South Africa is known as one of the most cultural countries in Africa, but this area of local life is divided into colorful halves. Even the earliest South Africans had artistic talents, as evidenced by the rock paintings on cave walls. The white minority has achieved great success in literature, theater and cinema. Writers Nadine Gordimer are famous in the world (Nobel laureate 1991), Alan Payton and John Coetzee (Nobel Prize 2003 and two more Booker Prizes), playwright Etol Fugard, film directors Jamie Uys, Neill Blomkamp and Gavin Huth, not to mention film star Charlize Theron. The luminary of adventure prose, Wilbur Smith, is no less closely associated with South Africa, although he does not belong to its natives. Black citizens are strong in music: they have had their say in various genres, from spirituals to hip-hop, and have won prestigious awards many times.
The names of microsurgeon Christian Barnard, the author of the first human heart transplant, and a whole galaxy of paleoanthropologists are inscribed in the history of science.
More than 100 years natives South Africa successfully perform at world-class sporting competitions. They have achieved the greatest success so far in athletics, swimming and rugby. The country hosts Formula 1 racing and hosted the world football championship in 2010.
Kitchen
Each of the local peoples took part in setting the national table. The natives offer exotic foods like fried grasshoppers or penguin legs, as well as nutritious dishes made from corn and millet. English cuisine is represented by steaks, which in South Africa are prepared not only from beef: ostrich and crocodile are common meats here. Fugitive Huguenots back in the 17th century. brought the traditions of French cuisine to South Africa, and the country's port cities smell of Asian spices. Once upon a time, the Dutch brought slaves here from Indonesia, then Indian and Chinese coolies appeared on the Cape. Asians could not live without rice, curry and various sizes of noodles - now all this can be found in restaurants in Cape Town and Durban. The Boer kitchen preserves the memory of the Great Trek. Constant movements in hot climates required supplies that could not be stored for a long time. This is how biltong was invented (Biltong)- dried meat flavored with spices. Nowadays it is considered the same symbol of South Africa as Table Mountain or Kruger Park. Having settled on a farm, the Boer appreciated fresh food, but preferred to cook outdoors. That's why South Africa is so famous for its barbecue - called braavleys here. (Braaivleis, or Braai). In addition to tenderloin, boerwars is grilled over coals. (Boerwors), something like our “hunting sausages”. The third of the whales on which the Boer kitchen stands is called potjekos (Potjekos)- this thick brew of meat, potatoes and vegetables is cooked in a pot directly on hot coals or on a three-legged stand over the fire.
Society
20 years have passed since the end of apartheid, but the country is still divided along racial lines, and many whites have chosen to move abroad altogether. Although N. Mandela, an icon of resistance and a prisoner with 25 years of experience, was a supporter of national reconciliation, his presidency in South Africa became an analogue of our “dashing 90s.” The degree of social tension increases the presence in the country of poor migrants from neighboring countries, who took advantage of the weakening of the border regime under the same Mandela. "Natural apartheid" is most noticeable in cities. Moreover, if Cape Town, as a port city, has been cosmopolitan from time immemorial, then Johannesburg is clearly divided into the “white” north and the “black” south. The danger of getting involved with crime in South Africa is greatly exaggerated, but, alas, it exists. Don't walk around alone in the evening. If you are modestly dressed, not hung with gold and not waving an iPad, then your chances of survival increase dramatically.
South Africa is a multinational country: there are only 11 official languages here! South Africans and their guests are helped by the fact that all residents of the country (except for the very primitive ones) speak English.
South African National Park Service
The first nature reserve was created in the Boer Republic of South Africa in 1898. The decree was signed by President Paul Kruger, whose name is now the oldest and largest national park in South Africa. The legal status of protected areas was finalized in 1926, and at the same time an agency responsible for the protection and use of national parks appeared in the country. Now run by the South African National Parks Service (South African National Parks, SANParks, +27-012-4265000; www.sanparks.org) There are 20 parks with a total area of more than 3 million hectares - from the southernmost African Cape Agulhas to Mapungubwe on the border with Zimbabwe. The continent's oldest conservation organization is headquartered in Pretoria, with branches throughout the country. In some provinces of South Africa, nature reserves are looked after by their own services. Thus, the Shlushluwe-Umfolozi and Isimangaliso parks are the domain of the KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife Service (KwaZulu Natal Nature Conservation Service, + 27-033-845-1000/1002; www.kznwildlife.com), and in the Western Cape is managed by Cape Nature.
