the Ndebele who make up two thirds of the country's population. The Zulus are known for their bravery in battle against the Boers and the British.
There are 11 official languages in South Africa. English is the language of administration and is widely spoken, along with Afrikans. isiXhosa and isiZulu are the most widely spoken African languages. Other languages are Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana and Venda.
|
Religion
Almost all the major religions of the world are represented in South Africa. These include Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism, Islam and African tribal religions.
|
Food
Indigenous South African cuisine is not wildly exciting, since African staples include solid (even stolid?) dishes like stiff grain porridge and simple sauce-based meat/vegetables, and traditional Afrikaans food tends to be heavier on the waistline than on gourmet value or taste. The distinctive South African contribution to world cuisine is the endearingly named bunny chow, a half-loaf of white bread filled with curried beans, chicken or sardines. A typical South African breakfast is an exercise in extravagance – strips of bacon, eggs and boerewoers swimming in fat.
But South Africa does have the unmistakable advantage of being home to a huge range of cultures from around the world and therefore a mouth-watering choice of culinary experiences awaits you – this includes Portuguese, Italian and Indian food. One area where South Africa scores over most African destinations and competes with the best in the world is seafood, cooked in a range of local and international styles.
|
Culture & Crafts
South African culture reflects the ethnic diversity of its people. Traditional Afrikaans culture is based on a fusion of the concepts of race and culture, and contains a strong emphasis on community, along with an ingrained suspicion of foreigners. After years of neglect under apartheid, native tribal and African culture of groups like the Xhosa and the Zulu and the San (whose fantastic rock paintings in the Drakensburg mountains are among the best tribal art in the continent) are finally receiving their due in museums and cultural events that take place throughout the year.
There are about 500 museums in South Africa today with various specialties such as geology, natural history, archaeology, history and art. There is also a renewed attempt to reclaim all the aspects of contemporary African and Asian culture that were suppressed for long – this includes the development of Cape Town’s District Six, a watering hole for radical intellectuals and artists that was mowed down by the South African government during the heyday of apartheid, and the increasing popularity of formerly black districts like Soweto that have developed a distinct sub-culture based around working-class haunts like pubs and jazz clubs, showcasing local jazz forms like Kwela. The encouragement of mine-dancing (a form of dance developed by poor black miners which combines traditional tribal influences with modern mining attire!) in Johannesburg is also an example of the above.
There are also craft centres showing the skills of South African artists in many South African cities today. Traditional South African craft work, such as bowls, clay pots, beadwork, carvings, tapestries and paintings are good value and make interesting souvenirs. South Africa is the home of gold and diamonds, so jewellery making is predictably one of the biggest cottage industries here.
|
 | Okay so how many of you clicked in here thinking you’re in for a meeting with the great mellow yellow ... | | Some streets have that special punch! They’re not simply thoroughfares that lead from one place to another, but are attractions ... | | Here is a list of some of the world's most unique and unusual bars, often regarded as being weird and ... | | A garden is certainly a lovesome thing; flowers and green lawns are a panacea for most- if not all- ills. ... | | Some people travel to discover new destinations or to experience different cultures, to get a feel of a new place. ... | | | | | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Holiday Packages
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Travel Tools
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|