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HICKING IN SOUTH AFRICA Camping and hiking have been popular outdoor activities in South Africa for many years. The country's diverse landscapes, from mountains to beaches, offer a range of opportunities for adventure seekers. Many national parks and nature reserves provide camping facilities, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the beauty of the South African wilderness. Whether you're a seasoned hiker or a first-time camper, South Africa has something to offer for everyone. The top 8 hikes in South Africa for stunning views Rhebok Hiking Trail Best summit hike 19-mile (31km) loop, 2 days, challenging ... Otter Trail Best multi-day hike 28 miles (45km), 5 days, moderate ... Blyderivierspoort Hiking Trail Best canyon hike ... Leopard’s Kloof Hiking Trail Best hike for families ... Olifantsbos Shipwreck Trail Best history hike ... Platteklip Gorge Trail Best urban hike ... Rim of Africa Best bucket list hike 403 miles (650km), 61 days, challenging ... Drupkelders Hiking Trail Tripadvisor (61) · Wanderpfad Queen St, Knysna · website routenplaner Kranshoek Hiking Trail Tripadvisor (35) · Wanderpfad Harkerville · Geschlossen · Öffnet morgen um 08:00 website routenplaner Shipwreck Hiking & Canoe Trails Tripadvisor (15) · Wanderpfad Sea Mist Drive, Port Alfred · website routenplaner Wathaba Hiking Trail - Day Tours Tripadvisor (10) · Wanderpfad R541, Machadodorp, Badplaas · Geschlossen · Öffnet morgen um 08:00 website routenplaner Magoebaskloof Hiking Trail Tripadvisor (27) · Wanderpfad R71, Tzaneen Swellendam Hiking Trail Swellendam Hiking Trail Tripadvisor (26) · Wanderpfad Marloth Nature Reserve, Swellendam · Wathaba Hiking Trail - Day Tours Wathaba Hiking Trail - Day Tours Tripadvisor (10) · Wanderpfad R541, Machadodorp, Badplaas · Geschlossen · Öffnet morgen um 08:00 Hennops Hiking Trail & Mtb Hennops Hiking Trail & Mtb Wanderpfad R511, Pretoria · CAMPING IN SOUTH AFRICA Reinheim River Chalets & Caravan Park Bloemfontein Tripadvisor (23) · Campingplatz Off N1, Masselpoort And Glen Turnoff, Bloemfontein · website Reyneke Park Tripadvisor (15) · Campingplatz 5 B Brendar St, Bloemfontein · 24 Stunden geöffnet website Camp Aquila Campingplatz R523, Soutpansberg website CAMPING SOUTH AFRICA Limpopo Province is located in the far northern part of South Africa and shares borders with … North West Province Campsites in North West South Africa. Best Camping in North West on SA … Campsites in KwaZulu Natal Camping Blog. Travel Tips; Contact Us. Resort owners; Home; Locations; … The Six Principles of Safety on the Trail - Hiking in South Africa You are responsible for yourself, so be prepared: With knowledge and gear Become self-reliant by learning about the terrain, conditions, local weather and your equipment before you start. By reading our guidebook, you already have taken important steps in preparing for your hiking adventure in South Africa. To leave your plans Tell someone where you are going, the trails you are hiking, when you’ll return and your emergency plans. Don't forget to write down your cell phone number for the person you leave the trail description with. To stay together When you start as a group, hike as a group, end as a group. Pace your hike to the slowest person. Try avoiding hiking by yourself. If in doubt, take a local guide with you. To turn back Weather can change quickly in the raining season. Fatigue and unexpected conditions can also affect your hike. Know your limitations and when to postpone your hike. Be especially cognizant of the danger of weather changes in the mountains. For emergencies Even if you are headed out for just an hour, an injury, severe weather or a wrong turn could become life-threatening. Don’t assume you will be rescued; know how to rescue yourself. To share To share the hiker code with others. Based on http://hikesafe.com We also recommend that you do not pick flowers or other plants, that you don't play loud music, that you do not disturb animals and that you do not litter while on the trail. You can improve the hiking experience of others by collecting some litter as well. Check out this great video which was produced as part of the Hike Safety Project. Although it was developed for hiking in the green mountains of New Hampshire in the US, the lessons learned from the hikers in the video are equally relevant to hikers in South Africa. 11 safety tips for your next South African hike The murder of Ukrainian hiker Ivan Ivanov, 43, on a popular hiking trail in Cape Town has prompted safety concerns for travellers heading for hikes within the country. IOL Travel spoke to Rim of Africa ’s Galeo Saintz on what safety tips travellers should take when going on their next hike. Have the right gear Depending on the type of environment, carry items that are appropriate for the terrain and destination. For example, hikers should invest in quality hiking boots than walking barefoot or using flip flops. Always carry a space blanket and extra water A space blanket is a low-weight, low-bulk blanket made of heat-reflective thin plastic sheeting to help with thermal control. The blanket comes in handy during emergencies. Hikers should always carry extra water in their bags. Always carry a charged cellphone and power bank in your hiking bag Having battery power on your phone is necessary, especially if you are embarking on longer hikes. More on this 3 off the beaten track paths for your next hiking holiday PICS: 7 essentials you need to pack for a hiking holiday Hike in groups Hiking is an enjoyable activity best enjoyed with company. Try to hike with a few people for safety and when in remote regions. It is advisable not to hike alone. Research the route Thanks to the power of online, searching for information about your hiking routes is a click of a button away. Things to consider are the dangers common to the trail, criminal incidents and types of reptiles and animals to watch out for. Carry food and energy snacks Some hikes take longer than expected, and the last thing you want is to be without some food when the hunger pangs strike. Warm clothing in the event of unexpected change in weather A jacket or two comes in handy- especially if the weather takes a turn for the worse. Alert people about the hike details Tell people where you are going and your expected time of arrival. Carry a small stove to make hot water This rule is for longer hikes. It comes in handy for emergencies like boiling water, or reheating meals. Choose hikes according to fitness level While it is tempting to choose a popular hiking trail for the “gram”, one should also take their fitness level into account. Do not attempt challenging hikes if you haven’t hiked before. Be vigilant Capturing every moment of the hike may seem ideal, but one has to make sure that they are vigilant at all times. Is Going on Safari Dangerous? Every safari has an element of danger; that's what makes it exciting. While many of the animals you'll encounter can be dangerous , the four that you really have to watch out for are—elephant, lion, buffalo , and hippo (add crocodiles to that list if you're near water). Most safari operators and guides at the various lodges and game reserves will stress basic precautions you need to take while game viewing. It will also help if you follow basic safari etiquette. If you are on safari in smaller, more remote game parks or encounter wildlife outside of game parks, here are some general rules to follow: If You Are in a Vehicle Always stay in your car. When driving in a game park remain in your vehicle. Only get out at designated "hides" and follow the rules that will be posted. There have been several fatalities that occurred because a hapless tourist has wandered out of their vehicle, camera in hand, to get a closer shot of an elephant or lion. It may sound silly, but it happens. Don't stand up or stick anything out of the car. Many safari vehicles are open-topped, and the wildlife is generally accustomed to these. But, if you stand up or wave something around on the side, some animals will get annoyed and consequently aggressive. You also have to remember that poaching is rife in many areas, and anything that looks like a gun can trigger a very nasty response from a wild animal. Drive slowly and carefully. During the wet season, the grass can get quite high, and it's not always possible to tell when a large buffalo or elephant will decide to step into the middle of the road. Remember, you have to stop if this happens. Buffalos and elephants are not in the least bit afraid or impressed by you or your car. Keep your windows up. If you are in a car with windows, it's better to keep them closed. You could end up being harassed by baboons as you drive through the more popular game parks. They are so habituated to cars they are not afraid to leap upon them and dent the roof. You don't want one inside your vehicle. If You Are on Foot If you are on a walking safari, you will no doubt be briefed on safety by your guides. But, there are times when you'll be walking in Africa and encounter wildlife without a guide. You could run into elephants even in the middle of town. Baboons are also a menace in many places and a lot larger than you think. Here are some basic tips if you encounter wildlife eye to eye: Try and stay downwind from the animal. If the animal catches your scent, it will know you are there, and you have no idea whether this will make it angry or afraid. If an animal you approach looks hostile, make sure you are not in the way of its escape route. Give the animal a clear birth and don't make any noise to aggravate the situation further. Walk away slowly. If you encounter an animal that doesn't like your presence move back slowly and quietly. More Tips Avoid swimming in rivers or lakes unless you are absolutely sure there are no hippos or crocodiles. Hippos are the most dangerous of all the big animals. They feed on the banks of the river, and if they sense danger will charge and attack whatever lies in their path in order to get back to the safety of the water. If you are camping out in the open, always make sure you have something covering you even if it's just a mosquito net. Hyenas like to check out camps for leftover food and are especially attracted to protruding objects, so keep your feet and nose inside that tent or net. Always wear boots and socks when walking around the bush. There are plenty of venomous snakes and scorpions around that could bite you. Don't walk around at night in areas where you know there is wildlife present that can be potentially harmful to you. That includes the beaches and around lakes where hippos graze between tents on a camping safari. Also, be careful in towns. Hyenas wander around freely in the capital city of Lilongwe in Malawi, so always be cautious. Wild Camping in South Africa: Why not to do it, and alternatives We know, you’re an off-the-beaten track kinda person. That’s why you’re here. You’re on of us, and we appreciate that. Sometimes, though, we need to approach adventure with a mindful attitude to keep safe. Read on to find out what we mean… Are you yearning for an adventure that goes beyond overcrowded holiday camp grounds? Maybe dreaming of an off-the-grid escapade that promises raw, untouched nature and a true sense of solitude? Then it’s likely you have heard of wild camping – the kind of camping that takes you far from the designated campsites into the uncharted territories of South Africa’s stunning landscapes. It sounds like a thrilling prospect, doesn’t it? The allure of discovering hidden corners and secluded vistas is irresistible. You might even think it’s the Camp Master dream. But before you barrel off into the countryside, hold on just a moment! While the idea of venturing into the wild may seem enticing, it comes with its own set of challenges, particularly in South Africa. It’s also – and we can’t stress this enough – pretty illegal and dangerous in many parts of our country. In this article, we’re covering why wild camping is risky, and the alternatives you can try that are much safer AND satisfy that urge for a truly backwoods adventure. You can have the best of both worlds, and be sure of your safety while doing it. The Risks of Wild Camping in South Africa Legal Implications Yes, we know, in theory nature is boundless and belongs to nobody.. Here’s the thing, though – most of the land in South Africa is privately owned or protected, which makes it a legal no-no to set up your camp without proper authorization. Trespassing on private property or protected reserves can land you in serious trouble, including fines that might dent your wallet and your plans. You might also disturb delicate protected areas or cause issues in biomes that you didn’t know were delicate. How would you like it if someone came to camp in YOUR front garden unannounced and declared it public property? Safety Concerns Let’s talk about safety. Picture this: you’re in the middle of nowhere, setting up your tent under the vast African sky, when suddenly you hear rustling in the bushes. While the romantic in you might hope it’s just a harmless critter passing by, South Africa’s wilderness is known for its diverse and, at times, dangerous wildlife. Being far from designated camping areas also means being far from immediate help in case of emergencies. If nobody knows where you are, in the event of an accident, nobody will even know something has gone wrong. Not only are you risking your own life, but you’re also wasting the resources and time of those who may be forced to go far out of their way to rescue you because you didn’t listen to your favourite Camp Master team members… Environmental Impact Let’s not forget the impact of pitching a camp where you’re not supposed to on the environment. Unfortunately, the thrill of exploring untamed regions often comes with unintentional consequences. Trampling on delicate flora, leaving behind non-biodegradable waste, and disturbing the natural ecosystem can result in irreversible damage to the very landscapes we set out to admire. You can’t claim to be a nature lover if your actions are risking a habitat’s well-being for a night or two of fun in the bush. The Appeal of Designated Camping Sites So, does that mean you should abandon your remote and free-spirited outdoor dreams altogether? Absolutely not! You’re in the perfect location to have a wild camping adjacent experience that’s safe for you and the environment. South Africa is replete with designated camping sites that offer the perfect balance between adventure and sustainability. These sites ensure that you can still experience the untamed beauty of nature while having access to basic amenities and emergency services, and because there are so many of these sites around our country, you will always be able to find a spot that’s remote and uncrowded if people are what you want to get away from. Plus, they promote responsible tourism, emphasizing the importance of preserving the environment and respecting local communities. And toilets. Don’t forget the toilets. To summarise, here’s why you should be picking a camping spot: Safety: Designated camping sites often have safety measures in place, including game ranges, security patrols, and emergency services in case of any unforeseen incidents. Facilities: These sites typically offer facilities such as toilets, clean water, fire pits, picnic tables, and sometimes even showers, making the camping experience more convenient and comfortable. Legal Compliance: Camping in designated areas ensures that you are adhering to local regulations and laws, minimising the risk of fines or legal complications that may arise from unauthorized wild camping. Environmental Protection: Designated sites are usually chosen and maintained to minimise the impact on the surrounding environment, ensuring that the natural beauty of the area remains preserved for others to enjoy. Let the experts choose where you step. Community Support: By utilizing designated camping sites, you contribute to the local economy and support the maintenance of recreational areas, which benefits the surrounding communities and encourages sustainable tourism practices. Keep it local and lekker! Top Off-the-Grid Wild Camping Alternatives in South Africa Now, let’s talk about some of the most breathtaking, off-the-grid camping spots in South Africa that will satiate your thirst for adventure without compromising on safety. These are as close to wild camping as you can get without any of the disadvantages, and you’ll still feel like you’re answering the call of the wild with a resounding “howzit!” Richtersveld Transfrontier Park (Northern Cape) Immerse yourself in the grandeur of a remote desert landscape where the silence is broken only by the whispers of the wind. The Richtersveld Transfrontier Park in the Northern Cape offers designated camping spots that give you the feeling of being marooned in a tranquil oasis of sky and sand. Make sure to equip yourself with Campmaster’s rugged range of canvas tents and coolers to ensure your comfort and safety in this rustic terrain. Tankwa Karoo National Park (Western Cape) For those seeking an otherworldly experience, the Tankwa Karoo National Park in the Western Cape presents an arid wonderland, where the stark beauty of the landscape is matched only by the brilliance of the starry night sky. With its secluded campsites equipped with basic amenities, it provides the perfect blend of adventure and convenience. Don’t forget to carry Campmaster lanterns and portable grills to enhance your camping experience under the cosmic symphony. The Tankwa is protected and pristine, so we highlighly recommend practising the “Leave No Trace” principles on your trip. Find out more about sustainable camping in our blog. Baviaanskloof Wilderness Area (Eastern Cape) If you’re in search of rugged terrains and spectacular biodiversity, look no further than the Baviaanskloof Wilderness Area in the Eastern Cape. Seriously, the Eastern Cape is incredibly underrated. Its serene landscapes and diverse flora and fauna promise an immersive camping experience that might make you feel like you’re on another planet. The area offers several campsites catering to varying levels of comfort, ensuring that you can find the perfect spot to pitch your tent and soak in the raw beauty of nature. Be sure to bring along Camp Master all-terrain sleeping mats or If you’d like to be WILDY comfy, one of these nifty air beds: Queen Airbed Combo Single Airbed Double Airbed and Pump Tips for Responsible Camping Before you embark on your next outdoor expedition – in a designated campsite, of course – here are some crucial tips to ensure a responsible and safe camping experience: In this case, asking for forgiveness ISN’T better than asking for permission. Always seek permission before setting foot on private or protected lands. Respect the rules and regulations set forth by the authorities and landowners. Adhere to the “Leave No Trace” principles, which means that you should leave the campsite just as you found it. Dispose of waste properly and minimize your environmental impact. We know a thing or two about sustainable camping here at Camp Master… Be wildlife-aware. Store your food securely, maintain a safe distance from wild animals, and educate yourself about the potential risks associated with the local fauna. There’s nothing wuite as statling ans an unexpected critter, for you AND the critter. Go wild – SAFELY – with Camp Master As you gear up for your next outdoor escapade, remember that responsible and safe camping doesn’t mean sacrificing the thrill of adventure. If anything, addin an element of reassured safety makes it even MORE fun. South Africa’s breathtaking landscapes are waiting to be explored, and with the right preparation and mindset, you can embark on a journey that is both exhilarating and respectful to your environment and the dedicated people who take care of it. So, pack your bags, set your compass, and get ready to create unforgettable memories in the heart of South Africa’s natural wonders. As you head don’t forget to equip yourself with durable, high-quality, and affordable camping gear from Camp Master. You can kit up at a Game, Builders’ Warehouse or Makro near you. Camping Safety Advice to Ignore at your Peril Camping in South Africa is a great way to de-stress and reconnect with nature, but it can be dangerous if you are unprepared and things go wrong. The key to a successful trip is awareness and planning. Camping is a safe activity that is done by millions of people every year who want to escape city life and experience the great outdoors. However life out in the bush can be dangerous and to have a successful camping trip you need to have some basic bush and camping knowledge. One of the best things that you can do is be prepared. Camping safety starts long before you leave. You will need to take many things with you to make your trip comfortable. One of the most important things that you need is to have an understanding of the possible dangers in the area where you will be camping. This includes knowing what dangerous animals, snakes and scorpions you may encounter - learn to identify them and how to avoid them. Remember, most animals are more scared of humans than you are of them and will only attack if they feel threatened or trapped. Do not approach wild animals too closely or attempt to feed them as this is when most incidents happen. Before you leave Take with you a well equipped first aid kit and make sure that it contains the basic as well as anti-histamines, antibiotics, nausea medicine and Imodium. You need to make sure that any medicines in your kit have not passed their expiration date. Make sure that there are at least two family members who know how to use the kit and have knowledge of first aid. Learn to recognise the symptoms of serious injuries so that you know when to get help. Tell some friends or family where you are planning on travelling and when you are due back. When you arrive at the park or reserve you should register with the park administration. You will probably have to pre-book camping spots and check in. The reason for this is if there is an emergency and you do not return someone will come looking for you. When camping, prepare for the unexpected. Make sure that you have a detailed map or GPS maps of the area you will camp in. This will help you find your way if you get lost. Take along a whistle, pocket knife and matches or waterproof fire starter. Take some extra food and water along in case you get stuck for any reason. Check the weather before you leave for your entire trip and pack appropriately. Be sure to pack for both hot and cold weather, but do not over pack - you don't want to be lugging to much stuff along. Re-wear clothing during the trip so you do not have to carry to much luggage. If you are out hiking, take a jacket with you. Keep an eye on the weather as it can change quickly. Once you arrive Leave early on the first day of your trip so that you arrive at your destination with plenty of daylight left to set up your camp. If you have not pre-booked a camping spot and are free to camp where you like choose your site carefully. Make sure there are no stumps or sharp sticks, poisonous plants, ants and other insects close by. Trees - more dangerous than you think It is advisable that you do not camp under a tree. If you want to camp under a tree for shade make sure that the tree has no dead limbs that are likely to fall. Check to make sure that the tree has not been hollowed out by termites, as in the middle of the night you do not want a huge tree branch falling down on top of you. Check that your chosen camping spot is not in the middle of a well used game trail as you do not want the local wildlife blundering over your tent in the middle of the night. Find your water source. Many campsites in South Africa have clean and drinkable water on tap. If you do end up drinking from streams or rivers, make sure that the water is fast flowing. You can purify it with purification tablets with you. There are some camping destinations where you will have to take your own water with you. A camp fire not a bush fire Build your fire in a designated fire pit or well away from your tent. The last thing you want is the wind to pick up sparks and blow them onto your highly flammable tent. Build your fire well away from any dry grass, twigs and nearby bushes - the last thing you want to start is an out of control wild fire. Follow all the park and reserve regulations regarding fires. Last thing at night make sure that the fire is completely out by pouring water over the embers. Never leave a fire unattended. Animal magnetism To avoid attracting animals such as Baboons and Honey Badgers, make sure that you do not leave food lying around. Any rubbish should be placed in bins provided or if there are no bins in the area where you are camping, you should pack the rubbish and take it away with you. 5 of the Best Camping Spots in South Africa Choose a camping holiday and reboot your connection with nature. Find inspiration and peace in surroundings that 'speak' to you. Camping spo...more Nature Reserves Travel Guide Before planning your holiday read these useful Travel Tips & Advice for going on a getaway to South African Nature Reserves....more BACK TO TOP

South african Culture South African flag Songs Oranje-blanje-blou Oranje-blanje-blou (Afrikaans for Orange, white and blue) refers, of course, to the old South African flag used between 1928 and 1994. This song was popular especially among Afrikaners when this flag flew over South Africa. The tune is by Henry Hugh Pierson (they don't say whether it was borrowed from this composer), and the lyrics are by an Afrikaans poet who wrote under the name Eitemal. The attribution for the text reads: "EITEMAL na: ,,O.D., hoch in Ehren''. (There is a commonly used style of quotation marks, primarily German but often used in Afrikaans, that opens a quote with commas rather than the more familiar "inverted commas"). The title simply gives the colours of the 1928 South African flag, or, more strictly, the Dutch Princenvlag: orange, white and blue. (I am not certain of the derivation of "blanje", since it is not used in ordinary spoken Afrikaans, but I would guess that it is a form of the French "blanc", white). The text reads: Die Hoogland is ons woning, die land van son en veld, waar woeste vryheidswinde waai oor graf van meenge held. Die ruimtes het ons siel gevoed, ons kan g'n slawe wees, want vryer as die arendsvlug, die vlugte van ons gees. Chorus: Dis die tyd, (repeated) dis die dag, (repeated) om te handhaaf en te bou. Hoog die hart, (repeated) hoog die vlag, (repeated) hoog Oranje-blanje-blou! Ons gaan saam die donker toekoms in om as een te sneuwel of oorwin, met ons oog gerig op jou, ons Oranje-blanje-blou! (Note: In the sixth line [hoog Oranje-blanje-blou], there is an echo of "blou, blanje-blou!") Die ruwe berge-reekse staan hoog teen awendlug, soos gryse ewighede daar versteen, verstyf in vlug. En stewig soos die grou graniet ons Boeretrots en -trou, die fondament warop ond hier 'n nuwe nasie bou. (Chorus) Die God van onse vaders het ons hierheen gelei ons dien sy grootse skeppings-plan, solank ons Boere bly. Ons buig ons hoof voor Hom alleen; en as Hy ons verhoor omgord ons bly die lendene: Die toekoms wink daar voor. Translation (off the cuff - any improvements welcome). Note: the reference to Hoogland (translated here as highlands) is probably poetic licence for Highveld (Afrikaans Hoe"veld), a region which includes large parts of both the former Transvaal Province (Zuid- Afrikaansche Republiek) and the current Free State Province (the old Oranje Vrij Staat). The highlands are our home, the land of sun and veld, where wild winds of freedom blow over [the] grave of many a hero. The open spaces have fed our souls, we cannot be slaves [literaaly "we can be no slaves"] as freer than the eagle's flight, the flights of our spirit. Chorus: It's the time, it's the day, to maintain and to build. High the heart, high the flag, high Orange-white-blue! We go together into the dark future together to die or win, with our eye fixed on you, our Orange-white-blue! (Sneuwel means literally to die in warfare; oorwin means to win in battle.) The rugged mountain ranges stand high against the evening light like petrified grey eternities there, stiffened in flight. And firmly like the grey granite our Boer pride and loyalty, the foundation upon which we here are building a new nation. (The word awendlug [evening air] seems to be an error; it seems more logical to say awendlig [evening light]; awend is a poetic form [harking back to Dutch] for the more usual Afrikaans "aand"). The God of our fathers led us here, we serve his mighty creation plan, as long as we Boers remain. Webend our heads before Him alone; and if He hears us we gird our loins joyfully: The future waves us on. (Source: The FAK [Federasie van Afrikaanse Kultuurvereninge] Sangbunde). Mike Oettle, 06 Feb 2004. Ons Vlag Nou waai ons Vlag en wapper fier! Sy kleure is ons vreugde; hul skoonheid spoor ons harte aan tot ware, ed'le deugde. Oranje dui op heldemoed wat krag vind by die Here; die Blanje eis 'n rein gemoed; die Blou verg trou en ere. Ons Vlag bly steeds ons eenheidsband. Al kom ook sware tye; dis God wat waak oor Volk en Land, Suid-Afrika ons eie. Translation: Now our flag waves and flaps bravely! Its colours are our joy; their beauty encourages our hearts to true, noble virtues. Orange stands for heroic courage which draws strength from the Lord; the White demands a pure attitude; the Blue wants loyalty and honour. Our flag remains our bond of unity. Even if times get hard; it's God who watches over Nation and Land, South Africa our own. The forms "sware" (where "swaar" would be the usual way of speaking), "ed'le" (for "edele") and "ere" (for "eer") are poetic forms, adaptations to the scansion. The same goes for the word "meen'ge" in Oranje-blanje-blou, which would normally be "menige". (Source: The FAK [ Federasie van Afrikaanse Kultuurvereninge] Sangbunde). Mike Oettle, 10 Feb 2004 De Vlaamse Leeuw This song is an odd one to find in the FAK Sangbundel, since its title translates as "The Flemish Lion" and the language is Dutch, definitely not Afrikaans. Clearly, it was included because, centuries after the Eighty Years War, the symbol of Flanders still finds a resonance with Afrikaner descendants of those Protestant Flemings who fled Spanish rule and went to live in the Seven Provinces. The words are credited to T H van Peene, and the tune to K Mirij, arrangement by Dirkie de Villiers (son of M L de Villiers, the composer of the music to Die Stem van Suid-Afrika, the former South African national anthem). There are two verses and a refrain: Zij zullen hem niet temmen, de fiere Vlaamse Leeuw, al dreigen zij zijn vrijheid met kluisters en geschreeuw. Zij zullen hem niet temmen, zolang e'e'n Vlaming leeft, zolang de Leeuw kan klauwen, zolang hij tanden heeft. Refrain: Zij zullen him niet temmen zolang e'e'n Vlaming leeft, zolang de Leeuw kan klauwen, zolang hij tanden heeft, zolang de Leeuw kan klauwen, zolang hij tanden heeft. De tijd verslindt de steden, geen tronen blijven staan, de legerbenden sneven, een volk zal niet vergaan. De vijand trekt te velde, omringd van doodsgevaar. Wij lachen met zijn woede, die Vlaamse Leeuw is daar. Here's an attempt at a translation: They won't tame him, the proud Flemish Lion, even if they threaten his freedom with chains and shouting. They will not be able to tame him as long as even one Fleming lives, as long as the Lion can claw, as long as he has teeth. Refrain: They will not tame him, the proud Flemish Lion, as long as one Fleming lives, as long as the Lion has claws, as long as he has teeth, as long as the Lion has claws, as long as he has teeth. Time eats up the cities, no thrones last forever, the armed companies die in battle, a people will not disappear. The enemy goes out to war, surrounded by deadly danger. We laugh at his anger, the Flemish Lion is there. I have written the word een as e'e'n - each 'e' carries an acute accent. This emphasises the word, giving the meaning "even if only one Fleming is left alive". The word verslindt means to destroy by eating - this verb is used literally only of animals (never humans) and, poetically, of things that destroy in like manner. I am not certain that I have the right word for "kluisters" - I don't have a dictionary at hand as I write this - and would be grateful if some Dutch correspondent would check that. "Geschreeuw" can mean either shouting or screaming, but shouting seems more appropriate. In the second verse, "de legerbenden sneven" - "leger" means army, but "armed companies" seems to fit better with "benden" or bands. "Sneven" (in Afrikaans "sneuwel") means to die in war or in battle (rather than dying of disease, another common way in which soldiers have traditionally lost their lives). I have rendered "een volk" as "a people", but "a nation" could also be appropriate. "Trekt te velde" means literally to go out into the fields, but its application to an enemy means that it is out on campaign (after all, campaign comes from a word meaning "fields", also). Mike Oettle, 02 Mar 2004 Transvaalse Volkslied The Transvaalse Volkslied, although the official anthem of the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek and when the territory was officially called Transvaal (1879-81and 1901 onwards), it was not well thought of by the authorities. The words and music of the Transvaalse Volkslied are by Catharina F van Rees, and it is dated 1875 - surprisingly it dates to the period before the annexation of 1879, since the emotions seem to blend well with those of the victorious rebels of 1881. Possibly this date accounts for the song's non-avoidance of the word Transvaal, which was the name of the state so strongly rejected in the uprising of 1880-81. The arrangement is by G G Cillie'. (There is an acute accent on the final letter in this surname; it is pronounced "Sil-yee". The surname is French, although its spelling is no longer authentically French; other members of this family spell it as Cilliers or Celliers.) The language is Dutch. (As mentioned previously, Afrikaans was the spoken language of all the 19th-century Boer republics, but was hardly ever written, and was not generally well thought of by those who had been educated in either English or Dutch.) Kent gij dat volk vol heldenmoed en toch zo lang geknecht? Het heeft geofferd goed en bloed voor vryheid en voor recht. Komt burgers! laat de vlaggen wapp'ren, ons lijden is voorbij; roemt in die zege onzer dapp'ren: Dat vrije volk zijn wij! Dat vrije volk, dat vrije volk, dat vrije, vrije volk zijn wij! Kent gij dat land, zo schaars bezocht en toch zo heerlik schoon; waar de natuur haar wond'ren wrocht, en kwistig stelt ten toon? Transvalers! laat ons feestlied schallen! Daar waar ons volk hield stand, waar onze vreugdeschoten knallen, daar is ons vaderland! Dat heerlik land, dat heerlik land, dat is, dat is ons vaderland! Kent gij die Staat, nog maar een kind in's werelds Statenrij, maar tog door 't machtig Brits bewind weleer verklaard voor vrij? Transvalers! edel was uw streven, en pijnlik onze smaad, maar God die uitkomst heeft gegeven, zij lof voor d'eigen Staat! Looft onze God! Looft onze God! Looft onze God voor land en Staat! Now for a translation (again lease excuse and correct! any errors): Do you know the people full of heroic courage and yet so long servants? It has offered possessions and blood for freedom and for justice. Come, citizens, let the flags wave, our suffering is past; be joyous in the victory of our brave ones; We are the free people! The free people, the free people, the free, free people are we! Do you know the land, so seldom visited, and yet so wonderfully beautiful; where nature has wrought her wonders, and profligately puts them on display? Transvalers! let our festival song resound! There were our people stood fast, where our gunshots of joy resound, there is our fatherland, That wonderful land, that wonderful land, that is, that is our fatherland! Do you know the State, yet still a child among the States of the world, but nontheless by the mighty British power truly declared as free? Transvalers! Noble was your struggle, and painful our suffering, but God has given the outcome, and praise for our own State! Praise our God! Praise our God! Praise our God! Praise our God for land and State! In the first verse, "wapp'ren" and "dapp'ren" are poetic forms that omit the middle vowel. The same goes for "wond'ren" in the second verse. "Geknecht" means "reduced to the state of servants" (not quite slaves). In the third verse the word Statenrij has no exact equivalent in English, although English occasionally uses the same construction of ending a word with -ry to form a noun from a shorter one, as in "heraldry". "Statenrij" is perhaps best rendered as "the multitude of States" or "the variety of States" (independent states, that is). "Door't" is a typically Dutch construction which has disappeared from Afrikaans, except in one or two idioms, where the definite object "het" is reduced to its final letter and (sometimes) tagged onto the previous word. (North country English has a comparable usage, although this is a shortening of "the".) Mike Oettle, 04 Mar 2004 Vryheidslied On flipping through the FAK book I came across a song. The title is Vryheidslied. The lyrics are by Jan F E Celliers, and the music by Emiel Hullebroeck. The words are: Vrome vad're, fier en groot Deur vervolging, ramp en nood, was hul leuse, tot die dood: Vryheid! Vryheid! Erf'nis van hul moed en trou is die grond waar ons op bou. Juigend tot die hemel-blou: Vryheid! Vryheid! Ere wie die dood mag lei om te rus aan hulle sy, met die sterwenswoord te skei: Vryheid! Vryheid! Op dan, broers, en druk hul spoor, voorwaarts, broers, die vaandel voor, laat die veld ons krygsroep hoor: Vryheid! Vryheid! Woes geweld mag hoogty hou, kettings mag ons lede knou, maar die leuse bly ons trou: Vryheid! Vryheid! Jukke mag vir slawe wees, manneharte ken geen vrees, duld geen boei vir lyf of gees: Vryheid! Vryheid! Now the English translation: Pious fathers (ancestors), proud and brave Through persecution, disaster and need their motto, to the death, was: Freedom! Freedom! The heritage of their courage and faith is the land we build on. Joyful to the blue heavens: Freedom! Freedom! Honours to those led by death to rest at its side, uttering their final word: Freedom! Freedom! Up, then, brothers, and follow their tracks, forwards, brothers, the banner in front, may the veld hear our battle cry: Freedom! Freedom! Brutal force might with the day, chains may chafe our limbs, but to this motto we are faithful: Freedom! Freedom! Yokes may be for slaves, the hearts of men know no fear, tolerating no shackles for body or soul: Freedom! Freedom! Notes: The word "vader" translates as "father", and its usual plural is "vaders" ("fathers"). The plural form "vadere" (here poetically shortened to "vad're") means "ancestors". The word "lede" means "members", but is here an abbreviation of "ledemate" ("body parts" or "limbs"). "Ledemate" is used also of members of a church community, a reference to St Paul's description of the Church as being the Body of Christ, made up of people with different functions. The ordinary translation of "vaandel" is "ensign" (a naval ensign is a vlootvaandel), but in the poetic context, "banner" seems more appropriate. Mike Oettle, 14 April 2004 Vaarwel aan die Vierkleur Here are the lyrics of Vaarwel aan die Vierkleur, as they appear in the FAK-Sangbundel (Fourth Edition 1979, sixth printing of 2002) published by Protea Boekhuis for the Federasie van Afrikaanse Kultuurvereniginge (FAK). I don't know if I've managed to turn out an acceptable rendition in English. The original is rather tearful I'm afraid. The word 'Vierkleur' I kept, 'Fourhue' rather sounds like a steed ridden by a LOTR character. To pronounce 'Vierkleur', say "veerckler" with -er as in 'her'. One strong image gets lost in translation, the word 'vlag' is feminine you see. Here goes: No longer may the Vierkleur wave, in tears we gave it up, it has been buried with our braves sunk into an honourable grave it has been buried with our braves sunk into an honourable grave. Happier those who fell when still the Flag was borne, than us who had to see and mourn it dragged into the dust than us who had to see and mourn it dragged into the dust. No happy morning for it there, we part from it forever now resting in the Nation's heart and dedicated to the Past now resting in the Nation's heart and dedicated to the Past. Blessed to those who bore it boldly to brave the prideful foe whose feeble arms to it did cling as they went to their death whose feeble arms to it did cling as they went to their death. Let Future Ages never forget them as long as men endure till even Heaven is outworn and Earth reels before its fall, till even Heaven is outworn and Earth reels before its fall. Jan Mertens, 30 Apr 2004 Die Vlaglied / The Song of the Flag Another flag song, this time abut the former South African flag called "Die Vlaglied" / "The Song of the Flag" which was composed by CJ Langenhoven, the composer of the former South African National Anthem "Die Stem van Suid-Afrika" / "The Call of South Africa". This song was sung by a Children's Choir at the dedication ceremony marking the establishment of the Republic of South Africa held at the Cape Show Grounds in Cape Town on 31 May 1961. The English and Afrikaans versions are as follows: "The Song of the Flag" Cradled in beauty forever shall fly In the gold of her sunshine the blue of her sky, South Africa's pledge of her freedom and pride In their home by sacrifice glorified. By righteousness armed, we'll defend in our might The sign and the seal of our freedom and right, The emblem and loyalty, service and love; To our own selves true and to God above, Our faith shall keep what our hearts enthrone - The flag of the land that is all our own. "Die Vlaglied" Nooit hoef jou kinders wat trou is te vra: "Wat beteken jou vlag dan, Suid-Afrika?" On sweet hy's die seel van ons vryheid en reg Vir naaste en vreemde, vir oorman en kneg; Die pand van ons erf'nis, geslag op geslag, Om te hou vir ons kinders se kinder swat wag; Ons nasie se grondbrief van eiendomsland, Uitgegee op gesag van die Hoogste se hand. Oor ons hoof sal ons hys, in ons hart sal ons dra, Die vlag van ons eie Suid-Afrika. Bruce Berry, 31 Aug 2007 DIE VLAGLIED Die betekenis van 'n eie nasionale vlag word nêrens mooier en treffender besing as in die woorde van C.J. Langenhoven se Vlaglied nie. Die Vlaglied is slegs die laaste strofe van die gedig “Ons eie vlag”. Dit is deur F.J. Joubert getoonset. Nooit hoef jou kinders wat trou is te vra: Wat beteken jou vlag dan, Suid-Afrika? Ons weet hy's die seël van ons vryheid en reg Vir naaste en vreemde,vir oorman en kneg; Die pand van ons erf'nis,geslag op geslag, Om te hou vir ons kinders se kinders wat wag; Ons nasie se grondbrief van eiendomsland, Uitgegee op gesag van die Hoogste se hand. Oor ons hoof sal ons hys, in ons hart sal ons dra, Die vlag van ons eie Suid-Afrika. Which I translate as follows: THE FLAG SONG Nowhere the meaning of an own national flag is expressed more beautifully and fittingly than in the words of C.J. Langenhoven's Flag Song. This is the last stanza of the poem “Ons eie vlag” (Our own flag). It was set to music by F.J. Joubert. Never your children so faithful need ask: What does you flag mean then, South Africa? We know it's the seal of our freedom and rights For neighbour and stranger, for servant and boss; The pledge of our heritage, from parent to child To keep for our children's children to be The writ of our nation of the right to the land. That was written on authority of the Highest own hand We'll hoist ov'r our heads, and we'll hold in our heart The flag of our dearest South Africa Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 31 Aug 2007 The Fallen Flag While this is not a song about a flag (it has no tune that I am aware of), it is very much a poem about the vierkleur of the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek, and to my mind belongs with the South African flag songs which have already been posted to FOTW. This poem was published in England in 1902 as part of a collection entitled "Songs of the Veld". The book was banned in South Africa by the British military authorities at that time. A new edition of "Songs of the Veld" has just been published in Cape Town, with the addition of commentary and historical notes in both Afrikaans and English. The ISBN is 978-0-620-39432-1. THE FALLEN FLAG Inscribed to Albert Cartwright – The African Bonivard. Furl the fourfold banner, Lay that flag to rest; In the roll of honour – The brightest, bravest, best. Now no hand may wave it, O'er valley, pass or hill; Where thousands died to save it – The patriot hearts are still. It flew o'er proud Majuba, Where the victor farmers stood: O'er the tide of the Tugela – Dark-dyed with hostile blood. On Stormberg passes glorious – And o'er Ma'rsfontein* height, – Wher Cronje's host victorious Withstood the British might. But a prouder grander story Is the record of the band, Which surpassed all former glory, In the latest greatest stand. When ten to one outnumbered – Of hope and help bereft, On ground with graves encumbered, Defenders still were left. There were hero hearts to lead them, On the path where death was won; To float the flag of Freedom Where the eagle sees the sun. To keep the Vierkleur flying On every fortress hill; From the cold clasp of the dying There were hands to sieze it still. O Land, so fondly cherished – Endeared by patriot graves, – The soil where such have perished Is not the soil for slaves. From age to age your story Shall sound to other days: You leave your sons the glory That fallen flag to raise. O sacred smitten Nation, Crowned on thy Calvary, There's a day of restoration – An Easter Morn for Thee. Vierkleur, young hands shall grab thee – New armies round thee stand; Men whose fathers died shall clasp thee On the blood-bought Burghers' Land. * Magersfontein should thus be pronounced. [This footnote, explaining the spelling Ma'rsfontein, appears under the second stanza.] Mike Oettle, 18 Dec 2008 South African Music South African Music Afrikaans music Afrikaans music was primarily influenced by Dutch folk styles, along with French and German influences, in the early twentieth century. Zydeco-type string bands led by a concertina were popular, as were elements of American country music, especially Jim Reeves. Bushveld music based on the Zulu were reinterpreted by such singers as Marais and Miranda. Melodramatic and sentimental songs called trane trekkers (tear jerkers) were especially common. In 1979 the South African Music scene changed from the Tranetrekkers to more lively sounds and the introduction of new names in the market with the likes of Anton Goosen, David Kramer, Koos du Plessis, Fanie de Jager, and Laurika Rauch. Afrikaans music is currently one of the most popular and best selling industries on the South African music scene. SOUTH AFRICA MOVIE SHOWS The period after 1994 saw a dramatic growth in the popularity of Afrikaans music. Numerous new young Afrikaans singers (soloists and groups) released CDs and DVDs and attracted large audiences at "kunstefeeste" (art festivals) such as the "Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees - KKNK" in Oudtshoorn, "Aardklop" in Potchefstroom and "Innibos" in Nelspruit. Apart from dozens of new songs being introduced into the Afrikaans music market, it became popular for modern young artists to sing old Afrikaans songs on a stage or in a pub, with crowds of young admirers singing along. The reason for the dramatic increase in the popularity of Afrikaans music can only be speculated about. One theory is that the end of Apartheid in 1994 also meant the end of the privileged position that the Afrikaans culture had in South Africa. After losing the privileged protection and promotion of the language and the culture by the State, the Afrikaans-speaking community seems to have spontaneously started embracing and developing their language and culture. This was due to pop artists like Steve Hofmeyr, Nádine, Kurt Darren, and Nicolis Louw bringing a new fresh sound in Afrikaans Music. Many of the songs sung and/or written by these artist are similar in sound to Euro dance music. Critics would claim that all an Afrikaans pop artist needs for a song to be popular is a catchy tune and an easy beat. This is due to the massive popularity of a form of couples dancing called "langarm" or "sokkie". The dance halls where this takes place could be considered as night clubs but they play almost exclusively Afrikaans pop music. The Afrikaans pop music market therefore generates tremendous demand for new material. Bok van Blerk (Louis Andreas Pepler) born on March 30th 1978 grew up in Pretoria, South Africa. After finishing school at Die Wilgers, Bok van Blerk went to the Netherlands to play rugby for 9 months. He then studies construction and practised it for 7 years before starting his singing career. In 2005 he was approached by Sean Else and Johan Voster to become their production company’s first client (Mozi Records). In March 2006 he launched his first album “ Jy praat nog steeds my taal”. In October that year, the album got released again but under the title “De la Rey”. Since then this song has become hugely popular in the Afrikaner nation. The album became one of the top sellers in 2007. Up to know the album sold more than 200 000 copies, making it one of the most successful Afrikaans albums of all time. He won three Tempo awards, five Vonk awards and his video “De la Rey” won the MK music video of the year (2007) In 2007 Bok van Blerk helped produce the “Ons vir Jou” rugby music album, which sold over 90 000 copies. After the success of “De la Rey”, Bok van Blerk waited a quite a while before releasing his second album called “Afrikanerhart” which already achieved double platinum status. Since the start of his singing career in 2006, Bok has grown tremendously as an artist. That’s one of the reason he waited so long to release his second album, he wanted to wait for the right time to release it. Bok van Blerk as person loves nature, hunting, deep-sea fishing and music of course. He has made a huge impact on Afrikaner music in South Africa, not only did he provide us with brilliant music, Bok van Blerk helped bring the Afrikaner nation together again, he reminded us of our history and the “trots” we should have in being a Afrikaner that fought for our country. Bok van Blerk cds are making waves through out the country with his hot, orginal hits! Bok van Blerk cds oozes with wonderful culture. From the excellent hits like ’68 Cevy (Minki), Habana! En Hatfield right through to the heart warming “So waai die