South-Africa: Land of Diversity in a Nutshell:
At the most southern tip of the African Continent lies a country just waiting to be discovered, a place that offers endless opportunities for adventure, relaxation and cultural sharing. It is a large and scenically diverse country, ringed by beautiful beaches and the blue-green waters of two oceans.
The people are friendly, the beaches and surf are clean and safe, the flora and fauna unique, the cuisine exquisite and the forests emerald green, all contained within an area of approximately 1 220 000 square km. The whole of South Africa is larger than Germany, France, Italy, Belgium and Holland put together and offers just as much cultural diversity.
South Africa’s almost 3000-km long, coastline offers views of unsurpassable beauty and plenty of opportunities for swimming and water sport. Some of the beaches host regular international surfing competitions and the harbours are popular destinations with yacht owners from all over the world.
In land, South Africa provides access to the bordering countries of Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe, Mozambique and the Kingdom of Swaziland. The small Kingdom of Lesotho lies in the south-east of the country and is completely enclosed by South Africa. The sophisticated infrastructure makes it the ideal starting point for a tour of the African Continent. The well-developed road and transport system, as well as the excellent accommodation and telecommunications facilities enable visitors to enjoy their stay in comfort. South Africa offers foreign visitors all the comforts they may desire against the backdrop of the unspoilt splendour of Africa.
South Africa is known as a country that houses an amazing diversity of fauna and flora and geographical features within its borders. The scenic diversity is partly caused by the effect of the cold north-flowing Benguela current on the west coast and the warm south-flowing Mozambique-Agulhas current on the east coast. In land from the Escarpment lies the interior plateau with its wide-open plains. Within the contrasting zones of the country some of the world’s most diverse animal and plant kingdoms are found. In fact, South Africa is the only country in the world that can boast of having its own unique floral kingdom, the Cape fynbos.
national flag
Our Provinces:
Our country is divided into nine provinces, each with its own distinct character and identity.
Eastern Cape:
The Eastern Cape is the second largest of the nine provinces. The natural diversity of this province is remarkable, ranging from the dry desolate great Karoo landscape to lush forests, fertile valleys, sandy beaches and the mountainous southern Drakensberg region. The main attraction of the Eastern Cape is its astonishing coastline. With its wide sandy beaches, endless sweeps of rocky coves, secluded lagoons and towering cliffs, the Indian Ocean coastline provides the province with a rich natural resource, offering an attraction for every taste.
Gauteng:
This province is aptly named with the Sotho word, which means “Place of Gold”. Since 1886, when an unemployed miner bent down to pick up a stone and noticed traces of gold, adventurers and dreamers have travelled from all over the world to reach the province of Gauteng. Gauteng is geographically the smallest but economically the most significant of South Africa’s provinces. The modern Gauteng is a province of immense vitality, diversity and, above all, of opportunity. But the landscape is not only covered with modern buildings, Gauteng also has wide, open grasslands, unspoilt thornveld, rolling hills and mountains to offer.
Free State:
Embraced by several other provinces, the Free State lies in the heart of the country. The Kingdom of Lesotho nestles cosily in the hollow of its bean-like shape. From the major cities to the rural village townships, the hospitality of the people is as overwhelming as the scenery is beautiful.
The scenic beauty of the Free State reaches a climax in the Eastern Free State Highlands on the border of Lesotho. The amazing sight of cherry orchards clinging to the sides of sandstone-topped mountains that reflect the different colours of sunrise and sunset is something not to be missed.
KwaZulu-Natal:
This Zulu kingdom by the sea forms the east coast of South Africa and is often called South Africa’s garden province. From the peaks of the Drakensberg Mountain Range that hover protectively over the San rock art heritage to the sandy beaches and subtropical greenery of the coast, it is an amazing sight to behold. Sheer physical beauty combined with a diversity of natural resources and an all-year round sunny climate make this a land well worth visiting. The warm Indian Ocean washing along the KwaZulu Natal beaches makes it the winter-holiday province of the country.
