South Africa contains a copious amount of Game and Wildlife reserves both National and Private, which can be found in every province of this amazingly beautiful country. They have an abundance of animal and bird life as well as coastal regions with marine life reserves where dolphins, whales and other sea life can be seen. [...]
Posts Tagged South Africa
Africa is known for its extraordinary wildlife and South Africa is no exception. There are Game Reserves throughout the Country where one can drive around and experience an abundance of wild animals at close range.
KwaZulu Natal, a breathtaking region that is filled with natural beauty, sandy beaches and high mountains. A wonderful place to visit while touring South Africa
The Food, diverse culture, famous people and the Sports of South Africa are all a great part of what makes up this beautiful country
A description of the The Free State Province of South Africa, what to do while touring South Africa, where to go while touring South Africa and the many places in the Free State that should be seen
Outline of the Cape Provinces with places to tour throughout the area, sites to see and things to do in this magnificent region of South Africa
South Africa has a number of natural resources besides the well known ones like gold and diamonds. Here you can find out exactly what the country grows
The Transvaal, with places to visit throughout the area, sites to see and things to do while touring in this magnificent region of South Africa
The small village of Kei Mouth is situated along the Wild Coast of South Africa on the banks of the Kei River where it enters the Indian Ocean not far from East London. This charming little spot together with its nearby neighbor Morgan’s Bay have not yet been fully discovered by tourists. It is still [...]
Mossel Bay is a seaport and seaside resort situated between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth, South Africa on the shores of the Indian Ocean. This warm and welcoming historical town is regarded as the beginning of the Garden Route. A number of explorers and seafarers of the 15th century including Bartholomew Diaz and Vasco da [...]
About 37 km north-west of Nelspruit in Mpumalanga South Africa, in the Mankelekele Mountains are the Sudwala Caves. These Caves are believed to have been formed 3,000 million years ago, making them amongst the oldest system of caves in the world. They are 30 km long but accessibility is limited to about 600 meters.
Traditional Pickled Curried Fish
The Royal Natal National Park is located in the heart of the Drakensberg Mountains and is part of the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park World Heritage Site in the province of KwaZulu Natal.
The small town of Darling is situated 23 km inland along the Western Cape Coast of South Africa. Darling was established in 1853 and named after the Lieutenant Governor of the Cape at that time, Sir Charles Henry Darling when his farm, Langfontein was established.
As early as 1672 efforts were made to grow sugarcane at the Cape of Good Hope which ended in failure and it was only at the start of colonization in Natal that the growing of sugar cane proved to be successful.
The Shangaan tribe was formed when Shaka the Zulu King decided to conquer the Tsonga tribe and he sent out his warriors led by Soshangane to do this. But Soshangane chose instead to set up a new tribe when he came upon some communities of peaceful people spread and some land that seemed fertile. These [...]
Dingaan (Dingane) was born in 1795, half brother of Shaka. He became King of the Zulu tribe in 1828 after successfully assassinating Shaka who was King at the time.
Potjies are traditional South African cast iron pots, they are becoming increasingly popular in many countries around the world. In South Africa it is used as an alternative or even sometimes at the same time as a traditional barbeque. The Pot itself is rounded at the bottom and has 3 legs and is allowed to [...]
Shaka (Chaka) was born towards the end of the 18th century in what is now KwaZulu-Natal. His mother, Nandi, was the daughter of a past chief of the Elangeni tribe and his father Senzangakona was the chief of the very small Zulu tribe. Nandi was barely tolerated by the Zulu people and Shaka’s childhood was [...]
Recipe: Poffertjies Summary: Originating in Holland, these traditional Dutch treats are similar to pancakes but are much fluffier. They can be served with any sweet topping.
Recipe: Tomato Bredie Summary: South African Style Stew
Recipe: Koeksisters A very sweet and sticky South African pastry that was originally introduced in South Africa by the Cape Malay slaves. It is very similar to a doughnut but coated in syrup and is twisted to look like a braid.
Recipe: Monkey Gland Sauce Summary: A delicious South African sauce
Recipe: Melktert Ingredients
Recipe: Sosaties (Dutch Kababs)
Recipe: BOBOTIE Ingredients
In 1867 the Sixth Municipal District of Cape Town was established. This area was home to community of immigrants, laborers and freed slaves which made it a lively and animated part of the city of Cape Town. The area was referred to as District 6 and most of the inhabitants were colored people including a [...]
The town of Musina (Messina) is situated in the Northern Transvaal (Limpopo province) on the border of Zimbabwe and is the most northerly South African town.