wind” and the powerful and unique hit for the nation….De La Rey. Currently Bok van Blerk cds include; “De la Rey” and “Afrikanerhart” but he also produced the rugby cd called “Ons vir jou Suid Afrika” The following Bok van Blerk cds are available to purchase: Bok van Blerk cds – De la Rey This is probably Bok van Blerk‘s most popular CD as it sold over 200 000 copies. It contains the popular song “De la Rey“. The Cd consist of the following songs: 1. Praat nog steeds my taal 2. De la Rey 3. Vodka en OJ 4. ’68 Chevy 5. Lenteblomme 6. Stuk van jou 7. Op Walvisbaai 8. Girls in bikinis 9. Die K*k moet end kry 10. Katie 11. Somer reen 12. Plek vir die maan 13. Habana 14. De la Rey (extended version) The CD was released in October 2006. Bok van Blerk cds – Afrikanerhart Bok van Blerk‘s second album “Afrikanerhart” was released in May 2009. The cd consist of the following songs: 1. Tyd om te trek 2. Afrikanerhart 3. Super Schalk 4. Brandewyn het nie brieke nie 5. Jou Pa is hier 6. Klaar met my 7. Die Kaplyn 8. My angel 9. Die kleur van my vel 10. Seilvis skoffel 11. Boeregirl 12. Miss U.S.A 13. Nooit weer gesien nie 14. Sink of swem 15. Pa en seun Bok van Blerk + Various Artists – Ons vir Jou Suid-Afrika This Cd is mainly dedicated to South African rugby. It contains some of the best South African artists including Bok van Blerk and Robbie Wessels. the cd consist of the following songs: 1. Ons vir jou Suid Afrika – Duet met Bok van Blerk en Robbie Wessels 2. Go Bokke! (“I’m gonna walk 500miles”) – Robbie Wessels 3. Spickerish – Bok van Blerk 4. Bokkoors (“Eye of the tiger”) – Robbie Wessels 5. Hak hom Blokkies – Theuns Jordaan 6. Dik nek en klein tandjies – Bok van Blerk 7. Habana – Bok van Blerk 8. Wie trou dan op ‘n final – Bok van Blerk 9. Shosholoza – Coleske 10. Hokkaai – Thys die Bosveldklong 11. Trek aan jou trui – Hugo 12. Is jy Bang – Eden 13. Bel, bel , bel man – Liani May 14. Boeremusiek RugbMedley – So speel die boere 15. Verewig Suid Afrika – Drie van die Beste Steve Hofmeyr (born 29 August 1964) is a South African singer, songwriter and actor. Hofmeyr married actress Natasha Sutherland, whom he had met on the set of Egoli: Place of Gold in 1998, they had two sons, Sebastian, born 13 December 2001 and Benjamin, born later (Hofmeyr also has a few children by other women.. In total, Hofmeyr has five children. The couple was divorced after reports of numerous affairs dominated Hofmeyr's time in the spotlight in 2008.In December 2008, Hofmeyr allegedly assaulted Miss Esmaré Weideman, editor of Huisgenoot, a popular Afrikaans magazine, by pouring a cup of cold tea over her at the Miss South Africa finals. He was said to have blamed her and two other journalists for his divorce from Sutherland. Miss Weideman subsequently dropped her accusations In January 2007 there were reports that one branch of the News Cafe restaurant chain would not play Hofmeyr's song Pampoen (Pumpkin). The managing director of the company that owns the franchise denies that this is company policy and points out that many Afrikaans acts, such as Karen Zoid and Arno Carstens have performed at News Cafe. On 12 May 2011, Hofmeyr released the lyrics to his new song called "Ons sal dit oorleef", which means "We will survive this". The song is controversial, because Hofmeyr has threatened to include the word "kaffir" (the common Arabic word meaning "infidel" used by the British and the Boers in the 19th and early 20th century to refer to blacks in the context of his song, but today a very derogatory name for the black population of South Africa) in the lyrics of the song should a judge rule in favour of Julius Malema. When the presiding judge, Leon Halgryn ruled that "... the publication and chanting of the words 'dubula ibhunu', prima facie satisfies the crime of incitement to murder," Hofmeyr removed the offensive word in his song also,citing that the word would offend his black friends and colleagues. Malema is currently on trial for the singing the song "Shoot The Boer", a song argued to be inciting violence upon ethnic Boers, white South Africans, particularly farmers. Some people see the murder of Eugène Terre'Blanche as an example of violence provoked by this song. Emo Adams Bobby Angel Arno Carstens Chris Chameleon Mimi Coertse Jacques de Coning Janita Claassens Zirk Bergh Helene Bester Bok van Blerk Piet van Blerk Jan Blohm Thys die Bosveldklong Mel Botes Danie Botha Piet Botha Louis Brittz Liza Brönner Clive Bruce Johan Brug Retief Burger Kurt Darren Izak Davel Al Debbo Tommy Dell Ray Dillan Dowwe Dolla Dozi Fanie de Jager Dennis East Erica Eloff Billy Forrest David Fourie Freda Francis Albert Frost Ghapi Anton Goosen Die Grafsteensangers Guillaume Theuns Jordaan is a South African singer and songwriter born on 10 January 1971. His first career moves had him spend long nights at restaurants in the area around the University of Stellenbosch, a university in the Western Cape Province, where he had been studying industrial psychology. His first performance was on 21 October 1992 at a local bar called Upstairs. Having had immersed himself in the local music scene, Theuns started composing his own lyrics, which resulted in five songs in his debut album, Vreemde Stad. After he completed his studies, Theuns spent a year as an entrepreneur. In October 1998 he moved from the Cape to Gauteng - specifically Pretoria. After gaining popularity in the city, he recorded his debut album, Vreemde Stad, in Stellenbosch. This album was released in 2000 at an arts festival, the Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees. EMI released Vreemde Stad shortly after this and the album surpassed triple platinum status (150 000 copies) in July 2003. He launched his second album, Tjailatyd at the Aardklop music festival in 2002, which also sold more than 150, 000 records. The South African guitar player, Anton L'Amour, performed with Theuns and was responsible for all the guitar tracks in Vreemde Stad and Tjailatyd.Theuns Jordaan's singing is characterized by his deeply emotive bass voice. His music has been said to be "faintly bluesly, radio-friendly", with his lyrics "infused with a mournful love of South Africa". Albums Vreemde stad (1999) Klein Verbond Onthou Jy Nog Skipskop Makiesakie Beautiful In Beaufort-Wes Sonvanger Visserman Skielik Is Jy Vry Vreemde Stad Lalie Hakieshart Sien Jou Weer Loslappie Mengelmoes Liedjieboer Mengelmoes Tjailatyd (2002) Soos Bloed Hanne Gesiggle Straattroebadoere As Ek Vra Tjallatyd Hoe Draai Die Wind Dan Nou Moenie Vermiste Mense Alleen Sonder Jou Buitekant Waar Was Jy Loslappie Medley: Dis Julle Wat Die Wind, Transkaroo, Coca-Cola-Nooi, Bloometjie Gedenk Aan My, Silver De Lange, Halala Afrika, Huisie By Die See, Pampoene Seisoen (2005) Jou asem Hillbrow Skadu in die nag Namibsroos Ek roep jou naam Stofpad Praat is te laat Wie weet Donkerpad Bietjie van my Huise van glas Jukebox medley:Kalbassies,Travel in Staail,Hex-Vallei,City/Stad,Meisie sonner sokkies,Die skoene moe Groet sonder woorde Juanita du Plessis Sonja Herholdt Laurinda Hofmeyr Steve Hofmeyr Karin Hougaard Hugo Rina Hugo Bobby van Jaarsveld Hennie Jacobs Lance James Joggie Johnny & Vivian Johrné Greta Jones Watkin Tudor Jones Arno Jordaan Theuns Jordaan Johannes Kerkorrel Carike Keuzenkamp Robbie Klay Lochner de Kock Koos Kombuis Gé Korsten Pieter Koen Karin Kortje David Kramer Joey Lane Riku Lätti Virginia Lee Kevin Leo Patricia Lewis Lienka Jakkie Louw Nicholis Louw Glenys Lynne Lucas Maree Lianie May George Meiring Trevor Nasser Nádine Nataniël Riana Nel Fredi Nest Rudi Neitz Nianell Joe Niemand Zak van Niekerk Jack Parow Jaco du Plessis Juanita du Plessis Gert Potgieter Jacques du Preez Karla du Plessis Koos du Plessis Vicki du Preez Jak de Priester Adam Tas Jacques Terry Jannie du Toit Laurika Rauch Barbara Ray Paul Riekert Mathys Roets Anneli van Rooyen André Schwartz Min Shaw Johan Small Piet Smit Pieter Smith Snotkop Christo Snyman Christa Steyn Etienne Steyn Gerhard Steyn Amanda Strydom Wynand Strydom Blackie Swart Valiant Swart Sonja Herholdt is an Afrikaner singer-songwriter and actress. Herholdt was born in the small Gauteng mining village of Nigel, Gauteng and at the age of three made her first singing performance at the local community recreation hall, singing the Afrikaans lullaby Slaap, my Kindjie.She attended the Afrikaans-medium Tienie Vorster Primary and John Vorster High School where she became Head Girl in both and followed her theatrical pursuits. She later obtained a diploma cum laude in Teaching after three years at the Johannesburg (Goudstad) College of Education. She gave up teaching to pursue music after meeting her future husband, FC Hamman. The couple married in 1976 and started a family, their youngest son later developed an extreme hearing impairment in 1993. Herholdt subsequently decided to start a school for hearing and linguistically impaired Afrikaans children, this was housed in the pre-primary section of Bryanston Primary School. This resulted in Herholdt returning to teach for a period of time. In 1996, Herholdt was involved in a serious car accident. She and her husband subsequently divorced after 21 years of marriage.In collaboration with Carel Cronjé, she released her autobiography in 2007 Sonja: Meisie van Nigel. Later that year she was injured in a robbery on the way home from Cronjé's Johannesburg home ,Herholdt has recorded several albums and singles since the 1970s; Albums Sonja (1976) Sonja Herholdt (1977) On stage/In die kalklig (1978) Waterblommetjies (1978) 'n Lied vir Kersfees (1979) Harlekyn (Gold) (1979) Grootste Treffers (1980) Waarom Daarom (1981) Reflections (1982) Liefdeslig (1984) Lofsang - Sonja Herholdt en Jan de Wet (1985) Dis net vir jou (1987) Sonja Herholdt sing die Jeugsangbundel (1987) Sonja Herholdt sing die Jeugsangbundel 2 (1988) Tuiskoms (1988) Die Klokkespel 'Vrede (1989) The Warrior is a Child (1989) 'n Ster Vanaand (1994) Tuiskoms (1995) More sal die son weer skyn (1996) Ritsel in die Rietbos (1998) Reconstructing Alice (2000) Sonjare 20 Gunsteling treffers Dis Kersfees Sonja Herholdt Skipskop Die mense wat ek liefhet*Gunsteling treffers (1992) Sê die engele moet kyk na my (1994) Die verhale van vrouwees She She The Princess Liefling die movie Pêrels Barbara Veenemans Bennie Veenemans Leonore Veenemans Michelle Veenemans André de Villiers Yolandi Visser Amor Vittone Jacques Viviers Casper de Vries Jody Wayne Robbie Wessels Richard van der Westhuizen Randall Wicomb Arina de Witt Piet van Wyk de Vries Gérard Korsten (popularly known as Gé) (6 December 1927 – 29 September 1999) was a South African opera tenor and actor who had a great influence on Afrikaans culture. Born in Rotterdam, the Netherlands as the youngest of eight children, Korsten and his family emigrated to South Africa when he was nine years old. He married Elna Burger and had five children, among them renowned conductor and violinist Gérard Korsten.Initially he worked as an electrician, but from the age of 20, started singing in choirs. However, he received his first formal vocal training in 1952, when he was well into his 20s, studying under Adelheid Armhold at the South African College of Music.In 1955 he moved to Pretoria, where he was one of the founder members of the Pretoria opera company. In 1956, he debuted as Canio in Ruggero Leoncavallo's Pagliacci. Korsten won a bursary to study in Vienna in 1962, where he received tuition under Judith Hellwig. During this period he had the opportunity to perform in Vienna and Munich, but he never sang professionally outside South Africa, mainly due to family considerations. It was only in 1970 that Korsten sold his business to devote himself to full-time singing. In the course of his operatic career, Korsten appeared on stage more than 3,000 times, playing 23 roles in most of the major operas. In 1965, Korsten started his career in light music, with his album Gé Korsten Sing Uit Die Hart (English: Gé Korsten Sings From The Heart), and soon became a best-selling recording artist, with a career spanning 40 years. Nine of his 58 albums achieved gold status. Most of his recorded work is light Afrikaans music, including the song "Liefling" (English: Sweetheart), which is still performed at rugby matches in Bloemfontein and Pretoria. His popularity as a singer also led to lead roles in films such as Hoor My Lied (English: Hear My Song), Lied In My Hart (English: Song In My Heart) and A New Life, all of which included singing scenes. He received six Sarie awards and, in 1979, an ARTES award for his TV program Gé Sing (English: Gé Sings). In his later life, Korsten was well known for his role as family patriarch Walt Vorster in the long-running South African soap opera Egoli: Place of Gold.In 1985 he was appointed the managing director of the Cape Performing Arts Board (CAPAB) in Cape Town, a post which he held until 1989. Kurt Darren is in Pretoria gebore en het aan die Hoërskool Lyttelton Manor matrikuleer. Hy het sy besondere sangtalent by sy ma geërf. Op skool het Kurt aan verskeie musiekspele deelgeneem, en meen dat hy al van jongs af in musiek belang gestel het.Wat min mense weet is dat Kurt ten volle tweetalig is, te danke aan sy pa wat Afrikaanssprekend en sy ma wat Engelssprekend is. Sy ongelooflike talent as liedjieskrywer en sanger, in beide tale, het sy gretigheid om in albei tale te vermaak, en mee te voer, verwesenlik. Na matriek is Kurt weermag toe en doen hy sy basies in Walvisbaai. Sy wens was om aan die weermag se vermaaklikheidsgroep te behoort, en dit gebeur toe ook so. So toer hy vir n jaar saam met die boere-orkeslede van die weermag, en besef dat hy sy lewenslange droom, om 'n sanger te word, wil najaag. Hy word toe afgeraai deur mense wat sê dat hy nie 'n bestaan kan maak deur 'n sanger te word nie.Hy probeer toe maar 'n paar ander beroepe, soos om 'n wildbewaarder te word in die Kruger Nasionale Wildtuin, (die natuur lê hom baie na aan die hart), en tree ook as toergids op. Met meeste van sy familie in die boubedryf, beproef hy dit ook, maar nie vir lank nie. Kurt besluit toe om voltyds te begin sing. Dertien jaar lank het Kurt, balladesanger, roerloos op 'n stoeltjie met 'n mikrofoon gesit by korporatiewe geleenthede, kroeë en ander klein vergader-plekke. Van die een dorp na die volgende, het Kurt sy eie klankgereedskap vervoer, afgelaai, opgestel, afgestel en weer opgelaai. Hy het ook sy eie klank gedoen. Kurt is trots om te noem dat hy deur sy sangloopbaan al deel was van 'n paar "groepe", hierdie sluit in, onder andere: "Deep Blue" en "Keep Your Day Job". Hy het altyd geweet dat sy deurbraak gaan kom. Toe tree hy drie maande lank op 'n passasierskip op, verloor 'n paar kilogram en sny sy hare (vir die wat nie weet nie, Kurt se hare was skouerlengte vir n hele rukkie). En toe is hy reg en energiek vir "Meisie Meisie" - en die roem - toe dit eensklaps oor sy pad kom in 2002.Deesdae toer Kurt die land vol, en selfs buitelands, op 'n groeiende basis. Sy eerste album "For Your Precious Love" was in 1995 uitgereik, en daarna het hy die uitsonderlike geluk gehad om al die volgende albums op te neem, wat in chronologiese orde gelys word: • 1997 - "Kurt Darren". • 1998 - "Just When I Needed You Most". • 1999 - "Since I Found You". • 2001 - "Net Jy Alleen". • 2002 - "Meisie Meisie". * Met sy album "Meisie Meisie" het hy sy deurbraak in die Afrikaanse musiekbedryf in 2002 bewerkstellig. Kurt se reuse treffer, Meisie Meisie, maak steeds duike in die dansvloer en was een van die Top3 treffers van 2002! Dit is gedurende die opname van hierdie album dat Kurt liedjies begin skryf het saam met twee ongelooflike, inspirerende en talentvolle mense: Don Kelly en Marc Brendon. Hierdie trio komplimenteer mekaar tot vandag nog met die samestelling van lirieke vir nuwe liedjies. • 2003 - "Sê Net Ja". • 2004 - "Staan Op". • 2005 - "Vat My, Maak My Joune". • 2006 - "Lekker Lekker". • 2007 - "Voorwaarts Mars". • 2008 - "Uit Die Diepte Van My Hart". Hy is al lank bedrywig met musiek en van sy grootste drome is bewaarheid. Naas 'n dosyn solo-albums, pryk sy trefferstem ook op vele saamgestelde CD's.Kurt is al vir sewe agtereenvolgende albums besig om die golf van sukses te ondervind, hy is van plan om nog vir n baie lang tyd in die bedryf te bly en mense te vermaak met sy musikale talent. Hy het 'n ongelooflike passie vir musiek, en wil sy Godgegewe gawe met ieder en elk deel. 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Things to know before traveling to South Africa Let’s not beat about the bush: South Africa has a bit of a scary reputation. Much is said about the country’s unenviable crime rate, but so much more can be said about all the things that make this diverse destination so magnificent. You shouldn't let anxiety about possible dangers put you off visiting this amazing African country. Huge and diverse, South Africa never stops doling out gifts to the traveler – world-class surf breaks , eclectic local cuisine , mountains to climb, cities to visit , tiny towns to hide away in, desert landscapes to photograph and, of course, plenty of wildlife to watch . The country’s extraordinary variety is both its biggest draw and its biggest challenge, at least when it comes to planning a trip. Much research is needed to decide where to go, what to do and how long to stay. Visiting for less than two weeks is not ideal – three weeks or more would be a better bet if you can manage so much time away. With tips to help you plan as well as information on health, safety and etiquette, here's what you need to know for a successful trip to South Africa. 1. Carry the relevant paperwork if you’re traveling with kids If you’re entering or leaving South Africa with a child under the age of 18 , you’ll need to have a few extra bits of paper in your carry-on bag. In a bid to stamp out child trafficking, all minors need to have an "unabridged" birth certificate – that is, one that lists both parents’ names. If only one parent is traveling with the child, you’ll need an affidavit from the other parent confirming that they give consent for the child to travel. The rules keep changing and papers are not always checked, but it’s wise to have the documents at hand just in case. 2. Buy a South African SIM card and use local Wi-Fi Public Wi-Fi is fairly easy to find in larger cities and more touristed towns, but if you’re planning on wandering far from the main population centers, it’s worth picking up a South African SIM card on arrival at the airport. The card costs just a few rand, but like pretty much everything in South Africa, it does come with a bit of paperwork. You’ll need to “RICA” your SIM card – a fairly simple registration process that requires a photo ID and confirmation of your address in South Africa (a simple booking confirmation will suffice). 3. Carry cash, just not too much While credit and debit cards are widely accepted, there are still a few places that only take cash in South Africa. It’s best to keep a small stash of notes and coins for purchases at corner stores, buying things from market traders and for the various tips you’ll be expected to give throughout the day (more on tipping below). Of course, it’s not wise to walk around with large wads of cash on your person, so keep the bulk of your money hidden away in the hotel safe, or withdraw modest amounts from ATMs while you are out and about. Be wary of using ATMs on the street; theft and card scams are common, so it’s best to stick to machines inside malls or banks. 4. If you really want to see SA, you need to rent a car There's no sugar-coating it – public transport in South Africa often falls short. Long-distance bus services exist but routes tend to bypass many smaller destinations, and fares can be expensive for shorter hops. Long-distance trains are unreliable, and hitchhiking is most definitely not recommended. If you really want to see the country, you’re going to have to rent a car. Fortunately, there are plenty of fantastic road trips to choose from, and all the big car hire companies are represented in South Africa – just be sure to book ahead, especially if you’re traveling in the November to March peak season . 5. Listen to the locals (but be ready for a little exaggeration) Local advice is always important, particularly in countries that have a reputation for crime and social problems. In South Africa, the host at your accommodation is a good person to ask about the best bars or restaurants, how to get around and which areas to avoid. Just be aware that there are many awesome attractions found in areas that South African locals – particularly older locals – wouldn’t consider visiting. Once, while staying in a guest house in suburban Durban, I asked the owner if there were any places to avoid and she replied “The CBD” (city center), which would have cut my sightseeing rather short. South Africans have a tendency to exaggerate the danger posed by crime – it’s almost a part of the national psyche, and a favorite topic of conversation. You might have to do a bit more research to sort out the worthwhile warnings from the sometimes-inevitable scaremongering. 6. Be more cautious when driving in cities When I first moved to South Africa, there was so much talk of carjackers that I expected to find balaclava-clad people lurking at every intersection waiting to appropriate my vehicle. I remember panicking at the gas station because I had to lower the window to pay, then passing my cash through an inch-high gap before driving away, stressed and sweating. These days I often drive with the windows down, but I do approach "robots" (the local term for traffic lights) with caution, always leaving a car-length gap in front of me just in case I need to make a quick escape. Be cautious while driving, but not paranoid. Keep your doors locked and be extra vigilant when driving at night, keeping your windows up and your wits about you. 7. Be prepared to tip South Africa has a strong tipping culture. In many customer-facing industries, salaries are low and workers make much of their money from tips. Restaurant staff will expect a top of around 10%, but leaving 12–15% will generate bigger smiles. Drivers never pump their own gas in South Africa; you’ll be expected to pay at least R5 to the person filling your tank, or R10–20 if the attendant also checks your tires, oil or water. Then there are South Africa’s informal parking attendants. While larger cities and towns have areas with pay-as-you-go street parking, in most places, you can park at the side of the road for free… well, sort of. Ubiquitous car guards will offer to keep an eye on your car while you’re away, and they come in a range of helpfulness levels. Some will go the extra mile, stopping traffic to help you back out into a busy street. Others are opportunists who approach as you pull out your keys, claiming they were keeping a close eye on your car while you were shopping. Reward car guards according to the service they provide – a R5 coin is the standard thank you but R10 is more appropriate for someone who provided a more useful service. 8. South African English takes some getting used to While there are 11 official languages in South Africa, you’ll almost always find someone who speaks English, unless you’re in a remote rural area. There will still be a few local phrases that trip you up. One thing that often baffles foreigners is the (extremely liberal) use of the word “shame.” It’s a versatile word in South Africa. A cute child fell asleep in the car? Shame. A close family member passed away? Shame. Busy week at the office meaning you couldn’t make Friday drinks? Shame. The word is often preceded by the utterance "ag" and followed by the word "man." So the phrase "Ag, shame man" can mean anything from “awww” to “Oh no, that’s terrible!” Also overused (often in baffling contexts) is the word “hectic.” While it can be used to discuss a particularly busy intersection, it could also be used to describe a ridiculously tall building, a very long line at the bank, an insanely windy day or a particularly large baby being born. In South Africa, hectic doesn’t really mean busy – it usually means "wow." 9. Expect lots of talk about politics and power outages Certain subjects are off-limits in every country, but in South Africa, politics is not one of them. Everyone has an opinion on the government’s latest endeavors, whether that’s discussing the abundance of potholes, the latest corruption scandal or – more often than not – the government's failure to provide (electrical) power to the people. You'll very quickly become familiar with the inconvenience of what locals call "load-shedding." Basically, load-shedding is a never-ending series of planned power outages designed to take pressure off the ailing electricity grid. Cities and towns are split into zones, and depending on the severity of the load-shedding, you might end up without power for anything from two to 12 hours a day. There are eight "stages" of load-shedding, broken up into two-hour slots. Larger hotels won’t be affected thanks to backup generators, but if you’re staying in a guesthouse, hostel or private home, you are bound to encounter load-shedding at some point in your stay. Many places come equipped with fail-safes such as emergency lights, backup power for fridges and Wi-Fi hubs, and sometimes generators big enough to power the whole property. Your host will likely give you daily updates on when the power will be off, or there’s a handy app – EskomSePush – that has all the details and comes with a handy warning notification. 10. Driving in the emergency lane is standard practice While greetings, table manners and general day-to-day etiquette in South Africa should largely be familiar, the way South Africans drive can be a bit of a culture shock for visitors. One of the most idiosyncratic rules of the road is “yellow line driving” – many roads are single-lane highways, and enterprising drivers often use the emergency lane (hard shoulder) as a backup. If you’re on a highway and a driver behind you indicates that they want to get by, you'll be expected to briefly move across the yellow line into the emergency lane to let them pass. If you don’t, you’re likely to find yourself privy to another favorite local driving habit: tailgating. Drivers will usually flash their hazard lights in thanks as they pass, but be aware that obliging drivers aren’t the only thing to be found on the hard shoulder. Always make sure there is good visibility before you pull over, for around the next corner you might find a troop of baboons, a stray cow or a bunch of school kids walking home. General Safety Travel Tips For Tourists in South Africa Keep Your Dress Code Simple: Don’t Be Flashy We don’t mean you shouldn’t rock your outfits in South Africa. ... Keep Your Valuables Close ... Limit Walking Around City Centres ... Walk in Groups and Explore During The Day ... Pay by Card, Not Cash ... Withdrawing Cash from ATMs ... Safety Travel Tips for Driving in South Africa ... Taking the Bus (Public Transport) ... South Africa Safety Travel Tips You Need To Know Before Visiting A comprehensive guide on safety tips to know when travelling in South Africa – written by locals. The first questions people ask us when we say we’re from South Africa are: ‘Is it safe to travel to South Africa?’ , ‘Is South Africa dangerous to visit?’ or ‘Is it true there’s violent crime in South Africa?’. Our answer usually starts along the lines of, ‘Yes, but…’ and then we start rattling off a list of ‘do’s’ and ‘don’t’s’. We soon started to realise how relative the topic of safety is and how everybody’s safety tolerance is different. With this in mind, we thought it would be useful to share a comprehensive list of safety travel tips you need to know when travelling in South Africa. Is It Safe To Travel To South Africa in 2024? Yes and you don’t need a black belt in karate to visit South Africa. South Africa does have a high crime rate. But there’s so much more to this beautiful country that everyone should experience it at least once in their lifetime. We want you to have the best experience possible and that includes giving you all the safety tips you need to take the stress out of your travels. We’ll start with some general safety travel tips that are relevant no matter where you visit in South Africa. Then we’ll get into more detail around specific topics like road safety, getting around and solo travelling. General Safety Travel Tips For Tourists in South Africa Keep Your Dress Code Simple: Don’t Be Flashy We don’t mean you shouldn’t rock your outfits in South Africa. By all means, rock it and look good! Just limit wearing flashy or expensive looking items like jewellery and watches when walking in public areas. If you prefer to have them on you instead of in the hotel safe, wear it under your clothing so it won’t draw too much attention. Avoid walking with overhead earphones, cellphones and cameras hanging around your neck so you don’t draw unwanted attention. Keep these in your bag when you’re not using them, especially when visiting more remote areas in South Africa. The idea is to not draw attention to your valuables. Always keep it low key where possible. That way you’ll look less like an unknowing tourist. Keep it low key and only take out valuables like cameras when necessary. Keep Your Valuables Close Always leave valuables like cellphones and wallets in your bag and not on restaurant tables. It’s safer and you’ll be more sociable. Instead of hanging handbags on the chair behind you, put it right next to you or right under your feet so you always have an eye on it. Limit Walking Around City Centres This is a difficult one to explain to most people we meet. Only because when you travel to New York, Sydney, Hong Kong , London or Berlin , one of the highlights is walking around the city centre right? Well in South Africa it’s different. The city centres are generally not safe for walking around. This is especially true when you don’t know where you’re going. The inner city of Johannesburg at night. There are of course some areas in the city centre where it is safe to wander. But it’s better to err on the side of caution unless you’re with a local friend who is familiar with the area. Cape Town’s city centre is relatively safer compared to the city centres of other places in South Africa. But only walk during the day and avoid walking down quiet streets at night. Love street art tours? Check out this 2 hour guided street art tour in Cape Town . If you’re in Johannesburg, you can also explore Maboneng in the city centre. Go during the day and on the weekend if possible. It’s a great, vibey place to chill with locals. If you do want to experience the city centre of Johannesburg without worrying about safety, join a 1 day guided tour of Johannesburg . It’s a 8 hour tour where you’ll see the city centre of Johannesburg, the Apartheid Museum and visit the famous Vilakazi Street in Soweto, the largest township of Johannesburg. Or if you’re visiting Durban, go on this half-day Durban City Tour along the Golden Mile. When in doubt if an area is safe for walking, ask your hotel reception. They’ll be more than happy to advise you. We loved staying at Kensington Place in Cape Town. It’s a stunning boutique hotel that is centrally located close to the main attractions of the city. Kensington Place boutique hotel in Cape Town. What’s the craze with Cape Town? Decide for yourself if it’s worth the hype. Check out our Cape Town in 1 minute video to find out. Walk in Groups and Explore During The Day Okay… The title sounds like a line out of ‘The Walking Dead’, we won’t lie. But just humour us and avoid walking anywhere alone. It’s always more fun in groups and if it’s just the two of you, that’s fine too. Explore and wander in the day, and reserve the evenings for dining out at one of the many fabulous and delicious South African restaurants. If you’re up for a night out, it’s safe to go hang with locals in a bar or nightclub. Just grab an Uber to your destination so you can skip the walking. Bonus Tip: South Africans are one of the friendliest people in the world. Don’t be surprised or scared if someone says ‘hi’ or ‘hello’. Feel free to greet them back and continue on your way. But be wary if they randomly ask you for the time. Some opportunists like to use this trick to check out what watch or cellphone you have. Pay by Card, Not Cash Cash is king, but you don’t want to have large sums of money on you when travelling in South Africa. Whether it’s foreign or local currency, it’s safer to leave most of it in your hotel’s safe and only carry what you need for the day. South Africa is pretty card friendly at most places, so leave most of your ZARs (South African Rands) on your debit or credit card. Just keep R300 (€18 worth) cash on you for tipping and small purchases. Pay by card for a cable car ride up Table Mountain. Bonus Tip: It is customary to tip 10% of the bill at restaurants where you are served your meals. At most restaurants, you can add the tip directly to your bill, pay for it using your debit or credit card and your lovely waiter will receive the tip. If your bank charges you expensive fees for paying by card, you should consider getting another bank travel card. We pay zero bank fees for card payments AND cash withdrawals when we travel. Plus, we can buy foreign exchange anytime, anywhere at the lowest exchange rate. It’s the only travel bank card we use. The cherry on top? It’s free to sign up. Find out how in our 7 Honest Reasons Why Revolut Is The Best Travel Card guide. Use our referral link to get the bank card sent to you for free and save yourself €5. Withdrawing Cash from ATMs You can always draw your ZARs at an ATM in South Africa if you didn’t bring any with you. When making cash withdrawals, it’s safer to use ATMs that are inside shopping malls or petrol stations rather than the ones standing vulnerably outside. Double check your surroundings before making cash withdrawals and put your money away before leaving the ATM. Avoid drawing and carrying large sums of money with you as much as you can. You don’t want to become an easy target. And if you don’t already know, never allow strangers to help you at ATMs unless you need help and that person is a bank employee. Revolut Card: ATM With Free Cash Withdrawals in South Africa If you’re using Revolut , you get free cash withdrawals in South Africa from FNB (First National Bank) and Nedbank ATMs in South Africa. Standard Bank and ABSA will charge you R50 (around €3) per withdrawal. Safety Travel Tips for Driving in South Africa Public transport is very limited in South Africa. Besides the MyCiti bus network in Cape Town and the Gautrain in Johannesburg and Pretoria, you’ll pretty much need to rent a car or Uber around for everything else. Depending on where you’re visiting in South Africa, it may be more convenient and cheaper renting a car. Compare car hire rates from the leading car rental companies in South Africa. Do You Need an International Driver’s Licence to Drive in South Africa You only require an International Driver’s Licence to drive in South Africa if your driver’s licence is not in English. If you have a UK driver’s licence or any other driver’s licence that is printed in English, you won’t need one. Just make sure that your driver’s licence has a photograph of you and your signature for it to be valid in South Africa. Although this is what the law says, traffic law enforcement often overlook this and usually allow non-English driver’s licence as long as they are printed in the Latin or Roman alphabet. Our advice? If you want to have a pleasant and incident free time exploring sunny South Africa by road, make sure you adhere to all their laws. Simply get your International Driver’s Licence and the only worry you’ll have, is having to choose one of many South African famous dishes to try (the ‘pap, chakalaka and wors’ is an excellent choice), and how to master the ‘Gwara Gwara’ on the dance floor. Just remember to buckle up and bon voyage! Road trips are one of the best ways to experience South Africa. South Africa Road Safety Tips Whilst Driving Keep your doors locked whilst driving. Keep your windows closed, especially when stopping at traffic lights. If you must open for air, the opening should be small enough so that a person can’t stick their arms in. Don’t leave valuables like cellphones, wallets and bags visible whilst driving. Keep these in the car trunk where possible. If you need your cellphone for GPS, put it in a compartment where it won’t be too visible. At traffic light stops, it’s quite common for street hawkers and vendors to approach your car asking for money or selling goods. Some even provide a service to wash your windscreen or windshield. Just give them a friendly wave and say no. They usually won’t hang around if you’re polite. If you do choose to support them by giving them money, have some spare change close by. It’s better not to pull out your wallet right there and then, especially when you’ll need to wind down your window. It’s safer not to drive at night. Rather take an Uber and you’ll be able enjoy your evening with a few drinks. Never pick up hitchhikers or strangers you don’t know. South Africa Road Safety Tips When Parking When leaving the car, double check that you’ve locked the car by pulling on the car door handle. Car jamming or otherwise known as blocking the lock signal from your car remote is quite common in South Africa. It’s quite common for car guards to look after your car when parking. You can normally identify them by their reflective jackets. Say hi and tell them you’ll tip them when you’re back. You can tip anything between R2 – R5. It all depends on you. It’s better to have the tip in your pocket or hand so you don’t have to whip out your wallet. Always put all your items (jackets, shoes, bags) in the car trunk or boot when it is parked. You don’t want to come back to a broken window. Taking the Bus (Public Transport) Public transport options like the MyCiti bus and Gautrain are safe to take. Just keep an eye on your valuables and don’t leave them unattended. There’s also the mini-vans or what South African’s lovingly call ‘taxis’. The South African version of ‘taxis’ are not the conventional taxis that travellers are familiar with. There’s no formal bus stands or stations and no way of identifying what route that bus takes except by hand signals. It is definitely a local and authentic experience. But as you can tell, it’s quite complex and we don’t recommend it unless you’re with a South African friend who is familiar with the process. Grab a bus or take a short flight to explore the different regions of South Africa. If you’re travelling regionally across South Africa using bus services like Greyhound , those are safe to take too. Before buying your ticket, check where the Greyhound bus station is. Most of the time they are located in the city centre which like we said earlier, isn’t the safest. If it is indeed in the city centre, get an Uber to drop you off directly at the Greyhound bus station and go inside to wait for the bus. Uber in South Africa We’ve mentioned Uber a few times already. Not only is it safe, it’s also affordable and convenient. Just make sure you check that the number plate matches the car and the driver is the gentleman or lady you see in the photo. This hasn’t happened to us before but if it’s not, report it on Uber and cancel the trip. Safety Tips for Travelling by Train We used to have cars when we lived in South Africa, so we’ve personally never taken the regional train before. But it is possible and it’s safe too. For the regional trains, make sure you get your own cabin so it’s easier for you to look after your luggage. For the short day trip trains, it’s best to travel during the day only. Discover South Africa by train – a luxury and unique experience. Regional Train Options in South Africa The Shosholoza Meyl takes you between Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth and East London. South Africa’s famous Blue Train has routes from Pretoria to Cape Town and Pretoria to Kruger National Park. Rovos Train is another luxury option. Besides travelling regionally you can even go to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, Dar es Salaam in Tanzania or Walvis Bay in Namibia. Bonus Tip: If you just need to get from A to B, then flying may be a cheaper option than taking a regional train. The train is a great option if you have time and want to experience the majestic and scenic landscape of South Africa. But this unique experience comes at a cost. Short Day Trip Train Options in South Africa The Cape Metro Rail in Cape Town. We’ve taken the Southern Line to explore False Bay and Simon’s Town before. The trains could do with some TLC but it’s safe. Travel during the day and keep bags and valuables to a minimum. The Gautrain is great for getting to and from Johannesburg airport and between Johannesburg and Pretoria. The Umgeni Steam Railway for day trips in Kwazulu Natal. The Atlantic Rail takes you between Cape Town and the Winelands region. And finally, the Ceres Rail which goes between Cape Town and Ceres. The only time you’ll see us running – for wine in the beautiful Winelands of South Africa. Safety Tips for Beaches in South Africa If you’ve ever heard of The Garden Route, you’ll know we have some of the most breathtaking beaches in South Africa. Most beaches are safe to explore and like we’ve said for the umpteenth time, go during the day. When chilling out on the beach, it’s best to always have someone watch your belongings. You may think that no one will take your sunglasses or sneakers, but they can grow legs if you’re not careful. For valuables like cellphones and keys, keep them wrapped in a T-shirt or cardigan and hide it under your beach towel for safekeeping. Save Me For Later Pin me on Pinterest to read later! Safety Travel Tip for Safaris in South Africa Going on a safari is one of the top bucket list things to do when visiting South Africa. Safaris normally take place in private or national game reserves, so it’s generally quite safe. The only thing to be aware of are wild animals. But we’ll let your safari guide give you the details on that. Bonus Tip: Make sure any wildlife organisation or sanctuary you’re visiting in South Africa is ethical before visiting. Not sure what to look out for? Read our 7 ways to tell if you’re visiting an ethical elephant sanctuary for tips and warning signs. Visiting Townships in South Africa Going on a township tour is a must if you want to understand the history of South Africa. It’s also a great way to support local businesses and the local community. Explore the vibrant townships safely on a guided tour. Some townships may not be the safest places to visit even if you’re a local. So the best way to experience a township is to join professional guided tours. We love supporting self-made, local entrepreneurs, but it’s important to apply caution when choosing a tour company. You don’t want to just follow any Tom, Dick and Harry into the township when safety is a concern. So here are some reputable township tours you can go on: Cape Town Township Cultural Tour (3.5 hours) Township Cycling Tour in Cape Town (4 hours) Cape Town Township and Robben Island Combination Tour (4 hours) Half Day Guided Tour to Cape Town’s Townships (3 hours) Johannesburg Soweto Half Day Tour (5 hours) Johannesburg Soweto Guided Cycling Tour (2 hours) Safety Tip for Hiking in South Africa If you love hiking, you’ll love it even more in South Africa. It’s generally quite safe to hike. Just apply safety travel tip #1 (don’t be flashy) and #4 (walking in groups and explore in the day) and you’ll be fine. Keen to include some hiking during your trip? Make sure to read our top 5 hiking trails in Drakensberg guide . If you’re travelling with family and have children, we’ve also written a family-friendly guide on hiking the Drakensberg Mountains in South Africa . If you’re travelling solo or would prefer safety in numbers, there are a couple of guided hiking excursions available in Cape Town: Table Mountain Hike via India Venster Route (4 hours) Table Mountain Platteklip Gorge Hike (4 hours) Cape Town Lion’s Head Sunrise or Sunset Hike (3.5 hours) A family-friendly option: Gentle guided walk around Kloof Nek with beautiful mountain and ocean views. The Skeleton Gorge hike from Kirstenbosch Gardens (3.5 hours) The famous Table Mountain Kasteelspoort Hiking Trail (4 hours) Cycling in South Africa South Africa has some of the most scenic cycling trails in the world. Why else would people travel all the way to Cape Town for the The Cape Argus or Cape Town Cycle Tour? When it comes to cycling in South Africa, it’s not crime you should worry about but rather bike accidents. There are no cycling lanes in South Africa and motorists are generally not considerate enough to cyclists. So it’s up to you to cycle more defensively. This is particularly true when faced with South African minivans or ‘taxi’ drivers. They’re usually too busy rushing people from place to place and will often break a driving rule or two. Cycle extra defensively when these taxis are in sight. Who doesn’t want to cycle with views like this? Camping in South Africa Camping is a popular activity to do in South Africa, not just for tourists but for locals too. To camp safely, make sure to stay overnight at a campsite. The carefree van life of stopping on the side of the road for the night is NOT safe to do in South Africa. Safety Tips for Solo Female Travel in South Africa Yes, South Africa’s got a bad rap, especially for female solo travelling. But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. If you follow all our tips in this guide, stay in hostels that are not located in the city centre and go on guided tours so you’re not alone, you’ll have a fabulous and safe time in South Africa. You can travel solo as a female in South Africa – just be extra vigilant. LGBTQ Travel in South Africa We are proud to say that South Africa is the most LGBTQ-friendly country in Africa. It’s also the first country on the continent to recognise same-sex marriage. The only places to be a bit more mindful in terms of public displays of affection no matter what type of couple you are, are in townships and in Muslim-predominant areas like the Bo-Kaap in Cape Town. It’s more of a respect rather than safety thing. Essential Travel Tips For Travelling Safely in South Africa That was a lot to absorb, so here’s a quick summary: Keep valuables out of sight where possible, on person and in your car. Limit walking around the city centres in South Africa and if you do, walk in a group and during the day. Pay by card and keep small amounts of cash on you. Take an Uber instead of driving at night. Always go on a guided township tour with reputable companies. Hike in groups of 3 or more when exploring South Africa’s beautiful landscapes. When camping, stay overnight at a campsite and not on the side of the road. Never pick up hitchhikers. Where to Travel Next after South Africa? We hope you found our safety travel tips in South Africa useful. As always, if you have any questions or need some advice, we’d love to hear from you. Is It Safe in South Africa? South Africa is often perceived as a dangerous destination due to its high rate of violent crime. In some areas—especially large cities—poverty is rife, and as a result, muggings, break-ins, and petty theft are common. South Africa also ranks highly on global statistic roundups for rape and murder. However, thousands of tourists visit the country every year without incident, and the rewards of doing so are generous. If you exercise caution and avoid certain areas as a tourist, you'll be treated to pristine beaches, rugged mountains , and game-filled reserves . South Africa's diverse cities are rich in both history and culture, and its people are some of the most hospitable in the world. Travel Advisories The U.S. Department of State declared a Level 2 travel advisory for South Africa1 in 2018. This means visitors should "exercise increased caution," in this case due to "crime, civil unrest, and drought." In particular, the advisory warns about the higher risk of violent crime in the central business districts of major cities after dark. Travel advice from the British government2 echoes this warning, while also citing past incidents where visitors have been followed from Johannesburg's O.R. Tambo Airport to their destinations and then robbed at gunpoint. Is South Africa Dangerous? Certain parts of South Africa are more dangerous than others. For instance, game reservations (i.e. safari destinations) tend to be safer than big cities and remote, isolated places. A 2020 report by the Overseas Security Advisory Council3 (OSAC) revealed that the U.S. had "assessed Pretoria, Johannesburg , Cape Town, and Durban as being CRITICAL-threat locations for crime directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests," but also noted that U.S. citizens are not often singled out for criminal activity. The report named armed robbery as the most prevalent "major" crime in South Africa. To avoid being targeted, dress casually, without designer labels and flashy jewelry, and keep your valuables close to your body. If you plan to hire a car , never leave valuables visible on the seats and park in areas protected by licensed car guards. Is South Africa Safe for Solo Travelers? Some travel experiences, like guided tours and safaris, are perfectly conducive to solo travel, but wandering around the cities of South Africa alone is not recommended, especially for women. It has one of the highest rates of rape in the world, although the OSAC report3 said that foreigners are not specifically targeted. Alone or not, visitors should avoid walking through the poor parts of South Africa's urban areas, especially at night. Always be aware of your surroundings and travel in groups whenever possible. Safety Tips for LGBTQ+ Travelers South Africa has some of the most progressive LGBTQ+ laws in the world. It was the first ever jurisdiction to provide constitutional protection to the LGBTQ+ community, in fact, and welcomes refugees from all over who flee from less accepting countries. Same-sex relationships are legal and common in this country, with LGBTQ+ communities traditionally congregating in bigger cities like Cape Town and Johannesburg. However, in more conservative areas (especially remote townships), being openly LGBTQ+ can lead to discrimination and crime. In the Black community especially, homosexuality is still frowned upon. Naturally, LGBTQ+ travelers are safer expressing their sexuality openly (barring any graphic PDA) in big cities where it's more prevalent. If you experience a hate crime while visiting South Africa, you should report the incident at the nearest police station or call 08600 10111. Safety Tips for BIPOC Travelers Speaking of the Black community, BIPOC travelers are less likely to stick out among locals than Caucasian travelers, seeing as Black Africans make up the bulk of this country's