North of South Africa
The best natural areas of the north-east of South Africa are located within the provinces of Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal. Transport in this part of the country is well established and caters to travelers from Johannesburg or Pretoria. Nelspruit is a good base for the Kruger Park, while Xlushluwe-Umfolozi and Isimangaliso are more easily accessible from Durban. Northern section of the Drakensberg ridge (Dragon Mountains) It is equally accessible from both Joburg and Durban, while the center of the massif is closer to Durban.
The abbreviation "r" is used to denote the South African currency - the rand. - do not confuse with rubles.
Long and narrow (360 by 65 km) Kruger Park occupies the northeastern corner of South Africa on the border with Mozambique and Zimbabwe. The large town of Nelspruit is located 50 km from the southwestern corner of the park. (Nelspruit), connected to Joburg by Highway 4. This highway runs along the entire southern border of the park and ends at the Ressano Garcia border crossing (Ressano Garcia). In 2009 Nelspruit was renamed Mbombela (Mbombela), but this name doesn’t stick well. Outside Joburg's Park Station (from King George St.) you can easily find a bus going to Nelspruit. Flights are operated by major carriers (Intercape - 2 flights per day from 240 rub.; Greyhound - 3 flights per day, all morning, 260 rub.; Citiliner - from 185 rub.), and local companies - for example, CityBug (www.citybug.co.za; departure from Melville, 16.00, 360 rub.). The journey takes about 6 hours, so morning flights are preferable. You can also get to Kruger by train: Shosholoza Meyl departs from Joburg three times a week (Mon. Wed., Fri; 18.10, seated only), goes through Pretoria and arrives in Nelspruit at 4 am the next day (70 rub.). The final destination is the town of Komatipport (Komatipoort, 150 rub., arrives 6.38) on the southern border of Kruger. It is located very close to the Crocodile Bridge park gates (Crocodile Bridge Gate) and two campsites. North of Nelspruit there is Kruger Mpumalanga Airport (Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport, MQP), where flights fly from Joburg and other major cities in South Africa. South African Airways flies 4 times a day, tickets from RUR 1,279.
Nelspruit has many hotels and travel agencies offering daily trips to Kruger. It will be even more convenient to spend the night in Hazyview (Hazyview) 50 km to the north: in this town there are no less opportunities to organize a safari, and the two closest park gates are Pabeni and Numbi (Phabeni Gate, Numbi Gate) only 12-15 km. Kruger Main Gate (Kruger Gate) located 47 km east of Hazyview. It will also serve as a base for your trip to the border of the High Veldt (Drakensberg Escarpment). Minibuses to Hazyview depart from the bus station, which in Nelspruit is located between the railway station and the Nelspruit Plaza shopping center (corner of Henshall St. and Andrew St.; 1 hour journey, about 20 p.m.).
South African Airways flies daily from Kruger Mpumalanga Airport to Durban (1-2 flights per day, 1 hour 15 minutes on the way, from 1895 rub.). There are no direct big bus services between Nelspruit and Durban, but CityBug has a shuttle twice a week (www.citybug.co.za; Sonpark BP, Thu and Sun, departure 7.00, arrival 16.00, 560 RUR). There are many buses leaving from Joburg to Durban every day (approx. 5 hours on the way, 400 rub.), and Shosholoza Meyl has three weekly trains on this route (Mon, Tue and Thu, 18.00, 20 hours on the way, from 130 rub.). From 6.00 until midnight from the airport. Various airlines fly from O. Tambo to Durban (total about 30 flights, 1 hour 10 minutes on the way, from 630 rubles). Huge Durban is about 200 km from the Drakensberg Mountains (west of it) and 270 km from Isimangaliso/Xlushluwe-Umfolozi (to the northeast). To visit these places it is better to use intermediate bases - in the first case it will be Winterton (Winterton, 195 km), in the second - Mtubatuba (Mtubatuba, 250 km). Xlushluwe-Umfolozi can also be reached from Ulundi (Ulundi, 240 km from Durban) where is the airport (Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi Airport, ULD, flies Federal Air from Pietermaritzburg, +27-011-3959000; www.fedair.com, Mon-Fri, 2 flights, 1200 RUR). Ulundi is 36 km west of the nearest gate of the Umfolozi Game Reserve (Cengeni Gate). At Baz Bus (www.bazbus.com) there is a route Pretoria/Joburg - Durban - Joburg/Pretoria with stops in Pietermaritzburg (Pietermaritzburg, southern Drakensberg), Winterton (Drakensberg center) and Bergville (north of the array). Base buses depart at 7.30am on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, picking up passengers from budget hotels in Pretoria and Johannesburg. At 9.15 the car leaves for the southeast and reaches the Drakensberg Mountains by noon. The trip ends in Durban around 19.00 and costs RUR 290. Return buses depart on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays (also at 7.30). You can get off at any point on the route - the price does not change.