Limpopo:
The Limpopo lies within the area formed by the great elbow of the Limpopo River. This province with its dramatic contrasts, true bushveld country and majestic mountains, indigenous forests and unspoilt wilderness area, is bordered by Botswana, Mozambique and Zimbabwe on the west, east and north respectively. The subtropical climate and high summer rainfalls have combined to create vegetation of breathtaking lushness and beauty. Distant mountains frame the endless landscapes of the true bushveld with its trees and thorny terrain housing the unique wildlife of the area. The province is a well-managed conservation area and is also host to such diverse nature features as wetlands and the Lowveld.
Mpumalanga:
No nature lover or hiker should leave South Africa without having experienced the delights of Mpumalanga. It is an area of immense natural beauty – a true African landscape. The combination of majestic mountain scenery, wide horizons, lush forests and craggy rock formations, quickly brings the visitor under the enchantment of the mystery of Africa. In addition to its fascinating flora and fauna, Mpumalanga also offers the legacy of tribal legends and the gold rush fever of the 1870s.
North West:
North West, the platinum province, is one of the smaller provinces. Together with the Vaal Reef Gold Mines in Gauteng, the platinum mines of the province account for nearly 60 per cent of South Africa’s economic activity. The fertile plains of North West are striped yellow and green by the sunflowers and mealies (maize) that grow abundantly in the hot sun, broken only by the bushveld landscape covered with thorn trees. A journey through the wild Pilanesberg Mountains brings the visitor into the bowl of a crater where two of the country’s most popular casinos and holiday resorts, Sun City and The Lost City, nestle.
Northern Cape:
The vast, sun-kissed Northern Cape is the largest province in South Africa but has the smallest population. Visitors quickly come under the calming influence of the vast open landscapes, the early-morning sunrise over rust-red dunes and the roaming herds of antelope. Much of this immense region is made up of rugged desert, but the mighty Orange River forms the province’s northern boundary with Namibia and waters a highly fertile area where an abundance of crops are grown. South Africa’s wild flower extravaganza takes place here every year after the first spring rains, decorating the arid area with abundant natural colours.
Western Cape:
At the south-western tip of the Continent of Africa, the Western Cape is an area of such beauty and contrast that few people can visit it without falling in love with it. Straddling the Peninsula is the famous Table Mountain – a spectacular backdrop to the city of Cape Town. A landscape of majestic mountains, lush valleys, rivers and beaches, orchards and wine farms await explorers of this region. It is also home to “fynbos”, one of the six floral kingdoms in the world. The abundance and quality of the products of the wine estates, the spectacular Garden Route along the coast and the rugged landscape of the West Coast provide a playground suited to the tastes of all visitors.
Our People:
The South African nation is made up of people whose ancestors have lived here for thousands of years as well as of people whose ancestors travelled from the other side of the world to create a new future for themselves. Our society is a dynamic blend of age-old customs and modern ways and our identity is the result of a mix of cultures, the cross-pollination of ideas, words, customs, art forms as well as of culinary and religious practices. To incorporate the spirit of reconciliation and mutual respect which characterizes the South African society, the country recognizes 11 official languages.
They are, in alphabetical order: Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu. South Africa is home to the most diverse groups imaginable. City dwellers live their fast-paced Western lifestyle in a world that modern technology has created, and some rural tribe members choose to live very much as their ancestors did hundreds of years ago. A large number of the approximately ten million urban Africans are second and third generation town and city dwellers and hundreds of thousands are migrant workers. As a result, the different cultures have fused together in the cities and a distinctive subculture has developed that includes the traditional and the new.
Our Plant And Animal Life:
South Africa is home to an astonishing variety of plants and animals. Our indigenous plantlife includes some 22 000 species of flowering plants (including 730 species of trees) and some 900 species of birds, representing 22 of the world’s living orders. The country is divided into six natural vegetation regions. The Mediterranean winter rainfall area in the south-western Cape is characterised by fynbos vegetation. To the east lie natural temperate forests and subtropical coastal forests. Behind the mountains that divide the coast from the inner plateau lies a desert and semi-desert landscape, characterised by shrubs and grassland.