population. According to the last census4 , recorded in 2011, 79 percent of South African nationals identified as Black African whereas about 9 percent identified as white. Only 2.5 percent identified as Indian or Asian. The 2017 Reasons for Hope report by the South African Institute of Race Relations5 showed that 60 percent of surveyed nationals said that tensions between ethnic groups had "improved" since 1994. Still, race relations in South Africa have been described as toxic. BIPOC travelers are safer when they travel in groups and in populated, tourist-friendly areas versus remote or crime-laden neighborhoods. If you are targeted by violent racism while visiting South Africa, you should report the incident at the nearest police station or call 08600 10111. Safety Tips for Travelers South Africa may not have a favorable reputation for its safety, but tourists can take certain precautions to reduce their risk of being a target for criminal activity. Visitors can call the South African Tourism Helpline at 083 123 6789 (or 1-800-593-1318) to arrange for a reliable taxi or get information on activities and transportation. There is a common misconception that predators like lions and leopards roam freely throughout the country, but in reality, game is usually confined to protected reserves. Staying safe on a safari is simple: listen carefully to the advice given to you by your tour guide or ranger, don't venture into the bush at night, and stay in your car on self-drive safaris . Venomous snakes and spiders typically avoid confrontation with humans, but it's always a good idea to be aware of where you're putting your hands and feet. Most cities, parks, and reserves are malaria-free , but if you plan to visit more remote, northern parts of the country, be sure to bring along the necessary prophylactics to avoid getting the mosquito-borne disease. Authorities recommend hiking only in groups and away from isolated areas. Do not carry large sums of money with you and what you do carry, keep close to your body in a zipped bag (not your back pocket). Crossbody bags and money belts are good options. South Africa is notorious for its ill-kept roads and alarmingly frequent traffic accidents. Rural roads, in particular, are often unfenced and dotted with livestock, so try to limit driving to daytime hours to avoid unexpected obstacles. Avoid handing over your passport to (or allowing it to be photocopied by) car hire companies or hotels as a form of security. The South African Police Service (SAPS) can be reached at 08600 10111 or just 10111 in the case of an emergency. HIGHJACKING TIPS AND SAFETY Hijacking in South Africa The Facts: Crime Statistics from South African Police Services Carjackings between April 2005 and March 2006 = 12,825 Truck Hijackings between April 2005 and March 2006 = 829 The SAPS Strategic Plan (2004 – 2007) includes four key strategic priorities for the medium term. One of these is to: combat organised crime by focusing on drug and firearm trafficking, vehicle theft and hijacking, as well as commercial crime and corruption among public officials Measures to Decrease Hijackings Over the last 4 years there has been a decrease in the number of reported hijackings, mainly because of: The formation of anti-hijacking police units The launch of “Operation Ngena” – targeting hijacking syndicates Hijacking units that consist of investigative, crime intelligence and rapid response components Dedicated hijacking courts to reduce case times and increase the conviction rate of hijackers Enhanced effectiveness of vehicle tracking technology Road Safety and Hijackings Every motorist should equip himself /herself with knowledge that could assist him/ her in avoiding hijack situations, or how to handle such a situation: Also visit the following sections of content: It has become increasingly difficult to steal motor vehicles, with all the anti-theft devices, such as immobilisers, gear-locks, etc. These steps have resulted in a dramatic increase in vehicle hijackings. The hijacker has the element of surprise and this is a concern. The increasing retrenchment and the high unemployment figures are also factors. This is easy earned money and the already well-established syndicates will buy these vehicles from the hijacker. Vehicle hijacking is an organised business, run according to business principles and based on thorough planning. Specific vehicles with specific characteristics are ordered beforehand and efforts have to be made to meet the requirements of such orders. These vehicles will then be resold to the already predetermined buyer. The hijacked vehicles that are not sold to buyers in South Africa, will be smuggled out of the country. These vehicles will be sold in our neighbouring countries or trade, exchanged for drugs. The large number of stolen and unlicensed firearms is also a concern. Most of these firearms are bought or supplied to the robbers by the syndicates. This easy access to firearms make the robbery of a vehicle the easiest crime to commit and by far the quickest way of earning a few thousand rand. It is obvious that vehicle hijackers are motivated by greed and an insatiable need for more and more comfort, rather than need. An insatiable hunger for power is another theme emerging in robbers. The power-base for the latter is presented by the access to firearms. Possession of a firearm forces everybody to obey or else face the consequences. Definition: Vehicle hijacking forms one of the sub-categories of armed robbery and does not constitute a different crime from armed robbery. Perpetrators would consequently be charged with “robbery with aggravating circumstances” in court, and not with “vehicle hijacking”. Robbery with aggravating circumstances can be defined as the unlawful, intentional and violent removal and appropriation of movable corporeal property belonging to another. The victim’s resistance has to be overcome and the property obtained by the use of violence against the victim’s person. If the victim is first injured by the perpetrator and then dispossessed of property while being physically incapacitated, armed robbery is likewise committed. However, the victim needs not necessarily be physically incapacitated. In the absence of actual physical violence, a threat to commit violence against the victim is sufficient. The threat of violence may be of an express or implied nature. Vehicle hijacking neatly fits the above definition, with the property involved being specifically a motor vehicle of some kind. Days of the week and time of day in which hijackings occurred: The analysis indicated that hijackings occur every day of the week, reaching a high on Fridays, due to motorists being more relaxed and traffic increasing earlier on a Friday. Weekends show a lower hijacking rate due to syndicates checking their stock and placing orders on Mondays as well as the fact that there are fewer vehicles on the road. This also explains why Tuesdays and Wednesdays show more hijackings. Hijacking of vehicles reached its lowest point at 02h00 in the morning. Hijackings are low during the night and early hours of the morning, and start increasing at 06h00 due to motorists leaving home for work and stabilises throughout the day. A drastic increase occurred from 17h00 in the afternoon due to motorists heading towards home. Vehicles hijacked during this peak hour (16h00 – 20h00) may be explained by the fact that people returning from work are often tired, frustrated and not alert to potentially threatening circumstances. Negligence on behalf of the motorist could also not be excluded, e.g. an idling vehicle is left unattended to open a gate in the driveway. This trend is not new and the motorist will become the prey of hijackers. Another explanation for this phenomenon is that highways are congested with traffic, which make it almost impossible to catch hijackers involved without air support once they have disappeared into traffic. Weapons used during hijackings: As it was earlier indicated, in the majority of vehicle hijackings, firearms were used to commit the crime. Gauteng and Kwa-Zulu Natal reported the highest incidence of vehicle hijacking. The circulation of illegal firearms in South Africa is disturbing and has to have a direct influence on the increase of vehicle hijackings and violent crime in general in South Africa. The trade in stolen firearms is a lucrative industry in South Africa and the rewards seem to justify the risk of apprehension for the criminals involved. The punishment of crimes does not seem to have a deterrent effect on potential criminals anymore. The analysis indicates that firearms most used are pistols and revolvers. A very small percentage of vehicle hijackings are committed using knifes, hands, high caliber guns and shotguns. When to Shoot: It is noticed with great concern that there is general confusion over the issue of the public shooting and killing or wounding another person under differing circumstances. People have a responsibility to protect themselves in a situation where they need to discharge a firearm in the process of self-protection. What exactly are the legal requirements of self-defense? The following points are important: The attack must be unlawful. The attack must be imminent or have commenced. The attack must not have been completed. One cannot act on grounds of self-defense for an attack committed an hour earlier. The defensive action must be directed against the attacker. The defensive action must be proportionate to the circumstances. The value of property involved and the instrument used for attack are important considerations. The test used by the court to determine the lawfulness of the defensive action is that of a reasonable man. The question to be asked is whether a reasonable man in the same position would have done the same thing. In all cases where a person is killed, the matter is investigated to establish if anyone was responsible for the death. This is the point when people perceive they are being charged with murder by the police and believe they cannot defend themselves against an unlawful attack without being charged. If your action is within the principles of self-defense, there is nothing to worry about. Types of hijackings: Freight Hijacking – A commercial vehicle is hijacked not only to secure the vehicle but also its cargo, which can be of substantial value. Frequently, the cargo is of more interest to the hijacker than the truck. Transport Hijacking – The vehicle is taken for the express purpose of using it as transport during other crimes such as drug dealing, burglaries, bank robberies and gun running. The vehicles are probably later cannibalised for spare parts or simply dumped. Showmanship Hijacking – A gang operates out of egotistical bravado, acting on the “this is a cool thing to be doing” rationale. Peer group pressure is very high and individuals may be coerced into more dangerous and daredevil approaches; being labeled a “sissy” if they don’t. Thus intimidation, violence and vandalism are associated with the crime. Drugs and alcohol may also be a motive as theft of the victim’s personal belongings is commonplace. Operational Hijacking – A group formally work together in a more structured way. They usually have experience in car theft and have established contacts within the motorcar underworld that will receive and pay cash for stolen vehicles or spare parts. Syndicate Hijacking – The most organised of all and often has international connections. A network of hijacking groups is established with the overall coordinator, syndicating out work so that he remains out of view in exactly the same way as the drug baron uses pushers. This makes identifying and arresting the ultimate boss very difficult. Additionally, a syndicate is often backed by a lot of money, especially if there are international links and makes full use of any potential to bribe the authorities in order to protect their operations. Modus Operandi used by the hijackers: Most hijackings take place in the driveways of residential areas. These hijackers prefer areas with accessible escape routes. Hijackings take place while stationed at any traffic sign or intersection. Hijackings take place while stationary next to the road, e.g. to answer cell phone. Hijackings also occur at post offices and parking areas or you may be followed leaving the filling station with the objective to hijack your vehicle where it is quiet. The hijackers sometimes use a vehicle to force the victim off the road. Hijackings take place at schools when dropping off / picking up children. Hijackings take place while the vehicle is idling when off-loading / loading passengers. Hijackings take place when advertising your vehicle for sale (Test drive method). Bogus Police or Traffic Officers also conduct hijackings (Blue light scenario). HOW TO AVOID A HIJACK SITUATION: Approaching and entering your driveway: 2km from your house strategy. Be extra alert. Switch off the car radio and concentrate on your surroundings. If you have noticed any vehicle behind you, use the techniques you have learned during the hijack prevention & survival course to determine whether you are being followed. Remember to stop your vehicle just on the inside of the gate and select reverse whilst waiting for the gate to close. This creates confusion and may buy you a few seconds for the gate to close completely behind you. Check your driveway and street before you leave or enter your premises. Make sure your driveway is well lit and clear from shrubbery where perpetrators can hide. Be aware of unknown pedestrians close to your residential address – do not turn into your driveway – pass and go back later. Liaise with your neighbours – know them. Be aware of vehicles parked close to your address with occupants inside. It might be perpetrators observing the area. Be alert if your animals do not greet you at the gate as usual. It might be that the perpetrators over-powered them. Phone your home and ask for someone to make sure your driveway is safe and to open and close the gate for you. When returning home after dark, ensure that an outside light is on, or have someone meet you at the gate. Check with your armed response company if they are rendering rendezvous services. If at any time you have to open the gate yourself, make sure nobody suspicious around and the road is clear. Stop right in front of your gate. Do not switch off the vehicle, leave the key in the ignition, get out and close the door (not creating temptation). Then open the gate. Drive in and close the gate immediately behind you. If you have small children in the vehicle, take the key with you (this is the only exception). You need the key as a “negotiating tool”. The perpetrators want your vehicle and you want your children. If your children are older, it is advised that they exit the vehicle with you when opening the gate so that you are all separated from the vehicle should an attack occur. Parking your vehicle: Check rear-view mirror to ensure you are not being followed. When exiting your vehicle, be cautious and aware of surrounding obstructions and shrubbery that may be concealing a hijacker. Never sit in your parked vehicle without being conscious of your surroundings. Sleeping in a stationary vehicle is particularly dangerous. When approaching your driveway, be on the lookout for suspicious vehicles / persons. This is very important as the majority of hijackers approach their victims in home driveways. Whilst entering your vehicle and while driving, the following should be considered: Have your key ready, but not visible. Inspect the outside and inside of the vehicle before unlocking. Check underneath your vehicle for items placed under the wheels. Also make sure nobody is hiding on the passenger side before you enter your vehicle. (As explained during the hijack prevention & survival course) Know your destination and directions to it; and be alert should you get lost. Always drive with your windows closed and doors locked. Make a mental note of any Police Stations in the vicinity. When stopping behind another vehicle, leave half a vehicle length in front of your vehicle to make an emergency escape if necessary. When dropping off a passenger, make sure they are safely in their own vehicle before departing. Avoid driving through high crime or unfamiliar areas. Avoid driving late at night / early hours of the morning when the roads are quiet. Drive in the center lane away from pedestrians where possible. If possible, never drive alone. NEVER, EVER pick up hitchhikers or strangers. (VERY IMPORTANT) Never follow routine routes when driving; change on a regular basis. Other situations: If approached by a stranger while in your vehicle, drive off if possible or use your hooter to attract attention. Lock your doors, close your windows and do not have bags or briefcases visible in the vehicle. Use the boot for this. Cell phone should also not be visible. There are times and days that these items are visible in the vehicle. Try and open the window they might “smash & grab” about 3 cm, so the window can absorb the sudden impact. If you’ve left your stopping distance you may be able to escape. Be constantly on the lookout for suspicious looking characters or vehicles and do not hesitate to report them to the SAPS. Always be on the alert for potential danger, and be on the lookout for possible escape routes and safe refuge along the way. When approaching a red traffic light at night, slow down so that you only reach it when it turns green. Do not take anything from people standing at traffic lights or places where they gather (job seekers on gathering points). Perpetrators are usually standing among these people. Make sure you are not followed. If you suspect you are being followed, drive to the nearest Police Station or any busy public area. If any person or vehicle in a high-risk area arouses your suspicions, treat it as hostile and take appropriate action, e.g. when approaching a red traffic light, slow down, check for oncoming traffic and if clear, drive through the intersection. A fine will be preferable to an attack. Treat stop streets in the same way. Thereafter call for assistance if necessary. Always report these incidents to the SAPS. But remember, this is not an excuse to ignore the rules of the road. The onus will be on you to prove in a court of law that you had justifiable reason to act the way you did and this is only in the case of a real, life-threatening emergency. Should a suspicious vehicle in fact be a (unmarked) SAPS vehicle, the Police must identify themselves by: Use of a blue light, loudspeaker or any other police equipment. The flash of a badge through the window whilst driving is not enough. The Police must go all out in order to let the public know who they are. Consider the following actions: Switch on emergency lights and put your hand out the window (if possible), indicating that they should follow you. Your intention must be very clear and understandable. By exceeding the speed limit, you are sending out a message of suspicion, e.g. stolen / hijacked vehicle, transporting stolen goods, under the influence. Drive to the nearest Police Station or when in doubt, the nearest busy public area. Always have your identity document and driver’s license in your possession as well as a pen and notebook to take necessary notes. If possible, avoid driving in the dark. Hijackers may stage a minor accident, for e.g. If your vehicle is bumped from behind and you do not feel comfortable with the individual involved in the situation, indicate he / she must follow you and drive to the nearest Police Station or any busy public area for help. Never open your vehicle window or door for any stranger. If a suspicious person is near your unoccupied vehicle, do not approach the vehicle. Walk to the nearest public area and ask for assistance. If you encounter obstacles in the road, e.g. rocks, tyres, do not get out of your vehicle to remove them. Reverse and drive away in the opposite direction. Do not stop to eat or rest on deserted roads. Do not leave your vehicle unattended at a filling station. Cell phones should be carried on the body. Perpetrators will not allow you to remove your cell phone and valuables from the vehicle during an attack. Information you should know: If your vehicle is hijacked or stolen, promptly report it to the SAPS. Make sure you have the vehicle details: model, color, vehicle identification and registration numbers available to assist with the recovery of the vehicle. When forced to drive with a hijacker, be observant without making direct eye contact and try to memorise as many details as possible. It is important to describe the hijacker as accurately as possible. When observing a hijacker, take note of his head and face – the shape of the eyes, mouth, nose and ears. Take note of possible irregularities. Look at the hair, skin color, complexion and possible scars and tattoos. Observe the build, sex, body movement, clothing and any conversation that may take place. Remember the direction from which they came and fled, as well as the time and place the incident happened. Remember to make mental and physical notes immediately after the incident to ensure accurate and detailed information for the Police investigation. Taken hostage - It can be helpful to have a survival plan in the back of your mind should such an incident occur. It is difficult not to become paranoid about being taken hostage. However, it is just as easy to become complacent. One very important fact to remember when being hijacked: Should the conclusion of the drama be by way of armed intervention, and escape is not possible, immediately drop to the ground, remain still and obey the orders of the leader. If confronted: Do not lose your temper, threaten or challenge the hijacker. DO EXACTLY AS TOLD BY THE HIJACKERS! Do not resist, especially if the hijacker has a weapon. Surrender your vehicle and move away. Try to put as much distance between yourself and the hijacker(s) as speedily as possible. Do not reach for your purse or valuables. Leave everything in the vehicle. Try to remain calm at all times and do not show signs of aggression. Be compliant to all demands set by the perpetrator. Do not make eye contact with the hijacker. He may perceive this behavior as a threat and retaliate aggressively. Keep your hands still and visible to the hijacker, so as to give him assurance of your passive content. Do not speak too fast (if you are able to talk) and do not make sudden movements. Gather as much information as possible without posing a threat. How many people? How many firearms and description thereof? What were the perpetrators wearing (clothing)? To which direction did they drive off? Take note of the language they use (the accent). First phone the SA Police Service on 08600 10111. They will dispatch the medical services if needed. Other emergency numbers you could phone are 112 ANY Network (Vodacom+MTN+Cell C) or 147 Vodacom ONLY. Activate the vehicle-tracking device, if the vehicle is fitted with one. The Effects of Trauma: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) This is the term given to a particular range and combination of reactions following trauma. Reactions following trauma can be divided into three main groups: Re-experiencing the event – a feeling that you are experiencing the original event all over again, through memories intruding into your waking or sleeping life. Arousal reactions – you feel persistently aroused, nervous, agitated sense, anxious, tense, unable to settle or concentrate, over-reacting very sharply to small things and especially, having trouble sleeping. Avoidance reactions – you make frantic efforts to avoid anything that could remind you of the trauma, or cause you to think or talk about it in any way. You may shut down your feelings about other people and things you normally care about and keep to yourself. You may feel unusually withdrawn and emotionally numb. Five stages of trauma / loss: Denial Anger Bargaining Depression Acceptance The following is some general advice to help you cope with trauma in general and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in particular: Do: Express your emotions. Talk about what has happened as often as you need to. Seek trauma counselling. Try to keep your life as normal as possible by following daily routines. Find opportunities to review the experience. Look to friends and colleagues for support. Don’t: Use alcohol, nicotine or other drugs to hide your feelings. Simply stay away from work or isolate yourself. Seek help and support instead (counselling). Allow anger and irritability to mask your feelings. Hide your feelings and be afraid to ask for help. Think your feelings are a sign of weakness. Remember that your life is worth more than your vehicle! Technology has changed the way people communicate and do business with each other. Tracking technology has evolved from the developments in personal computers, mobile phones, the GPS Global Positioning System and the Internet into what is now described as “vehicle telematics”. In this section we would like to focus on vehicle tracking as the “use of computers and telecommunications to enhance the functionality, productivity and security of both vehicles and drivers”. This can also be described as the technology of tracking the movements and/or status of a vehicle or fleet of vehicles, through the use of a vehicle tracking device, typically equipped with a GPS Locator and GPRS modem, which is fitted in the vehicle. What do I need to know about Vehicle Tracking? A vehicle tracking system is basically an electronic device installed in a vehicle to enable the owner or a third party to track the vehicle's location. Most modern vehicle tracking systems use Global Positioning System (GPS) modules for accurate location of the vehicle. Many systems also combine a communications component such as cellular or satellite transmitters to communicate the vehicle’s location to a remote user. Vehicle information can be viewed on electronic maps via the Internet or specialized software. Typical vehicle tracking systems are comprised of two core parts; location hardware (or tracking device) and vehicle tracking software. The tracking device is most often hardware installed in the vehicle; connected to the ignition switch, battery and antennae. The typical tracking hardware for a fleet management solution uses GPS to pinpoint its location and then updates are transmitted at a regular timed interval or after an event trigger, e.g. ignition on / off. The location data is made available for viewing through many of the solutions sold today, via a website, accessed over the internet, where fleet activity can be viewed live or historically using digital maps and reports. Vehicle tracking is also described as being "Passive" and "Active". "Passive" devices store GPS location, speed, heading and sometimes a trigger event such as key on/off, door open/closed. Once the vehicle returns to a predetermined point, the device is removed and the data downloaded to a computer for evaluation. "Active" devices also collect the same information but usually transmit the data in real-time via cellular or satellite networks to a computer or data centre for evaluation. It is important for business managers to understand how vehicle tracking technology is best introduced. It is suggested that business owners should explain to drivers why the system is being proposed, how it will work, what it will achieve and what it will and won’t do. How this is introduced can have a massive impact on its acceptance by the workforce. It should be explained that cases of vehicle theft, unauthorised use and speeding will be detected, but that any penalties will be defined in disciplinary procedures before the system starts. Employees should understand how the system will be used to improve emergency response in the case of accidents and to protect vulnerable lone workers. This should reassure employees and resolve the fears that result in the implementation of new technology. Benefits of Vehicle Tracking Vehicle tracking technology has become an important requirement for effective fleet management and improving the safety of company drivers. The benefits of vehicle tracking include: Vehicle tracking systems reduce running costs by specifically targeting those who speed and waste fuel. Fuel savings also means it softens the blow to the environment It reduces time wasted through vehicle maintenance. In addition, by having a service that ensures your vehicles are regularly serviced means that resale values for the fleet will be higher. It can also help to avoid penalties for issues such as bald tyres and tax as reminders are clear and precise. Insurance companies often offer discounts to companies who implement a GPS vehicle tracking system. This is not only because it encourages safer driving, but also helps recovery if thefts do occur. Vehicle tracking systems are popular in consumer vehicles as a theft prevention and retrieval device. When used as a security system, a Vehicle Tracking System may serve as either an addition to or replacement for a traditional car alarm. Productivity of workers can be increased by being able to keep track of lunch hours, exposing unauthorised stops and breaks and by evaluating the overtime requests of workers. Tracking devices help businesses to become more “customer friendly”. Drivers now only need a mobile phone with telephony or Internet connection to be inexpensively tracked by and dispatched efficiently to the customer. Business owners can find their most productive employees and use this information to implement further training or even implement a system of bonuses to enhance staff members' work ethic. Mobile sales professionals can access real-time locations. For example, in unfamiliar areas, they can locate themselves as well as customers and prospects, get driving directions and add nearby last-minute appointments to itineraries. Vehicle tracking systems will vastly reduce your phone bills as it is no longer a necessity to constantly call employees to find their location. It provides easy access to answer enquiries rapidly and accurately. Vehicle tracking systems reduce the amount of paperwork that drivers must fill out. By doing this you not only soften the blow of introducing such a system, but also increase the accuracy of your records. Business owners are more in touch with their business operations and see an increase in efficiency, productivity and accountability in their businesses. While paying the same wages many companies see a significant increase in productivity that often coincides with the installation of the tracking system. This leads to more jobs completed per day, reduced journey times, fuel savings and improved customer satisfaction. Improved health and safety – knowing the location of a workers vehicle can be of significant benefit if that person were to require immediate attention. Vehicle Tracking enhancing road safety The above benefits of vehicle tracking systems are well known amongst fleet management companies. It is also important for the vehicle owner to be alert to the benefits that vehicle equipment and software can have in protecting the physical safety and the general well being of loved ones. We would like to reflect on a few of these benefits: In private cars, installing vehicle tracking software makes the concept of owning and running a private car less stressful for the owner. Emergency Assistance - vehicle tracking software will be able to provide accurate information of your car's whereabouts. In an emergency situation, this will enable instant access to receive medical or emergency assistance. The police or tracking company can follow the signal emitted by the tracking system to locate a stolen vehicle. Car thieves might tend to stay clear of cars displaying a tracking system sticker or those known to have a tracking device. Data to show driving performance monitoring will not only improve driving but also help to optimise the performance of the vehicle. Reducing the average speed of your vehicles and getting your vehicles to slow down and stay within the speed limits relate directly into reduced fuel consumption and maintenance. This could also lead to fewer accidents and a saving in your monthly running costs. Insurance companies might provide a lesser premium if shown your vehicles are now driving slower, driving less distances and you are reducing the risk of accidents. The additional benefit of reducing speed is that you may hold on to your license longer and receive fewer traffic fines. You can reduce your insurance liability, reduce servicing and maintenance costs with more money available for new and safe tyres. Vehicle tracking technology might provide important evidence after an accident Vehicle tracking software not only provides totally accurate directions, but the system might also suggest alternative routes when traffic congestion is detected ahead. Choosing a vehicle tracking solution There is a wide range of vehicle tracking suppliers available and many might claim to be the best! The truth is there is no ‘best’ vehicle tracking supplier, but there will be a supplier whose vehicle tracking products and services meet your specific requirements, are reliable, well established, and offer good support at the right price. What factors do you need to consider whilst making a decision on vehicle tracking for your vehicle? Never assume that all vehicle tracking systems are the same and just choose based on price Learn as much as you can about different systems. Research them on the Internet, call the companies and ask for literature. The vehicle tracking system needs to be able to do what you require of it. Determine how much money you are willing to spend. Check exactly what you are getting for your money. Check the fixed and variable costs, set up charges, annual software licensing etc. Qualify and quantify each benefit and prove to yourself and others in your business that there would be a return on each of these benefits and that they are not just a ‘nice to have’. Reliability – The best way for you to establish whether a product is reliable is to speak to existing customers Customer support – technology is never perfect and vehicle tracking is no different. You will have problems with some of your units over time, which is to be expected, but you need to know that you have the support there when needed. Financial Stability of the Tracking Supplier – there are a rapidly increasing number of tracking companies entering the industry, and almost as many are failing to survive in a very competitive environment. Enquire about your tracking supplier and find out a bit about their history. Find out if, in addition to the fixed costs, there are additional monthly charges e.g. "Airtime". Monthly charges, in addition to the cost of the system itself, can add up. Check the coverage of the tracking system. Are there black spots? If there are, where are they? What happens to the data if the Vehicle Location Unit installed in the vehicle cannot transmit due to a coverage black spot? (lack of GSM, GPRS, Satellite Communications) Does the unit store the location updates? If so, how many and for how long? It is important to be aware that the technology you acquire today may be quickly overtaken by the technology of tomorrow. Your vehicle tracking partner must be able to provide you with new technology and upgrades! Conclusion Vehicle tracking is important technology for the safety not only of fleets of vehicles –but also for the ordinary driver. This is to become even more important for road safety as the technology becomes increasingly accessible and inexpensive. The Arrive Alive website would like to urge all road users to investigate this technology as an important safety feature. BACK TO TOP

WELCOME TO THE HOME OF AFRIKANER CULTURE The Voortrekker Monument is located just south of Pretoria in South Africa . The granite structure is located on a hilltop, and was raised to commemorate the Voortrekkers who left the Cape Colony between 1835 and 1854. It was designed by the architect Gerard Moerdijk . On 8 July 2011, the Voortrekker Monument was declared a National Heritage Site by the South African Heritage Resource Agency . The idea to build a monument in honour of the Voortrekkers was first discussed on 16 December 1888, when President Paul Kruger of the South African Republic attended the Day of the Covenant celebrations at Danskraal in Natal . However, the movement to actually build such a monument only started on 4 April 1931 when the Sentrale Volksmonumentekomitee (SVK; Central People's Monuments Committee) was formed to bring this idea to fruition. Construction started on 13 July 1937 with a sod-turning ceremony performed by the chairman of the SVK, Advocate Ernest George Jansen , on what later became known as Monument Hill. On 16 December 1938 the cornerstone was laid  by three descendants of some of the Voortrekker leaders: Mrs. J.C. Muller (granddaughter of Andries Pretorius ), Mrs. K.F. Ackerman (great-granddaughter of Hendrik Potgieter ) and Mrs. J.C. Preller (great-granddaughter of Piet Retief ). The monument was inaugurated on 16 December 1949 by Prime Minister D. F. Malan .[citation needed ] The total construction cost of the monument was about £ 360,000, most of which was contributed by the South African government. A large amphitheatre , which could seat approximately 20,000 people, was erected to the north-east of the monument in 1949. The Voortrekker Monument and Nature Reserve is more than just a heritage conservation site. It is the cultural home of the Afrikaner, where everyone is welcome. It is a beacon of hope that can be seen from any direction of Pretoria. It is a place of relaxation. The Voortrekker Monument offers the public the opportunity to learn more about the Afrikaner’s remarkable story of faith, heroism, perseverance, and a vision of the future to be where we are today. Why was the Voortrekker Monument erected? What is the symbolism behind each element and room that makes up this well-thought-out work of art? What is the history behind each of the other attractions that can also be seen on the site? Bring your family, friends or school group and come dig deeper to find answers to all these questions! Besides the rich history, the Voortrekker Monument is also a place of relaxation! Here you can enjoy outdoor activities like horse riding, jogging, walking and cycling, have a picnic or braai, drink coffee and enjoy traditional Boerekos! Come and visit the cultural home of the Afrikaner today and discover our heritage like never before! In 1835, thousands of people left the Cape Colony with all their possessions in search of freedom to create their own future. A future in which they could be free to live according to their view of their own lives and future. The Voortrekker Monument is the symbolic embodiment and representation of their journey woven with idealism, courage, perseverance, ingenuity and hope … for freedom. The Voortrekker Monument is, therefore, a symbol of an ideal of freedom. The Hall of Heroes is the first room visitors enter when they walk through the Monument’s front door. On the walls of the Hall of Heroes, the story of the Great Trek is depicted clockwise by 27 marble frieze panels. These are the longest continuous frieze panels in the world. Here, visitors can also learn more about the symbolism behind the widening circular patterns that cover the Hall of Heroes’ marble floor and the two remarkable domes above the Hall of Heroes. CENOTAPH HALL As you descend the stairs on either side of the Hall of Heroes, you reach the Cenotaph Hall. With the cenotaph in the middle, you stand in a massive room, surrounded by paintings that tell more about the day-to-day life of the Trekkers. The cenotaph is the central focal point of the Monument. The Historical Trek-Route Garden is a modern, interactive learn-while-you-explore outdoor exhibition where young and old can come and relax and learn about the Great Trek and the history of the Voortrekkers. The garden, which depicts the story of the Great Trek on a small scale, contains replicas of various monuments commemorating historical events across South Africa. Along with the replicas, there are also plaques with poems on them. These poems summarise the experience of the Great Trek strikingly by lyrically reflecting on the role that the ox wagons, the Bible, the children and the Vow played during the Great Trek. 01 Main features The Voortrekker Monument is 40 metres high, with a base of 40 metres by 40 metres. The building shares architectural resemblance with European monuments such the Dôme des Invalides in France and the Völkerschlachtdenkmal in Germany but also contains African influences.The two main points of interest inside the building are the Historical Frieze and the Cenotaph. South window and frieze Historical Frieze The main entrance of the building leads into the domed Hall of Heroes. This massive space, flanked by four huge arched windows made from yellow Belgian glass, contains the unique marble Historical Frieze which is an intrinsic part of the design of the monument. It is the biggest marble frieze in the world. The frieze consists of 27 bas-relief panels depicting the history of the Great Trek , but incorporating references to every day life, work methods and religious beliefs of the Voortrekkers. The set of panels illustrates key historical scenes starting from the first voortrekkers of 1835, up to the signing of the Sand River Convention in 1852. In the centre of the floor of the Hall of Heroes is a large circular opening through which the Cenotaph in the Cenotaph Hall can be viewed. The Cenotaph Cenotaph The Cenotaph , situated in the centre of the Cenotaph Hall, is the central focus of the monument. In addition to being viewable from the Hall of Heroes it can also be seen from the dome at the top of the building, from where much of the interior of the monument can be viewed. Through an opening in this dome a ray of sunlight shines at twelve o'clock on 16 December annually, falling onto the centre of the Cenotaph, striking the words 'Ons vir Jou, Suid-Afrika' (Afrikaans for 'We're for you, South Africa'), a line from 'Die Stem van Suid-Afrika '. The ray of light symbolises God's blessing on the lives and endeavours of the Voortrekkers. 16 December 1838 was the date of the Battle of Blood River , commemorated in South Africa before 1994 as the Day of the Vow . The Cenotaph Hall is decorated with the flags of the different Voortrekker Republics and contains wall tapestries depicting the Voortrekkers as well as several display cases with artefacts from the Great Trek. Against the northern wall of the hall is a niche with a lantern in which a flame has been kept burning ever since 1938. It was in that year that the Symbolic Ox Wagon Trek , which started in Cape Town and ended at Monument Hill where the Monument's foundation stone was laid, took place. Visitors to the monument enter through a black wrought iron gate with an assegai (spear) motif. After passing through the gate one finds oneself inside a big laager consisting of 64 ox-wagons made out of decorative granite.  The same number of wagons were used at the Battle of Blood River to form the laager.[citation needed ] Voortrekker woman and children by Anton van Wouw Statue of Piet Retief At the foot of the monument stands Anton van Wouw 's bronze sculpture of a Voortrekker woman and her two children, paying homage to the strength and courage of the Voortrekker women. On both sides of this sculpture black wildebeest are chiselled into the walls of the monument. The wildebeest symbolically depicts the dangers of Africa and their symbolic flight implies that the woman, carrier of Western civilisation, is triumphant. On each outside corner of the monument there is a statue, respectively representing Piet Retief , Andries Pretorius , Hendrik Potgieter and an "unknown" leader (representative of all the other Voortrekker leaders).  Each statue weighs approximately 6 tons .[citation needed ] At the eastern corner of the monument, on the same level as its entrance, is the foundation stone. Under the foundation stone is buried: A copy of the Trekker Vow on 16 December 1838. A copy of the anthem "Die Stem". A copy of the land deal between the Trekkers under Piet Retief and the Zulus under king Dingane. 02 German links According to Alta Steenkamp, the masonic subtext of the Monument to the Battle of the Nations (Völkerschlachtdenkmal) in Leipzig , Germany, is reflected in the Voortrekker Monument because the architect, Gerard Moerdijk , had used the geometric order and spatial proportions of the Völkerschlachtdenkmal. This Germanisation of the Voortrekker Monument occurred after Moerdijk's initial design had caused a public outcry in the South African press for its resemblance to an Egyptian temple . In Moerdijk's initial design, the monument consisted of a causeway linking two Egyptian obelisks . Finalising his design of the Voortrekker Monument, Moerdijk visited Egypt in 1936, including the Karnak Temple Complex in Thebes . In Thebes, the pharaoh Akhenaten , Nefertiti 's husband, had erected three sun sanctuaries, including the Hwt-benben ('mansion of the Benben '). The most prominent aspect of Moerdijk's monument is the annual mid noon sun illumination of the Benben stone, the encrypted cenotaph. The cenotaph is the symbolic tomb of Piet Retief and his delegation. In the years preceding World War II, several Afrikaner nationalists travelled to Germany for academic, political and cultural studies. In 1928 Moerdijk visited Germany, and viewed the Amarna bust of Nefertiti on public display in Berlin. By 1934 Chancellor Hitler had decided that Germany would not return the Amarna bust of Nefertiti to Egypt . He instead announced the intention to use the Amarna bust as the central show piece of the thousand years Third Reich , in a revitalised Berlin to be renamed Germania . Likewise Moerdijk's thousand years monument with Amarna sun symbol at its centre, became Afrikaner nationalists' centre show piece of their capital Pretoria. 03 Round floor opening Looking from the sky dome downwards, a chevron pattern on the floor of the Hall of Heroes, radiates outwards like 32 sun rays. In Moerdijk's architecture, the natural sun forms the 33rd ray through the floor opening. Moerdijk said the chevron pattern on the floor depicts water,as does the double chevron hieroglyph from the civilisation of ancient Egypt . Moerdijk stated that all roads on the terrain of building art lead back to ancient Egypt .  Based on Moerdijk's reference to the watery floor of the Hall of Heroes, as well as his statements about ancient Egypt , the floor opening may be identified with the watery abyss , as in the creation theology of ancient African civilisation . Rising out of this watery abyss, was the primeval mound, the Benben stone, to symbolise a new creation. Religious sun ray Gerard Moerdijk was the chief architect of 80 Protestant churches in South Africa . Moerdijk adhered to Reformed church tradition and thus his Renaissance trademark, the Greek-cross floorplan, always focused on the pulpit and preacher. In Protestant theology, the word of God is central.122  Moerdijk created a similar central focus in the Voortrekker Monument, but in vertical instead of horizontal plane, and in African instead of European style. The monument's huge upper dome features Egyptian backlighting  to simulate the sky, the heavenly abode of God. Through the dome a sun ray penetrates downwards, highlighting words on 16 December at noon. The sky oriented words: "US FOR YOU SOUTH AFRICA", are Moerdijk's focus point. These words are taken from an anthem, Die Stem : "We will live, we will die, we for thee South-Africa". The same anthem ends: "It will be well, God reigns." Thus the sun ray simulates a connection between the words on the Cenotaph and the heavenly abode above, a communication between God and man. The actual sun ray itself forms a 33rd sun ray shining onto the stone in the midst of floor opening. Heavenly vow In Moerdijk's biblical theology, God communicates in two ways: through scripture and nature.Moerdijk merges both methods, by using the sun in his simulation. Relief of an ox-wagon on the laager wall The Vow of the Trekkers was commemorated on 16 December as the Day of the Vow . On 16 December, the appearance of an illuminating sun disc on the wording of the Cenotaph stone, transform their meaning as per the Philosophers Stone of the alchemists. Instead of man below making an earthly vow, the sun shifts the focus upwards to the trinitarian god of the Trekkers, as it is God who communicates through Moerdijk's sun architecture, making Himself a heavenly vow with the words: WE – as in GOD – FOR THEE SOUTH-AFRICA. Thus God in the trinitarian tradition of the Trekkers, speaks a vow within the sun disc illuminating the words on the Cenotaph. The Trekker belief that God was for South Africa originates from the 9–16 December 1838 vow of Trekker leader Andries Pretorius at Blood River, who at around the same time made military and political alliances with Christian Zulus like prince Mpande . Egyptian origin Moerdijk was an outspoken supporter of ancient Egyptian architecture. Moerdijk referred to Africa's greatness as imparted by ancient Egyptian constructions at the inauguration of the Voortrekker Monument. Before his Voortrekker Monument proposal was accepted, Moerdijk and Anton van Wouw had been working in alliance for many years on their "dream castle" project: a modern African-Egyptian Voortrekker Temple in South-Africa. Van Wouw and Frans Soff had earlier employed the Egyptian obelisk , a petrified ray of the African Aten , as central motif for the National Women's Monument in Bloemfontein , South Africa , itself likewise inaugurated on the Day of the Vow , 16 December 1913. Whilst finalising the design of the Voortrekker Monument in 1936,Moerdijk went on a research trip to Egypt . There he visited the Karnak Temple Complex at Thebes ,  where an African Renaissance had flourished under Pharaoh Akhenaten , Nefertiti 's husband. The open air temples of Akhenaten to the Aten incorporated the Heliopolitan tradition of employing sun rays in architecture, as well as realistic wall reliefs or friezes. Moerdijk also visited the Cairo Museum , where a copy of the Great Hymn to the Aten is on display, some verses of which remind of Psalm 104. Moerdijk's wife Sylva related that he was intimately acquainted with ancient Egyptian architecture,and was strongly influenced architecturally by his visit to Egypt. Architectural purpose Looking upwards at mid noon on 16 December reveals a dot within a circle, the ancient African-Egyptian hieroglyph for the monotheistic creator god Aten Looking downwards from the dome The architect, Gerard Moerdijk , stated that the purpose of a building had to be clearly visible.  