East South Africa
The eastern edge of South Africa, from the Elephant Coast in the north to the Sunshine Coast in the south, is a chain of wide white beaches interrupted by rivers and forests approaching the ocean. Highways stretch along the sea, to which the centers of civilization are attached - Durban, East London and Port Elizabeth (this does not include small settlements). Durban is as good a starting point for a route as Cape Town is a finishing point. Just remember that there are many people who want to relax on the coast, and the peak season is in the second half of December and the first half of January. It is warmest from October to April, while in our summer the southern winter reigns on the South African coast: the water temperature on the South Coast drops below +19°C, and south of East London it becomes even colder. Rains, alas, are possible at any time of the year.
Cape Town and surroundings
The inhabited land ends here, but such a “end of the world” cannot be called sad: blue sea, bright sun, and below it a beautiful city surrounded by harsh, but no less beautiful mountains.
In South Africa, Cape Town is respectfully called "Mother" (Mother City). The country's oldest city was founded in 1652 by Jan van Riebeeck, the first governor of the Dutch colony at the Cape of Good Hope. At first the town was called Kapstadt and little by little it grew into suburbs. Every Cape Dutch man wanted to have land, but it was hard to work on it himself. Therefore, for the first 150 years of its history, Kapstadt grew at the expense of Asian and African slaves, whose blood mixed with the blood of the owners and European sailors who dropped anchor in Table Bay. When did Kapstadt become Cape Town? (this happened in 1806), the British abolished slavery, after which the fusion of races proceeded even faster. By the end of the 19th century. A special type of resident of the Cape Colony was formed - a southern, hot and dark man. The British, who came to their senses, began to resettle the townspeople according to skin color, justifying these measures sanitary necessity- in fact, this is how apartheid was invented. Even now the city is considered the capital of the country's white minority, but Cape Townians don't seem to bother with that. The South African Parliament meets in Cape Town, culture flourishes, and the main event of recent years has been the FIFA World Cup games in 2010.
The change of seasons on the Cape is the same as elsewhere in South Africa - from May to August it is cool, from September to April it is warm, and in our winter months it is simply hot. The difference between the coast is that the ocean prevents the air from cooling down and heating up too much. Spring is very pleasant - the threshold of the local winter (no more than +23 °С and no lower than -15 °С).
Cape Town is considered more prosperous and safe than all other cities in South Africa; however, it is not recommended to open your mouth on the streets here, especially in the evenings.
The tourist information center is located a couple of blocks from the train station. (Cape Town Tourist Information Centre, Pinnacle Building, corner of Burg St. and Castle St., 0 +27-021-4876800; 8.00-18.00, Sat to 14.00, closes 1 hour earlier in Apr.-Sept.).
Visa
To visit South Africa, Russians need a visa, which, alas, cannot be obtained upon crossing the border. The South African Embassy is located in Moscow (Granatny lane, 1, building 9, 495-9261177; www.saembassy.ru, Mon-Fri 9.00-12.00) and for a single-entry tourist visa requires the following:
- Application form filled out in English with a black ballpoint pen.
- Two color passport size photographs (3.4 x 4.5 cm) on matte paper.
- A foreign passport that expires no less than 30 days after the end of your planned visit. At least 2 pages of the passport must be free of marks.
- Copies of completed pages of the civil passport.
- Invitation from a South African travel agency with detailed description route or confirmation of hotel payment for the entire duration of the trip.
- A certificate from work indicating the position, salary and confirmation of leave for the duration of the trip.