The central highland consists of natural grassland and sparse clumps of trees. The coastal stretches are characterised by subtropical humid conditions. Sparse desert flora characterises the vegetation of the West Coast. South Africa is the natural habitat of many species of animals, both carnivore and herbivores. Our most famous four-footed inhabitants are the elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard and rhinoceros, better known as the Big Five. Fortunately, we have a long history of protecting our natural heritage. Visitors can therefore look forward to exploring our many nature reserves and game farms, set among such different landscapes as grassy veld, mountains, beaches, forests and deserts. The country boasts with some 800 game reserves and 19 national parks and hundreds of privately owned wildlife sanctuaries. We also have large tracts of land, wilderness areas, that have been established to protect their original natural character. Romantic and adventurous safaris into the bush are an experience not to be missed, an opportunity to become one with nature and discover our land in a unique way.
Our Economy:
Since the landing of Jan van Riebeeck at the Cape of Good Hope in 1652, the economy in South Africa has progressed rapidly. The South Africa of today is a powerful engine for economic growth in Southern Africa. The country’s sophisticated physical and financial infrastructure provides the ideal investment platform for entry into the markets of other African countries. The industrialisation of South Africa commenced with the discovery of gold in 1888 on the Witwatersrand and today the country has a modern well-diversified economy.
The main contributing sectors are agriculture, manufacturing, mining, commerce, secondary industries and service industries. Although our mineral wealth contributes only nine per cent to the gross domestic product (GDP), it is still the most important asset of the South African economy. Despite earlier political and labour problems, South Africa also has one of the most sophisticate manufacturing industries in Africa. Manufacturing and services together represent some 40 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP).
Our Agriculture:
Over the years, South African farmers tamed the land and brought green life to the most unlikely areas. The complex climate of the country has led to a diverse agricultural sector being established in South Africa. Three quarters of the land is used for agriculture but only 12 per cent of the land is suitable for dry land crop production. Our uneven rainfall is a potential problem and has caused farmers to become dependent on irrigation and today more than 1,2 million ha are under irrigation.
The agricultural product that takes up the largest area of farmland is maize, followed by wheat, and on a smaller scale, oats, sugar cane and sunflowers. Over the last decade severe droughts have plagued the country and agricultural production went down. However, as far as the production of most primary foods is concerned, we are still self-sufficient. South Africa is a well-known producer of deciduous fruit and there are very few fruits that are not grown here. These fruits are important export products. Another important crop is the grapes from which our world-renowned award-winning wines are manufactured. The main breeds of sheep raised in South Africa are Merino, Dohne Merino, Dormer, Dorper and Karakul. Dairy and beef cattle breeding with breeds such as Afrikaner, Nguni, Drakensberger and Bonsmara is another successful South Africa industry.
Our Mineral Wealth:
The unique and extensive geological formations in South Africa are the origins of our mineral wealth. The Witwatersrand Basin holds a considerable share of the world’s gold reserves, as well as some uranium, silver, pyrite and osmiridium. This basin yields some 98 per cent of South Africa’s gold.
The Bushveld Complex in Mpumalanga and Limpopo produces more than half of the world’s chrome ore. Ores of vanadium, iron, titanium, copper, nickel and fluorspar are also found here.
South Africa also possesses some other important mineral reserves:
The Transvaal System contains more than 80 per cent of the world’s manganese reserves, as well as significant amounts of iron ore. Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal have significant coal and anthracite reserves. The Phalaborwa Igneous Complex contains extensive deposits of copper, titanium, phosphate, iron, vermiculite and zirconium. The Northern Cape has significant deposits of zinc ores, as well as copper and lead. Diamonds (kimberlites, alluvial and marine), as well as titanium, iron and zircon are found all over the country. As a result of these mineral riches, South Africa is one of the world’s largest mineral producers. Most of these minerals are mined for the international market.