The aspect of the sun at mid-noon in Africa, was during Nefertiti's time known as Aten . In Egyptian hieroglyphics , Aten was written as a sun dot enclosed by a circle. The Aten-hieroglyph is depicted in the Voortrekker Monument when the sun shines through an aperture in the top dome. Likewise, looking downwards from the top dome walkway, the round floor opening is seen to encircle the sun disc illumination. Moerdijk's message as implied by the wall frieze: by exodus out of the British Cape Colony , God created a new civilisation inland. In order to give thanks to this new creation of civilisation, Moerdijk, recalling Abraham of old, outwardly designed the Voortrekker Monument as an altar Monument complex In the years following its construction, the monument complex was expanded several times and now includes: An indigenous garden that surrounds the monument. The Wall of Remembrance dedicated to those who died while serving in the South African Defence Force (SADF). Fort Schanskop , a nearby fort built in 1897 by the government of the South African Republic after the Jameson Raid . It is currently a museum and was added to the monument complex in June 2000. The Schanskop open-air amphitheatre with seating for 357 people that was officially opened on 30 January 2001. A garden of remembrance. A nature reserve was declared on 3.41 km2 around the monument in 1992. Game found on the reserve include Zebras , Blesbok , Mountain Reedbuck , Springbok , Black Wildebeest and Impala . A Wall of Remembrance that was constructed near the monument in 2009. It was built to commemorate the members of the South African Defence Force (SADF) who died in service of their country between 1961 and 1994. An Afrikaner heritage centre, which was built in order to preserve the heritage of the Afrikaans -speaking portion of South Africa 's population and their contribution to the history of the country. 04 Project Name This is your Project description. Provide a brief summary to help visitors understand the context and background of your work. 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About Southernstar-Africa Hi, thanks for dropping by! We are a school project organization that aims to educate children about the history of South Africa. Our focus is on the people who shaped the country's past and present. Our team consists of passionate educators who are dedicated to providing the best learning experience for the children. We provide various services such as interactive workshops, field trips, and educational materials. Join us in exploring the rich history of Southernstar-Africa. Join us Radio SAM Broadcaster Germany Information about the radio We built ‘Radio SAM Broadcaster Germany’ for YOU…….. For you to NEVER miss that amazing event. We strive to, at all times, try to take the hassle out of finding out where that favourite artist is performing, have a look at some other artists also performing, and at what venue it is going to be held, at what time, and maybe it will be the end of life as you know it. We love radio! Radio SAM Broadcaster Germany makes life a little easier for everyone who feels the same way. We offer you the opportunity to listen to internet radio from all over the world in a particularly uncomplicated manner and free of charge. With the push of a button, you can also record it very easily thanks to Radio SAM Broadcaster Germany. Don't you ever want to miss your favorite internet radio radio again? Our tools make it possible! You can put together your own program in the Radio SAM Broadcaster Germany player, in the app and directly on our website. This is then conveniently recorded and saved for you. If you just want to listen to your favorite online radio stations, you can of course do so here: You can click through the music genres or topics you want and you will find enough material to stream continuously for days! Here, the many German channels are just a few clicks away from the small regional channel from Italy. Thanks to the radio cloud, you don't even have to turn on your computer or smartphone to record, you don't even have to be at home. The scheduled shows are simply saved in the cloud, where you can easily stream them or download them for later use. Radio programs and tips - radio plays and more That's all well and good, but you don't even know what you want to hear in the wide landscape of internet radio? No wonder, after all, there are many of programs on all sorts of genres. Our editorial team therefore studies the radio program every week and always has a few tips ready to make your choice easier: There is also something for the little listeners on a separate page for children. Do you want to let off steam in the wide world of internet radio? Radio SAM Broadcaster Germany makes this particularly easy for you. You can listern completely free of charge and without obligation. In your own account under “Radio SAM Broadcaster Germany” you can start immediately, put together your own program and use the free radio cloud storage of two hours. In the download area you will find the Radio SAM Broadcaster Germany players for PC and Mac and the app is available for free download in the app store for iOS, Android or Windows Phone. Radio contacts Address:Steedener Weg 65594 Site:radio-sam-broadcaster-germany.page.tl Email:a.dezius@gmail.com Facebook:@Radio-SAM-Broadcaster-Germany-109034484821095 Twitter:@RadioSAMBroadc1 https://radiosambroadcastingstereo.page.tl/Radio-Station.htm https://adezius.wixsite.com/radio-sam-broadcasti/home https://radio-sam-broadcaster.de.tl/ https://radiosambroadcastingstudios.blogspot.com/ https://zeno.fm/radio/radio-sam-broadcaster-germany4xqvqt35p48uv/ https://zeno.fm/radio/radio-sam-germany-master-input-station/ https://radioafrikaansstereo.page.tl/TUIS.htm https://radio-sam-music.de.tl/Our-Radio-Stations-on-SAM.htm ENTER MY WEBSITE ABOUT MYSELF Pictures of South Africa Translate Company Gestbook Riseingsouthernstar-Africa Radio Eendrag .......... riseingsouthernstar africa THE RISEING SOUTHERNSTAR OF AFRICA Home MY Profile Our Site Map South African History The Nine Provinces Wild Life South Africa South African Culture Genocide South Africa Our Top List South Africa Maps Our Petitions Site Weskaap AWB Radio Stations Sam-South African Music MY Profile I Was Born On the 15 November 1960 in Germany and was Brought up in South Africa,Have Three of my Own Children and One child that I brought up as my Own Child,Two staying In South Africa and Two Staying with me in Germany. My Nick Name is Andy,and have a Profile on Facebook My Face book Profile Andy Willi Dezius | Create your badge I Speach - English / German and Africans , and also read and wright the 3 Languages , I am at the moment a Truck Driver in Germany. To my Profiles , here are a few things to tell you about me , I was Born in Germany, and was brought up in South Africa. My Homepages are about South Africa and South African Music, I have had Goodtimes and also Bad times when I lived in South Africa. I created this Homepage to Remember me , of my life , and the Wonderfull things I got to see in my Life . And to share it with people and friends on the Internet , So I say thankyou to Homepage-Baukasten in Germany, and people who supported me to with my Homepage, the southernstar-africa.de.tl..... MY WEBSITES Welcome to the,website of riseing-motor-classics The website shares information and about , Pick-up Trucks and Classic Chevys & Ford and Truck Pictures This Link will take you to our other Homepage,just click on the Red Riseing -Motor-classic Banner ,or just click on the link... http://riseing-motor-classics.de.tl/Home.htm ENTER WEBSITE THE WONDERFULL LIFE OF THE WOLVES WE WELCOME OUR FRIENDS TO HELP US SHARE THE WONDERFULL LIFE OF THE WOLVES & ADVERTISE THE WILDLIFE AND INFORMATION: This Homepage was created to save the Wolves in our WorldWelcome to a the German /South Africa Homepage http://www.the-wolf-clan.de.tl . The website provides information about the Wolves and was made for Private use and school projects,and Information about the Wolves . (the-wolf-clan) the Homepage was Created by Andy Dezius, To Share the Information of the Life of the wolves and help to support in always to keep them alive. Start Now South African Homepage Welcome to a the German /SouthAfrican Homepage http://www.southernstar-africa.de.tl . The website provides information about South Africa for Private use and school projects,and Information about South Africa . (Southernstar-Africa) the Homepage was Created by Andy Dezius, To Share the Information of the Life in South Africa. ENTER WEBSITE Staan-Saam Die Boere word nou verstrooi en geskiedenis herskryf. Waardevolle Boere Erfenis, kultuur en histories gedenkwaardighede, word verander, herallokeer, vernietig, verlore, verdwyn en vergete ...... Ons erfenis, standbeelde, monumente, museums, boeke, geskrifte, kuns, musiek, landkaarte, seels, wapens, munte, meubels, ens. van geskiedkundige belang in verband met die Boerevolk https://staan-saam.page.tl/Home.htm ENTER WEBSITE Die Geloftevolk Republikeine 1. in God die Almagtige,- Skepper van hemel en aarde; 2. in die Wet van God as riglyn om gelykvormig te word aan Sy Seun; 3. en bely dat die God van Abraham, Isak en Jakob, ons God is en dat Sy Seun vir ons sondes gesterf het, sodat ons vir ewig kan lewe in liggaam en dan in gees; 4. dat ons die reg het om ons God, ons volk en ons kultuur binne ons eie vaderland te dien en oor onsself te regeer; 5. en ons ag onsself gebonde aan die Gelofte van Jan van Riebeeck, van Bloedrivier en van Paardekraal wat deur ons voorvaders afgelê is; 6. dat ons volk in Suid Afrika se veelvolkige verkiesings net van een gevolg seker is – naamlik dat daar nie eens die geringste kans is om te wen, sodat ons volk se belange kan voorrang geniet nie; 7. dat ons onsself moet voorberei teen die dreigende en toenemende aanslae op die lewens van ons Boere volksgenote en ons Boervolk se voortbestaan, sodat ons onsself kan verdedig in die Naam van ons God; 8. dat die verlede bewys het dat ons, die Boervolk, in staat is om oor onsself te regeer in ‘n soewereine staat en dat slegs die vernietiging drang en die hebsug van die huidige regering, in ons pad staan om ‘n eie vaderland te verkry; 9. dat ons geroepe is om ons Boervolk uit te lei uit die misdaad nes waarin die Boervolk homself bevind; 10.dat ons krag in die eerste instansie in ons Skepper lê en dat slegs ‘n gesamentlike poging van al ons volksgenote om ons Boervolk te bevry (van die juk van die vreemde volke onder wie se heerskappy ons staan), ons vryheid kan bewerkstellig; View Website PROFILE I Speach - English / German and Africans , and also read and wright the 3 Languages . I am at the moment a Truck Driver in Germany. To my Profiles , here are a few things to tell you about me . My Homepage is about Music . I created this Homepage to share it with people and friends on the Internet and around the World, So I say thankyou to Homepage-Baukasten in Germany, and people who supported me to with my Homepage, the http://south-african-music.de.tl/HOME.htm ..... MY LIKES AND DISLIKES Me,myself and I in 150 questions! by Andy name: Andreas nickname: Andy birthday: 15.11.1960 height: 188 weight: 120 Kg hair: Light Brown eyes: Green / Brown any piercings?: Its his own thing what he or she does with their body tattoos?: Yes ,the White Wolf any siblings?: No,not at all what do you like to wear?: Jeans and Anything that is Easy to Wear and I Feel good in it. *favourite...* book?: The Rise and Fall of Hitler, South African Law ,Wildlife,Born Free and Living Free. color?: Red / Maroon / Royal Blue movie?: Action / Historical / Thillers and Science Fiction celebrity?: place?: South Africa and Germany ,and Maybe NewZealand Australia or USA food?: Braais s and Barberques dessert?: Ice-Crean and Strawberrys alcoholic drink?: Beer,Whiskey and Rum non-alcoholic drink?: day of the week?: Friday and Saturday number?: 15 / 22 / 11 / 10 / 3 / 25 month?: November city?: Pretoria ,Johannesburg, Cape town and Durban and Frankfurt and now in Limburg country?: South Africa and Germany animal?: Dogs ,Wolves and Lions time of the day?: smell?: tv channel?: South African News ,BBC, RTL and Pro 7 song at the moment?: Bok Van Blerk,Steve Hofmeyr, Theuns Jordaan friend?: All around the World *worst* place to be?: time of the day?: day of the week?: song/music gender?: animal to you?: drink?: food?: Vegtables *have u ever...* been so drunk that you cant remember?: Yes ,on Carneval 2009 in Germany cheated: No Never ,been always right ,and Truely and Loyal towards the partner I have in a Relassion been cheated on?: Yes I have in the Past been in love?: Yes been on TV?: No Never on Tv been on stage?: passed out?: Yes ,but on a party had a surgery?: Yes Plenty broke the law intentionally?: Yes many years ago in my tean age life had a friend pass away?: Yes a very good friend been lied?: been dumped?: Yes plenty of times *do you...* do drugs?: Never ,I do not believe in such thing get drunk?: dance?: Love Dancing party?: Plenty in my Lifetime sing?: play an instrument?: I use to play a trumpet and play the drums get along with your parents?: Yes I do think you are attractive?: I dont no , You must find out swear?: smoke?: Yes i do smoke get motion sickness?: wear contacts/glasses?: get good marks?: watch cartoon?: drink milk :3 ?: write poems/stories?: take a particular medicine?: go to psycholog?: have a pet?: Yes had plenty of Dogs in South Africa. German Shepard and Rodweilers are you allergic to something?: play an online rpg?: get online on msn a lot?: google a lot?: Yes ,most of the time have fights?: read magazines?: read comics?: how many hours do you sleep?: how frequently do you go to hairdresser?: get along with your teachers?: *music* What's your preferred genre of music?: All-time favorite band/artist?: All-time favorite song?: How many CDs or MP3s of your favorite band/artist do you have?: What's your favorite radio station?: FFH AND RADIO EENDRAG Afrikaans Music?: rock?: YES IT IS GREAT MUSIC blues/jazz?: classical?: rap?: pop?: country?: LOVE COUNTRY MUSIC emo/screamo?: heavy metal?: techno?: reggae?: r&b?: Boere Music?: *last...* time you cried?: YES I cry alot ,if I think of my Past Life in South Africa and my Children that are still living in South Africa movie you watched?: person you talked on the phone?: cigarette?: song played?: thing you ate?: time you took a bubble bath?: time you got drunk?: time you read a book?: email you get?: person you got a fight?: time you hugged someone?: time you kissed someone?: time you met someone new?: time you went for a date?: *do you believe in...* God?: Yes I believe in God ,he is the creator of Heaven and Earth, and everythibg he made for us, He gave his only Son to forgive our Sins. religions?: Yes I do ,but dont talk about it aliens?: ghosts?: Yes I do ,If you have seen One you will believe it too afterlife?: yourself?: I beleave and fight for the rights of the white people in south africa,to stop the Genocide and stop murdering white south african farmers and people and ask the world for your support . astrology?: Scorpion karma?: magic?: *in a girl/boy* hair: Light Brown eyes: hobbies: style of clothing: Were Any thing ,that suite me ,dont worry what others think , Cool and Easy kiss on first date?: Can not remember love at first sight?: *random* who do you wanna slap?: Nobody,The Wheel Turns , and His or Her Day Will Come. who do you wanna kill?: Nobody,The Wheel Turns ,and His or Her Day Will Come. your dream: Yes do you want to get married?: Yes ,I think it is time after so many years for the children and that I have found the future person I life ,were I can get old to gether with. love?: Yes I love the partner that i am with ,She gives me support in my life i wanna be: all you need is: identy yourself with 3 words:: Loyal , Pride , Honor, Brotherhood and Stand Together and fight for you rights what is your worst characteristic?: what are your fears?: what is your weakness?: favourite quote?: cartman or kenny?: shoes you weared last time?: what is your aim for this year?:To Go to South Africa and to Visit my Children and Friends ,if God Spears me And If I Can Aford it . 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The First Boer War (Dutch: Eerste Boerenoorlog, Afrikaans: Eerste Vryheidsoorlog, The First Boer War (Dutch: Eerste Boerenoorlog, Afrikaans: Eerste Vryheidsoorlog, literally First Freedom War) also known as the First Anglo-Boer War or the Transvaal War, was fought from 16 December 1880 until 23 March 1881.The southern part of the African continent was dominated in the 19th century by a set of epic struggles to create within it a single unified state. British aggression into southern Africa was fuelled by three prime factors: first, the desire to control the trade routes to India that passed around the Cape; second, the discovery in 1868 of huge mineral deposits of diamonds around Kimberley on the joint borders of the South African Republic (called the Transvaal by the British), Orange Free State and the Cape Colony, and thereafter in 1886 in the Transvaal of a major gold find, all of which offered enormous wealth and power; and thirdly the race against other European colonial powers, as part of a general colonial expansion in Africa. Other potential colonisers included Portugal, who already controlled West (modern day Angola) and East Africa (modern day Mozambique), Germany (modern day Namibia), and further north, Belgium (modern day Democratic Republic of the Congo) and France (West and Equatorial Africa, and Madagascar). The British attempts in 1880 to annexe the Transvaal, and in 1899 both the Transvaal and the Orange Free State (leading to the Second Boer War), were their biggest incursions into southern Africa, but there were others. In 1868, the British annexed Basutoland in the Drakensberg Mountains (modern Lesotho, surrounded by the Orange Free State and Natal) following an appeal from Moshesh, the leader of a mixed group of African refugees from the Zulu wars, who sought British protection against both the Boers and the Zulus. The British did not try to stop Trekboers from moving away from the Cape. The Trekboers served as pioneers, opening up the interior for those who followed, and the British gradually extended their control away from the Cape along the coast toward the east, eventually annexing Natal in 1845. Indeed, the British subsequently ratified the two new Republics in a pair of treaties: the Sand River Convention of 1852 which recognised the independence of the Transvaal Republic, and the Bloemfontein Convention of 1854 which recognised the independence of the Orange Free State. However, British colonial expansion was, from the 1830s, marked by skirmishes and wars against both Boers and native African tribes .n 1875 Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli's Colonial Secretary, Lord Carnarvon, in an attempt to extend British influence, approached the Orange Free State and the Transvaal Republic and tried to organise a federation of the British and Boer territories to be modelled after the 1867 federation of French and English provinces of Canada, however the Boer leaders turned him down. The successive British annexations, and in particular the annexation of West Griqualand, caused a climate of simmering unease for the Boer republics. Outbreak of War With the defeat of the Zulus, and the Pedi, the Transvaal Boers were able to give voice to the growing resentment against the 1877 British annexation of the Transvaal and complained that it had been a violation of the Sand River Convention of 1852, and the Bloemfontein Convention of 1854.Major-General Sir George Pomeroy Colley, after returning briefly to India, finally took over as Governor of Natal, Transvaal, High Commissioner of SE Africa and Military Commander in July 1880. Multiple commitments prevented Colley from visiting the Transvaal where he knew many of the senior Boers. Instead he relied on reports from the Administrator, Sir Owen Lanyon, who had no understanding of the Boer mood or capability. Belatedly Lanyon asked for troop reinforcements in December 1880 but was overtaken by events.The Boers on 16 December 1880 revolted and took action at Bronkhorstspruit against a British column of the 94th Foot, who were returning to reinforce Pretoria.After Transvaal formally declared independence from the United Kingdom, the war began on 16 December 1880 with shots fired by Transvaal Boers at Potchefstroom. This led to the action at Bronkhorstspruit on 20 December 1880, where the Boers ambushed and destroyed a British Army convoy. From 22 December 1880 to 6 January 1881, British army garrisons all over the Transvaal became besieged.Although generally called a war, the actual engagements were of a relatively minor nature considering the few men involved on both sides and the short duration of the combat, lasting some ten weeks of sporadic action. The fiercely independent Boers had no regular army; when danger threatened, all the men in a district would form a militia organised into military units called commandos and would elect officers.Commandos being civilian militia, each man wore what he wished, usually everyday dark-grey, neutral-coloured, or earthtone khaki farming clothes such as a jacket, trousers and slouch hat. Each man brought his own weapon, usually a hunting rifle, and his own horses. The average Boer citizens who made up their commandos were farmers who had spent almost all their working life in the saddle, and, because they had to depend on both their horse and their rifle for almost all of their meat, they were skilled hunters and expert marksmen.Most of the Boers had single-shot breech loading rifle such as the Westley Richards, the Martini-Henry, or the Remington Rolling Block. Only a few had repeaters like the Winchester or the Swiss Vetterli. As hunters they had learned to fire from cover, from a prone position and to make the first shot count, knowing that if they missed the game would be long gone. At community gatherings, they often held target shooting competitions using targets such as hens' eggs perched on posts over 100 yards away. The Boer commandos made for expert light cavalry, able to use every scrap of cover from which they could pour accurate and destructive fire at the British with their breech loading rifles.The British infantry uniforms at that date were red jackets, black trousers with red piping to the side, white pith helmets and pipe clayed equipment, a stark contrast to the African landscape.The Highlanders wore the kilt. The standard infantry weapon was the Martini Henry single-shot breech loading rifle with a long sword bayonet. Gunners of the Royal Artillery wore blue jackets. This enabled the Boer marksmen easily to snipe at red-clad British troops from a distance. The Boers carried no bayonets leaving them at a substantial disadvantage in close combat, which they avoided as far as possible. Drawing on years of experience of fighting frontier skirmishes with numerous and indigenous African tribes, they relied more on mobility, stealth, marksmanship and initiative while the British emphasised the traditional military values of command, discipline, formation and synchronised firepower. The average British soldier was not trained to be a marksman and got little target practice. What shooting training British soldiers had was mainly as a unit firing in volleys on command. At the first battle at Bronkhorstspruit, Lieutenant-Colonel Anstruther and 120 men of the 94th Foot (Connaught Rangers) were dead or wounded by Boer fire within minutes of the first shots. Boer losses totalled two killed and five wounded. This mainly Irish regiment was marching westward toward Pretoria, led by Lieutenant-Colonel Anstruther, when halted by a Boer commando group. Its leader, Piet Joubert, ordered Anstruther and the column to turn back, stating that the territory was now again a Boer Republic and therefore any further advance by the British would be deemed an act of war. Anstruther refused and ordered that ammunition be distributed. The Boers opened fire and the ambushed British troops were annihilated. With the majority of his troops dead or wounded, the dying Anstruther ordered surrender.The Boer uprising caught by surprise the six small British forts scattered around Transvaal, housing some 2,000 troops between them, including irregulars with as few as fifty men at Lydenburg in the east where Anstruther had just left. Being isolated, and with so few troops, all the forts could do was prepare for sieges, and wait to be relieved. The other five forts, with a minimum of fifty miles between any two, were at Wakkerstroom and Standerton in the south, Marabastadt in the north and Potchefstroom and Rustenburg in the west. The three main engagements of the war were all within about sixteen miles of each other, centred on the Battles of Laing’s Nek (28 January 1981), Ingogo River (8/2/81) and the rout at Majuba Hill (27 February 1981). These battles were the outcome of Major-General Sir George Pomeroy Colley’s attempts to relieve the besieged forts. Although Colley had requested reinforcements these would not reach him until mid-February. He was, however, convinced that the garrisons would not survive until then. Consequently, at Newcastle, near the Transvaal border he mustered a relief column (the Natal Field Force) of available men although this amounted to only 1,200 men. Colley’s force was further weakened in that few were mounted, a serious disadvantage in the terrain and type of warfare. Most Boers were mounted and good riders. Nonetheless, Colley’s force set out on 24 January 1881 northward for Laing’s Nek on route to relieve Wakkerstroom and Standerton, the nearest forts.At the Battle of Laing's Nek on 28 January 1881, the Natal Field Force under Major-General Sir George Pomeroy Colley attempted with cavalry and infantry attacks to break through the Boer positions on the Drakensberg mountain range to relieve their garrisons. The British were repulsed with heavy losses by the Boers under the command of Piet Joubert. Of the 480 British troops who made the charges, 150 never returned. Furthermore, sharpshooting Boers had killed or wounded many senior officers.Further actions included the Battle of Schuinshoogte (also known as Ingogo) on 8 February 1881, where another British force barely escaped destruction. Major-General Sir George Pomeroy Colley had sought refuge with the Natal Field Force at Mount Prospect, three miles to the south to await reinforcements. However, Colley was soon back into action. On 7 February a mail escort on its way to Newcastle had been attacked by the Boers and forced back to Mount Prospect. The next day Colley, determined to keep his supplies and communication route open, escorted the mail wagon personally and this time with a larger escort.The Boer attacked the convoy at the Ingogo River crossing, but with a stronger force of some 300 men. The firepower was evenly matched and the fight continued for several hours, but the Boer marksmen dominated the action until darkness and a storm permitted Colley and the remainder of his troops to retreat back to Mount Prospect. In this engagement the British lost 139 officers and men, half the original force that had set out to escort the mail convoy.On 14 February hostilities were suspended, awaiting the outcome of peace negotiations initiated by an offer from Kruger. During this time Colley’s promised reinforcements arrived with more to follow. The British government in the meantime had offered a Royal Commission investigation and possible troop withdrawal, and their attitude toward the Boers was conciliatory. Colley was critical of this stance and, whilst waiting for Kruger’s final agreement, decided to attack again with a view to enabling the British government to negotiate from a position of strength. Unfortunately this resulted in the disaster of the Battle of Majuba Hill on 27 February 1881, the greatest humiliation for the British. On 26 February 1881, Colley led a night march of some 360 men to the top of Majuba Hill that overlooked the main Boer position. Early the next morning the Boers saw Colley occupying the summit, and started to ascend the hill. The Boers, shooting accurately and using all available natural cover, advanced toward the trapped British position. Several Boer groups stormed the hill and drove off the British at great cost to the British, including the loss of Major-General Colley. Many of the British were killed or wounded, some falling to their deaths down the mountain. This had such an impact that during the Second Boer War, one of the British slogans was "Remember Majuba." The Boers suffered only one killed and five wounded.Hostilities continued until 6 March 1881, when a truce was declared, ironically on the same terms that Colley had disparaged. The Transvaal forts had endured, contrary to Colley’s forecast, with the sieges being generally uneventful, the Boers content to wait for hunger and sickness to strike. The forts had suffered only light casualties as an outcome of sporadic engagements, except at Potchefstroom, where twenty-four were killed, and seventeen at Pretoria, in each case resulting from occasional raids on Boer positions.Although the Boers exploited their advantages to the full, their unconventional tactics, marksman skills and mobility do not fully explain the heavy losses of the British. Like the Boers, British soldiers were equipped with breech-loading rifles (the Martini-Henry) but they were (unlike the Boers) professionals and the British Army had previously fought campaigns in difficult terrains and against elusive enemy such as the tribesmen of the Northern Territories in modern day Afghanistan.Historians lay much of the blame at the feet of the British command and Major-General Sir George Pomeroy Colley, in particular, but poor intelligence and bad communications also contributed to British losses.At Laing’s Nek it seems that Colley not only underestimated the Boer capabilities, but had been misinformed of, and was surprised by, the strength of the Boers forces. The confrontation at Ingogo Nek was perhaps rash, given that reserves were being sent, and Colley had by then experienced the Boer strength and capabilities. Indeed, strategists have speculated as to whether the convoy should have proceeded at all when it was known to be vulnerable to attack, and whether it was necessary for Colley himself to take command of the British guard. Colley's decision to initiate the attack at Majuba Hill when truce discussions were already underway appears to have been foolhardy particularly as there was limited strategic value, as the Boer positions were out of rifle range from the summit. Once the Battle of Majuba Hill had begun, Colley’s command and understanding of the dire situation seemed to deteriorate as the day went on, as he sent unclear signals to the British forces at Mount Prospect by heliograph, first requesting reinforcements and the next stating that the Boers were retreating. The poor leadership, intelligence and communications resulted in the deaths of many British soldiers.The British government of William Gladstone was conciliatory as it realised that any further action would require substantial troop reinforcements, and it was likely that the war would be costly, messy and protracted. Unwilling to get bogged down in a distant war with apparently minimal returns (the Transvaal at the time had no known mineral resources, or other significant resources, being essentially a cattle and sheep agricultural economy), the British government ordered a truce.Under instructions from the British government, Sir Evelyn Wood (who had replaced Colley upon his death on 27 February 1881) signed an armistice to end the war, and subsequently a peace treaty was signed with Kruger at O'Neil's Cottage on 6 March. In the final peace treaty on 23 March 1881, the British agreed to Boer self-government in the Transvaal under a theoretical British oversight, the Boers accepting the Queen’s nominal rule and British control over African affairs and native districts. A three-man Royal Commission drew up the Pretoria Convention, which was ratified on 25 October 1881, by the Transvaal Volksraad (parliament). This led to the withdrawal of the last British troops.When in 1886 a second major mineral find was made at an outcrop on a large ridge some thirty miles south of the Boer capital at Pretoria, it reignited British imperial interests. The ridge, known locally as the "Witwatersrand" (literally "white water ridge" – a watershed) contained the world's largest deposit of gold-bearing ore. Although it was not as rich as gold finds in Canada and Australia, its consistency made it especially well-suited to industrial mining methods. By 1899, when tensions erupted once more into the Second Boer War, the lure of gold made it worth committing the vast resources of the British Empire and incurring the huge costs required to win that war. The sharp lessons the British learned during the First Boer War which included Boer marksmanship, tactical flexibility, and good use of ground had largely been forgotten when the second war broke out 18 years later, which also led to heavy casualties as well as many setbacks for the British. Nicolaas Pieter Johannes ("Niklaas" or "Siener") Janse van Rensburg August 30, 1864 – March 11, 1926) was a Boer from the South African Republic - also known as the Transvaal Republic - and later a citizen of South Africa who was considered by some to be a prophet of the Boere (who are the smaller section of the language based macro group which became known as Afrikaners). Consequently his nickname became Siener, which is Afrikaans for "seer" or "soothsayer". His seemingly accurate predictions of future events were typically wrapped in a patriotic, religious format. During the Boer War he soon acquired a reputation which made him a trusted companion, if not advisor to General de la Rey and President Steyn. The true extent of his influence with these figures is disputed,though the very religious de la Rey seemed to have considered him a prophet of God He was born on the farm Palmietfontein in the Potchefstroom district as son of Willem Jacobus Janse van Rensburg and Anna Catharina Janse van Rensburg. He only received 20 days of formal school training at the Rooipoort farm school, and spent much of his youth as a cattle herder. He could never write, but assisted by his mother learnt to read from the Bible. He never read anything else. At age 16 he participated in a government expedition against the rebellious tribal leader Mapog. He survived malaria acquired on the expedition and settled near Wolmaranstad in the then western ZAR. He was elected as elder for the Hervormde Kerk at age 21, possibly due to his scriptural knowledge. He married Anna Sophia Kruger in 1884. Van Rensburg and his brother were commandeered to participate in the second Anglo-Boer War under General du Toit. He was however unarmed and never fired a shot, but delivered a stream of prophesies that continued throughout the war. As the seer would later explain, a nightly visitor would have woken him only a day before the outbreak of war, with a message that his work was dedicated to God. Following the encounter he was beset with a fear that wouldn't dissipate. When his disturbed state continued to their sojourn in Kimberley, his superiors sent him home. Experiencing no relief, he returned to the Siege of Kimberley, where a vision revealed to him the defeat and loss of life that the war would bring about.Shortly afterwards, possibly at Graspan, his disturbed state lifted permanently when a soldier was wounded on his side, as a vision revealed to him shortly before. Van Rensburg then travelled with general Piet Cronjé but escaped the encirclement by British forces at Paardeberg. Subsequently he travelled with different commandos, where a number of apparently accurate predictions established his reputation. A report of his visions attracted the attention of General de la Rey, who recruited Van Rensburg for his commando. On December 7, 1900, General de Wet found himself cornered against the Caledon River which was in flood, while British forces were assailing his position. When his surrender appeared imminent, a message of De la Rey was delivered by a Boer scout. Van Rensburg had foreseen the situation and the message outlined an escape route, which was duly followed, leaving the pursuers to succumb in the torrent De Wet had just traversed.De la Rey, also hard pressed by his enemy, dispatched Van Rensburg to accompany President Steyn to Roodewal, De Wet's safe retreat in the northern Free State. Here Van Rensburg advised them to wait upon two horsemen which he described, who arrived the next day with a message from acting President Schalk Burger. On September 13, 1901, Van Rensburg found himself in the camp of Commandant Roux at Rietkuil near Vredefort. Sensing imminent danger, he advised those present, who had just retired for the day, to depart from the camp at once. Roux was slow to take heed, and his men more so, as scouts had not observed any enemy units. Van Rensburg, his wife and children escaped on a cart, shortly before the greater part of the camp was captured in a surprise attack Van Rensburg was present when Commandant Van Aardt's company returned from the action at Yzerspruit on February 25, 1902. Van Aardt was despondent as his brother was missing in action but Van Rensburg assured him that he was neither dead nor captured, but alive though in great pain. The wounded soldier was returned to camp the same evening, carried on the horse of a burgher who found him. Before the Battle of Tweebosch, Van Rensburg gave a number of predictions indicating how the enemy would approach along the Harts River, and when he deemed them most vulnerable. He also envisaged how the victory would enhance De la Rey's reputation. Methuen's force collapsed in the face of De la Rey's sudden attack on March 7, 1902, and Methuen was captured. On March 17, 1902, President Steyn, in the company of De Wet and Hertzog, arrived at Zendelingsfontein, De la Rey's headquarters near Klerksdorp, to consult De la Rey's physician about an eye ailment. Van Rensburg was once again dispatched to guard the president. Around the 23rd he had a vision of English troops arriving, but the president was unwilling to heed his warning, until De la Rey intervened urgently on Van Rensburg's behalf. The president departed for the safety of the Molopo River on the evening of the 24th. British troops arrived at Zendelingsfontein during the early hours of the 25th and captured two of De la Rey's adjutants. Gaining entry to General Kemp's war council in the bushveld region, he soon warned them against attacking a retreating enemy, which would leave them vulnerable to encirclement. At the subsequent Battle of Harts River on March 31, 1902, some British units did fall back, though some Canadians stood their ground until overpowered by burgher forces. Kemp, though partially or grudgingly heeding the seer's visions, was generally reluctant to give him credit. In January 1901 Van Rensburg had a vision indicating the flight of three Boer women, who were soon found and rescued by his host Willem Bosman. Days after rejoining De la Rey's commando he had visions of members of his own family being captured, and asked for leave to assist them. The Van Rensburg family fled from their farmhouse as English forces approached, but the wagon train carrying the elderly, women and neighbours was surprised and captured by traitors the following morning. Van Rensburg's parents, eldest daughter Hester and four younger children were subsequently interned at the Mafeking concentration camp. Van Rensburg, his wife, eldest son Willem and two daughters travelled with a group which managed to evade their pursuers, and Van Rensburg once again joined De la Rey's commando. Upon meeting his wife again in mid October 1901, they found their farmhouse destroyed. Van Rensburg's ominous premonition concerning their daughters, Anna and Maria, was confirmed when news arrived that they and two relatives had died during an outbreak of measles in the concentration camp. When the Union of South Africa came out in support of the Allied Powers in World War I, Van Rensburg allied with the rebels. The rebellion received a fatal blow even before it started, when the influential general Koos de la Rey was accidentally killed on September 15, 1914. De la Rey, when killed, was en route to General J.G.C. Kemp, who subsequently organised the rebellion in western Transvaal. On November 2, Kemp addressed a public meeting at Vleeskraal, near Schweizer-Reneke, with the locally influential Van Rensburg at his side. Van Rensburg also addressed the assembly, and assured them that his visions indicated they had little to fear. 610 men then joined the rebel cause, and with conscription imminent, the number of rebel volunteers grew to 1,800. General Kemp decided on a company of 720 men, mostly farmers, which included Van Rensburg and his son. They departed immediately on a journey to join Manie Maritz in German South-West Africa. After a desert trek and much hardship they linked up with Maritz's company on November 29. Rebels under De Wet and Beyers were rounded up by South African forces in the days that followed. Returning to South Africa, Maritz and Kemp engaged government forces at Nous, Lutzputs and finally at Upington, on February 3, 1915. Van Rensburg's son Willem was mortally wounded in the Upington clash, and the whole rebel force captured, with the exception of Maritz who fled via German South-West Africa, to Angola and from thence to Portugal,Van Rensburg, like his comrades, received a prison sentence. He however served about a year, first in Boksburg, then in the Old Fort, Johannesburg After his release Nicolaas van Rensburg returned to his farm Rietkuil, near Wolmaranstad. Some of his visions were then recorded by reverend Dr. Rossouw. Van Rensburg's daughter Anna Badenhorst also recorded a set of visions up to his death at age 61. The latter set is considered to be difficult to interpret and not very coherent. With the outbreak of World War II, the collections of visions were considered inflammatory. Distribution was prohibited and some copies seized on orders of prime minister Jan Smuts. Upon Anna's death her hand written documents were transferred to Lichtenburg museum's archives, where they were rediscovered in 1991. The farm and van Rensburg family cemetery are located 11 km from Ottosdal, in the North West Province. Gen.De La Rey His mother perceived his visions even as a toddler, and noticed that these seemed to disturb him. General Hertzog described him as someone continuously distracted by a maze of imagery and symbolism. In all, some 700 visions have been recorded. The nature of his visions invariably concerned the welfare of the Boere, the Netherlands and Germany, and were experienced by him as visual imagery to be interpreted afterwards. When the image of the sisal plant occurred in his visions, he for instance interpreted this as a portend of an important meeting, assembly or parliament. He is believed by some to have made many accurate predictions of local events, including foretelling the death of general Koos de la Reyand the political transition of South Africa after his own death. At times his visions also concerned international events, among which the start of World War Iand the rise of Communism.He was unable to interpret some of his own visions. These, written down, are still open to interpretation, and believed by some to pertain to future events. Boer soldier Deneys Reitz's account of the Boer War contains a colourful objective account of one of the seer's predictions (shortened): ... a prophet, a strange character, with long flowing beard and wild fanatical eyes, who dreamed dreams and pretended to possess occult powers. I personally witnessed one of the lucky hits while we were congregated around the General's cart. Van Rensburg was expounding his latest vision to a hushed audience. It ran of a black bull and a red bull fighting, until at length the red bull sank defeated to its knees, referring to the British. Arms outstretched and eyes ablaze, he suddenly called out: See, who comes?; and, looking up, we made out a distant horseman spurring towards us. When he came up, he produced a letter from General Botha, hundreds of miles away. General de la Rey opened it and said: Men, believe me, the proud enemy is humbled. The letter contained news that the English had proposed a peace conference. Coming immediately upon the prophecy, it was a dramatic moment and I was impressed, even though I suspected that van Rensburg had stage-managed the scene. Of the general's sincerity there could be no doubt as he firmly believed in the seer's predictions. BACK TO TOP