- Confirmation of solvency: certificate from the bank detailing account transactions (map) over the last 3 months.
- Paid air ticket (There and back again).
- Payment of consular fee in the amount of 1800 rubles.
If you plan to enter South Africa from other African countries, you will also need a yellow fever vaccination certificate.
The processing time for a South African visa is 5 working days and is issued for the duration of the trip.
No special vaccinations are required, but you must be vaccinated against yellow fever if you enter South Africa after visiting one of the hotbeds of the disease. These include Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. South Africa's closest neighbors are Angola and Zambia. Even if you just went to see Victoria Falls from the Zambian coast, but received a mark in your passport, South Africans will require a certificate.
Transport
South Africa is the only African country where transport reaches the best world standards. Main local airports:
- International Airport Olivera Tambo (OR Tambo International Airport, JNB, inquiries +27-011-9216262, +27-086-7277888, www.acsa.co.za) in Johannesburg.
- Cape Town International Airport Cape Town International Airport, CPT, inquiries +27-086-7277888; www.airports.co.za) in the far south of the country.
- King Shaka International Airport King Shaka International Airport, DUR, inquiries +27-032-4366585, +27-0867277888; www.kingshakainternational.co.za). Also known as La Mercy Airport. Opened in 2010, located 35 km north of Durban, and named after the Zulu king Shaka (Chucky). Serves domestic routes, as well as flights to Mozambique, Zambia and the island. Mauritius. Major international airlines fly to Durban with Emirates (from Dubai).
- There are a great variety of local airports, airfields and landing sites in the country. Of the local fliers, South African Airways is the most famous (+27-011-9785313 from 6.00 to 22.00 South African time; www.flysaa.com). This is a national airline with a solid fleet and worldwide flight geography. Getting from Cape Town to Joburg costs from RUR 1,667. with all fees. This is the highest price, so it makes sense to turn to low-cost airlines;
- Kulula.com (+27-0861585-852; www.kulula.com). The first airline of its kind in South Africa, established in 2001. Connects Johannesburg (OR Tambo and Lanseria), Cape Town, Durban, George (George) and Port Elizabeth. A flight from Joburg to Cape Town costs from RUR 722.
- Mango (+27-01 1-0866100; www.flymango.com). A subsidiary of SA Airways, flies between Joburg (OR Tambo and Lanseria), Bloemfontein, Cape Town and Durban. A flight from Joburg to Cape Town costs from RUR 997.
The first rails in African history were laid in 1860 in the Cape Colony. Main highway railways South Africa connects Cape Town and Johannesburg, with secondary lines running from Joburg to Durban, Port Elizabeth, East London, Komatipoort (Komatipoort) and Musina (Musina). The choice of trains is small, but sufficient, for example:
- Shosholoza Meyl and Premier Classe (as well as Metroraif trains) owned by the state-owned Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA). Trains Shosholoza Meyl (+27-011-7744555, +27-0860008888, www.shosholozameyl.co.za) convenient, safe and popular. Tariffs change throughout the year: cheaper in summer, more expensive in winter. The amount and schedule must be specified upon purchase. Train classes vary - Tourist ("tourist") allows you to sleep in a compartment, a Economy ("economic") equipped with seating only. Children are transported for half the price of an adult ticket (in tourist discounts are given for children under 10 years old, in economic ones - under 5 years old). Smoking is prohibited on trains, luggage is limited to 50 kg. Premier Class trains (in Joburg +27-011-773878, in Cape Town +27-021-4492252; www.premierclasse.co.za) more comfortable and expensive.
A separate South African theme is luxury “hotels on wheels”:
South Africa has a network of commuter rail lines served by cheap Metrorail trains. (www.metrorail.co.za). The web of rails covers Cape Town and Johannesburg, and to a lesser extent Durban, Port Elizabeth and East London. Metrorail is also divided into classes: there are “superior” trains (Metro Plus) and "business express" (morning and evening). Conditions on trains vary from city to city - in Cape Town and other southern cities they are relatively safe, but in Durban and especially Joburg they are notorious. The authorities are working on this problem, but in the meantime you can use the new Gautrain in Joburg.
