Information about South Africa

History of South Africa

Africans are the descendants of migrants from central Africa, who first entered 2000 years ago. The discovery of diamonds and gold had great impact on the fortunes of the region; thus propelling shift from an agrarian based economy towards industrialization. This results in the conflict warfare between Boer settlers and imperial Britain. Since 1994 the white minority rule, i.e. apartheid dominated Africa and centered on racial segregation. But on 1994 April 27, after a serious struggle against apartheid, due to political and military support by Soviet Union multiracial African national congress; achieved victory in the country’s first democratic nation.

Geography of South Africa

The main geographical feature is shown by a map of South Africa i.e. the central plateau, which is edged by the great escarpment and the cape folds built in the South west corner of the country. The important geographical region is great Escarpment whose eastern line is known as Drakensberg and raises its border from KawaZulu-Natal and Lesotho. South Africa is located at the southern most regions of Africa and has the comparable size of Colombia. Highly characteristics of the southern and southwestern Karoo landscape is flat-topped hills which is lapped by the dolerite sills. The highest portion of the great escarpment formed the Lesotho international border, which reaches an altitude over 3000m, there is a temperate climate.Drakensberg is the eastern and the highest portion of the Great Escarpment which surrounds the east south and western border of the central plateau of Africa. Little Karoo the land between the two ranges consists of semi-desert except the swartberg mountains. The narrow coastal strip and the ocean have a moderately high year sound rainfall is known as the Garden Route.

Climate of South Africa

It has a temperate climate located in the southern hemisphere.The climate zones from the extreme desert of southern Namib in the far North West. South Africa has a similar climate to that of the Mediterranean with wet winters and hot, dry summer hosting the famous Fynbos biome of shurbland and thicket. Further east of the south coast, rainfall is distributed more throughout the year, a green land cape known as the Garden Route. The coldest place on mainland South Africa is Sutherland in the western Roggeveld Mountains. The Prince Edward Islands have a colder average annual temperature.

Tourist Attraction in South Africa

South Africa is famous for its unique ecosystems. Kruger National Park, the inland safari destination covers vast shrub lands. A large number of animals can be seen in this park. The Western Cape is famous for lush wine lands and they are found in Stellenbosch and Paarl. Wild beaches, craggy cliffs of the Cape of Good Hope attract many visitors. Forest and lagoons along the Garden Route, and the city of Cape Town, below flat-topped Table Mountain are some other important places to visit.

Famous Hotels in South Africa

• Kurland Hotel
• Sun City the Palace
• Kingston House Bed in Breakfast
• Raphael Penthouse Suites
• Lion Sands Private Game Reserve

South Africa Culture

The most popular language is English. South Africa is famous for its music. Kwaito is the unique style which is developed by black musicians. “Weekend special” is the song which is sung in English launched by Brenda Fassie. Many musicians like Ladysmith Black Mambazo and String Quarlet perform classical music. There are many famous jazz musicians, like Hugh Masekela, Jonas Gwangwa, Abdullah Ibrahim, Miriam Makeba, Jonathan Butler, Chris McGregor and Sathima Bea Benjamin. South African art includes the oldest art objects. There are various fluent art style seen today in a multitude of cave paintings. There are own vocabularies of art forms superseded by Bantu and Nguni peoples. Other notable exceptions are the film Tsotsi, which won the academy award for foreign language film at the 78th academy awards in 2006 as well as U-Carmen e-Khayelitsha which won the golden bear at the 2005 Berlin international film festival.

South Africa Cuisine

South African has diversified cultures in food which is enjoyed by all and especially by the tourist who are wishing for a large variety of South African cuisine. South African have social gathering known as braai or barbecue and is heavily meat based and has spawned the distinctively social gathering. It is a major wine producer. The famous wine is vineyards lying in valleys around Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Paarl and Barrydale.

International Airports in South Africa

• Cape Town International Airport
• King Shaka International Airport
• OR Tambo International Airport
• Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport
• Lanseria International Airport