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History & Heritage GAUTENG - NORTHERN CAPE - FREE STATE - WESTERN CAPE EASTERN CAPE - KWA ZULU NATAL - LIMPOPO - NORTH WEST - MPUMALANGA Gauteng History & Heritage Maropeng’s Stone Park Maropeng’s Stone Park is, on the one hand, symbolic of humankind’s impact on nature, and on the other, a unique, new functional space created in the grounds of the Cradle of Humankind visitor centre. Introducing the theme of human achievement, two massive granite stone tools make for an imposing sight at the entrance to the park, which is expected to become a popular multifunctional area in which visitors can mingle, relax and celebrate. Its open design and semi-circular arrangement of large granite blocks allow the park to be used as a venue for concerts, picnics, festivals or weddings, while bespoke lighting illuminates the granite curve at night, making it especially appealing for evening functions. Designers FSG Landscaping appointed a team of 30 to work on the large-scale landscaping installation, which was envisioned to blend in with the surrounding landscape. Great care was taken to minimise disturbance of flora and fauna at this historically significant site. The park was completed in late 2017. With conservation playing a guiding role in the project, plants that were removed have been replanted on the new site, along with new indigenous flora such as flowering shrubs. Macit Tours & Travel Macit Tours & Travel is an owner-run tour and travel company in Johannesburg. The Macit Tours component specialises in organising guided and self-drive tours in Southern Africa, while its sister company Macit Travel focuses on global corporate and leisure travel. Consistently rated as “excellent” on TripAdvisor , Macit Tours has been in operation for almost 20 years. Macit offers day tours in and around Johannesburg, as well as cross-border trips to Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Tanzania. In addition to organising tours, it also arranges airport transfers, accommodation, car rental and global flights for clients. Tours on offer fall under various categories – historical, wildlife and adventure – and visitors can choose from half-day, full-day and extended tours. Johannesburg city tours might include a half-day outing to the city centre, the Origins Centre at Wits University or Constitution Hill, while a full-day excursion could extend to Maropeng and the Sterkfontein Caves in the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site, Hartbeespoort Dam , ziplining at Sparkling Waters Hotel and Spa in the Magaliesberg, Harties Cableway, or a Soweto township tour. Tours are customised to suit your requirements and budget and cater for two to 50 guests, with transport provided in comfortable vans or buses, depending on group size. Macit prides itself on personal service. Macit is your one-stop provider of corporate and leisure travel services, also making provision for conferences, incentives and tailor-made holidays. The Origins Centre The Origins Centre is a world-class museum that provides insight into the intriguing origins of humankind and human development. If you are fascinated by the theory of evolution, then this centre at the University of the Witwatersrand, is a must-visit destination when it comes to Johannesburg tourism. Opened in 2006, Origins Centre showcases Africa’s unique heritage and culture through rock art paintings dating back thousands of years, collected from all over Southern Africa. The rock paintings were the work of the San and visitors can expect to learn about the fascinating beliefs and rituals – such as hunting and the trance dance – of this ancient tribe. The rock art collection has been sourced from various regions in southern Africa by the Wits Rock Art Research Institute. The museum combines cutting-edge technology and the creative ingenuity of South African artists to guide visitors on a journey beginning at the earliest evidence of humans, working its way through the development of art, symbolism, and technology on the African continent. The display includes fossils discovered in South Africa, as well as numerous palaeoanthropological, and archaeological materials. The exhibitions are designed to cater to a wide range of age groups and knowledge, from young children to those with an academic interest in the subject. Information is packaged in a diverse range of mediums, including a virtual reality computer game, films and projections. Origins Centre also houses an extensive range of ancient tools and artefacts of spiritual importance to early humans. On average, the museum experience runs for 90 minutes with the aid of an audio guide that is available in six languages: Zulu, Sotho, English, Afrikaans, French and German. Visitors are also able to apply for a DNA test to trace their ancestral origins. The test is conducted at the National Health Laboratory Services, located at the corner of Joubert and De Kotze streets in Braamfontein. The Mapungubwe Collection Mapungubwe was a famous gold-trading kingdom that reached its peak many centuries ago in the mid-1200s AD. Today you can see the famous Mapungubwe gold hoard on display at the Arts Building on the University of Pretoria campus in Tshwane. Discovered in a burial mound in Mapungubwe in (what is now) Limpopo province in the 1930s, the gold collection includes hundreds of gold bracelets and anklets, thousands of gold beads and tens of thousands of glass beads, a small selection of which are on display in a one-room exhibition. The star attraction is the exquisite golden rhino statuette. Made entirely from gold sheets and held together with gold nails, the Mapungubwe rhino is one of the most impressive archaeological discoveries made in Southern Africa. Other extraordinary golden items on display include bovine-like creatures and a feline statuette similarly fashioned from gold sheeting, a ceremonial bowl and part of a golden sceptre. The Arts Building also contains a large ceramics collection that includes 18th-century Dutch vases, bowls and decorative tiles, and a variety of historic Chinese ceramics, as well as a handful of 19th-century Dutch oil paintings and items of Dutch furniture that date back to the same period. No photography is allowed. Hours: Monday to Friday 8 am to 4 pm; closed Saturday, Sunday and public holidays. Plovers Lake Plovers Lake is situated in the fossil-rich Cradle of Humankind region of Gauteng. The cave has been open since the late 1980s and thousands of fossils have been excavated from the site. Plovers Lake is located 4km southeast of Sterkfontein and Kromdraai, and is dated around 1 million years old, based on the size of porcupine fossils found at the site. The fossil-bearing cavity has been declared a South African National Heritage Site and is located about 36km north-west of the City of Johannesburg. Historical background Plovers Lake has had two periods of excavation – one in the late 1980s and early 1990s; and the second from 2000 to 2004. The first excavation is referred to as the “Outer Deposits”, and was led by CK “Bob” Brain and Francis Thackeray. The second is known as “Inner Deposits” and was conducted by Lee Berger from the University of the Witwatersrand the Steve Churchill from Duke University. The excavation of the Outer Deposits unveiled a fossil baboon which had survived a saber-toothed cat attack. During the excavation of Inner Deposits, Berger and Churchill later discovered 25,000 fossil remains during the second excavation – including knives, spear points, tools and fragmentary hominid remains. Places of interest The Cradle of Humankind area boasts 13 excavation sites that are recognised as national heritage sites, both internationally and by the South African Heritage Resources Agency. For those wanting to experience the birthplace of humankind firsthand, the official visitor centres for the Cradle of Humankind, Maropeng and the Sterkfontein Caves, are within an easy hour’s drive from Johannesburg. Maropeng is a world-class exhibition centre that focuses on the development of humans and our ancestors over the past few million years. On arrival, visitors are met by what appears to be a massive burial mound, the entry point into the secrets of humankind’s beginnings. The Sterkfontein Caves, the site of the most longstanding, continuous palaeoanthropological dig in the world, are world-renowned for their fossil finds. These caves have produced the pre-human skull popularly known as “Mrs Ples,” and an almost complete hominid skeleton affectionately known as “Little Foot”. Ditsong National Museum of Natural History The Ditsong National Museum of Natural History, formerly the Transvaal Museum, is South Africa’s leading natural history museum and one of the oldest in the country. The museum is situated in the centre of Pretoria (Tshwane) and was founded as the Staatsmuseum of South Africa on 1 December 1892. The museum has a vast range of displays and exhibits that are of great educational value, including hundreds of taxidermied birds and animals, amazing collections of insects and butterflies, and a valuable geological collection. The story of life on Earth and of the unique geological foundations of the African continent are outlined, and the theory of evolution is explained in detail, illustrated with fossils of prehistoric creatures that once roamed across South Africa and detailed diagrams. One of the key features of the museum is the Austin Roberts Bird Hall. Visitors will find an astonishing collection of 875 species of stuffed birds indigenous to South Africa, including eagles, owls and even vultures. Information on the migration, feeding and flight patterns of South Africa’s different bird species can also be studied in the well-arranged hall. The museum is easily accessed by wheelchair and display texts are also transcribed in Braille for the blind. School and family visits are accommodated and the museum is well used by researchers from across the globe working to understand the diversity of wildlife in Southern Africa. Stargazing at Maropeng The Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site is one of the biggest attractions on the Gauteng map. It’s just a 40-minute drive from Johannesburg, which is far enough to escape the bright city lights that make viewing stars difficult. Maropeng, the official visitor’s centre for the cradle region, offers stargazing evenings with local astronomy expert Vincent Nettmann who will point out all the most significant constellations and nebulae. These monthly ‘astro-dinner dates’ are planned well in advance and bookings are recommended, however, they’re definitely among the best things to do in Gauteng. Evenings begin with sundowners at the Maropeng Hotel, where you can marvel at the impressive sunset views over the rolling hills of the protected Cradle of Humankind region. Then it’s time for dinner followed by a stargazing talk led by Nettman who has his own style of ‘edutainment’ which mixes facts about the night skies with entertaining stories from African folklore. According to the passionate stargazer Nettman, the southern hemisphere’s astronomical wealth if far richer than the North’s. He explains, “in the southern hemisphere there are two thirds more stars than in the northern hemisphere – it’s just the way nature is. Then if you look at light pollution in the big cities in Europe and America, there’s so much of it compared to down here.” Maropeng’s monthly stargazing events will have you examining stellar nurseries, pondering how the universe began and what fate awaits it, viewing Hubble Space Telescope images and mapping out the Milky Way. Subject to weather conditions, you will be able to observe sky objects and the moon through a range of large aperture telescopes. Booking is essential. Tickets can be booked via the Maropeng website’s Website: Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site Motsetsi Cave Motsetsi Cave (also known as Motsetse) is situated in the fossil-rich Cradle of Humankind region of Gauteng. The cave has been open since 1999, and tens of thousands of fossils have been excavated from the site, although no hominid fossils have been found at Motsetsi Cave to date. Motsetsi Cave is located 14km east of Sterkfontein and Kromdraai, and is dated between 1 and 1.6 million years old. The fossil-bearing cavity has been declared a South African National Heritage Site and is located about 45km north-west of the City of Johannesburg. Historical background Motsetsi Cave was discovered by Professor Lee Berger in 1999, giving way to a series of excavations in the area. Excavations are conducted by the University of Witwatersrand, although the University of Zurich has also led a few excavations at the site. Excavations at Motsetsi Cave have yielded more than 2000 macro-mammal specimens – bovids and carnivore fossils are abundant. Lime mining has also taken place at the site, and miners’ rubble covers much of the deposit. Places of interest The Cradle of Humankind area boasts 13 excavation sites that are recognised as national heritage sites, both internationally and by the South African Heritage Resources Agency. For those wanting to experience the birthplace of humankind firsthand, the official visitor centres for the Cradle of Humankind, Maropeng and the Sterkfontein Caves, are within an easy hour’s drive from Johannesburg. Maropeng is a world-class exhibition centre that focuses on the development of humans and our ancestors over the past few million years. On arrival, visitors are met by what appears to be a massive burial mound, the entry point into the secrets of humankind’s beginnings. The Sterkfontein Caves, the site of the most longstanding, continuous palaeoanthropological dig in the world, are world-renowned for their fossil finds. These caves have produced the pre-human skull popularly known as “Mrs Ples,” and an almost complete hominid skeleton affectionately known as “Little Foot”. Northern Cape Tourism Northern Cape Tourism Northern Cape Tourism information on national and provincial parks. Characterised by its vast expanses of space and silence, warm sunny climate, friendly people and hospitality, the Northern Cape is a province with a rich culture heritage. Below you will find information on Northern Cape Tourism. Diamond Fields The Big Hole in Kimberley is the largest hand-dug excavation in the world. In 1871, diamonds were discovered at the site and mined manually by prospectors. The Kimberley Tram Service dates back to the beginning of the 20th century and still transports passengers from the City Hall to the Mine Museum. Underground mine tours are a big attraction, as are the famous ghost tours, during which many historical buildings are seen from a different perspective. Hand and mechanical diamond-digging by private diggers can be viewed by appointment. The McGregor Museum houses invaluable collections of the archaeological finds in the area, as well as San art works. The house where Sol Plaatje (African National Congress founding member and human-rights activist) lived in Kimberley, has a library of Plaatje’s and other black South African writers’ works, and several displays, including a portrayal of black involvement in the Anglo-Boer/South African War. The Paterson Museum near Kimberley Airport houses a replica of a Paterson biplane, which was used for pilot training by the flying school operated by the Paterson Aviation Syndicate at Alexandersfontein. A township tour of Galeshewe provides a fresh perspective on South Africa’s socio-historical realities. Pan African Congress founder Robert Sobukwe’s house is there. The Magersfontein Battlefield outside Kimberley, with its original trenches and other defenses intact, is the site of the Boers’ crushing defeat of the British during the Siege of Kimberley. A cultural centre at Wildebeestkuil outside Kimberley features !Xun and Khwe artwork for sale and a tour of rock engravings by these indigenous people. Barkley West attracts many water-sports enthusiasts and anglers. Tucked along the Vaal River near Barkley West lies the Vaalbos National Park. The park is not only home to large raptors, but also a breeding centre for endangered African herbivores such as rhino, roan and sable antelope and disease-free buffalo. Kalahari At Black Rock, visitors can view a worked-out manganese mine. Danielskuil lies at the foot of the Kuruman hills. The Tswana people occupied the area before it became home to the Griquas. Boesmansgat, on the farm Mount Carmel outside Danielskuil, is a unique natural sinkhole – the second-deepest and largest of its kind in the world. Known as the “Oasis of the Kalahari,” Kuruman is blessed with a permanent and abundant source of water that flows from Gasegonyana (Setswana for “the little water calabash”) – commonly called the “Eye of Kuruman” – which yields 20 million litres of water per day. Moffat’s Mission in Kuruman features the house of missionary Robert Moffat, the church he built, and several other historic buildings. Moffat translated the Bible into Setswana – the first African language in which the Bible was made accessible. The printing press on which he printed the first 2 000 copies can still be viewed.The church he built seats 800 people and is still in use. Explorer David Livingstone married Moffat’s daughter and started many famous travels from this mission station. The Wonderwerk Cave at Kuruman features extensive San paintings that may be viewed by appointment. The Kalahari Raptor Centre cares for injured birds. Many of these majestic creatures can be seen at close quarters. The Witsand Nature Reserve, situated about 80 km south-west of Postmasburg, features a 100-m high dune of brilliant white sand. It stretches for about nine km and is about two km’s wide. Green Kalahari The Roaring Sands site on the farm Doornaar near Groblershoop is a popular tourist attraction. Its high sand dunes, surrounded by typically red Kalahari dunes, are said to “roar” when the wind blows. Along the hand-built irrigation canals at Kakamas 11 waterwheels are still used. Kanoneiland is a settlement on the biggest island in the Orange River. At Keimoes, the Orange River flows at its widest. The Tierberg Nature Reserve offers spectacular views of the Keimoes Valley and the many islands in the Orange River. The original irrigation canal system is still in use. The Orange River Wine Cellar’s largest cellar is situated here. Kenhardt is the oldest town in the Lower Orange River area. The Quiver Tree Forest and Kokerboom Hiking Trail, consisting of between 4 000 and 5 000 quiver trees, are within easy driving distance of the town. Upington is the commercial, educational and social centre of the Green Kalahari, owing its prosperity to agriculture and its irrigated lands along the Orange River. A camel-and-rider statue in front of the town’s police station pays tribute to the “mounties,” who patrolled the harsh desert territory on camels. Kalahari Desert Speedweek, in its third year at the beginning of October 2014, is an annual eight-day speed festival held in a far north-western corner of South Africa where tumbleweeds can roam for days nonstop and the dried-up lake beds are tailor-made for top-speed exploration. It is a proper run-what-you-brung motorsport event where anybody is welcome to enter, and anything with an engine is eligible. Over the years, the event has also become a meeting place for all sorts of eccentric machinery and people. Expect anything from 1940s-vintage Nash sedans limping along in period-correct warbird liveries to finely tuned Italian exotics humming at breakneck speeds, billowing dust clouds in tow. The Orange River displays its impressive power at the Augrabies Falls in the Augrabies Falls National Park. Visitors can hire canoes to ensure closer contact with the natural heritage surrounding the world’s sixth-largest waterfall. The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park comprises 38 000 m2 of land, making it one of the largest conservation areas in the world. Straddling the Green Kalahari and Botswana, the park is a two-million-hectare sanctuary for various raptors, antelope, gemsbok, springbok, blue wildebeest, red hartebeest, eland, Kalahari lion, black-maned lion, brown and spotted hyena, leopard, cheetah, and smaller game, including mongoose, porcupine and the endangered honey badger. Namaqualand The Namas are the indigenous people of Namaqualand. Their traditional Nama reed huts still abound in Leliefontein, Nourivier and Steinkopf . Namaqualand is famous for a spectacular annual show in spring when an abundance of wild flowers covers vast tracts of desert. The flowers sprout and survive for a brief period before they wilt and disappear in the blistering heat and dry conditions just as suddenly as they appeared. The small town of Garies is the centre for those setting out to enjoy this show of exuberance in the Kamiesberg. After diamonds were discovered along the West Coast in 1925, Alexander Bay has become known for its mining activities. The town is no longer a high-security area and no permits are needed to enter. The Alexkor Museum paints a picture of the history of the area. The town also features the world’s largest desert lichenfield, which has some 26 species. More Northern Cape Tourism At Hondeklip Bay, visitors can dive for crayfish and watch the local fisher folk conduct their trade. Port Nolloth is a centre for the small-scale diamond-recovery and crayfish industries. It is the only holiday resort on the Diamond Coast. The local factory sells fish and crayfish in season. Set in a narrow valley bisecting the granite domes of the Klein Koperberge lies Springbok . South of Springbok, near Kamieskroon, lies the Skilpad Wild Flower Reserve, part of the Namaqua National Park, which captures the full grandeur of the flower season. The 1 000-ha reserve is open only during the flower season. The Goegap Nature Reserve comprises 15 004 ha of typically granite, rocky hills and sandy flats. The reserve also offers a 4×4 trail, as well as several hiking and mountain-biking trails. Namaqualand is also home to the Ais-Ais/Richtersveld National Park. It is managed jointly by the local Nama people and South African National Parks. Upper Karoo (Bo-Karoo) Flanked by the Towerberg, Colesberg is one of the Northern Cape’s most beautiful towns. The town features one of the country’s last working horsemills. An Anglo-Boer/South African War tour is also on offer. A weekend tour includes a visit to the Norvals-pont prisoner-of-war camp and cemetery. Colesberg has bred many of the country’s top Merino sheep. It is also renowned for producing high-quality racehorses. De Aar is the most important railway junction in South Africa. The author Olive Schreiner lived in the town for many years. Visitors can dine in her former house, which has been converted into a restaurant. Hanover is known for its handmade shoes and articles made mostly from sheepskin and leather. The “Star of South Africa” diamond was discovered at Hopetown. The town also features an old toll house and a block house dating from the Anglo-Boer/South African War. At Wonderdraai near Prieska, visitors can see the horseshoe-shaped island formed by the flow of the Orange River. It seems as if the river turns to flow uphill. Vanderkloof, built to house the people building the Vanderkloof Dam, was turned into a flourishing holiday resort. Visitors can enjoy waterskiing, boardsailing, boating and swimming, or visit the Eskom Hydro-electric Power Station within the dam’s wall. The rare riverine rabbit is found in the Victoria West Nature Reserve. Hantam Karoo Near Brandvlei lies Verneukpan where Sir Malcolm Campbell unsuccessfully attempted to break the world land-speed record in 1929. Carnarvon is well known for its corbelled dome-roofed houses built of flat stones because of a lack of wood. The floors of these interesting houses were smeared and coloured with a rich red mixture of fat and oxblood and polished with smooth stone. A few kilometres outside Fraserburg lies the Gansfontein Palaeosurface. Discovered in 1968, it comprises several trackways of large, four-footed and five-toed mammalian reptiles. The prints are estimated to be some 190 million years old. Sutherland, birthplace of NP van Wyk Louw, well-known Afrikaans author and poet, is also known for its brilliant night skies and cold, biting winters. The South African Astronomical Observatory’s observation telescopes, including the Southern African Large Telescope (Salt), are in Sutherland. The sterboom (star tree), which blossoms in September, is found only in Sutherland . The Tankwa Karoo National Park, on the southern border of the Northern Cape, 70 km west of Sutherland, encompasses the Succulent Karoo Biome, the world’s only arid hotspot, stretches 116 000 km² from the southwestern Cape into southern Namibia. The landscape offers seasonal contrasts of coloured wild flowers and stark desert, set against the backdrop of the Roggeveld Escarpment to the east, Klein Roggeveld to the south and the Cederberg to the west. Its extensive desert plateaus are ideal for viewing game such as gemsbok, Cape mountain zebra , springbuck and bustards. Kalahari Red Dune Route Winding through the Kalahari – from just north of Upington all the way into the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park – the Red Dune Route drifts from guest house to game farm in a pleasurable combination of unlimited hospitality and arresting scenery. The locals say that once you’ve felt the red sand of the Kalahari between your toes, your heart will always return to this desert wonderland. The Kalahari Red Dune Route showcases the Kalahari through a wide range of activities including duneboarding, camel riding and 4×4 trailing for the adventurous, and game drives, guided walks, birding expeditions and other eco-inclined activities for nature-lovers. For visitors attuned to culture and history, the route offers the opportunity to experience regional customs and folklore, sample traditional cuisine, and meet the warm and welcoming people of the Kalahari. Accommodation options are as diverse as the landscape, and vary from camping to homely bed and breakfasts to luxury lodges. All in all, the Kalahari Red Dune Route offers something for everyone. Richtersveld Route The Richtersveld is a vast and unforgiving environment; stark and dramatic, yet strikingly beautiful. This route is for the self-sufficient 4×4 traveller only and it is highly recommended that you travel in a convoy as you traverse this largely uninhabited part of the Northern Cape. It is a mountainous desert situated in the north-west corner of South Africa. To its west is the cold and rough Atlantic Ocean, while the remarkable Orange River, the largest river in South Africa, winds along its northern border. The Richtersveld has the highest diversity of succulent plants in the world (4 849 species, of which 1 940 are endemic), as well as eerie coastal mists, alluvial diamonds and truly indigenous cultures. While many people already know about the Richtersveld National Park, few realise there is an equally large protected area to the south, previously called the Richtersveld Community Conservancy. This area is the last refuge of Nama people living what is known as the transhumant lifestyle – to migrate seasonally with their livestock from mountains to the river and so make sustainable use of the fragile succulent ecosystem. In recognition of this vanishing lifestyle, and of the rare botanical diversity it helps protect, the conservancy has been declared the core of a new World Heritage Site – one of only eight in the South Africa. Each small village in the Richtersveld has distinctive features and characteristics. The traditional culture of the inhabitants should be explored and enjoyed. Visiting these hospitable and friendly people is an essential part of any trip to the area. The |Ai |Ais-Richtersveld National Park is unique in that it is a contractual park – jointly managed by the local community and South African National Parks. Stock farmers may continue to graze their livestock in the park, thereby maintaining a centuries-old tradition. Namakwa Coastal Route The Namakwa Coastal route is a rugged nature experience along the unexplored north-west coast of South Africa’s Northern Cape. These shores have remained virtually unknown to the public at large as it is within the restricted and previously forbidden diamond mining areas. The route runs along the coast from “Groenrivier” mouth until Port Nolloth and is ideal if you are looking for peace, tranquility and adventure. However many of the roads on the route are not accessible to ordinary saloon cars and more suitable for 4×4. If coming from the south (Cape Town) the route starts in Namaqua National Park . Basic accommodation and/or camp sites are available all through the route. On one side, breathtaking scenes of the Atlantic Ocean include occasional sightings of dolphins and whales, while on the other lies the endemic wildlife of the enraptured veld. North of the Namaqua National Park you will enter the previously restricted Namaqualand Mines area. The valuable mineral treasures hidden within its sands have made these restrictions necessary but diamonds are not the only treasures. This sandveld has been jealously guarded and while still largely unspoilt and crime-free is home to many indigenous plants, animals and insects. The coastline, with its flowing dunes and mysterious shipwrecks, has been opened to the fortunate few who come in a 4×4 or can participate in organised guided tours. Kimberley Diamond Route The Diamond Route comprises a series of properties – owned by companies traditionally associated with diamond mining, namely De Beers, E Oppenheimer & Son and Ponahalo Holdings – that have been set aside for conservation and tourism. Many have accommodation, ranging from luxurious lodges to camping, and offer a range of wildlife and outdoor activities. The route was designed to rehabilitate and conserve six hectares of land for every hectare a company mines, as a way to redress the balance between the use of natural resources and sustaining the ecosystem. Combined the route makes up 250 000 hectares across South Africa and Botswana. These properties give people a chance to commune with the diversity of nature – from cultivated gardens to mopani woodlands and riverine forests to savannah grassland and the sandscapes of the Kalahari. Kokerboom Food & Wine Route The Kokerboom Food and Wine Route highlights some of the attractions that can be found along the stretch of the Orange River, including activities, accommodation, restaurants and sightseeing. Where the Kalahari and the Nama-Karoo deserts meet, the Great Gariep River (Orange River) flows, bringing life to the typically arid worlds on both sides, and turning the area into an oasis. It is here that travellers can experience the Kokerboom Food and Wine Route. The route takes the traveller into one of the most interesting and beautiful areas of South Africa’s Northern Cape province and embraces the towns and settlements of Keimoes, Kanoneiland, Kenhardt, Augrabies, Upington and Marchand. The Kokerboom Food and Wine Route has something for everyone. The route is located in an arid zone, with stifling hot summers (up to 45°C) and chilly winter nights. The Great Gariep, known more commonly as the Orange River, winds through the landscape and brings it life. This river was once called “God’s gift to the Southern African thirstland”. The greenbelt along the river’s banks contrasts sharply with the rising rocky cliffs. Irrigation schemes have stretched the greenbelt into the desert, making acres of vineyards and other agriculture possible. Ten percent of South Africa’s vineyards are found in the Orange River valley and southern Kalahari. Karoo Highlands Route Ever yearned for a space so vast that the horizon continues into the future? Or to see the stars so clearly you feel that you touch them? The Karoo Highlands Route is where you can experience such uniqueness. The area is renowned for the hospitality of its farming community. Whether you’ll be admiring the inimitability of the corbelled houses or looking back in time at the Gansfontein Palaeo Surface, your heart will surely be touched by this region as never before. The Karoo Highland Route is situated in the southern part of the Northern Cape in South Africa. The route covers the small Karoo towns of Nieuwoudtville, Calvinia, Williston, Sutherland, Fraserburg, Carnarvon, Loxton and Victoria West and forms the heart of the Great Karoo. The Karoo is the home of peace and tranquillity where you can recharge your batteries, while exploring the wide open plains dotted with koppies (hills). This is a place where a huge telescope allows you to look back to the beginnings of our universe 13-billion years, and where pre-dinosaurs roamed the Earth and the first people gazed up to the heavens. People have lived on this massive plateau, the largest of its kind outside Asia, for about 500 000 years. The Khoi and San people who left their legacy as art on the rocks gave the Karoo its name. The place’s name comes from karusa, a Khoi word which means dry, barren, thirst land. This aptly describes this region where water is scarce. It is an ancient, fossil rich land, with some important archaeological sites, as well as the largest variety of succulents found anywhere on Earth: there are more than 9 000 plant species in the Great Karoo. The route offers plenty of interesting attractions, such as Sutherland’s astronomical observatory, Carnarvon’s Karoo Array radio telescope, Karoo architecture and corbelled houses, Anglo-Boer War sites, rock art, ancient palaeo surfaces, farm stays and medicinal plants. Quiver Tree Route The Quiver Tree Route contrasts stark fawn arid land and verdant green vineyards. The Great Gariep, known more commonly as the Orange River, winds through the landscape and brings life to the surrounding parched earth. The river was once called “God’s gift to the Southern African thirstland”. The greenbelt along the river’s banks contrasts sharply with the rising rocky cliffs. Irrigation schemes have stretched the greenbelt into the desert, making acres of vineyards and other agriculture possible. Ten percent of South Africa’s vineyards are found in the Orange River valley and southern Kalahari. The route includes the towns and settlements of much of the Green Kalahari and include Keimoes, Kanoneiland, Kenhardt, Augrabies, Upington and Marchand. The Quiver Tree Route has something for everyone. In addition to visiting the popular Augrabies Falls visitors can relax in hot springs, river raft, go on 4×4 trips, hike, bird watch, sample local delicacies and wines, touch the unique kokerboom (quiver tree) and even take a leisurely donkey cart ride through town. The kokerboom is a botanical symbol of this part of the world. Along the route one can experience dry, rugged mountains, desert adapted animal and plant life, red Kalahari dunes, stifling summer temperatures at day, and freezing desert temperatures at night. Free State Free State Free State province of South Africa. According to the Mid-year population estimates, 2017, there were over 2,8 million people in the Free State on about 129 825 km2 of land. The main languages spoken are Sesotho, Afrikaans and isiXhosa. The Free State has wide horizons and blue skies, farmland, mountains, goldfields and widely dispersed towns. It lies in the heart of South Africa, with Lesotho nestling in the hollow of its bean-like shape. Between the Vaal River in the north and the Orange River in the south, this immense rolling prairie stretches as far as the eye can see. The Free State sprawls over high plains and stretching along the Maluti Mountains bordering Lesotho. Near the sandstone cliffs and Basotho Cultural Village of Golden Gate Highlands National Park is Clarens , a town distinguished by its art galleries. The Anglo-Boer War Museum in South Africa’s judicial capital of Bloemfontein traces the Free State’s history as a Boer republic. Mangaung, comprising Bloemfontein, Botshabelo and Thaba Nchu, has an established institutional, educational and administrative infrastructure. With Bloemfontein being South Africa’s judicial capital, the province houses the Supreme Court of Appeal. Important towns include Welkom, Sasolburg , Odendaalsrus, Kroonstad, Parys, Phuthaditjhaba, Bethlehem and the charming village of Clarens situated in the rolling foothills of the Maluti Mountains. Some of South Africa’s most valued San rock art can be found in the Free State. Other tourist attractions include the Golden Gate National Park, the annual air show in Bethlehem, the Cherry Festival in Ficksburg and the Fauresmith International Endurance Ride equestrian event. The annual Mangaung African Cultural Festival, known as Macufe, is hosted in partnership with the Tourism Authority and the Performing Arts Centre of the Free State. The Vredefort Dome, 10 km in diameter, is South Africa’s seventh World Heritage Site. For information on Free State Towns/Cities please Click HERE . Municipal Regions of the Free state The Fezile Dabi District is an important agricultural production area, mainly maize. The Vaal Dam is the main source of water and offers a wide variety of leisure facilities. Other attractions include the Vredefort Dome, which is the third largest meteorite site in the world, and San paintings. Sasolburg is the location of the country’s largest chemical and synthetic fuel plant. The Lejweleputswa District boasts goldfields and it is a major agricultural area. The district forms part of the larger Witwatersrand basin. The first gold was discovered in the early 1940s. Bothaville is one of the important maize centres in the country. The annual National Maize Production Organisation festival attracts more than 70 000 visitors and is the second largest private show in the world. The Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality contains the largest population and comprises mainly of open grassland, with mountains in the most eastern region. The main urban centre is Bloemfontein. The city is the trade and administrative hub of the Free State and boasts the provincial government and the seat of the Appeal Court of South Africa. It also has a rich history, which includes the establishment of the African National Congress in 1912 and the National Party in 1914. The Thabo Mofutsanyana District borders Lesotho to the east and has beautiful hills and fruit farms. The district is one of the most important tourism destinations due to spectacular scenic beauty of the Drakensberg and Maluti mountain ranges. Other attractions include the Golden Gate Highland Park, the annual cherry festival at Ficksburg, a Basotho cultural village in Maluti-a-Phofung, and Khoisan rock paintings. The Xhariep District is located in the south-west of the province and is a semi-arid area with extensive farming, mainly sheep. The district comprises open grasslands with small wide dispersed towns. The Xhariep Dam is one of the tourists’ attractions. It offers a variety of leisure facilities. Although the Free State is the third-largest province in South Africa, it has the second-smallest population and the second-lowest population density. The economy is dominated by agriculture, mining and manufacturing. Known as the ‘bread basket’ of South Africa, about 90% of the province is under cultivation for crop production. It produces approximately 34% of the total maize production of South Africa, 37% of wheat, 53% of sorghum, 33% of potatoes, 18% of red meat, 30% of groundnuts and 15% of wool. The province is the world’s fifth-largest gold producer, with mining the major employer. It is a leader in the chemicals industry, being home to the giant synthetic-fuels company, Sasol. The Vredefort Dome, 10km in diameter, about 100km south-west of Johannesburg, is South Africa’s seventh World Heritage Site. The Free State is divided into one metropolitan municipality (Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality) and four district municipalities, which are further subdivided into 18 local municipalities. Free State Agriculture Agriculture dominates the Free State landscape, with cultivated land covering 32 000 km2 and natural veld and grazing 87 000 km2 of the province. Field crops yield almost two thirds of the gross agricultural income of the province. Animal products contribute a further 30%, with the balance generated by horticulture. Free State Mining The National Development Plan has intensified the mining potential that still exists in the goldfields region of Matjhabeng in the Lejweleputswa District as a job intervention zone. The De Bron-Merriespruit Gold Project and the Bloemhoek Gold Project are included as potential development projects in the scope of work of the Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Commission. The province has 12 gold mines, producing 30% of South Africa’s output and making it the fifth-largest producer of gold in the world. Gold mines in the Free State also supply a substantial portion of the total silver produced in the country. Uranium occurring in the gold-bearing conglomerates of the goldfields is extracted as a by-product. The Free State’s gold reef of more than 400 km stretches across the province from Gauteng. South Africa’s largest goldmining complex is Free State Consolidated Goldfields, with an area of 330 km2. Bituminous coal is mined and converted to petrochemicals at Sasolburg. The province also produces high-quality diamonds from its kimberlite pipes and fissures, and the country’s largest deposit of bentonite is found in the Koppies district. Free State Manufacturing and industry The Maluti-a-Phofung Special Economic Zone is the Free State’s share of the logistics and industrial corridor. The Vehicle Distribution Centre was established in partnership with the German Bremen Logistics Group, which committed R60 million towards this project. The Harrismith Food Processing Park forms part of the broader development initiative. The green economic solar zone in the Xhariep district was expected to result in the establishment of the Xhariep Solar Park, harnessing the solar radiation in the southern part of the Free State. The Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme forms part of Eskom’s capital expansion programme. This energy infrastructure project is located on the border of the Phumelela and Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipalities in the Free State and eMnambithi Local Municipality and the uThukela District Municipality in KwaZuluNatal. Sasol South Africa, the largest producer of synthetic fuels on the sub-continent, remains a key role-player in the Free State economy. Its investment in its Sasolburg operations is evident from the Wax Expansion project, the Ethylene Purification Unit 5, the Gas Engine Power Plant and Clean Fuels 2. The Omnia Nitric Acid complex, located within the Sasol Industrial Complex, includes a nitric acid plant, an ammonium nitrate plant, a porous ammonium nitrate plant, a fleet of 145 specialised ammonia rail tankers and other ancillary facilities. Free State Tourism Routes CHEETAH ROUTE The Cheetah Route takes you through the Mangaung District – the cultural and political heart of the Free State. Abundant historical, cultural and natural attractions make the region a top business and recreational destination. Towns on the Cheetah Route are: Bloemfontein Botshabelo Thaba-Nchu EAGLE ROUTE Following the Free State’s southern border with Lesotho, the Eagle route runs from Ficksburg to Harrismith through some of the most picturesque landscape in the country. Activity highlights include cherry picking, seeing dinosaur fossils and rock paintings, arts & craft shopping, skiing in the winter slopes, horse riding and 4X4 trips. The towns to explore on the Eagle route are: Ladybrand Clocolan Ficksburg Fouriesburg Clarens Bethlehem Phuthaditjhaba Harrismith Memel SPRINGBOK ROUTE The Springbok Route, which connects the Free State with the Northern Cape, winds through the scenic farmlands and nature reserves of the Xhariep District. A wealth of cultural and historical attractions en route include battle sites, San rock engravings, game farms and diamond mines. The towns along the Springbok route are: Jakobsdal Koffiefontein Jagersfontein Bethulie Gariep Dam Philippolis FLAMINGO ROUTE The Flamingo Route runs through the Lejweleputswa District, an important agricultural and gold-producing area. This combination makes for a variety of leisure activities – exploring a local gold mine, game viewing and visiting key historical sites. And for lovers of the fast lane, the Free State’s own Phakisa Freeway Race Track is a must-see. The route includes the following towns: Bothaville Brandfort Welkom Ventersburg Virginia Winburg LION ROUTE If you want a taste of everything that is typically “Free State”, the Lion Route has it – from culture to nature to history. The towns along the Lion Route are: Deneysville Sasolburg Parys Vredefort Kroonstad Tourism in The Free State Visit the Free State Tourism page HERE for more information. BASOTHO CULTURAL VILLAGE • Is a cultural jewel of the Free State. • Located about 14 km’s from the Golden Gate Hotel. • The rest camp has two and four sleeper self–catering rondavels with stunning views of the mountains. The Golden Gate Highlands National Park and approximately 80 provincial, municipal and privately owned nature parks, nature reserves, game reserves, game farms, etc. Hunting is a popular tourist attraction at farms such as Driehoek, Excelsior, Hanover, Hartenbos and Holfontein near Bultfontein. Other hunting areas with packaged tours are located at Hertzogville, Wesselsbron, areas around Thaba ’Nchu, Frankfort, Heilbron, etc The Free State National Botanical Garden in Bloemfontein spans over 70 ha and is home to approximately 400 species of plants mainly from the Free State, Northern Cape and Lesotho. Furthermore, approximately 124 species of birds and 54 species of reptiles inhabit the garden. Dramatic mountainscapes, huge bodies of water that lend themselves to recreation, spectacular national parks, World Heritage Sites, and wide open spaces — the Free State has all of this, and then some. As South Africa’s most centrally located province, the Free State is easy to get to and it has shown a growing ability and desire to host big events. Golf For information on Free State Golf Courses please visit this PAGE for contact details and brief summaries of some of the Gold Courses around the Free State. Opportunities for growth The current state and shape of Free State’s economy clearly presents huge opportunities for investors in the manufacturing sector. The Free State Development Corporation (FDC) is actively searching for investors, and giving them a helping hand, as in the construction of factories in the Harrismith and Botshabelo areas. The opening of a Makro store in Bloemfontein, and extensions being carried out on other retail malls, indicate that a recovery in the provincial economy is under way. Massive investments by companies in the oil and gas and petrochemical sector in Sasolburg have also boosted the economy. In agriprocessing, a number of opportunities exist in the province. Some products that are being explored are cherries, asparagus, vegetables, wholesale meat, leather and increased seed production in the province’s eastern reaches. Tourism is another sector that is being targeted as the province seeks to diversify its economy away from an over-dependence on agriculture and mining. Interesting Facts “City of Roses” With its King’s Park Rose Garden containing more than 4 000 rose bushes, the Free State’s major city, Bloemfontein, has rightfully earned the nickname “City of Roses”. The city also hosts an annual rose festival. Agricultural Festivals The town of Bothaville hosts one of the largest agricultural festivals in the world, NAMPO, every year during May. Attendance of the 2011 festival set a new record of 73 552 people over the four-day period. The town is also the head office of Maize South Africa. Bridge The longest bridge in South Africa is the D.H Steyn bridge at 2 993 meter on the outskirts of the town Bethulie in the Xhariep district. Centre point of SA Emmaus, the centre point of South Africa, is located 20 km from the town of Petrusburg in the Xhariep district. Cherries The annual Cherry Festival held in Ficksburg (Setsoto Local Municipality) is the oldest crop festival in South Africa. A little known fact is that all of South Africa’s glazed cherries are produced in Ficksburg. The 45th anniversary of this festival will be celebrated in 2012. Commercial Plane Crash Spitzkop, a koppie near Memel, was the site of South Africa’s first commercial plane crash. On 15 May 1948 a Skyliner (a version of the well known DC3) belonging to Mercury Airways, crashed into Spitzkop, killing all 13 people on board. The crash was, at the time, regarded as South Africa’s biggest air disaster. Dam The largest dam in South Africa is the Gariep Dam in the Xhariep district. Dinosaur Eggs The world’s oldest dinosaur eggs, 200 million-year-old prosauropod dinosaur embryos, were found in the Golden Gate National Park in the Thabo Mofutsanyane district in 1978. Oilseeds – Groundnuts Groundnuts are grown mainly in the Free State, North West and Northern Cape. The normal planting time for groundnuts is mid October to mid-November. Sunflower seed Sunflower seed is produced in the Free State, North West, the Mpumalanga Highveld and in Limpopo. During the 2016 production season, the bulk of the crop was produced in the Free State (55,7%), North West (34.1%) and Limpopo (9,1%). Fauresmith Fauresmith is the only town in South Africa, and one of only three in the world, where the railway line runs down the centre of the main road. Grain Silo’s The largest grain silo’s in the world is found at Wesselsbron. Jagersfontein Founded in 1870, Jagersfontein (Xhariep district) is the world’s oldest diamond mining town and the first place where diamonds were discovered in its mother stone or blue ground, or as it’s now known, Kimberlite. Of the ten biggest diamonds ever found, two came from the Jagersfontein mine. Highest town above sea level Petrus Steyn is the Free State town highest above sea level at 1702 meters. Indoor Arena The largest indoor arena in the southern hemisphere is in Parys. The Parys Indoor Arena is a first in South Africa and includes a sand warm-up arena in the Shute and a grass arena for flat work and lunging. The SA Boerboel championships, horse shows and cattle shows are regularly hosted at the arena. There are approximately 460 indoor stables, private boxes for spectators and it has its own restaurant and bar. Maloti-Drakensberg Transfrontier Conservation Area The Maloti-Drakensberg Transfrontier Conservation Area is a trans-boundary initiative in Lesotho and South Africa. It includes a conservation area and World Heritage Site, which was included on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in December 2000. The conserved areas include the Ukhahlamba World Heritage Site, Golden Gate National Park, QwaQwa National Park, Sterkfontein Dam Nature Reserve, and conserved areas within Lesotho. Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality The Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality is a metropolitan municipality which governs Bloemfontein and surrounding towns in the Free State province of South Africa. Mangaung is a Sesotho name meaning “place of Cheetahs”. Free State, the birthplace of the ANC On 8 January 2012, Africa’s oldest liberation movement, the ANC, celebrated 100 years of existence. This was a historic achievement, not only for the movement, but also for South Africa, the continent and the world. Thousands of ordinary South Africans, political and religious leaders attended the centenary celebrations which were held in Mangaung, Free State, the birthplace of the ANC. ANC early years In its early years, the ANC was concerned mainly with constitutional protest. Worker militancy emerged in the wake of the First World War and continued through the 1920s. It included strikes and an anti-pass campaign, given impetus by women, particularly in the Free State, resisting the extension of the pass laws to them. Dry beans The Free State province produced 48,0% (17 000 t) of the 2015/16 commercial crop. The leading dry bean producer in South Africa. Olive Tree Forest The largest wild olive tree forest in South Africa is located at 20 km outside Parys near Venterskroon Rebellion The 1914 Rebellion started in Memel three and a half years after the establishment of the Union of South Africa. In 1914, when war broke out between Britain and Germany, the South African government’s announcement that also was going to invade German South West Africa (today’s Namibia), fighting broke out between former Generals of the Anglo-Boer War and government forces. Tourism Route The Maloti Route is the longest signed tourism route in South Africa. It starts in Harrismith and proceeds through the Free State to the Orange River after which it crosses the Eastern Cape to the N2 on the Wild Coast. It also includes Lesotho from the north to the south. In the Free State it passes through Ladybrand, Hobhouse, Wepener, Vanstadensrus and Zastron on the R26 Route. Vredefort Dome The Vredefort Structurein the Vredefort/Parys area has been declared South Africa’s 7th International World Heritage Site and is recognized worldwide as the oldest and biggest meteorite impact site. Universities Central University of Technology, Free State University of the Free State Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences Home What is Economic and Management Sciences? The Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences is a dynamic and innovative faculty that effectively meets the demands and challenges of the fast-changing economic and management environment. As a result of this, both our undergraduate and postgraduate students have access to unparalleled opportunities for training, research, and community service, and in particular the additional opportunity to gain international exposure by means of various exchange agreements. Faculty of Education The Faculty of Education is located on all three UFS campuses, namely Bloemfontein, South, and Qwaqwa. The University of the Free State’s Faculty of Education educates teachers in several disciplines. Our one role is to prepare pre-service teachers for their work in schools, ensuring that they have a strong disciplinary base for their professional work A second major role is the teaching of in-service teachers. This work is informed by and closely related to our research and community outreach. We bring to our work a keen interest in the local context, as the opportunity for exploring issues that are universal in education. We work closely with schools and other sites of education and attempt to keep theory and practice in dialogue with each other. The faculty offers a wide range of undergraduate degrees and diplomas as well as postgraduate certificates, honours, master’s and doctoral programmes. We place a high value on students as central to our work. Faculty of Health Sciences Four pillars The Faculty of Health Sciences renders a quality healthcare service to the diverse health care needs in South Africa, taking into consideration the four pillars of: teaching and learning research community service service delivery Focus of teaching and training Participation in various professional and national organizations as well as the faculty’s contribution to research has shifted the focus of teaching and training from a purely professional base to a combined effort between: profession and education Faculty of the Humanities The primary purpose of a Humanities education is to give you access to critical thinking skills, appreciation of literature, understanding of cultures, the uses of power, the mysteries of the mind, the organisation of societies, the complexities of leadership, the art of communication, and the challenge of change. All of these skills will support you in your future careers. A qualification in the Humanities is therefore well respected all over the world, and people with this type of qualification form the backbone of society. Faculty of Law Vision Within the broader context of the vision as an excellent, equitable, and innovative university, the faculty strives to: be constantly recognised nationally and internationally for the quality of its activities and for the achievements of its students and staff; continuously maintain and expand a national and regional perspective in order to maintain its operations; contribute to the reconstruction and development of the entire community within its own context. Free State Population. Capital: Bloemfontein Principal languages: Sesotho 71,9% Afrikaans 10,9% IsiXhosa 5,7% Population: 2 834 714 Percentage share of the total South African population: 5,1% Area: 129 825 km2 Source: Stats SA’s Mid-year population estimates 2017 and Community Survey 2016 ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK The Free State, in its current jurisdictional form, was created in 1994 when the Bantustans were abolished and included into the provinces of South Africa. Bloemfontein is the capital of the province which comprises five district municipalities and nineteen local municipalities. SETTLEMENT PATTERN The Free State comprises ninety urban settlements of various sizes. According to Free State Growth and Development Strategy – FSGDS (2012), apartheid planning has resulted in extremely low densities, low levels of efficiency and long distances between places of employment and places of work. The largest economic contribution originates within urban settlements. It is estimated that urbanisation has increased from 70.5% in 1996 to 80% in 2006 and that approximately 40% of the Free State population reside in the large urban centres or settlements (SOER 2009). Five types of settlements are distinguished in the Free State (SOER, 2009), namely: 1 Large urban settlements: Bloemfontein, Thaba Nchu, Botshabelo, Welkom, Virginia, Odendaalsrus, Allanridge, Henneman and Sasolburg. 