South Africa: Rainbow Nation

Updated: Jul 2, 2020

African printed material hanging in the wind and on table — African Prints

South Africa is located at the southern most tip of the African continent and is known as "The Rainbow Nation". Its topography includes deserts, mountains, plains and wetlands . The country has a population of over 58 million and as of 2020, the demographics of the country are 80% Black Africans, 8% White Africans, 9% Colored Africans and 2% Indian/Asian Africans. There are 11 official languages, 9 are from African tribes and 2 are from European tribes. The chief exports include corn, diamonds, fruits, gold, metal and minerals, sugar and wool. Most activities revolve around the three main cities which are Pretoria/Tshwane, Cape Town and Johannesburg. However, towns such as Durban, Bloemfontein and Soweto teem with just as much energy as the three main cities.

Things to know and do in South Africa:

Color coded map of South Africa showing provinces — Provincial Map of South Africa

Cape Town by the sea, Table Mountain and Lions Head in background — Cape Town against the backdrop of Table Mountain

At the most southern point of South Africa, two oceans converge at its cape creating a spectacular assortment of sea life which boasts creatures that thrive in cold waters on one side and those that live in warm waters on the other. Where the cold and warm waters meet there is a unique habitat for rare forms of sea life. For years, the Cape of Good Hope was believed to be the point at which the Atlantic and Indian oceans meet. However, recent studies suggest that the waters first meet at the Cape Agulhas. Both Capes can be visited while on a trip to the port city of Cape Town.

Cape Town is known as the legislative hub of South Africa. The bustling city is located between the rolling waves of the two oceans, winelands and the backdrop of Table Mountain. Whether on business or vacation, visitors to Cape Town are bound to have more than a hand full of activities to choose from. Sky diving, paragliding, sailing, sea and beach activities, wine tasting, hiking and shopping are just a few of the offers available in Cape Town.

Travelling along the coast, heading north from Cape Town, the towns of Port Elizabeth and Durban are a must see. Both towns offer a wide variety of beaches, lagoons and cliffs and the sea food served in these regions is second to none. Additionally, Durban is known for having the highest Indian population outside of India and is a great place to sample Indian inspired dishes. If you are traveling with kids, the town has an impressive aquarium.

Moving inland to the north are the other two main cities, Pretoria/Tshwane and Johannesburg. The cities are only about 70 kilometers from each other while Pretoria is 1,466 kilometers from Cape Town.

women singing in the streets — Women singing

Johannesburg was once home to Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu and is famous for the Soweto Township and the gold mines. Nightlife in Jo'burg is like no other and the shopping and dining experiences are exquisite. The streets are always buzzing with life and the locals are friendly. Feel free to stop and watch a dance or song or join in a game of street side pool. Even better, if you get to know the locals really well, try to get invited to a South African braai. They is nothing like it. The game is the freshest you will ever eat and the company the most hospitable.

Pretoria is the executive capital of the country and buildings such as the Union building, embassies and other administrative institutions can be found here. Since 2005, the indigenous name of "Tshwane" has been used alongside "Pretoria" to identify the nation's capital. Apart from business, shopping for gold and diamond is one of the favorite ways to past the time in Pretoria. Check out the crafts available in this region as well.

If you are a hiker or you simply enjoy mountains and hills, then be sure to check out Drakensburg which is the longest continuous topographic feature in South Africa. An indescribable serenity hovers over this mountain range and guest houses near the mountain range give direct access to them. If the mountains are too quiet and peaceful, then head over to nearby Sun City for amusement and fun in the casinos and water parks.

Entrance to Sun City, South Africa — Sun City Entrance

To the west of Johannesburg, the Kalahari desert offers a different landscape for those who want to experience the temperatures and rare creatures of the arid desert. Visitors can stay in near by guest houses and venture out to see and hear the stories of the desert.

Finally, no account of South Africa is complete without mention of the safaris. The Kruger National Park is located in the northern most province of Limpopo, 4 hours from Pretoria and Johannesburg. This park contains the "Big 5" among other wild animals. Pilanesberg National Park is in the North West province, a few kilometers from Sun City and this park is also home to the "Big 5" and other animals.

Carvings in stone at Sun City — Sun City

As usual, I have a cautionary tale. When we arrived in South Africa, a safari was one of our fist adventures. We did several after the first but this first safari was memorable because of our "naivety" (I refrain from using a harsher term like "stupidity"). During the safari, we spotted a group of zebras a little ways in the bushes. Wanting to get close and take a picture with them, I jumped out of our vehicle and walked towards them. My husband had the camera in hand to snap the perfect picture. I was almost within arms reach of the dazzle when a park attendant drove up and ordered me back into my vehicle. He gave us a sound cussing and left us feeling not only disappointed but ashamed. Apparently, in my excitement, I forgot that the park is also home to venomous snakes such as the Black Mamba and large, carnivorous animals such as lions and wild dogs. To a lion who was lying low and scouting out the zebras for lunch, I would have made a good alternative snack. After the attendant scolded us, that lesson was well learnt. So, if you go on a safari trip, and I advise that you do, please remember to exit your vehicle only in designated exit areas and as tempting as it is to try and sneak up to an elephant and snap a selfie with it, bear in mind that these are wild animals and they are known to kill or maim meddlesome humans.