The small quaint village of Storms River is situated on the edge of the Tsitsikamma National Park and only a short distance to the East of Knysna and north of Plettenberg Bay. This little village offers a wide variety of accommodation for visitors wishing to enjoy the many activities available in the area.
Paul Kruger (Stephanus Johannes Paulus) was the last President of the South African Republic and regarded by many as the greatest figure produced by Afrikanerdom. He came from a family of German immigrants. Born in the Eastern Cape in 1825, it is believed that he was born on the farm Bulhoek near Steynsberg but later [...]
Richard “Dick” Phillip King is a name that is memorable in South African history. One of 13 children he was born in Chatham England on the 28th November 1813 and together with his parents came to South Africa as part of the 1820 settlers program. The family first settled in Albany in the Cape Colony
Sir George Albu was a celebrated Mining magnate of German-Jewish descent who was born in Brandenburg, Germany in 1857 and together with his brother Leopold immigrated to South Africa in 1876.
Situated within easy reach of both Johannesburg and Pretoria is the Lesedi Cultural Village where visitors will be welcomed with African warmth by music and song and enjoy finding out about the traditional cultures of the Pedi, Zulu, Xhosa, Basotho and Ndebele tribes of South Africa.
One of the foremost personalities in South African history was the statesman and empire builder Sir Cecil John Rhodes. Rhodes was born in England on July 5th 1853 in the town of Bishop’s Stortford.
Gauteng is the smallest of the nine provinces of South Africa and was formed from part of the original Transvaal province. In April 1994 after the first all race elections took place and the province was divided up, after this division, the area that is now Gauteng was originally called Pretoria-Witwatersrand-Vereeniging (PWV) but in December [...]
The Voortrekker Monument was built to honor the Voortrekkers who started to leave behind British Rule in the Cape Colony between 1835 and 1854 and with enormous courage and resolve travelled in a number of large groups inland facing many dangers and hardships along the way, in an effort to make a new and better [...]
South Africa has produced a diversity of writers many of whom have distinguished themselves in the literary world. With 11 official languages, writers from nearly all the recognized tongues of South Africa including English, Afrikaans, Sesotho and Setswana have made their literary mark in both fiction and factual works.
The South African Town De Aar is situated in the Northern Cape Province on the rail line between Cape Town and Kimberley which was established in the late 19th century. It is the second most important rail junction in South Africa. The rail lines from the Eastern and Western Cape, the Transvaal provinces, Zimbabwe and [...]
Port Edward is the most southerly town on the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal, approximately 170 km from Durban and close to the border of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The area between Port Edward and the town of Port Shepstone further north is known as the Hibiscus Coast.
Port Shepstone is situated on the South Coast of the KwaZulu-Natal Province in South Africa approximately 120 km from Durban. It is the largest town along this coastline and was founded in1867 at the time that marble was discovered in the area and named after Sir Theophilus Shepstone, a Natal statesman of Victorian days.
Port St Johns is situated on the Wild Coast of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. This authentic example of an African village is set on the Umzimvubu River (Xhosa for Hippo) and indisputably the jewel of the Wild Coast.
The most southerly point of Africa is Cape Agulhas named by the Portuguese explorers and meaning Needle Cape. Situated in the Overberg Region of the Western Cape Province, it is the official meeting point of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans. It is widely believed that Cape Point is both the most southerly tip of Africa [...]
Kimberley is a city situated in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa. It is the capital of the Northern Cape and lies near the convergence of the Vaal and Orange Rivers.
Sir Ernest Oppenheimer was a South African mining and industrial magnate. He was born in the 1880 at Friedberg in Hesse, Germany and arrived in London when he was only a young man, to join his older brother Louis at the firm of Anton Dunkelsbuhler who was a relative. Dunkelsbuhler was a well known diamond [...]
Bethlehem is situated in the eastern Free State Province of South Africa and is a significant farming and commercial centre as well as being at the northern end of the mountain route. It is a tourist center for Golden Gate National Park as well as for the Drakensberg. Bethlehem is a very rich producer of [...]
Welkom is the second largest city in the Free State Province of South Africa and the youngest city in South Africa. It was founded in 1947 and grew at an immense pace on account of the enormous development of the neighboring gold mines. The Afrikaans word Welkom means welcome and the name suits it indeed [...]
The Witwatersrand is a word in Afrikaans which means “The Ridge of white waters”. It is a range of hills in the Gauteng province South Africa that contains most of the worlds gold reserves. These rich gold bearing reefs stretch from 40 miles east of Johannesburg to 90 miles west and even further into the [...]
The Karoo is situated in the Cape, South Africa. It is an arid semi desert region and is divided into two sub-regions: The little (Klein) Karoo in the south and the Great Karoo in the north. The word Karoo originates from the Khoisan language and means “great thirst”.