2 Regional towns: Kroonstad and Bethlehem. 3 Middle Order towns: Ladybrand, Ficksburg, Puthaditjhaba, Heilbron, Frankfort, Senekal, Parys, Bothaville, Viljoenskroon, Harrismith and Reitz. 4 Small towns: Rural and small-farming communities. 5 Communal: Rural areas of Thaba Nchu and Maluti a Phofung. Western Cape Western Cape Situated on the south-western tip of the African continent, the Western Cape with its wide beaches and breathtaking scenery, complemented by a rich variety of cultures, historical landmarks, world-class restaurants and entertainment, is a world-famous tourist destination. Cape Town, often referred to as the “Mother City”, houses Parliament and is South Africa’s legislative capital. The province has a strong network of higher education institutions including the universities of Cape Town, Stellenbosch and the Western Cape. The Western Cape has the highest adult education level in the country. Visitors to the province can disembark at one of the province’s two main airports, Cape Town International or George Airport. It is also possible to enter at the seaports of Cape Town, Mossel Bay and Saldanha. Table Mountain, the Cape winelands, Robben Island as well as the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens are among the province’s most popular tourist attractions. The Western Cape is also known for its floral diversity. The Cape Floristic Region World Heritage Site, comprising eight separate protected areas, covers an area of more than 553 000 ha stretching from the Cape Peninsula to the Eastern Cape . The Knysna-Tsitsikamma region has the country’s biggest indigenous forests. The cold Atlantic Ocean along the West Coast is a rich fishing area. While the warmer Indian Ocean skirts the province’s southern beaches. Page Contents Western Cape Agriculture and fisheries Western Cape Industry Western Cape Population Vision, Mission and Western Cape Provincial Strategic Objectives Western Cape Agriculture and fisheries The Western Cape’s sheltered valleys between mountains are ideal for the cultivation of export-grade fruit such as apples, table grapes, olives, peaches and oranges. A variety of vegetables are cultivated in the eastern part of the Western Cape. While the Swartland and Overberg districts are well-known as the country’s prime wheat-growing areas. The agricultural sector is critical to the Western Cape economy, accounting for 60% of regional exports. The Western Cape is also well known for its wine production. According to a study, commissioned by the SA Wine Industry Information & Systems, published in 2015, some 300 000 people were employed both directly and indirectly in the wine industry in 2015, including farm labourers, those involved in packaging, retailing and wine tourism. The study also concluded that of the R36,1 billion gross domestic product (GDP) contributed by the wine industry to the regional economy, about R19,3 billion eventually would remain in the Western Cape. Some 75% of all South African fishing takes place along the Western Cape coastline. The rich fishing grounds on the west coast are also protected from exploitation by a 200 km commercial fishing zone. There is also a strict quota system implemented. Delicacies found in these waters are Snoek, Cape lobster, abalone, calamari, octopus, oysters as well as mussels. Other exports include fruit, wine, wool and ostrich. The high quality of exports, combined with the relative weakness of the local currency, makes the products therefore some of the most affordable high-quality exports in the world. Western Cape Industry The Saldanha Bay Industrial Development Zone (SBIDZ) is drawing strong international interest. The SBIDZ Licencing Company had signed six lease agreements with international as well as South African oil and gas companies. These include firms specialising in oilfield services, oil rig operations, logistics operators, ship repair, engineering as well as market support. A feasibility study conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry found that Saldanha Bay is strategically located to serve as a service, maintenance, fabrication and supply hub for the booming African oil and gas sector. Therefore due to the increasing number of oil rigs requiring maintenance, and their traffic flow passing from the west to the east coast of Africa. The Western Cape government has invested 25 million Rand over five years in setting up the SBIDZ. Western Cape Population Capital: Cape Town Principal languages: Afrikaans 46,6% IsiXhosa 31,1% English 19,6% Population: 6 279 730 Percentage share of the total South African population: 11,3% Area: 129 462 km2 Source: Stats SA’s Mid-year population estimates 2017 and Community Survey 2016 Vision, Mission and Western Cape Provincial Strategic Objectives Department of Economic Development and Tourism (Western Cape Government) Summary Vision The Department of Economic Development and Tourism’s vision is a Western Cape that has a vibrant, innovative, and sustainable economy, characterised by growth, employment and equitable opportunities, and built on the full potential of all. Mission To achieve the vision statement as noted above, the Department is required to provide a facilitative and leadership role to the Western Cape economy through the Department’s understanding of the regional economy, its ability to identify economic opportunities and potential, and its contribution to government economic priorities. The leadership role encompasses a vertical and horizontal alignment function as this will ensure economic development is the concerted effort of national, local and regional government; the private and not-for profit sectors as well as communities. In terms of vertical alignment, the department will strive for a “whole of government” approach to economic outcomes by aligning efforts of national, provincial and City of Cape Town and other municipalities. A facilitative role is also required in aligning economic activities within the horizontal space. The Department will intensify its role as horizontal aligner with business, institutions, and others around a common agenda for economic development. Here again it is intended that the Department`s role is viewed as the critical link between the external stakeholders in the economy and government. In essence the Department’s role changed from that of being an implementer of projects and programs to that of also being an influencer for economic growth, development and inclusion. The above approach gives credence to the achievements envisaged by the Provincial Strategic Objective (PSO1) which includes the creation of opportunities for growth and jobs, the creation of an enabling environment for business and citizens to grow and the creation of a competitive and productive economic region. Goal Our goal is to create the opportunities for businesses and citizens to grow the economy and employment. This will be achieved by embracing five key focus areas: Five Building Blocks It is recognised that in order to fully operationalise the Strategic Agenda it is necessary for all provincial departments to work together across departmental boundaries and disciplines. The Department of Economic Development and Tourism is the Custodian Department of PSO 1: Creating opportunities for growth and jobs. This also constitutes the goal statement of this Department. The Figure below provides a graphical representation of the five building blocks (also referred to as objective statements) of PSO1. It is believed that achievement in these five areas will support the obtainment of the PSO1. Western Cape Tourism The Western Cape lies at the southern tip of Africa. The province’s unmatched natural beauty, famous hospitality, cultural diversity, excellent wine and rich cuisine make it one of the world’s greatest tourist attractions. The tourism industry in the province has grown faster and created more jobs than any other. One in 10 employees in the Western Cape earns a living in the tourism industry, which contributes more than R25 billion to the provincial economy. (2015/2016) Cape Metropole Tourism in the city of Cape Town, which lies at the foot of the magnificent Table Mountain, centres on the Victoria and Alfred (V&A) Waterfront. A working harbour, the V&A offers everything from upmarket shopping malls, arts and craft markets, and a variety of restaurants, to theatres, live music and museums. Table Mountain, which forms part of the Table Mountain National Park, is one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature. A modern cableway takes visitors to the top of the mountain, providing spectacular views. Other major attractions in the city include the Bo-Kaap Museum, the Castle of Good Hope, the Company’s Garden, the District Six Museum, flea markets, the Grand Parade, the Houses of Parliament, the South African Cultural History Museum and the South African National Gallery. The Gold of Africa Museum, established by Anglo Gold, houses a celebrated collection of more than 350 gold artifacts. Air flips and trips are available, as are many boat and yacht trips from Table Bay Harbour. There are also trips to Robben Island (proclaimed a world heritage site and also the place where former President Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 of his 27 years in prison). The Nelson Mandela Gateway to Robben Island is in the Clock Tower Precinct at the &A Waterfront. The gateway houses interactive multimedia exhibitions, an auditorium, boardrooms, the Robben Island Museum and a restaurant. Jazz is big in Cape Town. From traditional blues through progressive jazz to African influenced jazz, every taste is catered for at a number of restaurants, jazz cafés, cigar bars, pubs and wine farms. The top jazz event in the Western Cape is the annual Cape Town International Jazz Festival. The South African Rugby Museum in Newlands reflects the history of the sport as far back as 1891. The Rhodes Memorial in Rondebosch on the slopes of Table Mountain was built from granite from the mountain as a tribute to the memory of Cecil John Rhodes, Prime Minister of the Cape from 1890 to 1896. The University of Cape Town is worth a visit for its historic Middle Campus and many buildings designed by Sir Herbert Baker. Cape Point, part of the Table Mountain National Park, offers many drives, walks, picnic spots and a licensed restaurant. Care has been taken to protect the environmental integrity of this 22 100 ha reserve of indigenous flora and fauna. Simon’s Town’s naval atmosphere and Historic Mile are major attractions in the area. A statue of the famous dog and sailors’ friend Able Seaman Just Nuisance stands at Jubilee Square. Hout Bay is renowned for its colourful working harbour. Seafood outlets, round-the-bay trips to the nearby seal colony, shell and gift shops, and a famous harbour-front emporium attract many visitors. Duiker Island is a seal and sea-bird sanctuary. The World of Birds Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the largest bird parks in the world and houses some 3 000 Birds. Big Bay in Bloubergstrand is a surfers’ paradise and hosts an international windsurfing event. Rietvlei Nature Reserve is a unique wetland area with over 110 bird species, including pelicans and flamingos. Canal Walk, Century City, is one of the largest shopping centres in Africa, with close to 400 shops, and is home to the largest cinema complex in South Africa. New Year in Cape Town is a festive affair, when the Cape minstrels take to the streets with their upbeat music and fancy costumes. The Monkey Town Primate Centre is home to over 200 individual primates and is located east of Somerset West on the N2. Strawberry-picking in Cape Town on the Mooiberge Strawberry Farm is available in season, which begins in November. Cape Winelands The Cape winelands feature dramatic mountains, rolling farmlands and peaceful vineyards. They are home to Route 62, the world’s longest wine route. The Stellenbosch Wine Route comprises over 100 wine estates, most of which offer cellar tours. Stellenbosch is the oldest town in South Africa. The town is a gracious blend of old Cape Dutch, Georgian and Victorian architecture. Dorp Street consists of one of the longest rows of old buildings in the country. The Stellenbosch Village Museum consists of four homesteads and gardens ranging from the late-17th to the mid-19th centuries. The Stellenbosch Toy and Miniature Museum houses a collection of 1:12 scale miniatures such as room boxes, miniature houses, antique dolls, cars and cuddly toys. The Spier Summer Arts Festival livens up summer nights from November to March at the Spier Wine Estate near Stellenbosch. Supervised pony and cart rides for children are available on the lawns of the Spier Estate. There is also a horse-carriage tour and equestrian centre for older children. The Freedom Monument at Pniel commemorates the freed slaves who were the first settlers at the mission station, established in 1843. Franschhoek has become known as the “Gourmet Capital” of the Cape. The Huguenot Monument was built in 1944 to commemorate the arrival in 1688 of the Huguenots who were predominantly French. In April each year, the region hosts the South African Cheese Festival. Visitors can also enjoy various hiking trails and historical walks, as well as the Vignerons de Franschhoek Wine Route. There is also an annual book/literary festival in Franschhoek. Butterfly World, one of the more unique attractions of the Western Cape winelands, consists of a tropical garden in a 1 000 m2 greenhouse. The Giraffe House Wildlife Awareness Centre is on 15 ha focuses mainly on African wildlife, Giraffe House provides a place for people to enjoy a picnic in the fresh air, while experiencing and learning about animals and conservation. Drakenstein Lion Park was established as a sanctuary for lions born in captivity. Jonkershoek Nature Reserve, which includes the smaller Assegaaibosch Nature Reserve, is near Stellenbosch, comprising the Jonkershoek Mountains and portions of the upper Jonkershoek Valley. The reserve stretches over 9 800 hectares (ha) and its rugged terrain is ideal for hiking. Assegaaibosch is much smaller and is suitable for shorter walks and picnics. On Le Bonheur Estate visitors can experience guided croc-pond tours, which lead across open dams via ramp-ways. Over 1 000 crocodiles are housed in these dams. Visitors can touch a baby crocodile, and during summer months, witness them being fed. Paarl is famous for its Cape Dutch and Victorian architectural treasures found along a 1-km stretch of the main street. The area’s fynbos supports many south-western Cape endemics, such as the Cape sugarbird and orange-breasted sunbird. The Afrikaans Language Monument is on the slopes of Paarl Mountain, while the Afrikaanse Taalmuseum (Language Museum) is in the centre of the town. The town of Wellington lies in a picturesque valley, with the majestic Hawequa Mountains on its eastern border. Wellington is also the home of South Africa’s dried-fruit industry. Experience life as the pioneers did in years gone by at the Kleinplasie Living Museum. The KWV Brandy Cellar, the largest of its kind in the world, offers cellar tours and brandy tastings. The Hex River Valley is the largest producer of table grapes in southern Africa. Visitors can pick their own grapes at harvest time and sample the variety of export-quality produce. The well-known Hex River 4×4 trail and the ochre san rock art trail is a must for nature lovers. De Doorns lies in the heart of the Hex River Valley. Bonnievale on the Breede River, features several cheese factories. For the adventurous outdoor enthusiast there are canoe trips, as well as bird watching and river boating. Surrounded by vineyards, orchards, and roses, Robertson is known as “The Valley of Wine and Roses.” It is known for its connoisseur-quality wines and its thoroughbred horses. Renowned for its muscadel wines, Montagu is the gateway to the Little Karoo. Relax in the healing waters of the Avalon Springs or visit the Montagu Museum, which houses, among other things, original cartoons and books by well-known cartoonist TO Honiball. The picturesque village of Gouda is known for the Parrotts Den pub, a living museum in the Gouda Hotel. McGregor has a variety of charming thatched cottages and well-preserved Victorian houses, making it one of the best-preserved examples of mid-19th-century architecture in the Western Cape. Prince Alfred Hamlet is the gateway to the Gydo Pass, known for its scenic views. This quaint village lies in an important deciduous-fruit farming area. Hidden amid vineyards and wine estates lies Rawsonville, known for its award winning wines. Tourists can enjoy an afternoon drive along the beautiful Slanghoek Valley with its lush vineyards and panoramic views or relax in the mineral springs at Goudini Spa. Garden Route The Garden Route spans roughly 200 km of the southern coast, incorporating the stretch of coastline which includes Mossel Bay, George, Wilderness, Sedgefield, Knysna, Plettenberg Bay and Nature’s Valley – each with its own charm and attractions. Famed for its lush greenery and the vast Tsitsikamma Forest, the Garden Route is the most biodiverse region in the world. The Garden Route features the pont at Malgas, which is one of the two remaining ponts in the country, ferrying vehicles and livestock across the Breede River. The Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve outside Heidelberg comprises the popular Bushbuck Trail, a wilderness trail and two mountain-bike trails. Riversdale is one of South Africa’s most important fynbos export areas. Other attractions include the Julius Gordon Africana Museum. At the historical Strandveld Architectural Heritage Site at Still Bay, visitors can watch tame eels being fed. Ancient fish-traps can be seen at Morris Point and the harbour. At the aloe factories at Albertinia, aloe juice is extracted for medicine and high-quality skin-care products. Nearby, bungee-jumping at the Gouritz River Gorge, hiking, mountain-biking and angling are popular pastimes. The Point in Mossel Bay is not only popular among surfers, but its natural pool formed by rock is also a favourite swimming spot at low tide. The St Blaize trail starts here and is the ideal place from which to watch the whales and dolphins at play in season. The harbour at Mossel Bay is one of the most modern commercial and recreational harbours on the southern Cape coastline. Other attractions include the Attequas Kloof Pass, Anglo-Boer/South African War block-houses and the Bartolomeu Dias complex. Great Brak River offers a historic village with many opportunities for whale- and dolphin watching along the extensive coast. The Slave Tree in George, located just outside the Old Library, was planted in 1811, when George was laid out. It is known to be the biggest English oak in the Southern Hemisphere. George is popular among golfers and is home to the renowned Fancourt Country Club and Golf Estate, as well as various other acclaimed golf courses. Visitors can board the Power Van at the Outeniqua Transport Museum, and enjoy a glimpse of the Garden Route Botanical Garden from this rail bus. The Big Tree at Woodville, an Outeniqua yellowwood, is estimated to be around 850 years old. It is located about 40 km outside of George in the direction of Knysna. The George Airport, Outeniqua Pass, railway line and the N2 offer convenient access to this region, making George the ideal hub from which to explore the Garden Route and Little Karoo. Victoria Bay and Wilderness are popular for their unspoilt beaches . Wilderness is the western gateway to the southern Cape lakes area. It is a nature lover’s paradise, best known for its beaches, lakes, placid lagoon and lush indigenous forests. The Langvlei and Rondevlei bird sanctuaries in the Wilderness National Park, which hosts over 230 different bird species, is popular among bird watchers. Sedgefield borders Swartvlei Lagoon, the largest natural inland saltwater lake in South Africa. Activities include beach horse riding, hiking, angling and bird watching. Knysna nestles on the banks of an estuary, guarded by The Heads (two huge sandstone cliffs) and surrounded by indigenous forests, tranquil lakes and golden beaches. This natural wonderland is home to the largest and smallest of creatures, from the Knysna seahorse to the Knysna elephants, rare delicate butterflies and the endemic Knysna loerie, a colourful forest bird. The abundant fynbos and forest settings host over 200 species. Knysna is also famous for its delectable home-grown oysters, enjoyed with locally brewed beer in quaint pubs and restaurants. The Knysna Oyster Festival, a celebration of the good life, has established itself as one of the most popular annual events in the Western Cape. An eclectic mix of art galleries presents the diversity of talent in the area. There are also lagoon cruises, forest hikes, golf and adventure sports on offer. Plettenberg Bay is adventure country, offering boat-based whale watching, black-water tubing, hiking, and forest and cycling trails. The Keurbooms River Nature Reserve at Plettenberg Bay offers a canoeing trail, while the Robberg Nature Reserve is a treasure trove of land, marine, geological and archaeological wealth. Little Karoo The Little Karoo’s fascinating landscape is fashioned almost entirely by water. Its vegetation ranges from lush greenery in the fertile river valleys to short, rugged Karoo plants in the veld. Gorges feature rivers that cut through towering mountains, while breathtakingly steep passes cross imposing terrain. The region is also home to the world’s largest bird – the ostrich. The Little Karoo is rich in culture and history. Oudtshoorn, the world’s ostrich-feather capital, is the region’s main town. The Klein-Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees (National Arts Festival) is held in the town annually. Some 29 km from Oudtshoorn lie the Cango Caves, a series of subterranean limestone caverns. Bearing evidence of early San habitation, the cave features magnificent dripstone formations. Amalienstein and Zoar are historic mission stations midway between Ladismith and Calitzdorp. Visitors can go on donkey-cart and hiking trails through orchards and vineyards, while the Seweweekspoort is ideal for mountainbiking, hiking, and protea and fynbos admirers. Calitzdorp has four wine estates, three of which are open to the public. The spring water of the Calitzdorp Spa is rich in minerals and reputed to have medicinal properties. The Gamka Mountain Reserve is home to the rare and endangered Cape mountain zebra . Excellent wines and port are produced in the Calitzdorp and De Rust areas. The Swartberg Nature Reserve and Pass with their gravel roads are also worth a visit. De Rust lies at the southern entrance to Meiringspoort. The Meiringspoort Gorge extends 20 km through the Swartberg Mountain Range. Halfway through is a beautiful 69-m waterfall. Wine farms in the area are open to the public. Ladismith is home to the Towerkop Cheese Factory. There are various hiking, mountainbiking and 4×4 trails in the area, as well as the Anysberg, Little Karoo and Towerkop nature reserves. Uniondale, on the main route between George and Graaff-Reinet, features the largest water-wheel in the country, the Old Watermill. Uniondale Poort is a scenic drive linking Uniondale with Avontuur in the Langkloof Valley. At Vanwyksdorp, visitors can see how fynbos is dried and packed for the export market. Donkey-cart rides take visitors to Anglo-Boer/South African War grave sites. Central Karoo The Central Karoo, a fascinating semi-desert area, lies in the heart of one of the world’s most unique and interesting arid zones. This ancient, fossil-rich land is five times the size of Great Britain. Here, visitors will find the Earth’s largest variety of succulents. Beaufort West, the oldest town in the Central Karoo, is often referred to as the “Oasis of the Karoo.” The local museum displays awards presented to heart-transplant pioneer, Prof. Chris Barnard, a son of this town. A township route introduces visitors to the Xhosa culture in the area. The Karoo National Park, on the town’s doorstep, is home to a variety of game, as well as the highly endangered riverine rabbit. Matjiesfontein, a national monument, offers tourists a peek into yesteryear and the opportunity to overnight in Victorian splendour. The village houses a transport museum and the Marie Rawdon Museum. Experience the vastness of the Great Karoo in Murraysburg, an ecotourist and hunter’s paradise. Laingsburg, a tiny village that was devastated by floods about a century after it was established, was rebuilt afterwards. It is the best place to study the geology of the region. Prince Albert is a well-preserved town at the foot of the Swartberg Mountains. It is the ideal place to sample Karoo cuisine, see examples of local architecture dating back to the early 1800s and enjoy several scenic drives. The Fransie Pienaar Museum introduces visitors to the cultural history of the area. It has a fossil room and an exhibit covering the gold rush in this area in the 19th century. The museum has a licence to distil and sell “witblits” (white lightning). Prince Albert is the closest town by road to Gamkaskloof. The Hell, a little valley in the heart of the Swartberg Mountains, was the home of one of the world’s most isolated communities for almost 150 years. Gamkaskloof is a nature reserve and national monument managed by Cape Nature Conservation. It has overnight facilities and can be accessed by a 57-km long (but two-hour drive) winding road which starts at the peak of the Swartberg Pass. West Coast The West Coast is a region of outstanding beauty and contrast. The coast’s scenic beauty is challenged only by culinary experiences of mussels, oysters, calamari, crayfish and abalone in season, or linefish pulled from the Benguela Current’s cold waters. During April every year, Lambert’s Bay has the Crayfish and Cultural Festival. The area is not only a birder’s paradise, but every year migrating whales visit the coastal waters from July. Vredenburg, the business centre of the area, has a popular golf course with a bird hide. Lambert’s Bay is a traditional fishing village, with Bird Island as a popular tourist attraction. It is a breeding ground for African penguins, the Cape cormorant and other sea birds. Within two months of the first good winter rains, wild flowers on the West Coast explode in a brilliant display of colour. The Swartland region is known for its wheat fields, vineyards, wineries and outdoor activities. Further north, visitors encounter the Olifants River Valley and the vast plains of the Knersvlakte with its wealth of indigenous succulent plants. The citrus area in the Olifants River Valley is the third-largest in South Africa. The town of Darling draws visitors to its country museum and art gallery, annual wild flower and orchid shows, basket factory and wine cellars. The entertainment venue “Evita se Perron” is situated at the old Darling Railway Station and offers top performances by South African entertainers. Malmesbury is the biggest town in the Swartland. Major attractions include the Malmesbury Museum and the historical walk-about. The Riebeek Valley is known for its scenic beauty. The area has become a popular haven for well-known artists of various disciplines. Wines and olives can be tasted at various cellars. Elands Bay is a popular holiday resort and surfer’s paradise. Khoi and San rock art can be viewed at the Elands Bay caves. Moorreesburg and Koringberg are major wheat-distributing towns. Tourists can visit the Wheat Industry Museum, one of only three in the world. Bird watching, hiking, 4×4 routes, clay-pigeon shooting, mountain-bike trails, canoeing and waterskiing at Misverstand are popular activities. Yzerfontein is famous for its unspoilt beaches, fynbos, beautiful views and whale watching. Another major attraction is the historical lime furnaces. Langebaan, a popular holiday destination, is home to the West Coast National Park. An internationally renowned wetland that houses about 60 000 waterbirds and waders, the park attracts thousands of visitors each year. The oldest anatomically modern fossilised human footprints were also discovered here. The Langebaan Lagoon forms part of the park and is zoned for specific activities. The Postberg section of the park, across the lagoon, is famous for its wild flowers that bloom mainly during August and September. Cape Columbine at Paternoster is the last manned lighthouse build on the South African coast. The Columbine Nature Reserve is home to a variety of seabird species. Saldanha is a water sport enthusiast’s paradise. Its attractions include Doc’s Cave, a landmark on the scenic breakwater drive, and the Hoedjieskoppie Nature Reserve. There are various hiking trails in the SAS Saldanha Nature Reserve. St Helena Bay is best known for the Vasco Da Gama Monument and Museum. Visitors can enjoy fishing (snoek in season), hiking and whale and bird watching. Piketberg offers arts and crafts, fauna and flora, wine culture and recreation. The Goedverwacht and Wittewater Moravian mission stations are close to the town. Porterville is famous for its Disa Route (best in January and February). The Groot Winterhoek Mountain Peak in the Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Area is the second-highest in the Western Cape. The Dasklip Pass is popular with hang-gliders. At Velddrif/Laaiplek visitors can indulge in bokkems (a West Coast salted-fish delicacy) at factories along the Berg River. Tourists can also visit the salt-processing factory and the West Coast Art Gallery in town. The wine route from Citrusdal to Lutzville produces a selection of internationally acclaimed wines. Citrusdal is famous for its citrus products and wines. The Citrusdal Museum depicts the pioneering days of the early colonists. The Goede Hoop Citrus Co-Op is the largest single packing facility in South Africa. World-renowned rooibos tea is also produced here. The annual Citrusdal Outdoor Calabash features 4×4 outings, lectures and visits to rock-art sites and an arts and crafts market. Annually, scores of sky-diving enthusiasts visit Citrusdal for a skydiving “boogie” that lasts several days. The oldest orange tree in the country, calculated to be more than 250 years old, grows in the Citrusdal Valley. The Sandveldhuisie is an example of a typical Sandveld dwelling. The Cederberg Wilderness Area features the elephant’s foot plant, the rare snow protea and some of the best examples of San rock art in the Western Cape. Visitors to Clanwilliam can visit the rooibos and velskoen factories and the grave of the well-known South African poet Louis Leipoldt. Various historical buildings can also be viewed. The Clanwilliam and Bulshoek dams are popular among watersport enthusiasts. Wuppertal, at the foot of the Cederberg mountains, features the oldest Rhenish Mission Station. Proceeds from 4×4 trails in the area fund the creation of new hiking trails and the building of more overnight huts and guest houses. Wuppertal, which is well-known for its rooibos and buchu production, has added one more attraction to its tourism offerings – the Cederberg Donkey Cart Route. The project entails a three-day tour through the Cederberg Mountain area and Heuningvlei with accommodation facilities for overnight visitors. Vredendal is the centre of the Lower Olifants River Valley. Major attractions include marbleprocessing and manufacturing, industrial mines (dolomite and limestone), the KWV Grape Juice Concentrate Plant and Distillery and the South African Dried Fruit Co-Operative. The town is also home to the Vredendal Wine Cellar, the largest cooperative wine cellar under one roof in the Southern Hemisphere. The picturesque town of Doringbaai with its attractive lighthouse is well known for its seafood. Strandfontein, about eight km north of Doringbaai, is essentially a holiday and retirement resort with a panoramic view of the ocean. Klawer was named after the wild clover that grows in the area. During the flower season, the area is a riot of colour. The Doring River features hiking trails and opportunities for river-rafting. Lutzville and Koekenaap are synonymous with wine and flowers in season. Visitors can also view the Sishen-Saldanha Railway Bridge. Where the railway line spans the Olifants River, it is divided into 23 sections, each 45m long. The 14 100-t deck was pushed into position over teflon sheets with hydraulic jacks from the bridgehead. It is the longest bridge in the world built using this method. Vanrhynsdorp houses the largest succulent nursery in South Africa. The Latsky Radio Museum houses a collection of old valve radios, some dating back to 1924. The Troe-Troe and Rietpoort mission stations are a must-see for history enthusiasts. Overberg In the most southerly region of Africa east of Cape Town, lies the Overberg. The Hangklip-Kleinmond area comprises Kleinmond, Betty’s Bay, Pringle Bay and Rooi Els. It is a popular holiday region, ideal for whale watching, and includes the Kleinmond Coastal Nature Reserve and the Harold Porter Botanical Garden. The Penguin Reserve at Stoney Point, Betty’s Bay, is one of two breeding colonies of the jackass penguin off Africa. South Africa’s first international biosphere reserve, the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, was proclaimed by Unesco in 1999. It runs along the coast from Gordon’s Bay to the Bot River Vlei, stretching two km out to sea, and inland to the Groenlandberg Mountains near Grabouw. Hermanus is a popular holiday resort and famous for the best land-based whale watching in the world. Stanford is one of the few villages in South Africa where the market square has been retained. The central core of the village has been proclaimed a national conservation area. Award winning wines are produced in the area. Gansbaai is known for its excellent rock and boat angling, diving, shark-cage diving and whale watching. The Danger Point Lighthouse, named as such because of the ships that have been wrecked and lives lost on this dangerous coast, is open to the public. De Kelders is the only freshwater cave on the African coast. Spectacular views of southern right whales can be enjoyed from the cliffs at De Kelders and along the coast to Pearly Beach. Also popular are white-shark tours, diving safaris and fishing trips. Elim was founded by German missionaries in 1824, with its only inhabitants being members of the Moravian Church. Visitors are welcome to attend services. The Old Watermill (1833) has been restored and declared a national monument. Popular sites in Napier include the Militaria Museum and Rose Boats and Toy Museum. The Shipwreck Museum in Bredasdorp, founded in 1975, specialises in shipwrecks found along the South African coastline. The town also has the Audrey Blignault Museum. De Mond Nature Reserve is home to some rare bird species, including the damara tern and giant tern. The Geelkop Nature Reserve derives its name from the mass of yellow flowering plants that cover the hill during spring. The lighthouse at L’Agulhas, which forms part of the Agulhas National Park, is the country’s second-oldest working lighthouse. It celebrated its 150th anniversary in 1999. The Agulhas National Park is a ruggedly beautiful coastal plain of 20 959 ha. At Cape Agulhas, the southernmost tip of the continent, the waters cleave into the Indian and Atlantic oceans. The wrecks of some 130 seafaring craft – yachts, Spanish galleons, Dutch East Indiamen, the legendary Birkenhead, and even modern-day fishing trawlers – have found a watery grave around the notorious Cape of Storms. Struisbaai has the longest white coastline in the southern hemisphere. Arniston was named Waenhuiskrans (coach-house cliff) by the local fishers in honour of the huge sea cave capable of housing several oxwagons. For outsiders, it was named after the Arniston, a ship wrecked there in 1815. The Waenhuiskrans Cave can be explored at low tide. The De Hoop Nature Reserve on the way to Swellendam includes an internationally renowned wetland and bird sanctuary. It is a winter retreat for the southern right whale and the Western Cape’s only Cape griffen vulture colony. The red Bredasdorp lily and many species of protea and erica are found in the Heuningberg Nature Reserve. Swellendam is well-known for its young-berries and eclectic architecture. The Drostdy Museum consists of a group of buildings containing a huge selection of period furniture. The Bontebok National Park, about seven kilomteres from Swellendam, provides sanctuary to the threatened bontebok and other species. Known for its world-class wine, Barrydale offers the visitor fruit and fresh air in abundance. Situated on the N2, about 160 km from Cape Town, Riviersonderend offers beautiful mountain and river scenery, a nine-hole golf course and sightings of the blue crane. Caledon is famous for its natural mineral waters, hot springs and wild-flower shows. Southern Associated Maltsters is the only malt producer for the South African lager beer industry and the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. Genadendal is the oldest Moravian village in Africa, with church buildings and a school dating back to 1738. The Genadendal Mission and Museum complex documents the first mission station in South Africa. Villiersdorp houses the Dagbreek Museum that dates back to 1845 and was declared a monument in 1994. The historical home, Oude Radyn, is possibly the only building in the Western Cape to have Batavian wooden gutters and down pipes. The Theewaterskloof Dam outside Villiersdorp is the seventh-largest dam in the country. The Villiersdorp Wild Flower Garden and Nature Reserve has an indigenous herb garden and a reference library. The Grabouw/Elgin district produces about 60% of South Africa’s total apple exports and fine wines. The valley is also renowned for cultivating fresh chrysanthemums, roses and proteas. The Elgin Apple Museum is one of only two in the world. Sir Lowry’s Pass offers spectacular views of False Bay from Gordon’s Bay to Cape Point. Eastern Cape Eastern Cape The Eastern Cape, at 168 966 km2 , is South Africa’s second largest province after the Northern Cape . The Eastern Cape takes up 13,9% of the total land area of South Africa. The province has a population of more than 6,5 million people. The majority of whom speak isiXhosa, followed by Afrikaans and English. It is a region of great natural beauty, particularly the rugged cliffs, rough seas and dense green bush of the Wild Coast. The region has remarkable natural diversity, ranging from the dry, desolate Great Karoo to the lush forests of the Wild Coast as well as the Keiskamma Valley; the fertile Langkloof Valley, renowned for its rich apple harvests; and the mountainous southern Drakensberg region at Elliot. Various floral habitats meet in the province, ranging from tropical forests in the north to the more temperate woods of the south. The Eastern Cape is one of the poorest provinces in South Africa. This is largely due to the poverty found in the former homelands, where subsistence agriculture predominates. The province is home to a number of higher education institutions. These including Rhodes University, the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, the University of Fort Hare as well as the Walter Sisulu University of Technology. It has airports in Bhisho, East London, Mthatha and Port Elizabeth. It also has two major harbours in East London and Port Elizabeth respectively. The Eastern Cape offers a wide array of attractions, including 800 km of untouched and pristine coastline along with some particularly splendid beaches , and “big-five” viewing in a malaria-free environment. Visit the Eastern Cape Tourism page for information on what the Eastern Cape has to offer. The coastal area of the Eastern Cape Province lies directly between subtropical KwaZulu Natal and the Mediterranean Western Cape. Its inland area is bisected by the great escarpment, and the northern areas have lofty plains of the Plateau and the Great Karoo. These topographical differences are what cause the climatic differences and conditions experienced by the various towns and cities. In the North East along the Wild Coast, towns like Port St Johns experience long, hot, balmy conditions and high rainfall, while Graaff Reinet , in the heart of the Karoo Heartland, experiences long hot summer months and moderate winters. Up towards the Free State (at towns such as Lady Grey and Aliwal North) the rise in altitude means the appropriate lowering in temperature and sometimes snow. Added to the diverse coastal experiences are more than 60 state-owned game reserves and over 30 private game farms, which collectively cover an area greater than the Kruger National Park. Eastern Cape Agriculture, fisheries and forestry The fertile Langkloof Valley in the south-west has enormous deciduous fruit orchards, while sheep farming predominates in the Karoo. The Alexandria-Grahamstown area produces pineapples , chicory and dairy products, while coffee and tea are cultivated at Magwa. An olive nursery has been developed in collaboration with the University of Fort Hare to form a nucleus of olive production in the Eastern Cape. The coastal areas receive good summer rainfall and have a moderate climate, becoming more subtropical to the north-west. This, therefore, makes it particularly suitable for forestry. The basis of the province’s fishing industry is the squid. This also includes some recreational and commercial fishing for line fish, the collection of marine resources, and access to line-catches of hake. Eastern Cape Industry There are two industrial development zones. The West Bank in East London as well as Coega, near Port Elizabeth, which includes the deepwater Port of Ngqura. The metropolitan economies of Port Elizabeth and East London are based primarily on manufacturing, the most important being automotive manufacturing. The province is also the hub of South Africa’s motor industry. With its ability to link throughout the economy, the government has therefore identified the automotive industry as a key growth sector. It already exhibited significant growth under the Motor Industry Development Programme. Other important sectors include renewables and green industries, forestry and timber processessing, pharmaceuticals, plastics and chemicals, capital goods and tourism. The two major industrial centres, Port Elizabeth and East London have well-developed economies based on the automotive industry. General Motors and Volkswagen both have major assembly lines in the Port Elizabeth area, while East London is dominated by the large Daimler Chrysler plant, now known as Mercedes-Benz South Africa. Major Metropolitan Municipalities Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BUF) Description: The Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality is a Category A municipality situated on the east coast of the Eastern Cape Province. The boundaries of the newly established municipality now include a large area characterised by very different features. Two former municipalities, Transitional Local Councils – that of East London and King William’s Town – have merged into one. Other areas that were previously not included in either of them are now part of Buffalo City. The municipality was established as a local municipality in 2000 after South Africa’s reorganisation of municipal areas and is named after the Buffalo River, at whose mouth lies the only river port in South Africa. On 18 May 2011, it was separated from the Amathole District Municipality and converted into a metropolitan municipality. History was made in Buffalo City when the City elected its first female mayor on Friday, 17 March 2006. The area has a well-developed manufacturing base, with the auto industry playing a major role. The climate is mild, with year-round sunshine. Average rainfall is 850mm. Area: 2 750km² Cities/Towns: Beacon Bay, Berlin, Bisho, Breidbach, Dimbaza, East London, Kidd’s Beach, King William’s Town , Mdantsane, Phakamisa, Potsdam, Zwelitsha Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality (NMA) Description: The Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality is a Category A municipality, established on 5 December 2000. Nelson Mandela Bay was the first city in South Africa to establish a fully integrated democratic local authority and the only city in the world named after Nelson Mandela, who was born and spent his formative years in the Eastern Cape. Nelson Mandela Bay is a major seaport and automotive manufacturing centre located on the south-eastern coast of Africa. It is the economic powerhouse of the Eastern Cape Province and one of eight metropolitan areas in South Africa. Its boundaries are formed by Cassie Mountain View in the north, Cape Recife in the south, Sundays River Mouth in the east, and Van Stadens River Mouth in the west. The city is a holiday hot spot for both national and international tourists. The predominant languages spoken are English, Afrikaans and isiXhosa. Area: 1 957km² Cities/Towns: Bethelsdorp, Bloemendal, Blue Horizon Bay, Clarendon Marine, Despatch, KwaNobuhle, Motherwell, Port Elizabeth , Summerstrand, Swartkops, Uitenhage Main Economic Sectors: Manufacturing (25%), community services (23%), finance (23%), trade (13%), transport (13%) Home of Legends Cultural melting pot and birthplace of iconic world leader, Nelson Mandela, the rich heritage and diversity of the Eastern Cape with its people, sights and sounds are interwoven into the tapestry of what makes this region so unique. Become encapsulated in the history of a proud region and its people. NELSON MANDELA Born 18 July 1918 in the village Quna, Eastern Cape “No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.” Nelson Mandela – Long Walk to Freedom (1995) In a country ruled by racial oppression for a number of years, Nelson Mandela became a world icon for peace when he became the first black president of South African in 1994. Held with deep respect throughout South Africa and the world, Mandela is fondly known as the ‘Father of the Nation’ and received numerous awards for his stance against the Apartheid regime and its abuses. Mandela stayed in office from 1994 to 1999 during which time his government focused on dismantling the legacy of apartheid through tackling institutionalised racism, poverty, inequality and fostering racial reconciliation. As an African Nationalist, Mandela held other political positions including President of the African National Congress (ANC) from 1991 to 1997, and the Secretary-General position of the Non-Aligned Movement from 1998 to 1999. During his term as President of South Africa, Mandela established the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to investigate abuse during the Apartheid years. Mandela is Xhosa born and attended the University of Fort Hare in the Eastern Cape as well as the University of Witwatersrand in Gauteng. At these universities he studied law and later became involved in anti-colonial politics, resulting in his joining the African National Congress. As a founding member of the ANC Youth League, Mandela rose to prominence in 1952 in the Defiance Campaign and oversaw the 1955 Congress of the People. Mandela later served 27 years in prison for conspiracy to overthrow the government. Mandela spent most of his sentence in the now famous Robin Island, off the coast of Cape Town. Lobbying through an international campaign led to his release in 1990. Mandela has received over 250 awards including a Nobel Peace Prize, the US Presidential Medal of Freedom as well as the Soviet Order of Lenin. Big 7 Come face to face with the Big Seven in the Eastern Cape and experience Africa’s greatest animals on land and sea. Game and nature reserves allow visitors to enjoy the Big Five in their natural landscape. This is done through self-drive or guided game drives, while sharks and whales can be viewed along the coastal routes through tour operators. Nature and Wildlife Reserves Eastern Cape Game and Nature Reserves below or visit the Eastern Cape National Parks page Garden Route National Park Along the South Coast of South Africa lies one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in the world, home to the Garden Route National Park. A mosaic of ecosystems, it encompasses the world renowned Tsitsikamma as well as Wilderness sections, the Knysna Lake section, a variety of mountain catchment, Southern Cape indigenous forest and associated Fynbos areas. These areas resemble a montage of landscapes and seascapes. From ocean to mountain areas, and are renowned for its diverse natural as well as cultural heritage resources. Managed by South African National Parks, it hosts a variety of accommodation options, activities and places of interest. grace.valela@sanparks.org Baviaanskloof Nature Reserve With its World Heritage Site Status, the Baviaanskloof Nature Reserve is home to the biggest wilderness area in the country. Baviaanskloof Nature Reserve is also one of the eight protected areas of the Cape Floristic Region. The Baviaanskloof Mega-Reserve covers 200km of unspoiled, rugged mountainous terrain. With spectacular landscapes also hosting more than a thousand different plant species, including the Erica and Protea families as well as species of ancient cycads. Seven of South Africa’s eight biomes are represented within the Baviaanskloof Nature Reserve – Fynbos, Forest, Grassland, Succulent Karoo, Nama-Karoo, Subtropical Thicket and Savanna . This reserve is a must-see for all nature and adventure enthusiasts. Lombardini Game Farm Situated in the picturesque Seekoei river valley, Lombardini Game Farm is an absolute gem! With daily guided tours around the game park, you are sure to see most of our beautiful animals. Luxurious en-suite in-house accommodation offers peace and tranquillity to guests. The warmth of the Thatch roof makes you feel right at home. Semi self-catering Poolrooms, with stunning