SOUTH AFRICA
The Republic of South Africa lies at the southern tip of the African continent, borders Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Swaziland (Eswatini) and has been inhabited for 25,000 years.The coastline of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans is 2800 km long. South Africa has 6 different climates and the seasons are the opposite of those in Europe. The country is very rich in minerals, including gold, diamonds and platinum.
In 2020, 56.5 million people lived there; Africans and descendants of European and Indian immigrants. The economic centre is around Johannesburg and on the Indian Ocean. They speak English, indigenous languages and ‘Afrikaans’, the language of the ‘farmers’.
The Atlantic coast is deserted and sparsely populated. In 1652, Dutch colonists established Cape Town as a base for the Dutch East India Company (VOC). From 1830 the town was occupied by the English and the ‘peasants’ moved inland, which was conquered by the English in 1902.
After the abolition of slavery, Indian immigrants were employed in British territories, as was the case in South Africa. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (1869-1948), known as Mahatma Gandhi, was born in India, studied law in London and settled as a lawyer in South Africa in 1893. Indian immigrants and the black population suffered under ‘apartheid’. Gandhi lived in South Africa for 21 years and campaigned non-violently for equal civil rights and against the colonial system. In 1915, Gandhi returned to India, where he played an important role in the independence movement.
In 1961, South Africa left the British Commonwealth and became a republic with three capitals: Pretoria (administration); Cape Town (legislature) and Bloemfontein (judiciary).
Cape Town and Table Mountain (1000 m) attract many tourists. There is a cable car and hiking trails on the plateau. The summit is often under the ‘tablecloth’ cloud cover. Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens are on the east side.
The Castle (1666) is a fortress with a bakery, workshops, homes and shops. It has been restored and opened. The historic city centre is found at the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront.
Nelson Mandela (1918 – 2013) opposed apartheid and colonialism without violence. Later, he was a supporter of political and armed struggle. From 1963 -1990 he was imprisoned on Robben Island. The prison is now a museum where ex-prisoners give guided tours. Mandela had a great deal of charisma and was president of South Africa from 1994-1999. It proved difficult to bridge the gap between the white and black populations.
Stellenbosch (founded 1680) is the centre of the Cape wine lands. The Burgerhuis is a museum about the Dutch East India Company (V.O.C.) The University of Stellenbosch is Afrikaans-speaking and 75% of the inhabitants speak this language, which resembles Old Dutch.
Swellendam is also a colonial town. On the coast of Simons Town (Boulders Beach), there is a breeding colony of 3000 African penguins (45 cm).
Whales swim off Hermanus from July to November.
Sederberge Wilderness Area is a nature reserve 300 km north of Cape Town. It is an arid, rocky area with canyons and red rock formations, where hiking trails have been constructed.
The Sneeuwberg is 2000m high. In spring (Sept/Oct), the area is in bloom. In the caves, there are murals made by Bushmen.
Johannesburg / Witwatersrand is the largest city in South Africa. In 1880, ‘farmers’ settled here and chased away the African population. In 1885 the ‘gold rush’ began and by 1900 there were 100,000 people, countless pubs and brothels. Johannesburg is now a trading centre. The largest black ‘suburb’ is Soweto (South Western Township).
One of the well-known nature reserves is the Kruger National Park on the north-east border (380 x 60 km), there are tourist camps and you can admire elephants, lions, buffaloes, leopards, rhinos, giraffes, hippos and different kinds of antelope and wildebeest from the roads. It is easier to spot wildlife in the dry season from June to August.
Ukahlamba (Drakensberg Park) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Drakensberg Mountains are up to over 3000 metres high. The highest part is basalt, below it sandstone with numerous caves with rock paintings.
Durban, formerly Natal, is located on the Indian Ocean (600,000 inhabitants). There are beautiful beaches and it is a holiday destination for Johannesburg residents.
South African cuisine includes African, European and Indian dishes. Red wine and rooibos tea are export products.
Popular sports include football, rugby, cricket and boxing. The 2010 World Cup was held in South Africa.
In the 1960s, Miriam Makeba’s hit ‘Pata pata’ made South African music world-famous. Many other musicians followed her, including Hugh Masekela and Lucky Dube.
Want to visit an African country with spectacular nature and culture? Then choose South Africa!
$1638,-
| Capitap | Cape Town |
|---|---|
| Population | 59.31 million |
| Language | African, English, Xhosa, Zoeloe a.o. |
| Currency | South African rand |
| Visa required | www.visum.nl |
| Vaccination(s) | Yes |
| Voltage | 220/230 V |
| Traffic | Left-hand traffic |