Hout Bay is a suburban area of Cape Town in South Africa. It is an inlet on the Atlantic side of the Cape Peninsula. In the early days of Dutch settlement it was noted for the wealth of natural timber that grew on the neighbouring hills, which was the inspiration for Jan Van Riebeek to [...]
About 30 km outside the town of Outdshoorn in the area of the Klein Karoo in the Western Cape Province of South Africa, lie the magnificent Cango Caves – one of the wonders of the world.
The coastal area North of Durban in KwaZulu- Natal province, South Africa, is known as the Dolphin Coast, so named because of the Bottle Nose Dolphins that can be sighted in large schools cavorting happily off shore in search of sardine shoals.
Simon’s Town, also often referred to as Simonstown, is situated in the Western Cape Province of South Africa at Simon’s Bay which is an inlet on False Bay. The name Simon’s Town is derived from Governor Simon Van der Stel. The harbour itself was used because of its protection against the winter gales that made [...]
The geographical Line of Latitude that lies approximately 23 degrees south of the Equator is called the Tropic of Capricorn. This line runs through Southern Africa, Australia and South America. In South Africa the Tropic of Capricorn runs through the northern part of Limpopo Province (formerly Northern Transvaal) and gives its name to the area [...]
The town of Paarl in the winelands region of the Western Cape Province in South Africa lies on the Berg River and was established in 1657 by Abraham Gabbema. It takes its name from the very large and smooth granite rocks crowning the ridge overlooking the town, which are thought to resemble a pearl and [...]
South Africa has eleven official languages and the third most spoken language in the country is Afrikaans. There are approximately 6 million people whose mother tongue is Afrikaans, about 13% of the South African population.
The picturesque and historical town of Tulbagh in the Western Cape Province of South Africa is situated in one of the most stunningly scenic and fertile valleys in the country.
Ladysmith is a town in the Kwazulu-Natal Province of South Africa. The town lies in the foothills of the Drakensberg Mountains on the banks of the Klip River and is an ideal stopping off point for anyone interested in the battlefields of the Anglo-Boer War.
The charming little town of Tzaneen is situated in the foothills of the Wolkberg Mountains in the Limpopo Province (formerly the Northern Transvaal) of South Africa. Tzaneen is the second largest town in the Mopani district of Limpopo and is seen as the capital of the Letaba region.
There are 8 world heritage sites in South Africa. 4 of these are cultural, 3 are listed as natural and the 8th is regarded as mixed and that is the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park.
In South Africa, the name Toweel was at one time tantamount to saying boxing. The Toweel family made an extraordinary impact and contribution to the sport in 20th century South Africa.
The Addo Elephant National Park in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa is situated only an hour’s drive from Port Elizabeth .It is a malaria free area and one of the country’s top 20 national Parks.
The town of George in the Western Cape Province in South Africa is known as “The Gateway to the Garden Route”. George is the sixth oldest town in South Africa. It is located in the Cape Wildflower Floral area situated below the splendid Outeniqua mountain range, set slightly inland but within easy reach of the [...]
The Hluhluwe-Imfolozi National Park is one of the oldest and highly esteemed game reserves in South Africa and is situated approximately 280 km north of Durban in Kwazulu-Natal. Originally Umfolozi and Hluhluwe were two separate game parks which in 1989 amalgamated to become the large and impressive Hluhluwe-Imfolozi National Park, home to the big five [...]
Adjoining the Kruger National Park, visitors to the area will find the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve. It is maintained by the non profit Timbavati organization that since 1962 has been dedicated to the conservation of endangered animals. There are more than 40 species of mammals to be found at Timbavati including the big 5 but, [...]
Graaff-Reinet is a town situated in the heart of the Great Karoo in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. It was founded in 1786 and named after the Governor of the Cape, Cornelis Jacob van de Graaff and his wife Reinet . It is the fourth oldest town in South Africa.
The town of Wellington lies about 45 minutes from Cape Town in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. Situated at the foot of the Groenberg Mountains and built along the banks of the Kromme River Wellington is a historic and charming town with its picturesque valley setting and has often been referred to as [...]
Louis Trichardt in the Limpopo Province (Northern Transvaal) South Africa is a quaint and interesting typical Boer Town lying at the foot of the Soutpansberg Mountain range.
Along the Panorama Route in Mpumalanga (Eastern Transvaal) South Africa, lies the enchanting little town of White River. The town itself was started after the Anglo-Boer War when settlers established a farming community that has remained practically the same to this day. Tropical fruit, vegetables, flowers are some of the products farmed in the area.