interior, will make you want to stay another day. Self-catering cottages are also available for more personal space. And last but not least! A Wedding Venue that will take your breath away. Thunzi Bush Lodge Thunzi Bush Lodge is located in the tranquil sanctuary of coastal forest and African bush and offers country-style self-catering accommodation 30 km from the centre of Port Elizabeth, at the start of the Garden Route. The lodge caters mainly for the traveller who enjoys a tranquil setting, forest & beach walks, bass fishing or bird watching. Walking trails around the lodge provide access to the dense indigenous coastal forest where many bird species and animals including bushbuck, blue duiker and vervet monkeys can be spotted. Charming wooden chalets with private decks merge luxury, supreme style, spaciousness and comfort for the enthusiastic nature lover. Relax at our lazy-lizard swimming pool, experience our friendly staff, tasty picnic baskets and many interesting activities. Kragga Kamma Game Park Lush coastal forest and grassland is home to vast herds of African game, including White Rhino, Buffalo, Cheetah, Giraffe, Zebra , Nyala , Bontebok, Lechwe and many more species. All the animals roam freely, unrestricted in natural surroundings. This owner operated, animal-friendly park, where no hunting or other disturbance of the game is permitted, means that you always get close up views and great photo opportunities. Take a drive in your own vehicle through the park on the well-maintained roads (no need for 4×4) and enjoy viewing the game in any weather conditions from the comfort of your car. For those really close encounters, choose the 2 hours guided tour in an open Landrover with a professional guide providing you with interesting information on the animals and the historical background to the area. Sibuya One of South Africa’s most unique Safari destinations. Sibuya has more navigable river than any other game reserve in South Africa. Consequently, as a birding destination, it is hard to beat: there are nearly 400 different species. This breathtakingly beautiful game reserve is a sanctuary to an abundance of diverse wildlife from elephants to otters, and almost everything in between, including the Big Five. Find accommodation in two private and exclusive luxury tented game lodges and prides itself on superb cuisine. Sibuya’s reception is in the holiday village of Kenton-on-Sea in the Eastern Cape Province, about 140 km’s (80 miles) equidistant from Port Elizabeth and East London. A natural extension to any trip, from Cape Town up the Garden Route, and easily accessible from Port Elizabeth which is a short flip from the major cities of Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban . Charter flights to Port Alfred are less than a 20-minute transfer to the game park. The unique experience starts immediately with a half-hour boat transfer up the Kariega estuary to River Camp or Forest Camp. Leaving the beach, turtles, dolphins and whales might be seen near the river mouth. Both camps nestle in riverine forest and have been constructed in an environmentally conscious manner. Guests are hosted as well as guided by a team of experienced professionals. Oceana Beach and Wildlife Reserve Oceana Beach & Wildlife Reserve in Port Alfred, Eastern Cape, South Africa offers ultra-luxurious accommodation that includes a select group of unique guest suites in the Ocean Lodge and Private Ocean House as well as spectacular individual private chalets. Our Africa-shaped knife-edge pool has a marked point where you can rest your chin that is the absolute centre of Oceana. Hopewell Game Reserve Redefining the meaning of “private”, Hopewell Lodge is an exclusive hideaway where unspoilt nature meets pure African luxury, and guests reconnect with nature at their own pace. This private game reserve in South Africa’s beautiful Eastern Cape hosts groups of up to 12 guests in stylish, secluded suites with sweeping views over a reclaimed Eden. Waking up to the sounds as well as sights of the African bush, sundowners above the elephants’ favourite watering hole. Guests can also relax in a secluded private pool overlooking the bush, and enjoy sumptuous dinners under the stars provide the memories that linger long after your stay at Hopewell. Whether for 2 or a group up to 12 people, Hopewell is booked exclusively for your party only, offering guests guaranteed privacy and allowing them to set their own schedule for game drives, meals and activities. Passionate and experienced rangers guide our guests through the rolling landscape. Ever willing to stop and discuss plants, insects, birds as well as game spotted along the way. Up close and personal interaction with a cheetah is also a highlight of this unique wildlife experience. Guests are guaranteed to encounter our herd of elephant, along with hippo, giraffe, zebra, antelope and other indigenous species carefully introduced to maintain a balanced eco-system. Addo Elephant National Park Now the third largest national park in South Africa, Addo Elephant National Park has expanded to conserve a wide range of biodiversity, landscapes, fauna and flora. Stretching from the semi-arid karoo area in the north around Darlington Dam, over the rugged Zuurberg Mountains, through the Sundays River Valley and south to the coast between Sundays River mouth and Bushman’s river mouth, Addo covers about 180 000 hectares (444 700 acres) and includes the Bird and St Croix Island groups. For comprehensive information and all contact details visit the Addo Elephant National Park page HERE The original elephant section of the park was proclaimed in 1931 when only eleven elephants remained in the area. Today this finely tuned ecosystem is a sanctuary to over 600 elephants, lion, buffalo, black rhino, spotted hyena, leopard, a variety of antelope and zebra species, as well as the unique Addo flightless dung beetle, found almost exclusively in Addo. The park can exclusively claim to also be the only national park in the world to conserve the “Big 7”. The Big 5 as well as the southern right whale and great white shark off the Algoa Bay coast. Eastern Cape Population Capital: Bhisho Principal languages: IsiXhosa 82,7% Afrikaans 10,3% English 3,9% Population: 6 996 976 The percentage share of the total South African population: 12,6% Area: 168 966 km2 Source: Stats SA’s Mid-year population estimates 2017 and Community Survey 2016 Travel Distance Port Elizabeth – East London 283.3km Port Elizabeth – Port Alfred 152.4km Port Elizabeth – Grahamstown 126.6km Port Elizabeth – Queenstown 340km Port Elizabeth – Mthatha 483.6km Port Elizabeth – Port Edward 764.5km Port Elizabeth – Port St Johns 578km Port Elizabeth – Aliwal North 501.3 km East London – Port Alfred 132.3km East London – Grahamstown 159.5km East London – Queenstown 188km East London – Mthatha 232.6km East London – Port Edward 513.5km East London – Port St Johns 327km East London – Aliwal North 357.8km Mthatha – Queenstown 222km Port Elizabeth – Johannesburg 1046.4km Port Elizabeth – Cape Town 769km Port Elizabeth – Durban 984km Port Elizabeth – Bloemfontein 677km East London – Johannesburg 982km East London – Cape Town 1099km East London – Durban 674 km’s East London – Bloemfontein 584 km,s Visit the Eastern Cape Provincial Reserves page or Eastern Cape Private Reserves or maybe you would like to visit the Eastern Cape National Parks page. Find Property for Sale in the Eastern Cape . Eastern Cape Tourism Eastern Cape Tourism – Become encapsulated in the history of a proud region and its people. The Eastern Cape has so much to offer the tourists. the Eastern Cape is the second largest province, accounting for 13,9% of the total area. Port Elizabeth , situated on Algoa Bay, is the largest city in the Eastern Cape and the seat of Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality. The provincial capital, Bhisho, is located within the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality, as are East London and King William’s Town. Other important towns in the Province include Mthatha, Uitenhage and Grahamstown. The province is fast becoming a favorite safari destination with its malaria-free status being ideal for family holidays. Visit the Eastern Cape Provincial Reserves page or Eastern Cape Private Reserves or maybe you would like to visit the Eastern Cape National Parks page. Friendly N6 Make the Friendly N6 your companion as you embark on a scenic journey through the farming hub of the Eastern Cape into the Free State. Take in the endless mountains occasionally topped with a dollop of snow and lush veld often being feasted on by cattle. Eastern Cape Tourism through the mountains. The N6 is a scenic route that runs between East London and Bloemfontein. Dubbed The Friendly N6, the road leads you through the pride of the Eastern Cape farmlands and small inland towns, covering mountainous terrain and over the Vaal River which separates the Eastern Cape and the Free State. From the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality, which is situated along the Indian Ocean, The N6 is scattered with villages decorated with traditional Xhosa mud huts. This scenery stretches from just outside East London until the first small town of Stutterheim which is followed by Cathcart. Stutterheim and Cathcart are well known as Eastern Cape’s arts and crafts hub. This Arts and Crafts attraction provides you with a barrage of gifts and souvenirs to choose from. A few kilometres north of Cathcart, Queenstown introduces you to first-hand insight into the ancient wars that were fought in the Eastern Cape through museums dotted along the route. Further north, Lady Grey offers you exciting mountain bike trails along the often snow-topped mountainous landscape inherent to the area. You can also experience farm life in a buzzing Eastern Cape farming community by staying on one of the working farms in the area. This area is home to various sheep farms, as well as a network of artists with rich Xhosa and Basotho traditions. Accommodation offerings along the N6 route include budget backpackers and luxury hotels with many game and nature reserves spread throughout the route. Offerings to visitors of the game farm include viewing of the “Big Five” as well as five star luxury accommodation and dining. With high mountain retreats, visitors can even ski on the snow covered slopes of Ben McDhui Mountain or go bundu-bashing on beaten 4×4 routes. The high mountain passes that take visitors through the Friendly N6 are sometimes closed due to heavy snowfall during the winter months. Highlights to Discover 4×4 Naude’s Nek Pass Peaking at over 2,920m above sea level, Naude’s Nek Pass is the pinnacle of dirt roads in South Africa. Connecting Maclear to the historical Rhodes, this pass is based on the route taken by the valiant Naude brothers of the 1890s. Today the road is more usually, and recommended to be, travelled in the comfort of a 4×4 vehicle, yet still requires a Rambo-like effort to complete, particularly in winter when heavy snowfalls are common. It would help to seek local advice regarding weather and road conditions before attempting this spectacular pass. The route was pioneered by two brothers, Stephanus David Naude and Gabriel Naude, in 1896. According to the plaque at the monument that was erected by their descendents in 1967; these daredevils trailblazed the winding route on horseback. It was marked out and constructed using picks, spades and scotch-carts and was completed in 1911. Visit www.samountainpasses.co.za for more information. Hit the Slopes in Tiffendell Tiffindell was born by avid skiers and run by passionate snow lovers since 1993. The resort has grown to become a true Alpine resort for all seasons. Skiing at Tiffendell has no off- season. Visitors can ski at any time of the year – Tiffendell manufactures snow when the climate doesn’t produce any. Whether it’s a family holiday or a corporate visit, let Tiffindell introduce you to the world of snow (rated 19 in the CNN’s top 100 ski runs in the world). Tiffendell also offers high altitude hiking, mountain biking, grass skiing, mountain boarding, photography, rock art, birding, some of SA’s best fly fishing, quad biking, and the famous “8 Passes” route for motorcyclists and 4×4’s. As a Ski Resort it offers snow, ski lifts, a restaurant, ski shop and ski school offering three months of skiing and snowboarding during June, July and August. Non aspiring skiers join in to enjoy a unique experience, making snowmen, throwing snow balls or tobogganing, making it the perfect family holiday for young and old. Snowy days in the Eastern Cape aren’t uncommon and create great opportunities for snow skiers and snow boarders to enjoy the cold weather and slopes. Adventure skiers as well as amateurs will enjoy the slopes of the Southern Drakensberg and Hogsback areas during winter, with a ski resort situated close to Rhodes in the Eastern Cape. To book your trip visit http://www.tiffindell.co.za/ . Flyfishing in Rhodes Fly Fishing Fresh Waters… The Rhodes, Barkly East area has amazing fly fishing opportunities on approximately 150km of pristine mountain steams available to anglers. Many of the pristine rivers and streams originate 9000 – 10 000 ft above sea-level, freestone and rock-based highland streams. Among the most popular are the Bell River, Kraai River, Bokspruit, Riflespruit, Sterkspruit, Kloppershoekspruit, Vloeikraalspruit and Langkloof River. Visit www.wildtrout.co.za for information on your fly fishing trip. Zipline Tsitsa Falls Situated on the border of the former Transkei, are the amazing Tsitsa Falls. Born to a young dynamic couple with a passion, Tsitsa Falls offers an alternative lifestyle and the outdoors. There are a number of activities to get your pulse racing. The flying fox zip line runs across the Tsitsa Gorge, a 28m abseil down the waterfall; kayaking; kloofing; hiking; extreme fly fishing; and much more… Visit Tsitsa Falls Backpackers for more information. The Vultures Restaurant The Vultures Restaurant is not your average restaurant. In fact, you will not find a dining table or waiter to serve you. The Vulture’s Restaurant is an attraction so called because the large beast can be spotted through a glass enclosure feeding on dead carcasses. The restaurant is situated at Tenahead Mountain Lodge, near Rhodes. Tenahead Mountain Lodge is situated on the breathtaking Drakensburg Mountain Range. Visit www.riverhotels.co.za for more information. Wild Coast Route Wild Coast is a picturesque adventure. Just under 30 kilometres outside East London stretching past Port St. Johns, the Wild Coast boasts the rendezvous of fauna, flora and the Indian Ocean. As it takes you through the former Transkei Region, this route offers various hiking, camping and aquatic experiences await you, while the local crafts markets make for immaculate souvenirs… Look no further than Port St Johns, the jewel of the Wild Coast, if you wish to become one with nature. Surrounded by towering cliffs, covered in dense indigenous forest with beautiful beaches stretching to the north and south, Port St Johns is a relaxed town with sub-tropical weather making it a year round Wild Coast destination. With the Wild Coast Sun & Casino near Port Edward providing a fun, family focused, home-away-from-home gaming destination; the Wild Coast has emerged as one of the preferred golfing destinations in South Africa. A variety of other outdoor activities are available indulge in. The area also boasts two nature reserves, Hluleka and Mkhambati which welcomes guests with affordable accommodation, game viewing, bird watching, whale viewing and fishing activities. Scattered along the coastal route are the villages of Coffee Bay and Hole-In-The-Wall. The homely lodges and bars, excellent fishing and breath-taking hikes culminate in a beachcomber’s dream. Explore the region by helicopter or canoe, take a boat trip to view the whales or watch the dolphins in the surf while you fish, the Wild Coast will take your breath away. High cliffs and distinctly round, thatched traditional huts define the inland area. Many of South Africa’s political leaders hail from Mthatha where you can visit the beautiful Lucha nature reserve, Mthatha Dam, the Tutor Ndamase Pass and the Langeni Pass. Linking the Wild Coast and the Sunshine Coast is the Jikeleza Route, often labelled the tame area of the Wild Coast. Made up of a cluster of more than 50 tourism attractions, this fast growing popular scenic coastal tourism route offers over 28 unique accommodation establishments ranging from five star luxury boutique hotels to South Africa’s best rated backpackers. Only 30km away from East London’s airport, this mild-to-wild bush-to-beach route is perfect for the adrenaline junkie or for those wanting to escape from the beaten. Click here to WATCH WILD COAST VIDEO Highlights to Discover Hole in the Wall Did you know? The Wild Coast is one of the few places you’ll see cattle chewing the cud on the beach. The Hole in the Wall is a rocky archway set just off the Wild Coast, south of Coffee Bay in the Eastern Cape. The little holiday village close by shares the same name. This landmark was created millions of years ago through the restless action of waves against sandstone and shale. Set along the shoreline overlooking the rocky formation that gave the tiny holiday village its name, this Wild Coast settlement south of Coffee Bay attracts beach lovers and anglers in equal numbers. The instantly recognisable rock formation is made up of Ecca shale and sandstone, capped with hard volcanic dolerite. It stands before the mouth of the Mpako River and is the source of many legends. In the IsiXhosa language, this area is called esiKhaleni, which means ‘the place of sound’. Some say it’s because, under certain conditions, the waves slap the rocks with a resounding cracking sound, while it roars during storms. Others say it refers to a Xhosa legend involving a young maiden who fell in love with one of the mythical ‘sea people’. Such was the love of this sea person for the maiden that he and his people rammed a hole in the side of a lagoon wall with the help of a huge fish so they could reach her; she was never heard from again. In this version, it’s the voices and singing of the sea people that give the name esiKhaleni. Either way, Hole in the Wall is one of the landmarks of the Wild Coast. Geologists say that the cliff walls were once joined to the land. Continuous wave action against the softer sandstone rocks wore them away. The same happened to the more vulnerable shale and sandstone under the hard dolerite, creating the archway. Locals also believe this is a gateway to the world of their ancestors. Nelson Mandela Museum The Transkei is the esteemed birth place to many leaders of the Apartheid Revolution – the most recognised of them being Nelson Mandela. It is fitting that along the splendid Wild Coast, a Nelson Mandela Museum, endorsed by the icon himself, adds a rich experience of heritage to your to-do list. Visit www.nelsonmandelamuseum.org.za for more information on the museum. Take a walk on the wild side With trail routes you absolutely have to experience, accommodation is available along the routes to ensure that you pace your hikes and not miss out on the beautiful scenery along the way. Visit www.wildcoastwalk.co.za/ for more information. A Chintsa East Horseride on Beach ‘People who say there is no heaven on earth have clearly never been on a horse.’ Wonderful beaches and bush trails of the Wild Coast are best explored on the back of a horse in Chinsta. Chintsa Horses Georgie Dickerson +27 (0)43 738 5141 georgie@cintsahorses.co.za COASTAL ROUTE Covering the entire length of the Eastern Cape region stretching across a number of districts, the Coastal Route is renowned for its great beaches, malaria-free parks and reserves, diverse wildlife and proud heritage and culture. The Coastal Route begins at the Tsitsikamma area and runs along the Sunshine Coast, including the Addo Elephant National Park, Amatola Mountains and the unspoilt beaches of the Wild Coast. Activities in this diverse area range from mild day hikes and beach visits to extreme action sports such as bungy jumping at the world’s highest commercial bungy jump in the Tsitsikamma, as well as the discovery of the Xhosa culture and ancient rock art. Sand dune enthusiasts will enjoy a visit to the world’s largest shifting dune field in the Southern Hemisphere, nominated for a listing as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Grahamstown is the country’s festival capital and home to more than 70 heritage sites. Experience the Xhosa cultural hub in the Wild Coast area, and surrounding game reserves found along the coast and inland. Surfing enthusiasts will enjoy the biggest right hand surf break in Jeffreys Bay, while Port Elizabeth is a water-sport paradise offering visitors a wide range of coastal and marine recreational experiences. As the water sport capital of South Africa, Port Elizabeth also boasts six blue flag beaches. The Coastal Route is divided into a number of eight sub-routes, all with their own unique characteristics and features, with the airports at Port Elizabeth and East London providing visitors with easy access to the well-developed road network in the area. This route is designed to appeal to both self-drive and group tourists looking for an authentic and memorable experience in the heart of the Eastern Cape. AMATHOLA MOUNTAIN ESCAPE ROUTE Amathole, meaning ‘the calves of the Drakensberg’ (foothills) in isiXhosa, reflects a rural lifestyle where the Xhosa communities continue to take their Nguni cattle out into the veld. The Amathole Mountain Escape Route stretches from Hogsback in the north, to the Great Fish River in the south and the Dwesa/Cwebe Nature Reserve in the east. Experience the Ubuntu spirit of the Amathole region and celebrate the rich culture and history of the area. Known for its variety of fauna and flora, primal indigenous forests, clear-water mountain streams and magnificent waterfalls, activity highlights in the area include bird watching, fly-fishing, mountain biking and hiking. The six day Amathole hiking trail is ranked one of the best hiking routes in South Africa. The main attractions of the area are the densely forested Amatola Mountains, famous for its panoramic views. The popular village of Hogsback lies at the summit of the Mountain pass. It is believed, the famous author J.R.R. Tolkien of the Lord of the Rings triology, found his inspiration to create his fantasy universe, Middle Earth, in the magical Hogsback surroundings. Steve Biko, Black Consciousness Movement hero, was born in the Ginsberg Township near King William’s Town. The Steve Biko Centre, located close to Biko’s home in Ginsberg, pays tribute to the life of the anti-apartheid activists. Established in 1916, the University of Fort Hare, with its main campus in Alice, was the first black university in South Africa, with alumni including Nelson Mandela, Mangosuthu Buthelezi and Thabo Mbeki. Highlights to discover: Mdantsane Township Tour Three reasons to go on a township tour Experience the day-to day life of the second largest Township in South Africa. Mdantsane, also known as the ‘Boxing Mecca of South Africa’, is home to boxing world champions like Happyboy Mgxaji, Welcome Ncita and Vuyani Bungu. Taste Umqombhothi, home-brewed African beer and get to know the locals in a tavern while listening to live music. Imonti Tours offer guided tours. Contact Velile on 083 487 8975 or info@imontitours.co.za for bookings. Stutterheim Stationary Engine Museum Established in 1995, the Stutterheim Enginge Museum displays 120 engines from 1903 to 1990. It is believed to have one of the largest collections of restored stationary engines in the world. Visit the museum to learn about the development and advancement of engines as well as the history the engines on display. Visiting hours: 8am – 4pm Mondays to Fridays; except public holidays. Technical staff is present and available on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. Lister Lane, Stutterheim Tel. 043 683 1507 Cultural Village (Cata) Learn to speak isiXhosa – on a week-long home stay with a traditional Xhosa family. Visit the Cata Cultural Village to discover the culture of the warm and hospitable Xhosa people. Take a sneak peek into their traditional way of life through their cuisine, customs, rituals, songs and dance. The Cata Chalets, 120km from East London, offer overnight accommodation, inviting tourists to unwind, relax and simply be. The scenic area is perfect for mountain biking, bird watching and hiking. Visit www.cata.org.za for more information. Steve Biko Museum in Ginsberg, King William’s Town “It is better to die for an idea that will live, than to live for an idea that will die.” – Steve Biko Steve Bantu Biko, was an anti-apartheid activist in the 1960s and 1970s. Biko founded the Black Consciousness Movement which empowered and mobilised the urban black population. At the age of 30, he died while in police custody but his slogan “black is beautiful” is still well known today. The Steve Biko Museum in Ginsberg, near King William’s Town, pays tribute to the Black Consciousness Movement activists. For bookings and more information contact the Steve Biko Centre Tel: 043 605 6700 Fax: 043 605 6710 Email: tourism@sbf.org.za Centre Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 09:00 to 17:00; Weekends by appointment Hogsback – Christmas in July The little village of Hogsback, surrounded by scenic mountains, is often covered by a blanket of snow during winter. The quirky people of Hogsback annually celebrate Christmas in July, with: Ox wagon rides •Live music and entertainment – well known performers • Genuine Crafters • Celebrity food demo • Workshops • Children’s entertainment – circus etc • Port and muscadel tasting • Exhibitions – art and otherwise • Food glorious food • Bikers breakfast (charity effect – for Hobbiton) • Famous once a year Kings Lodge CHiLL Dip (for the thick skinned and very brave) • Trail run • Interdenominational thanksgiving service • Etc etc • Amazing shuttle service – our community effort at going green- free. Save your car … hop on – hop off. For more information contact the Hogsback Tourism Centre at 045 9621 245. Eastern Cape Tourism Eastern Cape Tourism has so much to offer. The weather in the Eastern Cape is good to visitors, rarely reaching extremes, except perhaps in the height of the Karoo summer. The coastal area of the Eastern Cape Province lies directly between subtropical KwaZulu Natal and the Mediterranean Western Cape. Its inland area is bisected by the great escarpment, and the northern areas have altitudinous plains of the Plateau and great Karoo. These topographical differences are what cause the climatic differences and conditions experienced by the various towns and cities. In the North East along the Wild Coast, towns like Port St Johns experience long, hot, balmy conditions and high rainfall, while Graaff Reinet, in the heart of the Karoo Heartland, experiences long hot summer months and moderate winters. Up towards the Free State (at towns such as Lady Grey and Aliwal North) the rise in altitude means the appropriate lowering in temperature and sometimes snow. Start planing your trip to the Eastern Cape, Eastern Cape tourism attractions and destinations and things to do. BIG 7 World’s most unique game experience Daring, Spirited, Rejuvenated and Raw Natural game country. REAL PEOPLE, REAL VALUE Unpretentious Value for money, Ubuntu, Caring and wholesome. EXPLORE. DISCOVER ENERGY Discovery Wonder. Unexplored, ‘secret’ places. The challenge and joy of discovery ECO-EXTRAORDINARY Largest variety of landscapes on view Spectacular places, Abundant natural attractions and People having fun in nature. There are NINE REGIONS within the Eastern Cape. Tsitsikamma Adventure Route . The Kouga Route stretches from the Tsitsikamma River to the Van Stadens River. Sunshine coast route explores the spectacular strip of coastline between Port Elizabeth and East London. Sundays River Valley and stretching from the Karoo region north of the Zuurberg Mountain Range to the coast and islands of Algoa Bay of South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province, is the heartbeat of the Greater Addo area. The Karoo Heartland’s rugged and intense beauty is dominated by vast, flat plains, rocky mountains, and the biggest assortment of succulents in the world. The N6 motorway links Bloemfontein, capital of the Free State, with East London. It passes through open, rural countryside where sheep, cattle and goats graze, as well as past Anglo-Boer War battlefields and many small villages and towns. Frontier Country Route traverses the area that was the scene of nine Frontier Wars between the British and the Xhosa and the meeting place of five great cultures, San, Khoi-Khoi, Dutch, Xhosa and British. Amathole Mountain Escape route stretches from Adelaide in the west to Stutterheim in the east, with the majestic Amatola Mountains standing as a clear beacon on the horizon. The Wild Coast is one of South Africa’s most remote stretches of shoreline. Whether you’re in the mood for an informal seaside escape, an encounter with the “Big Seven” on safari, or an adrenaline rush, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for in the Eastern Cape. Scenic diversity is one of the most striking characteristics of the region, ranging from the lush, evergreen Tsitsikamma Forest to the rugged Baviaanskloof Wilderness Area, the southern slopes of the Drakensberg and the arid Great Karoo. Alternating between sweeping sand, river mouths and rocks, the 800 kilometer coastline is a paradise for water sports enthusiasts. Among them, surfers ride the perfect waves, anglers reel in king-size catches, and board sailors revel in the challenge of the wind. Sunshine all year round, fine leisure resorts and splendid facilities ensure that the great outdoors is always in style. When pleasures of a more sophisticated kind appeal, you’ll find plenty to entertain you in Port Elizabeth and East London. Both are ideal for family holidays, large enough to offer all the amenities of a city, yet small enough to be genuinely welcoming and friendly. They also provide convenient access to unspoiled areas of exceptional natural beauty. There are a number of experiences on offer within the nine tourism regions of the Eastern Cape. WILDLIFE There is nothing quite like the African bush, and no better place to view wildlife than in the Eastern Cape. Besides being home to four national parks the Eastern Cape boasts a range of private and provincial reserves, all offering excellent wildlife and bird watching. The province is fast becoming a favorite safari destination with its malaria-free status being ideal for family holidays. Another plus is the Addo Elephant National Park which is constantly being enlarged and extends over a huge range of biomes, from marine to mountain thus offering a Big 7 experience and unsurpassed elephant viewing. ADVENTURE The Eastern Cape offers visitors unique adventure experiences. The Eastern Cape is The Adventure Province and whilst the word may conjure up images of daring and dangerous pursuits there are a number of tame experiences on offer whilst also catering for the Adrenaline Junkies. Activities range from wildlife safaris to zipline excursions, from hiking incredible country side to beach horse rides or gentle nature walks. CULTURE As the birthplace of Xhosa traditions, the Eastern Cape is rich in vibrant cultural history, offering visitors a friendly look into the heart of the local community. Township tours and village experiences offer visitors an experience unlike any other, exploring traditional restaurants and shebeens in village life. With its diverse demographics, the area offers visitors a range of activities in the cultural arena including visits to art museums, theatres and craft programmes. Local artists exhibit their wares at a number of festivals and shows held annually within the area. The Grahamstown National Arts Festival is the biggest arts festival in Africa and is held during July each year. Mutually beneficial partnerships between public, corporate and cultural sectors focus on the sustainable growth and development of the culture, arts and heritage in South Africa. COASTAL The Eastern Cape coastline offers 800 kilometers of terrain to explore taking in the rugged and adventurous region of the Tsitsikamma, the surf loving Kouga region, the gentle sandy Sunshine Coast and the no need to explain Wild Coast. Activities and events range from slack packing trails, deep sea fishing, beach horse rides, quad biking, wildlife safaris, sardine run and iron man events to lazing in the sun and enjoying sundowners at amazing view points. The warm waters of the Indian Ocean wash against the shore line providing visitors with all year round experiences. YOUTH AND FAMILY If you are looking for a family getaway or are taking time out from your studies then the Eastern Cape should be your destination of choice. With Sports Tours, Volunteering, Gap Year Programs, Beach and Bush destinations, City Breaks, Culture, History, Adventure, Family Safaris and Nature based activities the Eastern Cape has something to suit all age groups. KwaZulu-Natal KwaZulu-Natal KwaZulu-Natal is one of the country’s most popular holiday destinations. It includes South Africa’s lush subtropical east coast, stretching from Port Edward in the south to Mozambique in the north. The Drakensberg mountain range stretches the entire length of KwaZulu-Natal’s western boundary. The Drakensberg forms the boundary between South Africa as well as the mountain kingdom of Lesotho, and offers some of the country’s most awe-inspiring landscapes. It provided the backdrop for the films Zulu (1964) and Yesterday (2004) and the setting for Alan Paton’s novel Cry, the Beloved Country, and is the inspiration for a million picture postcards. Within the area is a vast 243 000-hectare sweep of basalt summits and buttresses; this section was formally granted World Heritage status in November 2000, and was renamed uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park. The summer-rainfall coastal regions are hot and humid, with a subtropical climate. The Midlands area is drier, with extremely cold conditions in winter as well as snow on the high-lying ground. In the north, the subtropical strip extends around Swaziland to the edge of the escarpment. Visitors can enter the province through the King Shaka International Airport at La Mercy, north of Durban , or use the extensive national road network. There are also two major harbours – the port of Durban, which is one the busiest in Africa, and Richards Bay, which is an important coal-export harbour. There are several nature reserves including the Royal Natal National Park, Giant’s Castle as well as the Kamberg Nature Reserve. Tertiary institutions of learning in the province include the University of KwaZulu-Natal and the Durban Institute of Technology. KwaZulu-Natal is the only province with a monarchy specifically provided for in the Constitution. KwaZulu-Natal Industry and agriculture The province of KwaZulu-Natal has a diverse industrial sector, with major industries having developed around the port of Durban. Major industries in the province are agriculture, forestry, aluminium, petro-chemicals, automotive manufacturing, steel production, plastics and packaging, paper and board manufacturing, and a range of industries associated with imports and exports though the major ports of Durban and Richards Bay. The coastal belt is also a large producer of subtropical fruit and sugar, while the farmers in the hinterland concentrate on vegetables, dairy and stock farming. Another major source of income is forestry in the areas around Vryheid, Eshowe, Richmond, Harding and Ngome, which is also known for its tea plantations. KwaZulu-Natal Population Capital: Pietermaritzburg Principal languages: IsiZulu 82,5% English 12,5% Afrikaans 1,0% Population: 11 065 240 Percentage share of the total South African Population population: 19,9% Area: 94 361 km2 Source: Stats SA’s Mid-year population estimates 2017 and Community Survey 2016 Limpopo Limpopo Limpopo province is South Africa’s northern most province and shares borders with Mozambique, Zimbabwe as well Botswana, making it the ideal gateway to Africa. Named after the Limpopo River that flows along its northern border, the province is rich in wildlife, natural beauty and historical as well as cultural treasures. With its great variety of wildlife, birds and scenic splendour. It is one of South Africa’s prime ecotourism destinations. The province is linked to the Maputo Development Corridor through the Phalaborwa Spatial Development Initiative. This is a network of rail and road corridors connected to the major seaports, therefore opening up Limpopo for trade and investment. This is complemented by the presence of smaller airports. These airports are found in centres such as Phalaborwa and Musina, as well as the Gateway International Airport in Polokwane. Polokwane is the capital city, which lies strategically in the centre of the province. The Great North Road, running through the centre of the province, strings together a series of towns such as BelaBela, with its popular mineral spa; Modimolle, with its beautiful Waterberg mountain range; Mokopane; Polokwane; Makhado, at the foot of the Soutpansberg mountain range; as well as Musina, which is well-known for its majestic baobab trees. The crossing into Zimbabwe is at Beit Bridge. Phalaborwa and Thabazimbi are Limpopo’s major mining centres, while the town of Tzaneen in the picturesque Magoebaskloof is known for its tea plantations, forestry products and tropical fruit. The province is in the Savanna Biome, an area of mixed grassland and trees, generally known as bushveld. Natural resources include more than 50 provincial nature reserves and several private game reserves. The largest section of the Kruger National Park is along Limpopo’s eastern boundary, which borders on Mozambique. Several museums as well as national monuments bear testimony to the ancient people and fearless pioneers who braved the unknown. Living museums include the Bakone Malapa Museum near Polokwane and the Tsonga Open-Air Museum near Tzaneen. Mapungubwe (“Place of the Jackal”) Hill, some 75 km from Musina, is a world heritage site. It served as a natural fortress for its inhabitants from about 950 AD to 1200 AD. Limpopo Climate Three distinct climatic regions can be identified in the province. These are the: Lowveld (arid and semi-arid) regions Middle veldt, highveld, semi-arid region Escarpment region having sub-humid climate with rainfall in excess of 700 mm per annum. The climatic conditions in the province allow for double harvesting seasons, which results in it being the largest producer of various crops in the agricultural market. Sunflowers, cotton, maize and peanuts are cultivated in the Bela-Bela–Modimolle area. Bananas, litchis, pineapples , mangoes and pawpaws, as well as a variety of nuts, are grown in the Tzaneen and Makhado areas. Extensive tea and coffee plantations create many employment opportunities in the Tzaneen area. The Bushveld is cattle country, where controlled hunting is often combined with ranching. The climate in the Limpopo Province is quite hot since the area is bisected by the tropic of Capricorn. Those who choose to visit this northern tip of the country will find that they can enjoy long sunny days and dry weather on most days. January is the hottest month in Limpopo with an average temperature of 23°C and the coldest is June at 13°C. The wettest month is November with an average of 100 mm of rain. The Limpopo Province experience almost year-round sunshine. Blessed with year-round sunshine, it can get hot in the summer months (October-March), averaging 27 degrees Celsius. Winter is a sunny season of chilly mornings, warm midday’s, dry afternoons and cool to cold nights. The Lowveld, i.e. the Phalaborwa area, can be as hot as 45 degrees Celsius during summer. Limpopo Agriculture Given the fact that 89% of the population of Limpopo Province is classified as rural, agriculture plays a major role in the economic development of rural areas of the province. Limpopo produces a wide range of agricultural products. The area is a potato belt and known for its superior quality potatoes for high-end markets. It also produces 75% of the country’s mangoes; 65% of its papayas; 36% of its tea; 25% of its citrus, bananas and litchis; 60% of its avocados and two thirds of its tomatoes. Other products include coffee, nuts, guavas, sisal, cotton, tobacco, sunflower, maize, wheat and grapes. In addition, more than 170 plantations produce timber. Most of the higher-lying areas are devoted to cattle and game ranching, earning a reputation for quality biltong (salted, dried meat), which is a popular South African delicacy. Limpopo, with 10% of South Africa’s arable land, produces a wide range of agricultural produce. Chief among the field crops in 2015/16 during the drought: dry beans (10%), soy beans (5%), grain sorghum (14%), dry beans (10%), wheat (10%) and sunflower (6%) (DAFF, 2017). Cotton, groundnuts and maize are also produced. Half of the country’s game farms are in the Limpopo province (WRSA, 2012). Amongst the other livestock, it hosts 18% of the country’s goats and 7% of its cattle (DAFF, 2017). It also produces 6% of the country’s eggs (SAPA, 2015). Limpopo is the natural resource treasure chest of South Africa, if not the whole of southern Africa. It boasts some of the greatest reserves of agriculture, mineral and tourism resources many of which remain hugely under-exploited. The province is also linked to the Maputo Development Corridor through Phalaborwa Spatial Development Initiative, a network of road and rail corridors connecting to the major seaports will open up Limpopo and surrounding regions for trade and investment. This is complimented by the presence of airports in major centres of the province including Ellisras, Makhado, Musina, Phalaborwa, Mokopane, Thabazimbi, Tzaneen, Thohoyandou and Bela-Bela as well as the Gateway International airport in Polokwane. In terms of Agriculture Limpopo could be described as the garden of South Africa and or the whole continent, given its rich fruit and vegetable production. The province produces 75% of the country’s mangoes, 65% of its papaya, 36% of its tea, 25% of its citrus, bananas, and litchis, 60% of its avocados, two thirds of its tomatoes, 285,000 tons of potatoes. Other products include coffee, nuts, guavas, sisal, cotton and tobacco, timber with more than 170 plantations. Apart from all these, there is cotton, sunflower, maize, wheat cultivation as well as grape. Most of the higher lying areas are devoted to cattle and game ranching, earning a reputation for quality biltong, a popular South African delicacy of salted, dried meat. Limpopo won 13 LandCare Awards from the 8th national Biennial LandCare Conference hosted in Bloemfontein, Free State Province from 25 to 27 September 2018. This comes after Limpopo Province produced five champions in some categories, four runners up and four third positions in others. Limpopo Industry and Mining Limpopo also has abundant mineral resources, making mining the critical sector of the province’s economy by contributing 22% of the gross geographic product. Metals include platinum, chromium, nickel, cobalt, vanadium, tin, limestone as well as uranium clay. Other reserves include antimony, phosphates, fluorspar, gold, diamonds, copper, emeralds, scheelites, magnetite, vermiculite, silicon, mica, black granite, corundum, feldspar as well as salt. The Medupi power station, a new dry-cooled, coal-fired power station, is under construction near Lephalale. It is also expected to create around 40 000 job opportunities. Limpopo Tourism Limpopo is a tourist attraction destination. Limpopo is renowned as the Province of peace. It is endowed with bountiful natural resources, including 54 provincial reserves and many private game reserves. A few hours from Gauteng, the Province boasts the Waterburg mountain range, supporting the thriving farming and game ranching, nature reserves and resorts. Heading further north into the Province there is Polokwane – the capital of the Province, with an excellent growing infrastructure, a modern international airport and offering a wealth of diverse cultural experiences. East of the city the R71 takes you to the subtropical part of the Valley of the Olifants, the verdant Magoebaskloof Valley. Further eastwards takes you into the heart of the ‘big five’ parks of the country and some of the prime game farms in Africa, including the Kruger National Park – majestic in extent and abundant in wild life. The hot climate makes Limpopo a pleasant year-round holiday destination. During summer – that is in the months October to March – it is hot with brief afternoon showers, providing a cooling effect for evenings. In winter – from May to September – the mornings are crisp, the days are dry and sunny and the evenings cold and clear. Fauna and Flora All creatures large and small, from the massive hippopotamus to the diminutive mongoose are found in their unspoilt natural habitat. The spectrum of game species include large populations of giraffe, kudus, gemsbok, nyala , water buck, klip springer, impala, a blue wild beest and zebra , white lions that are truly white lions not albinos. For instance, in Timbavati Private nature reserve, elephants, buffalo, rhinoceros, leopards, cheetahs, red duiker, samango, monkeys, bushbuck, bushpigs and a countless others. There also more than 300 species of birds including the endangered species like vultures at Moletjie Nature Reserve 20 kilometres north west of Polokwane. The magnificent cycad forest near Tzaneen, the Modjadji Cycad (Encephalartos transvernosus) of the Rain Queen is one of the largest cycads in the world and it is a protected species. The Baobab tree, which is found only in Limpopo in the country, is an awe inspiration to the visitor. They are hundreds of years old and mostly found on the Northern part of the province. They are well preserved in the Baboab Tree Reserve in the Mussina Nature Reserve. The Big Five occur in many of the game and nature reserves in Limpopo. Buffalo are the most abundant of the Big Five and occur in large herds that can number up to 600 animals. Deceptively docile, these animals are powerful and aggressive – particularly old bulls ejected from the herd who form small bachelor herds. When alarmed, a herd also tends to stampede. Buffalo are regularly preyed upon by lions. Elephants live in tightly-knit family groups led by a matriarch. The bulls remain solitary or may band together to form bachelor herds. A fully-grown elephant weighs around 6 000 to 7 000 kilogram and is the largest terrestrial animal. When there are young in the herd, the adult female may become aggressive and it is advisable not to venture too close to the herd. The leopard is a shy nocturnal animal that hunts mainly at night. This, and the fact that it prefers dense riverine areas and craggy hills, explains why it is often not easily spotted. The leopard hides its prey in trees from other predators and is often seen resting on a branch in a tree. It is the most wary and stealthy of the big cats, yet can be incredibly bold. Lions are the largest of the African cats and live in prides of varying size controlled by one or more dominant males. An adult male weighs about 180 kilograms and a female, 135 kilograms. Lions live for up to 20 years. The lion’s roar, normally heard at dawn and dusk, can easily be heard within a radius of many kilometres. The rhinoceros is classified as either white or black, although there is no real colour difference between the two species. White rhino are generally larger with a flattened or square mouth and feed on grass. Black rhino have a pointed mouth that they use to strip leaves and break twigs. Rhino weigh up to 1 500 kilogram. The rhino’s horn is formed from matted hair and skin. Tel: +27 (0) 15 293 3600 E-mail: info@golimpopo.com Limpopo River The Limpopo River rises in the interior of Africa, and flows generally eastwards towards the Indian Ocean. It is around 1.600 km long (or 1.770 km according to another source). The Limpopo is the second largest river in Africa which drains to the east after the Zambezi River. It flows in a great arc, first zig-zagging north-east and north, then turning east and finally south-east. At this point it serves as a border for about 640 km, separating South Africa on the south-east bank from Botswana in the north-west and Zimbabwe on the north. The main tributary is the Olifants/Letaba river (Elephant River). The port town of Xai-Xai (Mozambique) is on the river near the mouth. Below the Olifants, the river is permanently navigable to the sea, though a sandbar prevents access to large ships, except at high tide. Limpopo Population Capital: Polokwane Principal languages: Sepedi 56,0% Tshivenda 17,1% Xitsonga 16,6% Population: 5 799 090 Percentage share of the total South African population: 10,4% Area: 125 755 km2 Source: Stats SA’s Mid-year population estimates 2017 and Community Survey 2016 Limpopo – Culture The population of Limpopo consists of the following several ethnic groups distinguished by culture, language and race: The Northern Sotho (Sepedi) : Approximately 57 per cent. The Tsonga (Shangaan) : Approximately 23 per cent The Venda : Approximately 12 per cent. The Afrikaners : Approximately 2.6 per cent The English : Approximately half a per cent Notes: Limpopo Department of Sport, Arts and Culture crowned the best Arts and Culture Department in the country during the 2018 SATMA Awards. In the northern part of the Limpopo Province of South Africa, between the Blue Mountain and Limpopo River, dinosaur footprints and archaeological findings are evidence of the rich and ancient history of this isolated area. This area is home to a tribal community of more than a million Pedi people. Previously called the Northern Province, Limpopo is a land of beautiful and contrasting landscapes, which is typical of Africa. Hence it has become a favourite destination for leisure and adventure travelers worldwide. Come to a region of infinite scenic beauty with a great diversity of both natural and man-made attractions, rich cultural heritage and an abundance of wildlife and nature-based tourism opportunities. Our network of protected areas and nature reserves is amongst the best on the African continent. Through these nature reserves, we seek to preserve our natural heritage for future generations and for sharing with the international community. We have spectacular mountain scenery, which beckons hikers, climbers and bikers, while mystic cultural destinations intrigue both local and international tourists. The game viewing is absolutely fantastic and possibly the best in the country – hence we are the preferred Eco-tourism destination in Southern Africa. Limpopo National Parks Limpopo is home to numerous nature reserves and National Parks. South African National Parks (SANParks) is the body responsible for managing South Africa’s national parks. SANParks was formed in 1926. The best known park is Kruger National Park. The Kruger National Park, which is also the oldest (proclaimed in 1898), and the largest, at nearly 2.000.000 hectares (20.000 km2). The Kruger Park and Table Mountain National Park are two of South Africa’s most visited tourist attractions. Whether you’re planning adventurous game drives, a rural camping retreat, bird watching or tranquil hours spent angling, here are some icons and highlights which should not be missed, when visiting Limpopo. Kruger National Park. (70% of which is in the Limpopo province) Game reserve in Limpopo, bounded in the north by the Limpopo River, in the east by Mocambique, in the south by the Crocodile River and in the west by a surveyor’s line. Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park The Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park is a joint initiative between Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe. The establishment of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park is a process that will link the Limpopo National Park in Mozambique, Kruger National Park in South Africa, Gonarezhou National Park, Manjinji Pan Sanctuary and Malipati Safari Area in Zimbabwe, as well as two areas between Kruger and Gonarezhou, namely the Sengwe communal land in Zimbabwe and the Makuleke region in South Africa. LIMPOPO PROVINCE – SOUTH AFRICA Previously called the Northern Province, Limpopo is a land of beautiful and contrasting landscapes, which is typical of Africa. Hence it has become a favourite destination for leisure and adventure travellers worldwide. Come to a region of infinite scenic beauty with a great diversity of both natural and man-made attractions, rich cultural heritage and an abundance of wildlife and nature-based tourism opportunities. Our network of protected areas and nature reserves is amongst the best on the African continent. Through these nature reserves, we seek to preserve our natural heritage for future generations and for sharing with the international community. We have spectacular mountain scenery, which beckons hikers, climbers and bikers, while mystic cultural destinations intrigue both local and international tourists. The game viewing is absolutely fantastic and possibly the best in the country – hence we are the preferred Eco-tourism destination in Southern Africa. Limpopo Province is located in the far Northern part of South Africa and shares borders with three neighboring countries: Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. For this reason, the Province is also known as the gateway to other African countries. The Province also shares provincial borders with Gauteng, Mpumalanga and North West provinces. Limpopo landscape and vegetation varies from one area to the other. The vegetation ranges from Tropical Forests, Bush and Shrubs to semi-desert areas with small trees and bushes. The landscape also ranges from mountainous to flat land. Limpopo is divided into five regions, strategically located according to the cultural inhabitants. Capricorn is the central region predominantly occupied by the Bapedi People. Waterberg is the largest region in the province with the majority of people being the Batswana people. The Vhembe region in the far north is dominated by Vhavenda and Vatsonga people. The Mopani region towards the Kruger National Park is dominated by Vatsonga, whereas the Sekhukhuni region is dominated by Bapedi and Ndebele people. Limpopo is the only Province in South Africa with more than two cultural groups staying together in their original habitat in harmony. Other ethnic groups include the English and Afrikaner people. English is regarded as a business language but other native languages of the province include Tshivenda, Sepedi, Xitsonga, Setswana, Isindebele and Afrikaans. Limpopo has a predominant Christian religious society. However there are other traditional religions such as Islam and Hinduism. Most of the businesses operate normally from 09:00 a.m. to 17:00 p.m and also accept credit cards (e.g. Visa). National Banks are also available and they offer services of international standards, e.g. FNB, Standard Bank, Nedbank, African Bank and ABSA. Five Regions of Limpopo Capricorn District Blouberg Local: Cities/Towns: Alldays Lepelle-Nkumpi Local: Cities/Towns: Zebediela Molemole Local: Cities/Towns: Dendron, Morebeng (Soekmekaar) Polokwane Local: Cities/Towns: Polokwane Mopani District Ba-Phalaborwa Local: Cities/Towns: Gravelotte, Leydsdorp Greater Giyani Local: Cities/Towns: Giyani Greater Letaba Local: Cities/Towns: Modjadjiskloof Greater Tzaneen Local: Cities/Towns: Haenertsburg, Tzaneen Maruleng Local: Cities/Towns: Hoedspruit Sekhukhune District Elias Motsoaledi Local: Cities/Towns: Groblersdal, Roossenekal Ephraim Mogale Local: Cities/Towns: Marble Hall, Schuinsdraai Nature Reserve Fetakgomo – Greater Tubatse Local: Cities/Towns: Burgersfort, Ohrigstad, Steelpoort Makhuduthamaga Local: Completely rural in nature, dominated by traditional land ownership. Vhembe District Collins Chabane Local: Cities/Towns: Malamulele Makhado Local: Cities/Towns: Makhado Musina Local: Cities/Towns: Musina Thulamela Local: Cities/Towns: Thohoyandou Waterberg District Bela-Bela Local: Cities/Towns: Bela-Bela, Pienaarsrivier Lephalale Local: Cities/Towns: Lephalale Modimolle-Mookgophong Local: Cities/Towns: Modimolle, Mookgophong (Naboomspruit), Vaalwater Mogalakwena Local: Cities/Towns: Mokopane (Potgietersrus) Thabazimbi Local: Cities/Towns: Amandelbult Mine Town, Thabazimbi Limpopo’s capital Polokwane (previously Pietersburg), lies in the heart of the Capricorn region. The district has an internal airport, and is linked to Gauteng by one of the best stretches of the N1 in South Africa. It has the third-largest district economy in the province, and is predominantly rural in nature. North West North West North West is bordered by Botswana in the north and fringed by the Kalahari desert in the west, Gauteng to the east, and the Free State to the south. It is known as the “Platinum Province”, owing to its wealth of this precious metal. The province has a population of more than 3,6 million people who mainly speak Setswana. Mahikeng is the capital city and well known for the Mafikeng Siege, which took place in October 1899 during the Anglo-Boer/South African War. North West Population Capital: Mahikeng Principal languages: Setswana 71,5% Afrikaans 8,96% IsiXhosa 5,51% Population: 3 748 435 Percentage share of the total South African population: 6,7% Area: 104 882 km2 Source: Stats SA’s Mid-year population estimates 2017 and Community Survey 2016 Most of the province’s economic activity is concentrated between Potchefstroom and Klerksdorp, as well as in Rustenburg and the eastern region, where more than 83,3% of the province’s economic activity takes place. The province has various tourist attractions. These include Sun City, the Pilanesberg National Park, Madikwe Game Reserve, and the De Wildt Cheetah and Wildlife Trust. A portion of one of South Africa’s seven Unesco world heritage sites also falls within the borders of North West namely the Taung hominid fossil site, which has been incorporated into South Africa’s Cradle of Humankind. North West Mining and manufacturing Mining contributes 23,3% to North West’s economy, and makes up 22,5% of the South African mining industry. The Rustenburg and Brits districts produce 94% of the country’s platinum, which is more than any other single area in the world. In addition to granite, marble, fluorspar and diamonds, the province also produces a quarter of South Africa’s gold. Employment along the Platinum Corridor, from Pretoria to eastern Botswana, accounts for over a third of the province’s total employment. North West’s manufacturing sector centres on the municipalities of Brits, Rustenburg, Potchefstroom, Klerksdorp and Mahikeng, which together account for more than 50% of the province’s total manufacturing production. The industries in Brits concentrate on manufacturing and construction. While those in Klerksdorp are geared towards the mining industry. In the manufacturing arena, automotive parts, machinery, electronic, audio, and medical equipment are manufactured using local materials and resources. North West Agriculture Some of the largest cattle herds in the world are found at Stellaland near Vryburg. This fact therefore explains why this area is often referred to as the Texas of South Africa. Marico is also cattle country. North West is South Africa’s major producer of white maize. The areas around Rustenburg are fertile, mixed-crop farming land, with maize and sunflowers being the most important crops. The arrestingly diverse landscape of the North West is occupied by charming people who’s responsibility to the land parallels their strong sense of tradition. The culture of the people of the North West is to be found in every aspect of the daily lives of the people. – in their beadwork, the pottery, the houses, the music and song. The people of the North West are predominantly BaTswana in origin and their language is SeTswana. They can trace their origins for many centuries through a turbulent history of war and migration across the plains and valleys of the province to the borders of the Kalahari. Other groups touching the North West are the Ndebele in the east and theSotho in the south. The North West Province is blessed with several cultural villages that entertain and enrich as they interpret South Africa’s people in their own unique manner. Much of the province consists of flat areas of scattered trees and grassland. The Magaliesberg mountain range in the northeast extends about 130 km (about 80 miles) from Pretoria to Rustenburg. The Vaal River flows along the southern border of the province. Temperatures range from 17° to 31° C (62° to 88° F) in the summer and from 3° to 21° C (37° to 70° F) in the winter. Annual rainfall totals about 360 mm (about 14 in), with almost all of it falling during the summer months, between October and April. In 1994 the population of the North West Province was estimated to be 3 669 349 (out of a total of an estimated 44 819 778 people living in South Africa); 65% of the people in the North West Provice live in the rural areas. The majority of the province’s residents are the Tswana people who speak Setswana. Smaller groups include Afrikaans, Sotho, and Xhosa speaking people. English is spoken primarily as a second language. Most of the population belong to Christian denominations. (Figures according to Census 2001 released in July 2003). The province has the lowest number of people aged 20 years and older (5,9%) who have received higher education. The literacy rate is in the region of 57%. As part of the Department of Education’s proposed plans for higher education, the existing four higher learning institutions will be merged to form two. During 2003, as part of the Year of Further Education and Training project, three mega institutions, Taletso, ORBIT and Vuselela, were established to provide technical and vocational training to the youth. These institutions have been incorporated into many of the former education and technical colleges and manpower centres. Mafikeng, formerly Mafeking, serves as the provincial capital. Other significant towns include Brits, Klerksdorp,Lichtenburg, Potchefstroom, Rustenburg and Sun City. The province has two universities: the University of North West, which was formerly called the University of Bophuthatswana (founded in 1979), in Mmabatho; and Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education (founded in 1869; became a constituent college of the University of South Africa in 1921 and an independent university in 1951). Important historical sites in the province include Mafikeng, the traditional capital of the Barolong people, where a British garrison was placed under siege by Afrikaners during the Boer War (1899-1902); Lotlamoreng Cultural Village near Mafikeng, which re-creates a traditional African village; and Boekenhoutfontein, the farm of Paul Kruger, who was the last president of the South African Republic (a state created by Afrikaners in what is now north-eastern South Africa), from 1883 to 1902. The province has several national parks. The largest, Pilanesberg Game Reserve, is located in the crater of an extinct volcano. North West Region From untamed bushveld to the sophistication of 5-star resorts, the North West Province provides the complete tourism package. Away from the hustle and bustle of city life, the province offers an escape route to the real Africa. Nature has blessed this province with breathtaking scenic beauty, rolling fields of maize, golden sunflowers and vast plains of African bushveld. The ideal backdrop for the enjoyment of our outdoor attractions. Superb game parks – home to the Big Five – magnificent golf courses, water features, sporting facilities. The North West Province – a blend of 20th century living and the mystique of ancient Africa. Effectively forming the southern part of the Kalahari Desert, the North West Province offers almost all year-round sunshine. Do not forget your suntan lotion and sun hat. Few days will be spent indoors staring at bleak weather! The North West is all about the authentic African bush experience and it is the hot, dry African climate which is truly unique. Small wonder, then, that so many indulge in the many water recreation facilities available throughout the province. Even less surprising that so many choose to stay in this place of uncompromisingly tempered, often intemperate climate. The North West Province is a must see destination – one that is diverse and exciting. We offer some of the finest game reserves, cultural sights, archaeological treasures as well as entertainment resorts. Visitors seeking to experience the wilderness and cultural treasures of the North West may do so conveniently because of it’s proximity to the Johannesburg International Airport and the major centres of Johannesburg and Pretoria. The agricultural and mining production in the North West plays a vital role in boosting the South African economy. The principal products are namely gold, platinum, diamonds, maize, beef as well as sunflower seeds. While visiting the North West, the traditional warmth of the province will be shared with you as well as the pride in the history and culture of the province. Visitors to the North West can take home with them lasting memories a special experience and enjoyment. Dams in the North West Hartbeespoort Dam : Hartbeespoort Dam is a large dam on the Crocodile River, located about 35 kilometers (22 miles) northwest of Johannesburg. The dam was completed in 1938 and has a capacity of 1,097 million cubic meters (384 billion cubic feet). Hartbeespoort Dam is used for irrigation, hydroelectric power, and recreation. Boskop Dam: Boskop Dam is a small dam on the Boskop River, located about 50 kilometers (31 miles) north of Pretoria. The dam was completed in 1965 and has a capacity of 15 million cubic meters (530 million cubic feet). Boskop Dam is used for irrigation and recreation. Taung Dam: Taung Dam is a small dam on the Taung River, located about 100 kilometers (62 miles) north of Mahikeng. The dam was completed in 1966 and has a capacity of 10 million cubic meters (353 million cubic feet). Taung Dam is used for irrigation and recreation. Vaal Dam: Vaal Dam is the largest dam in South Africa, located about 100 kilometers (62 miles) south of Johannesburg. The dam was completed in 1938 and has a capacity of 30,400 million cubic meters (1,066 billion cubic feet). Vaal Dam is used for irrigation, hydroelectric power, and drinking water. Tzaneen Dam: Tzaneen Dam is a large dam on the Olifants River, located about 300 kilometers (186 miles) northeast of Pretoria. The dam was completed in 1970 and has a capacity of 2,000 million cubic meters (70.7 billion cubic feet). Tzaneen Dam is used for irrigation, hydroelectric power, and recreation. These are just a few of the many dams in the North West Province of South Africa. Dams play an important role in the province’s economy and environment, and they provide a valuable source of water for irrigation and drinking water. Mpumalanga Mpumalanga Mpumalanga, which means “Place Where the Sun Rises”. Spectacular scenic beauty and an abundance of wildlife makes Mpumalanga province one of South Africa’s major tourist destinations. Mpumalanga is home to just more than four million people. The principle languages are Siswati and isiZulu. With a surface area of only 76 495 km2, it is the second smallest province after Gauteng , yet has the fourth-largest economy in South Africa. Bordered by Mozambique and Swaziland in the east, and Gauteng in the west, the province is situated mainly on the high plateau grasslands of the Middleveld. In the north-east, it rises towards mountain peaks terminating in an immense escarpment. In some places, this escarpment plunges hundreds of metres down to the low-lying area known as the Lowveld. The province has a network of excellent roads and railway connections, making it highly accessible. Owing to its popularity as a tourist destination, Mpumalanga is also served by a number of small airports, including the Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport. Mbombela is the capital of the province and the administrative and business centre of the Lowveld. Other important towns are eMalahleni, Standerton, Piet Retief, Malalane, Ermelo, Barberton and Sabie, which lies in the centre of one of the largest man-made forests in the world. Mpumalanga lies mainly within the Grassland Biome. The escarpment and the Lowveld form a transitional zone between this grassland area as well as the Savanna Biome. The Maputo Corridor, which links the province with Gauteng, and Maputo in Mozambique, facilitates economic development and growth for the region. Mpumalanga Agriculture and forestry Mpumalanga is a summer-rainfall area divided by the escarpment into the Highveld region with cold frosty winters and the Lowveld region with mild winters and a subtropical climate. The escarpment area sometimes experiences snow on the high ground. Thick mist is common during the hot, humid summers. Agriculture, as the backbone of the province’s economy, employs 8,1% of its total workforce. An abundance of citrus fruit and many other subtropical fruit – mangoes, avocados, litchis, bananas, papayas, granadillas, guavas – as well as nuts and a variety of vegetables are produced here. Mbombela is the second-largest citrus-producing area in South Africa and is responsible for one third of the country’s orange exports. The Institute for Tropical and Subtropical Crops is situated in the city. Groblersdal is an important irrigation area, which yields a wide variety of products such as citrus, cotton, tobacco, wheat and vegetables. Carolina-Bethal-Ermelo is mainly a sheepfarming area, but potatoes, sunflowers, maize and peanuts are also grown there. Mpumalanga Industry and manufacturing Most of the manufacturing production in Mpumalanga occurs in the southern Highveld region; especially in Highveld Ridge, where large petrochemical plants such as Sasol 2 and Sasol 3 are located. Large-scale manufacturing occurs especially in the northern Highveld area, particularly chrome-alloy and steel manufacturing. In the Lowveld subregion, industries concentrate on manufacturing products from agricultural and raw forestry material. The growth in demand for goods and services for export via Maputo will stimulate manufacturing in the province. Mpumalanga is rich in coal reserves with eMalahleni being the biggest coal producer in Africa. South Africa’s major power stations are situated in this province. Kendal power station’s cooling towers are the largest structures of their type in the world. The Kusile power station near Delmas, which was completed in 2016, is the country’s biggest, contributing a massive 4 800 MW of electricity to the national grid. One of the country’s largest paper mills is situated at Ngodwana, close to its timber source. Middelburg, which produces steel and vanadium, is home to Columbus Stainless, South Africa’s only producer of stainless steel flat products. Mpumalanga Capital: Nelspruit Principal languages: Siswati 29,1% IsiZulu 28,8% Xitsonga 9,6% IsiNdebele 10,1% Population: 4 444 200 Percentage share of the total population: 7,8% Area: 76 495 km2 Source: Stats SA’s Mid-year population estimates 2017 and Community Survey 2016 BACK TO TOP

Kwa Zulu Natal Welcome to the KwaZulu Natal Known as the Zulu Kingdom Appropriately named "South Africa's Garden Province ", the lush and green province forms the east coast of South Africa from the Mozambique boundary southwards to Port Edward. Enticing, spectacular and fascinating, the province is a subtropical coastline, with savannah heading east towards majestic Drakensberg mountain range in the west. KwaZulu Natal's beaches are along the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, and are some of South Africa's most popular holiday spots. It is a multi-cultural showpiece destination. Kwa-Zulu Natal is also known as the Zulu Kingdom and has eight different destinations, each offering its own unqiue set of experiences. It is a kaleidoscope showing you natural wonders, ultra-modern facilities, fascinating glimpses of a multi-coloured people, a history rich in heroic deeds, bloody battles and ultimately reconciliation, and this is all set against a majestic backdrop of sun, sea, mountains and sky. Durban is a sophisticated cosmopolitan city of over three million people. A city where east meets west it is known as the home of Africa's best managed, busiest port. It is an exciting city in which to play, shop, experience the nightlife and relax. It is a city in which to do business also. The world-class International Convention Centre has hosted an historic line-up of events including conferences of a global scale. Also known as the playground of the Zulu Kingdom, there are so many things to keep you busy in Durban, such as a marine world, the wharf, the BAT centre, fine restaurants, entertainment and shopping, craft markets, beachfront stalls, theatres and clubs, township tours, nature sanctuaries and parks, the Botanical Gardens and so much more. You can sail, swim, run, play tennis or stroll along or relax on the sun-drenched beaches. Battlefields - Shaka, Winston Churchill, Mahatma Gandhi and General Louis Botha were all famous military strategists who walked through this place many years ago. Lone forts and small graveyards on these undulating landscapes with rocky outcrops make visible the secrets and sorrows of great battles, sighed and whispered by the wind. The Battlefield sites, historic towns and national monuments are testimony to the critical, blood-soaked conflicts which are the legacy of this place. Tours can be taken of the Battlesites, but if you wish to take on a more adventurous route you can go white-water rafting down the rapids of the mighty Tugela, sail on the Chelmsford Dam or hunt in the designated hunting reserves. This region offers all these pursuits. The elephant coast is a pristine eco-wonderland boasting 21 different ecological systems. Some of the world's highest natural dunes, brilliant coral reefs, fever tree and palm savannahs, papyrus swamps and rolling acacia bushveld can be found in this land of natural and cultural diversity. It is home to the Zulu and Tsonga people as well as the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park, declared South Africa's first World Heritage Site. Accommodation ranges from luxury game lodges to Zulu homestays and camping. The sea, lakes and beach provide more adventure. Scuba diving and snorkelling enable you to watch the 1200 different species of marine life abounding in these waters. And taking a turtle tours is a must. Angling is a great sport, whether from the 200 kilometers of unspoilt beach, on the lakes or the deep sea. While at sea you might even be lucky enough to spot a whale or two. Historical venues are the Ghost Mountains and Dingaan's grave. The Zulu and Tsonga people will share these places with you and tell you more about their history as well as their traditional way of life. The South Coast is a very popular holiday destination, with it's sub-tropical forests, blue lagoons, golden beaches, rocky coves, warm Indian Ocean and sunny weather. There are three beaches which have International 'Blue Flag' status, namely Ramsgate, Marina Beach and Lucien. The South Coast is also known to many as 'The Golf Coast' because of its nine excellent 18-hole golf course, two of white are rated amongst the top 12 in the country. The Umtamvuna Nature Reserv conserves plants found nowhere else in the world, and you can view 400 species of birds along this coastline. Scuba diving is a popular past time and you will find excellent diving areas at Aliwal Shoal and Protea Banks. You can also go abseiling in the Oribi Gorge. The scenery around here is absolutely breathtaking. The North Coast is also known as the Dolphin Coast and stretches from Zimbali to the mighty Tugela River. You will find the bottle nose dolphin frolicking in these waters close to shore, all year round. There are so many things to do here, such as dining at fine restaurants, partying at the nightclubs, taking a golf course or taking to the air in a microlight. You can stroll along the coast on horseback during low tide, or enjoy some angling. As for the history aficionados you will be interested to know that Shaka Zulu is buried at Kwa-Dukuza, and Albert Luthuli, the Nobel laureate, is buried nearby. You can visit historic battle sites such as the Ultimatum Tree, Ndondakusuka or Fort Pearson, or you can walk a 'muti' trail through the Harold Johnson Nature Reserve. The Zulu people are indigenous to this part of the land, but the North Coast is also home to a large Indian community. You will find Indian temples and you can sample their spicy food. Pietermaritzburg Midlands is home to quaint antique shops, markets, restaurants, art galleries, museums and a casino. This is where the annual Duzi Canoe Marathon starts, as is beginning and end for the Comrades Marathon. Take a picnic to the magnificent Howick Falls, or try your hand at some trout or bass fishing. For the more adventurous you can paraglide off Bulwer Mountain or slide across the canopy of Karkloof's indigenous forests. The Drakensberg Mountains are named by the Zulu 'Ukhahlamba' or the 'Barrier of Spears' and by the Dutch Voortrekkers 'The Dragon Mountain'. With their awe-inspiring basalt cliffs, snowcapped in winter, towering over riverine bush, lush yellowwood forests and cascading waterfalls, the Drakensberg Mountains form a massive barrier separating Kwa-Zulu Natal from the Kingdom of Lesotho. The only road access is via Sani Pass, which at the top boasts the highest pub on Africa, at 3000 metres above sea level. This 243 000 hectare mountainous region known as the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, has been preserved and venerated for eons since the San people or bushmen roamed these slopes. These mountains combine sheer natural beauty with a wealth of biological diversity. Tens of thousands of paintings depicting the daily life of the bushmen can be found on the rock faces. In December 2000 the park received international recognition and was declared KwaZulu Natal's second World Heritage Site. The adventurous may try climbing it or abseiling, white water rafting or taking a helicopter ride to view the mountains from above. There are also hiking routes for the less adventurous where you can view the large variety of animals and plantlife. KwaZulu-Natal KwaZulu-Natal (/kwɑːˌzuːluː nəˈtɑːl/ , also referred to as KZN; nicknamed "the garden province") is a province of South Africa that was created in 1994 when the Zulu bantustan of KwaZulu ("Place of the Zulu" in Zulu ) and Natal Province were merged. It is located in the southeast of the country, with a long shoreline on the Indian Ocean and sharing borders with three other provinces and the countries of Mozambique , Eswatini and Lesotho . Its capital is Pietermaritzburg , and its largest city is Durban . It is the second-most populous province in South Africa, with slightly fewer residents than Gauteng . Two areas in KwaZulu-Natal have been declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites : the iSimangaliso Wetland Park and the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park . These areas are extremely scenic as well as important to the surrounding ecosystems. During the 1830s and early 1840s, the northern part of what is now KwaZulu-Natal was established as the Zulu Kingdom while the southern part was, briefly, the Boer Natalia Republic before becoming the British Colony of Natal in 1843. The Zulu Kingdom remained independent until 1879. KwaZulu-Natal is the birthplace of many notable figures in South Africa's history, such as Albert Luthuli , the first non-white and the first person from outside Europe and the Americas to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize (1960); Pixley ka Isaka Seme , the founder of the African National Congress (ANC) and South Africa's first black lawyer; John Langalibalele Dube , the ANC's founding president; Harry Gwala , ANC member and anti-apartheid activist; Mac Maharaj , grammy award winning group Ladysmith Black Mambazo , grammy award winning DJ Black Coffee , ANC member, anti-apartheid activist and Little Rivonia Trial defendant ; Mangosuthu Buthelezi , the founder of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP); Anton Lembede , the founding president of the ANC Youth League ; Jacob Zuma , the former President of South Africa ; Bhambatha , a 19th-century Zulu chief who became an anti-apartheid icon; and Shaka Zulu . Geography A view of the Mngeni River valley near Howick Falls At around 92,100 km2 (35,600 sq mi) in area, KwaZulu-Natal is roughly the size of Portugal. It has three different geographic areas and is the eastern most province in the country. The lowland region along the Indian Ocean coast is extremely narrow in the south, widening in the northern part of the province, while the central Natal Midlands consists of an undulating hilly plateau rising toward the west. Two mountainous areas, the western Drakensberg Mountains and northern Lebombo Mountains form, respectively, a solid basalt wall rising over 3,000 m (9,800 ft) beside Lesotho border and low parallel ranges of ancient granite running southward from Eswatini. The area's largest river, the Tugela , flows west to east across the center of the province. The coastal regions typically have subtropical thickets and deeper ravines; steep slopes host some Afromontane Forest . The midlands have moist grasslands and isolated pockets of Afromontane Forest. The north has a primarily moist savanna habitat, whilst the Drakensberg region hosts mostly alpine grassland . The province contains rich areas of biodiversity of a range of flora and fauna. The iSimangaliso Wetland Park and the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park have been declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites . The iSimangaliso Wetland Park, along with uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park and Ndumo, are wetlands of international importance for migratory species and are designated as Ramsar sites . South Africa signed the 1971 Ramsar Convention to try to conserve and protect important wetlands because of their importance to habitats and numerous species. The former Eastern Cape enclave of the town of Umzimkulu and its hinterland have been incorporated into KwaZulu-Natal following the 12th amendment of the Constitution of South Africa . The amendment also made other changes to the southern border of the province. The northwesterly line of equal latitude and longitude traverses the province from the coast at Hibberdene (30°34′35″S 30°34′35″E ) to northeast Lesotho . The province became the first to include a portion of road that is made of partial plastic, the equivalent of nearly 40,000 recycled milk cartons. Climate Upland savannah near Pietermaritzburg Mangrove forest at the Umgeni River estuary in Durban KwaZulu-Natal has a varied yet verdant climate thanks to diverse, complex topography. Generally, the coast is subtropical with inland regions becoming progressively colder. Durban on the south coast has an annual rainfall of 1009 mm, with daytime maxima peaking from January to March at 28 °C (82 °F) with a minimum of 21 °C (70 °F), dropping to daytime highs from June to August of 23 °C (73 °F) with a minimum of 11 °C (52 °F). Temperature drops towards the hinterland, with Pietermaritzburg being similar in the summer, but much cooler in the winter. Ladysmith in the Tugela River Valley reaches 30 °C (86 °F) in the summer but may drop below freezing point on winter evenings. The Drakensberg can experience heavy winter snow, with light snow occasionally experienced on the highest peaks in summer. The Zululand north coast has the warmest climate and highest humidity, supporting many sugar cane farms around Pongola. Sports Provincial sport teams Soccer African Warriors (Phuthaditjhaba ) Carara Kicks F.C. (Welkom ) Bloemfontein Celtic (Bloemfontein )(now has been sold) Free State Stars (Bethlehem ) Roses United Bloemfontein Young Tigers Rugby Cheetahs (Bloemfontein ) Currie Cup : Free State Cheetahs (Bloemfontein ) Griffons (Welkom ) Cricket Knights (Bloemfontein ) Borders KwaZulu-Natal borders the following areas of Mozambique, Eswatini and Lesotho: Maputo Province, Mozambique (far northeast) Lubombo District, Eswatini (northeast, east of Shiselweni) Shiselweni District, Eswatini (northeast, west of Lubombo) Mokhotlong District, Lesotho (southwest, north of Thaba-Tseka) Thaba-Tseka District, Lesotho (southwest, between Mokhotlong and Qacha's Nek) Qacha's Nek District, Lesotho (southwest, south of Thaba-Tseka) Domestically, it borders the following provinces: Mpumalanga (north) Free State (west) Eastern Cape (southwest) See also: Parks of KwaZulu-Natal , List of cities and towns in KwaZulu-Natal , and List of municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal The KwaZulu-Natal Province is divided into one metropolitan municipality and ten district municipalities . The district municipalities are in turn divided into 44 local municipalities . The local seat of each district municipality is given in parentheses: In 2012, the Ingonyama Trust owns 32% of the land in KwaZulu-Natal, in many municipalities. This amounts to about three million hectares, occupied by over 4 million people. The Zulu king is the chairman of the Trust. Metropolitan municipalities eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality (Durban ) District municipalities Amajuba District (Newcastle ) Newcastle Dannhauser eMadlangeni Uthukela District (Ladysmith ) Emnambithi/Ladysmith Indaka Umtshezi Okhahlamba Imbabazane Zululand District (Ulundi ) Ulundi Nongoma Abaqulusi uPhongolo eDumbe uMkhanyakude District (Mkuze ) Jozini Hlabisa Umhlabuyalingana Mtubatuba The Big 5 False Bay King Cetshwayo District (Richards Bay ) [formerly uThungulu] uMhlathuze Umlalazi Nkandla Mbonambi Ntambanana Mthonjaneni uMzinyathi District (Dundee ) Msinga Nqutu Umvoti Endumeni uMgungundlovu District (Pietermaritzburg ) Msunduzi uMshwathi uMngeni Richmond Mkhambathini Mpofana Impendle iLembe District (kwaDukuza ) KwaDukuza Ndwedwe Mandeni Maphumulo Ugu District (Port Shepstone ) Ray Nkonyeni uMdoni uMuziwabantu Umzumbe Harry Gwala District (Ixopo ) Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma Ubuhlebezwe Greater Kokstad Umzimkhulu Coastline A beach on the North Coast The coastline is dotted with small towns, many of which serve as seasonal recreational hubs. The climate of the coastal areas is humid and subtropical, comparable to southern Florida in the United States, but not quite as hot and rainy in the summer. As one moves further north up the coast towards the border of Mozambique, the climate becomes almost purely tropical. North of Durban is locally referred to as "The North Coast ", while south is "The South Coast ". The Kwazulu-Natal Tourist board includes towns such as Margate , Port Shepstone , Scottburgh and Port Edward in its definition of the South Coast, while Ballito , uMhlanga , Zimbali and Salt Rock are North Coast resort towns. San Lameer Resort Beaches of world-class quality are to be found along virtually every part of South Africa's eastern seaboard, with some of the least-developed gems found in the far southern and far northern ends of the province. Marina Beach (and its adjoining resort San Lameer) was recognised in 2002 as a Blue Flag beach . Some visitors come for the annual late autumn or early winter phenomenon on the KwaZulu-Natal coast of the "sardine run ". Referred to as "the greatest shoal on earth", the sardine run occurs when millions of sardines migrate from their spawning grounds south of the southern tip of Africa northward along the Eastern Cape coastline toward KwaZulu-Natal. They follow a route close inshore, often resulting in many fish washing up on beaches. The huge shoal of tiny fish can stretch for many kilometres; it is preyed upon by thousands of predators, including game fish , sharks , dolphins and seabirds . Usually, the shoals break up and the fish disappear into deeper water around Durban. Scientists have been unable to answer many questions surrounding this exceptional seasonal event. Interior The interior of the province consists largely of rolling hills from the Valley of a Thousand Hills to the Midlands . Their beauty has inspired literature. Alan Paton , in the novel Cry, the Beloved Country , wrote: There is a lovely road that runs from Ixopo into the hills. These hills are grass-covered and rolling, and they are lovely beyond any singing of it. The road climbs seven miles (11 km) into them, to Carisbrooke; and from there, if there is no mist, you look down on one of the fairest valleys of Africa. About you there is grass and bracken and you may hear the forlorn crying of the titihoya , one of the birds of the veld. Below you is the valley of the Umzimkulu , on its journey from the Drakensberg to the sea; and beyond and behind the river, great hill after great hill; and beyond and behind them, the mountains of Ingeli and Griqualand East . History Further information: Zulu Kingdom , Natalia Republic , Colony of Natal , Natal Province , and KwaZulu On Christmas Day 1497, Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama saw the coast of Natal and named the site after the Portuguese word for Christmas, Natal . The Nguni branch of the Bantu occupied this area from the early 1300s[10] The first European settlers, mostly British, established Port Natal , a trading post. They made almost no attempt to develop the interior, whose inhabitants had been decimated by the Zulu king, Shaka . The Afrikaner Voortrekkers entered the area via the Drakensberg passes in 1837. These Afrikaners defeated the Zulus at the Battle of Blood River in 1838 and thereafter established the Republic of Natal. Thus, the territory was once part of a short-lived Boer republic between 1839 and 1843 until its annexation by Britain. Many Afrikaner inhabitants left for the interior after the annexation and were replaced by immigrants, mainly from Britain. From 1860 onwards, increasing numbers of Indians, mainly Tamils ,[11] were brought in by the British mainly to work in the sugar plantations on the coast. The colony acquired Zululand (the area north of the Tugela River) after the Zulu War of 1879. The lands north of the Buffalo River were added in 1902. Boer forces entered the area during the South African War (1899 to 1902) – also known as the second Boer War – and laid siege to Ladysmith . They failed to build on their initial advantage and for three months the line between the opposing forces followed the course of the Tugela River . In 1910, the colony became a province of the Union of South Africa and in 1961 of the Republic of South Africa. When the homeland of KwaZulu, which means "Place of the Zulu" was re-incorporated into the Natal province after the end of apartheid in 1994, the province of Natal, which had existed between 1910 and 1994, was renamed KwaZulu-Natal. The province is home to the Zulu monarchy; the majority population speak Zulu . It is the only province in South Africa that has the name of its dominant ethnic group as part of its name. As with Eastern Cape , most White South Africans in KwaZulu-Natal are of British descent and less than a quarter of whites in the province are of Boer/Afrikaner descent.[12] [13] [14] Provincial coat of arms The lion and wildebeest supporters are symbols of, respectively, KwaZulu and Natal, the regions joined to create KwaZulu-Natal. Besides its importance as a symbol of the Zulu monarchy, the lion is also featured in the state emblems of the India and the United Kingdom which together represent the three largest people groups in KwaZulu-Natal and also represents the unity between them. The zig-zag stripe represents the Drakensberg which is green in summer, but snowcapped in winter and the star represents the Star of Bethlehem , due to Vasco da Gama naming the region "Natalia" (a reference to the birth of Christ) on Christmas Day in 1497. The strelitzia flower on the shield symbolizes the province's beauty, while the assegai and knobkierrie behind the shield represent protection and peace. The base of the crown element is a type of headdress traditionally worn by Zulu elders that represents wisdom and maturity; the element itself is a Zulu-style grass hut. The motto is Masisukume Sakhe, Zulu for "Let us stand up and build". Law and government The KwaZulu-Natal parliament building, located in Pietermaritzburg Provincial government KwaZulu-Natal's provincial government sits in Pietermaritzburg . The foundation stone of the new legislative building was laid on 21 June 1887, to commemorate Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee . The building was completed two years later. On 25 April 1889, the Governor of Natal, Sir Arthur Havelock , opened the first Legislative Council session in the new building. This was the former site of St Mary's Church, built in the 1860s. The congregation built a new church in 1884 at the corner of Burger Street and Commercial Road. The old building was demolished in 1887 to provide space for the legislative complex. When governance was granted to Natal in 1893, the new Legislative Assembly took over the chamber used by the Legislative Council since 1889. Further extensions to the parliamentary building were made. The building was unoccupied until 1902, when it was used without being officially opened, due to the country's being engulfed in the Anglo-Boer war . The war forced the Legislative Assembly to move the venue of its sittings, as its chamber was used as a military hospital. The Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council buildings have both been protected as provincial landmarks . They formed a colonial Parliament of two houses: a Council of 11 nominated members and an Assembly of 37 elected members. The Natal Parliament was disbanded in 1910 when the Union of South Africa was formed, and the Assembly became the meeting place of the Natal Provincial Council. The council was disbanded in 1986. The Provincial Legislature consists of 80 members. Current composition Composition of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature The African National Congress (ANC) holds power in the provincial legislature, winning the province with a convincing overall majority in South Africa's 2019 elections . After the election, the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) regained the title of the official opposition in the province. Zulu monarchy KwaZulu-Natal is the home to the Zulu monarch , currently King Misuzulu Zulu kaZwelithini. As of 2015, the king is provided a stipend of 54 million South African rands by the provincial governmentHe is also the chairman of the Ingonyama Trust , which controls 32% of the area of the province. Economy Sugar cane in Midlands South. KwaZulu-Natal has the second largest regional economy in the country after Gauteng . Durban is a rapidly growing urban area and is by most measures the busiest port in Africa. A good railway network links the city to other areas of Southern Africa. Sugar refining is Durban's main industry. Sheep, cattle, dairy, citrus fruits, corn , sorghum , cotton, bananas, and pineapples are also raised. There is an embryonic KwaZulu-Natal wine industry. Other industries (located mainly in and around Durban) include textile, clothing, chemicals , rubber, fertiliser , paper, vehicle assembly and food-processing plants, tanneries, and oil refineries. To the north, Newcastle is the province's industrial powerhouse, with Mittal Steel South Africa (previously ISPAT/ISCOR) and the Karbochem synthetic rubber plant dominating the economy. In 2002, Newcastle became the largest producer of chrome chemicals in Africa with the completion of a chrome-chemical plant, a joint-venture project between Karbochem and German manufacturing giant Bayer. Other large operations include a diamond-cutting works, various heavy engineering concerns, the Natal Portland Cement (NPC) slagment cement factory, and the Newcastle Cogeneration Plant (old Ingagane Power Station). This was recommissioned as Africa's first gas-fired power station by Independent Power Southern Africa (IPSA), and it supplies the Karbochem Plant with electricity. The textile industry is a major employer in the Newcastle area, with over 100 factories belonging to ethnic Taiwanese and Chinese industrialists. Maize, livestock and dairy farmers operate on the outskirts of the city. Coal is also mined in the Newcastle area. Offshore mining of heavy mineral sands including minerals with a concentration of significant economic importance at several locations, such as rutile , ilmenite and zircon are threatening the marine ecology of KwaZulu-Natal's coast, including the Tugela Banks; the fishing economy of the prawn and nurse fisheries are also threatened. Ecology tourism is increasingly important to the economy of KwaZulu-Natal. The area's rich biodiversity and efforts at conservation have been recognised. Tourists have come to see the iSimangaliso Wetland Park and the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park , declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites . These two major parks and that of Ndumo have wetlands of international importance listed as Ramsar sites for conservation. Civil society and politics Prominent civil society organisations based in the province of KwaZulu-Natal include: Abahlali baseMjondolo (shackdwellers') movement, the Diakonia Council of Churches, the Right2Know campaign, and the Unemployed People's Movement. Evictions and political controversy The government in KwaZulu Natal has been under sustained controversy for their eviction of shackdwellers and mistreatment by provincial police structures that has resulted in more than 200 arrests of Abahlali members in the first last three years of its existence and repeated police brutality in people's homes, in the streets and in detention. See also: Attack on Kennedy Road The attack on Kennedy Road informal settlement by an armed mob in 2009 in [Durban] put local and provincial government under sustained scrutiny. It was reported by members of the Abahlali baseMjondolo movement that the attackers were affiliated with the local branch of the African National Congress and it was claimed that the attack was carefully planned and sanctioned by the provincial police department. Academic research seems to confirm that the attackers self-identified as ANC members and that ANC leaders at Municipal and Provincial level later provided public sanction for the attack. See also: Marikana Land Occupation (Durban) Despite a court interdict, the eThekwini municipality, with the support of the provincial SAPS, repeatedly evicted shack dwellers in Durban's Cato Crest. The General Council of the Bar has also expressed concern over the evictions. Ecology Natal plum There are various game reserves found in the province; one notable example is Hluhluwe–Imfolozi Park , where the southern white rhinoceros was saved from extinction. In many of these larger reserves, large animals ranging from several antelope species to elephant , Cape buffalo and hippopotamus can be found. Predators include lions , leopards , and Cape wild dogs . The scaly yellowfish (Labeobarbus natalensis) is a fish found in the Tugela River system as well as in the Umzimkulu , Umfolozi and the Mgeni . It is a common endemic species in KwaZulu-Natal Province and it lives in different habitats between the Drakensberg foothills and the coastal lowlands. Carissa macrocarpa (Natal plum) is a shrub native to South Africa, where it is commonly called the "large num-num". In the Zulu language or isiZulu, as well as in the Bantu tribes of Uganda, it is known as the Amathungulu or umThungulu oBomvu. In Afrikaans, the fruit is called noem-noem. Education Universities The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) has five campuses in the province.[33] It was formed on 1 January 2004 after the merger between the University of Natal and the University of Durban-Westville .[34] Other universities are: University of Zululand Durban University of Technology Mangosuthu University of Technology University of South Africa Colleges AAA School of Advertising Berea College of Technology Berea Technical College CTU Training Solutions Central Technical College Damelin College Eduvos Ethekwini college ICESA Education iStudent MANCOSA Management and Leadership Academy Pax college Regent Business School Richfield Graduate institute of Technology Stadio institute of Higher Education (Embury institute for higher education) The Business School at Varsity College Oval International Education Sport Major sports events Comrades Marathon , an annual marathon run between Pietermaritzburg and Durban. Midmar Mile , a mile-long swimming race held annually at Midmar Dam . Dusi Canoe Marathon , an annual canoe marathon starting in Pietermaritzburg and ending in Durban. Durban July , South Africa's premier annual horse racing event at Greyville Racecourse, Durban. Mr Price Pro, a premier international surfing event at Durban during winter (previously known as the "Gunston 500"). Provincial sports teams Football (soccer) The South African Premier Soccer League (PSL) currently features the following teams from the province: AmaZulu , Golden Arrows and Royal AM (Durban) Thanda Royal Zulu (Richards Bay) Maritzburg United (Pietermaritzburg) Royal AM Durban Rugby union United Rugby Championship The Sharks Currie Cup Sharks BACK TO TOP