The most tedious way to travel around South Africa is by bus, but the quality of the roads makes it easier for passengers. Leaders are considered:
The listed companies perform regular flights between cities in South Africa Unlike them Baz Bus (+27-021-4392323, wwww.bazbus.com) specializes in serving budget tourists. In-out ticket (Hop-on Hop-off) gives the right to travel in one direction or another with any number of stops. At the same time, you are dropped off and picked up at the door of a temporary home - among Baz's partners there are 180 cheap hotels in 40 cities of South Africa. “In and out” from Cape Town to Pretoria costs 2,900 rubles. (one way, return 4400 RUR). In addition, you can buy a travel pass (Travel pass) for 7, 14 and 21 days - costs 1200, 2100 and 2600 rubles, respectively.
Currency
The national currency of South Africa is called the rand. (Rand, ZAR)- just not “rand”, since the word is not English. The name comes from the Witwatersrand Mountains: from gold mined in their depths in the 19th century. The first coins of the Boer republics were minted. The modern rand was put into circulation in 1961, and you'll probably get your hands on some coins issued since 2005 - they feature the Big Five animals (10 rubles - rhinoceros, 20 rubles - elephant, 50 rubles - lion, 100 rubles - buffalo, 200 rubles - leopard).
There are also coins in circulation for 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents, as well as 1, 2 and 5 rand. Due to inflation, 1 and 2 cent coins have already disappeared, and the 5-cent coin is next. There are 5-rand coins featuring Nelson Mandela, issued to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the first free elections. In South Africa, this is the first time a statesman has appeared on money since 1994. In 2012, Mandela’s face also appeared on “pieces of paper” (the animals remained on the reverse of the banknotes).
South Africa is one of the few countries in the world that continues to mint gold coins. They are called Krugerrands (Krugerrand) and are available in 4 denominations of different weights. The most common is 1 troy ounce (33.93 g), there are also 1/2, 1/4 and 1/10 oz. The obverse of the coins depicts the Boer President P. Kruger, after whom they are named. Krugerrands are more of an expensive souvenir and a way to invest money than the money itself. You can buy coins at special stores SCOINShop (South African Gold Coin Exchange; +27-0861724653; www.sagoldcoin.co.za), the cost is set in US dollars and depends on world prices for the “yellow metal”.
Regular rands are officially accepted in Swaziland and Lesotho (they form a single currency area with South Africa), and behind the scenes - in Namibia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
Connection
Mobile communications are excellently developed. The main cellular service providers in South Africa are Vodacom (www.vodacom.co.za), MTN (www.mtn.co.za) and Cell C (www.cell.co.za), using the GSM-900/1800 standard. Tariffs for international calls are approximately the same for everyone; they do not charge money for incoming calls. If you call infrequently, then 100 rubles. the account may well be enough for 10 days. International text messages cost from 1.60-1.74 rubles. SIM card sales points can be found everywhere, starting from the airport (using a prepaid system from 10 rubles, you can immediately deposit money into your account and register your number). If you don't have a phone, you can rent one from an operator (or buy a contract that includes a cheap “pipe”), A foreign phone in South Africa is subject to registration - for this you need to know its IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity, dial *#06# and the desired number will appear on the screen).
You can make calls abroad from South Africa from a regular street payphone (green - using a card purchased in a supermarket, blue with the inscription “Coin” - using coins). To go abroad, dial 00 and the country code.
There are many internet cafes in the country (from 25-30 rubles/1 hour, you can find the point on the website www.internetcafedirectory.co.za), where you can transfer photos from a flash drive to a disc and print the necessary web page. In addition to hotels, free Wi-Fi hotspots are found in restaurants and shopping centers, so you can make Skype calls from your own phone.
Help
The Russian Embassy in South Africa is located in Pretoria, 50 km from Joburg Pretoria 0102, Brooks St., 316, MenloPark; +27-012-3621337; www.russianembassy.org.za; closed on Russian holidays). Reception is available on weekdays from 8.30 to 11.30; if necessary, you can call the consul on duty: +27-0761514598.
Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Cape Town (Norton Rose House, 8 Riebeek St., 12th floor, +27-021-4183656/57, consul on duty +27-082-3740518; www.russiacapetown.org.za). Represents the interests of the Russian Federation and its citizens in the three Cape provinces of South Africa - Western, Eastern and Northern. Located in the city center, reception from 9.00 to 12.00, except weekends and holidays.