Our Climate:
South Africa lies in the Southern Hemisphere, which means that we experience the exact reverse of the seasons in the Northern Hemisphere. South African temperatures are governed by three main features. Firstly, because of South Africa’s greater height above sea level, temperatures tend to be lower here than in other regions in the world in similar latitudes, for example Australia. Secondly, despite a latitudinal span of 13 degrees, average annual temperatures are remarkably uniform throughout the country, mainly due to the increase in the height of the plateau towards the north-east. The third feature is the striking contrast between temperatures on the east and west coasts, as caused by the difference between the temperatures of the Mozambique-Agulhas and Benguela currents.
Over 40 per cent of the country area lies above 1 210m above sea level, a factor which influences the temperatures and rainfall in the interior significantly. South Africa’s climate is generally sunny and temperate, creating ideal conditions for outdoor adventures. Our average number of sunshine hours per day is among the highest in the world. Temperatures above 32º C are fairly common in summer in South Africa and in some areas frequently exceed 38º C. Although these temperatures are normally comfortable and are particularly enjoyed by visitors from colder regions, visitors are warned to have respect for our sun and apply sunscreen products when outside for a number of hours.
The dry conditions and abundant sunshine are caused by South Africa’s location in the subtropical belt of high pressure. Fortunately, the wide expanses of ocean on three sides of South Africa have a moderating influence on the climate. Where the land meets the sea, gale-force winds frequently blow, especially in the south-western and southern coastal areas. The rest of the country, however, does not suffer from these winds. Winter temperatures are generally mild and periodic snowfalls only occur in the higher mountain ranges of the Eastern and Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.
South Africa has an average annual rainfall of only 464 mm, against the world average of 857mm. In total, 65 per cent of the country has an annual rainfall of less than 500mm which is usually regarded as the absolute minimum for successful dry-land farming. This potential problem has largely been countered by the construction of excellent irrigation systems. Frost often occurs on the interior plateau during cold, clear winter nights, with ice forming on still pools and in water pipes.
The incidence of frost decreases to the north of the country, while the coast is virtually frost-free. Snow is a rare occurrence except on some mountaintops, for example in the Drakensberg Mountain Range.
Another example of our astonishing diversity is the Western Cape that experiences a Mediterranean climate (dry summers and winter rainfall) while the rest of the country gets its rain in summertime.
Our National Symbols:
The South African flag was first used on 27 April 1994. Its colours are black, blue, green, red, yellow and white, but no universal symbolism is attached to the colours since different colours and colour combinations mean different things to different people. The central design, starting as a “V” at the flag-post, coming together in the centre and extending towards the edge in a single line represents the coming together of the diverse elements, that form the South African society.
National Anthem:
The national anthem of South Africa is Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika, composed in 1897 by a teacher called Enoch Sontonga. He was well known for his sad songs written to commemorate the suffering of the African people. The words of the first verse were written as a Xhosa hymn but for decades the oppressed people of South Africa regarded this as their national anthem. Eventually, on 20 April 1994, a proclamation issued by the State President formalised both Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika and Die Stem (The Call of South Africa) as the national anthems. In 1996, a shortened version, combining the two, was released.
Nkosi sikelel’iAfrika and Die Stem / The Call of South Africa
Nkosi sikelel’iAfrika Maluphakanyisw’uphondo lwayo, Yizwa imithandazo yethu, Nkosi sikelela, thina lusapho lwayo. Morena boloka setjhaba sa heso, O fedise dintwa la matshwenyeho, O se boloke, O se boloke setjhaba sa heso, Setjhaba sa South Afrika – South Afrika. Uit die blou van onse hemel, Uit die diepte van ons see, Oor ons ewige gebergtes, Waar die kranse antwoord gee, Sounds the call to come together, And united we shall stand, Let us live and strive for freedom, In South Africa our land.
We, as proud citizens of our country South Africa invite you to come, to explore and to discover the wonders of our world for yourself !
