Cultural Diversity
The South African people are known as the Rainbow Nation because of the diversity in cultures and tribes. There are 11 official languages in South Africa of which Afrikaans originated from old-Dutch. The local population in the south-east of South Africa is the Xhosa people. They speak the language called IsiXhosa which is also known as the ‘click’ language. It is a beautiful language and quite challenging for foreigners to master.
Cultural experiences and Cultural diversity
South Africans treasure their diverse cultural heritage – and we’re only too happy to share it with visitors. South Africa’s rich heritage can be seen in over 300 museums all over the country. They range from 18th century homes to mountain caves, from rural cultural villages to state-of-the-art urban facilities.
Hanging with South Africans
But nothing beats actually meeting the Rainbow Nation of South Africa- the people. South Africa’s many cultural villages offer a close-up insight into the country’s traditional cultures.
In the major centres, township tours – conducted with sensitivity and pride – will put you in touch with real South Africans and their history.
In the rural areas, community tours will help you get to know the country through the eyes of those who live here. You can discover ancient Setswana astronomy through the lens of a grandmother with an intimate knowledge of the ancient traditions.
Cradle of Humankind
Remember, no matter where you’re from, this is where your roots are. It’s pretty much accepted that human life started in Africa. Most people look at the world differently after a tour of the Cradle of Humankind near Johannesburg – one of the richest hominid fossil sites in the world.
Fossilized footprints near Cape Town, and the wealth of rock paintings and surviving shelters in KwaZulu-Natal’s Drakensberg Mountains and elsewhere in the country, all testify to humanity’s origins on this ancient continent.
Wars, apartheid, reconciliation
More recently, South Africa’s history has been one of conflict and confrontation, but also of reconciliation and restitution. You can explore the battlegrounds where the bloody events that shaped the country took place.
From Isandlwana or Talana in KwaZulu-Natal to Soweto in Johannesburg or Langa in Cape Town, our land tells a story – but one that can be difficult to interpret, so it’s worth doing a guided tour.
But we also announce our new-found unity. A trip to Robben Island will show just how powerful that attitude can be. We’ve taken a place of oppression, isolation and despair and turned it into a symbol of forgiveness and hope. That’s what South Africans are doing with the whole country. The new South Africa especially showed it’s face during the great World Cup 2010 and showed the world it is capable of anything!