Emergency phone numbers: police - 1011, from mobile 0 112, medical assistance - 10177, +27-0831999 (air), +27-080-0111990. In cities: Johannesburg (center)+27-011-3755911, Pretoria (24h.)+27-012-3582111, 012-4277111; Durban +27-031-3372200 (sea rescuers); Cape Town - +27-021-4182852 (police), +27-021-4493500 (sea rescuers), +27-021-9489900 (mountain rescuers).
There are about 600 nature reserves in South Africa, but the country is not small and there is also plenty of space for hunters. Hunting large animals was never prohibited here; moreover, it was lovingly cultivated. Hunting concessions (Game farms) border nature reserves, but do not encroach on their territory. If you have a license, you can hunt any wild animals, but there are some restrictions. Thus, rhinoceroses, large predators and some other species are inaccessible if we are talking about healthy animals in natural environment habitat and not belonging to those specially bred on hunting grounds. Even if a predator poses a threat, it must be shot by authorized persons. It is allowed to hunt large animals only with non-automatic rifled weapons of at least 22 caliber, and smooth-bore weapons are allowed only when hunting birds. Pistols, automatic and pneumatic weapons are prohibited. During hunting, a car can only be used to deliver shooters to the concession border, to track animals, and also in cases where the hunter is sick or over 65 years of age. Aircraft, spotlights, dogs, bait, pens, traps, poisons and tranquilizers are prohibited. You can shoot with a crossbow in South Africa, but not at prohibited animals. A foreigner who wants to hunt in South Africa is required to have a license - it is issued in advance by the organizing company (Hunting outfitter). You will be able to harvest only those animals and only in the quantities specified in the license. Weapons are allowed to be used again in accordance with the license. The document must be with you during the entire hunt. Only South African citizens can organize safaris for guests of the country, and during the hunt they must be accompanied by a local professional hunter.
There are many companies involved in hunting in South Africa that are well represented on the Internet. The issue price is on average about $600 per day, not counting the cost of exporting trophies (Trophy fee, from $200 per head - this is what a baboon or jackal costs, for example). Clients are divided into hunters and observers (Observer) who don't shoot. The latter participation in the hunt costs half as much.
South Africa- a region located on the African mainland south of the Congo-Zambezi. The area of this region is 6605628.1 km2.
Southern African countries include: South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Swaziland, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Madagascar, Reunion, Mauritius, Seychelles and Comoros. The UN includes in South Africa the countries that are part of the South African Customs Union, and these are Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, South Africa and Swaziland.
In the history of the southern African region there was a period of colonization, but this did not greatly affect the culture and customs of the inhabitants of the region, but it had a strong impact on the economic growth of individual countries, in particular the largest and most developed country in this region is rightfully considered the Republic of South Africa. This is a large multinational and multicultural country with good economic standing. South Africa is a country that developed nuclear weapons and subsequently voluntarily abandoned them. The majority of the population of the entire region lives on the territory of this country; the country has 11 official languages, including English, Zulu, Afrikaans and others.
South Africa has a population of approximately 50 million people who are diverse in their origins, languages, cultures and religions. The main religions of South Africa are Protestantism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and tribal beliefs. The majority of the population consider themselves to be African and black. A huge part of South Africa's population are immigrants, approximately 5 million of whom are illegal. In 2008, this sparked a series of anti-immigrant riots.
It is worth noting that South Africa is a region attractive to world tourism, attracting with its extravagance, extreme sports and romance. African reserves attract people with their extraordinary colors and diversity of wildlife. The countries of Southern Africa are inhabited by elephants, rhinoceroses, lions, buffaloes, and leopards. South Africa is the sixth most diverse country in the world, with more than 20,000 various plants, and this is about 10% of all known plants on the planet. National reserves are considered a heritage of the World Cultural Foundation.
On the climate map of South America, you can observe high positive temperatures all year round, but more countries have a temperate climate, due to their proximity to the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.
South Africa - how many are there in total? And what interesting facts can you tell about them? This will be discussed in the article.
Countries of South Africa: list, approaches to zoning
It’s easy to guess from the name that this region is located in the southern part of the “black continent”. All countries have approximately the same natural and climatic conditions, as well as similar features of historical development.
Geographically, South Africa begins south of the watershed plateau of the Zambezi and Congo rivers. According to the UN regionalization of our planet, the countries of Southern Africa are only five states (South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland). According to another classification, this historical and geographical region also includes Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, as well as the exotic island state of Madagascar.