South African’s love their meat and the barbeque (or braai as it is called in South Africa) is very popular and is part of the heritage of the country.. South Africa even has a “National Braai Day” which is celebrated every year on the public holiday – Heritage day.
Soweto or South West Townships in Gauteng, South Africa which was once housing for black workers has now been developed and has some affluent housing as well.
Born in Klerksdorp in the Transvaal Province in 1931 Desmond Tutu was an only son with two sisters. His Mother worked as a cleaner and although Desmond dreamed of becoming a physician, his family could not afford the cost for him to train so he chose to become a teacher like his Father.
King Williams Town is situated along the Banks of the Buffalo River at the foot of the Amathole Mountains in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Named after Britain’s King William IV, it was founded in 1826 and is part of the modern day municipality of Buffalo City.
The story of Donald Woods, South African Journalist, political activist and friend of Steve Biko.
The story of one of the greatest hero’s of South Africa who,together with his horse, died while saving lives from a sinking ship during a terrible storm.
The Boer War is also known by many other names. It has been called the Second Boer War, or the Anglo Boer War or even the South African War.
A look at the Swazi tribe of Southern Africa, their origins and Swazi culture. Where to go to visit a typical Swazi Cultural Village in South Africa.
The Blyde River Canyon in Mpumalanga (Eastern Transvaal) South Africa takes up part of the magnificent Panorama Route. The Canyon itself was formed when the Blyde River (River of Joy) cut through the quartzite and dolomite eastern rim of the Drakensberg Mountain range.
The life of Nelson Mandela from a boy in a village in the Transkei, to becoming the first Black President of South Africa.
The culture of the Ndebele tribe of South Africa, believed to be an offshoot of the Zulu tribe from Kwazulu Natal, but who mostly reside in the Mpumulanga (Transvaal) area.
The life of South African Businessman Harry Oppenheimer
Read about President F.W De Klerk’s early life and his political moves to free Nelson Mandela and end apartheid in South Africa
The first Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa, Louis Botha fought in the Boer War and in the First World War. He was born in Natal in 1862 and became Prime Minister in 1907
In the Eastern Cape Province, on the South East coast of South Africa lies the city of East London. In the early 1800’s there were many battles between the settlers and the Xhosa population and East London was used as a supply base for the military headquarters in the area. Buffalo River on the mouth [...]
The Frontier Route in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa is possibly an area that has the richest and varied history in the country. There are lovely little towns with varied attractions and accommodation etc. all within easy reach of Grahamstown, Port Elizabeth and East London while touring South Africa.
In the heart of South Africa’s Frontier Country tourist route of the Eastern Cape Province, lies the historic town of Grahamstown. At the mention of Grahamstown, for most South Africans two things spring to mind, the first being Rhodes University and the second is the National Arts Festival.
Located in the Western Cape Province on the Garden Route, Plettenberg Bay is a very popular vacation site for tourists from around the world as well as South Africans. Mild winters and hot summers make it an ideal vacation spot.
For lovers of culture and history as well as beautiful scenery, the Rainbow Route in KwaZulu-Natal is well worth following. Follow in the footsteps of the Voortrekkers and explore the customs and ritual rites of the Zulu people as you enjoy all the interesting places that you can find along this interesting route.
Durban, in the province of KwaZulu-Natal South Africa, offers an outstanding experience for visitors at uShaka Marine World. Situated at the end of Durban’s Golden Mile, uShaka Marine world is incorporated into more than 15 hectares of the finest beach front.
The Nama and San (Bushman) tribes are the original indigenous tribes of Southern Africa. A look at their origins, characteristics and where they live in South Africa today.
Swellendam and the surrounding areas, go whale watching, pick berries, hike and so much more
The Lemba tribe of South Africa. Where they originate and what their traits are. The Lemba tribe claim to be one of the lost tribes of ancient Israel.
The Sotho tribes of South Africa and Lesotho. The Southern Sotho (Basutu), the Pedi (Northern Sotho) and the Tswana all originating from other tribes in Southern Africa
The Venda African Tribe mostly situated in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. Originating from the Great Lakes of Central Africa. Venda tribal culture and practices.
There are international flights to South Africa from all over the world. The three major international airports in South Africa are: OR Tambo International in Johannesburg, Cape Town International Airport and Durban International Airport.
The city of Nelspruit lies 330 km east of Johannesburg and is situated only 50 km from the Kruger National Park. Nelspruit is the capital of Mpumalanga (previously Eastern Transvaal) and is one of the Host cities for the World Cup Soccer 2010. Matches will be played at the Mbombela stadium with a capacity of [...]
