Small portrait of South Africa
"Blue skies, gameparks, wilderness areas, and the promise of a sun-drenched holiday are what draws most visitors to South Africa. This country's roughly the size of Spain and France combined, encompasses an astonishing diversity of environments: from the dranatic arid moon-scapes of the northwest to the forrestfringed coastline of the Garden Route; from the flat, dry Karoo interior to the craggy Drakensberg in the east; the manicured wineyards of the Cape to the spring flower fields of Namaqualand. South Africa is the only country in the world that can lay claim to an entire floral kingdom within its borders."
South Africa's wildlife heritage
The many wildlife parks further north are home to the Big Five: buffalo, elephant, leopard, lion and rhino, while the wetlands and marine reserves along the east cost teem with sea creatures and colorful birds, great and small, that are often overlooked. Two ocean currents influence the coastal climate and wildlife. Blue whales with their 33 meter are frequent guests at the South African coastal waters just like the various dolphin species around Durban and Margate.
Landscapes and flora
South Africa's flora has charmed visitors and intigued botanists for years. Many species are wildly distributed within the country, but each region has produced distinct characteristics, the result of varying geographics, climatics, and soil conditions.
Semi-desert in South Africa is confined to the Namib. The semi-desert Great Karoo region covers about one-third of the country. Its flora has evolved to withstand aridity and extreme temperatures.
Namaqualand has many succulent plants in this region survive only through the condensation of nightly mists that roll in from the Atlantic ocean. Adaptation has led many bizarre species, such as the kokerboom (quiver tree), half mens (half-human). Temperate forests, dense evergreen forests thrive in the high rainfall area around Knysna. Major trees may reach a height of 60 m with a girth of 7 metres. Bushweld of the interior are covered with toll grasses and low trees most of them deciduos, fine-leaved and thorny. The Kruger National Park is an excellent example of several transitional types occuring between sparse shrub and savanna. High mountain flora, according to altitude and increasing severity of the enviremen, rises from dense heath to mixed scrub and grasses. A relatively small subalpine belt, 2800 m above sea level, is confined to the Drakensberg region. Subtropical coastal belt with its swamps, saline estuaries and lush plants are charasteristic of the KwaZulu Natal coast. Mangroves anchor themselves to their unstable habitat with stilt-likeroutes, while higher up on the banks grow palms and wild banana.
People and society
"The Rainbow Nation" as South Africans call themselves. In 1994, English, Afrikaans and nine Bantu tongues were recognized as official languages. Afrikaans, derived from Dutch and altered through contact with other tongues, is spoken by 18 per cent of the population. South Africa's cultural mix has its roots in a colonial past. The original hunter-gatherer inhabitants of the Cape were joined, about 1000 years ago, by migrating Bantu speakers from the north. In the 17th century, European settlers appeared – first the Dutch, then the British and French – with their slaves from Indonesia, Madagascar, and India. Settlers and slaves alike brought with them their culinary traditions and no one can leave South Africa without having tasted the boerewors, the potjiekos or the Cape Malay.
Religion crosses many of the cultural and social divides. The African independent churches have a large following, as their approach includes aspects of tribal mysticism, and a firm belief in the influence of ancestral spirits. The Dutch Reformed, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, and Anglican churches draw worshippers from all population groups. Islam is strongly represented in the Western Cape, while Buddhists and Hindus are mainly found around Durban.
South Africa today
Perhaps the best starting point from which to chart the end of apartheid is the announcement of then President FW de Klerk regarding the unbanning of several political parties. On 11 February 1990, after 27 years, Nelson Mandela was released from prison. Amid escalating violence, negotiations began for a peaceful transition to democracy. Finally on 27 April 1994, all South Africans voted and 5 days later Nelson Mandela became the first black president of the "New South Africa".
Yet, many citizens still live in poverty. Despite the country's many natural resources, advanced technology and sophisticated infrastructure, the gap between privileged and poor is still wide. Jobs are in very short supply and tough times lie ahead, but the nation looks to the future applying its president's maxim: "It is not easy to remain bitter if one is busy with constructive things." (Claudia Dos Santos (Ed) (1999): South Africa, London: DK Eyewitness Travel Guides) |