Listed below are all the countries in South Africa and their capitals (according to the UN). The list of states is presented in order of decreasing territory area:
- South Africa (Pretoria).
- Namibia (Windhoek).
- Botswana (Gaborone).
- Lesotho (Maseru).
- Swaziland (Mbabane).
Largest state in the region
A multicultural and multinational state, one of the most economically developed on the mainland. This republic is often called the “rainbow country”.
The most interesting facts about South Africa:
- every third diamond mined on Earth is extracted from the depths of this particular country;
- the world's first human heart transplant operation took place in South Africa (in 1967);
- citizens of the republic are endowed with broad rights in the field of using weapons for the purpose of protection, up to and including a flamethrower;
- South Africa ranks third on the planet in terms of drinking water quality;
- one of the traditional South African dishes is monkey steaks;
- the wife (of the eighth president of South Africa) was “first lady” twice (she was previously the wife of the president of Mozambique).
Swaziland - South Africa
Swaziland is a small state in the south of the continent, which borders only two countries - South Africa and Mozambique.
The most interesting facts about Swaziland:
- the head of this state is a real king, who is very loved and revered in Swaziland (his portraits can be seen here even on the clothes of local residents);
- Swaziland is a very poor country, but the roads here are of excellent quality;
- the oldest mathematical work was discovered in this country;
- the state leads the world in the rate of spread of HIV; every fourth adult resident here is a carrier of the virus;
- In Swaziland, husband and wife (or wives) live in separate houses.
The countries of South Africa are extremely interesting and colorful. There really is something to be surprised and amazed here!
Full name: Republic of South Africa.
Form of government: parliamentary republic.
Administrative division: 9 provinces.
Capitals: Cape Town (legislative), Pretoria (administrative), Bloemfontein (judicial).
Area: 1,219,912 sq. km.
Population: 49,991,300 people.
official languages: English, Afrikaans, Venda, Zulu and seven more languages.
Savannahs and subtropical forests, hot deserts and snow-capped mountain peaks, two ocean coasts and countless natural wonders... This country can surprise anyone, and it is called the Republic of South Africa (hereinafter referred to as South Africa). It is inhabited by friendly and hospitable people of all colors and religions. It is probably no coincidence that the symbol of South Africa is the royal protea - a flower named after the ancient Greek deity Proteus, who could take the form of thousands of living beings. South Africa has no less faces!
Not a short way 
South Africa is located somewhere in the middle between the equator and Antarctica - as you might guess from the name, in the very south of the African continent. To get here, for example, from Belarus, you need to endure more than 11 hours of flight - over deserts, steppes and tropical forests. Every day dozens of international airlines land at the airports of Cape Town and Johannesburg. People from all over our planet fly here to admire the amazing nature, sunbathe on the beaches, the sky above which is not clouded by a cloud, watch wild animals or get acquainted with the traditions of the indigenous inhabitants of this land.
Republic of Migrants
The country owes its appearance to Dutch colonists. In the 17th century, they founded a small settlement on the territory of the future South Africa and soon recognized the southern coast of Africa as their homeland. The Boer community (a word meaning "peasant" in Dutch) grew larger, and in search of suitable conditions For trade and agriculture, many of them developed new lands.
At the same time, colonists from England began to settle here. Relations between the “old” and “new” European settlers did not work out well from the very beginning. In the 30s of the 19th century, the Boers, after armed skirmishes with the newly arrived British, decided to go on a long journey. The so-called Great Migration brought them to the banks of the Orange River, where they found fertile pastures. But half a century passed, and two Anglo-Boer wars thundered at once, in which many British and Dutch died. It was not until 1910 that the Dutch and British colonies reconciled and founded the Union of South Africa, which 40 years later became the independent Republic of South Africa. So it began modern history this state...
Treasures of the Dark Continent
Today, the Republic of South Africa is the most developed country on the entire continent. Its depths are very rich in various natural resources. Gold and coal are mined here, as well as diamonds, which are then used to make beautiful diamonds. There are vineyards on the fertile plains. Winemaking in South Africa has quite a long history - the first South African wine was born in 1659!
South Africa is called the “rainbow country” because people of different races and nationalities live here, “aviation” - because of the clear skies and flying weather, “sports” - because of the great love of South Africans for sports and, finally, “the mint of the world” , because South Africa is the world's largest gold producer. But you can be sure that this land has many other interesting “faces” and we will try to see at least some of them. On the road!
Three capitals of one country
South Africa is the only state in the world that does not have one capital. Its residents could not choose which city was the most important, and made three capitals at once - Pretoria, Cape Town and Bloemfontein. Moreover, each city is “responsible” for something of its own: Pretoria is the administrative capital, the presidential residence is located here, Cape Town is the legislative capital, where the parliament sits, and Bloemfontein received the title of the judicial capital - the Supreme Court is located here.
Pretoria-Tshwane
This is a very “cunning” city. Officially, it is considered the capital of South Africa, but on some geographical maps it doesn't exist at all! The fact is that in 2005 the authorities renamed it Tshwane (Tswane). The name “Pretoria” (in honor of the commander-in-chief of the Boer troops) reminded the dark-skinned residents of the country of the times of apartheid.
Some out of habit use the old name, others use the new one, which causes constant confusion. The name “Pretoria” did not disappear completely; it was assigned to one of the city districts.
Today Pretoria-Tshwane is one of the most modern cities in Africa. In the past, it was part of the British colonies, and this is reflected in its current appearance. With its European architecture, double-decker buses roaming the streets and the ubiquity of English, it is often referred to as “Little London”. The city also inherited from the British a rectangular layout of blocks with square areas.
The most important place in the city is the presidential palace with a garden in which... birches grow. And this is in southern Africa! Pretoria is famous for its unique plants, one of which is called jacoranda. Its purple flowers appear between October and November (by the way, this is spring in South Africa). The flowering of the jacoranda can be compared to the flowering Japanese cherry blossom- this spectacle is so beautiful. Fountains and swimming pools became another pride of Pretoria. There is even such a curiosity as a water organ!
The main street of Pretoria is Church Street. Walking tour It will be quite tiring - you will have to walk 25 km! This is the longest street in the world.
On Church Square there is one of Tshwane's attractions - the monument to Paul Kruger. At the end of the 19th century, this man was for two decades the permanent president of the Transvaal, a republic of Dutch settlers of peasant origin, the Boers. Kruger led a rebellion against English rule. The main street of the city is named in his honor. Kruger also founded the first protected natural area in Africa on the banks of the Limpopo River.
Today National Park Kruger is world famous. It was here that traces of Homo erectus, who lived half a million years ago, were discovered. The central part of the park is home to many animals - such a concentration of different representatives of the fauna is rarely seen anywhere! Lions, leopards, hippos, antelopes, monkeys, elephants, giraffes, as well as small animals and birds live here. You can observe the life of wildlife from the windows of a special train.
There is another world-famous place in the vicinity of Pretoria. This is the largest diamond-bearing pipe (quarry) “Premier” with a diameter of 800 m! A hundred years ago, the world’s largest diamond was found here. It weighed more than 3 thousand carats (about 600 grams) and was the size of an adult’s fist. Jewelers spent two years to cut it and cut the stones, resulting in 8 large and 105 small diamonds, which were used to decorate the crown of the English king.
In 2010, the FIFA World Cup was held in South Africa. For this event, the oldest sports facility in South Africa, the Loftus Versfeld Stadium, was reconstructed in Pretoria.
Bloemfontein - the city of roses
The judicial capital of South Africa is the same age as Pretoria. A century and a half ago, a farmer came to the place where Bloemfontein stands today. He liked the good land on which he could grow a rich harvest. He called this place “The Spring with Flowers”, or, in Afrikaans, Bloemfontein. This is how the “flower” city grew up, famous all over the world for its Royal Rose Park. There are more than 4,000 rose bushes growing here! And in Hamilton Park there is a huge The Cherry Orchard, in which about 6,000 trees were planted. Every spring, a cherry festival is held here and a cherry queen is chosen.
Bloemfontein is the cleanest, most well-groomed and safest city in Africa. In addition to the famous buildings - the Parliament Buildings, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, there are many museums: the Afrikaans Music Museum, the Afrikaans Literature Museum, the Theater Museum, and National Museum. The latter houses unique exhibits - from ancient fossils to a 50-kilogram meteorite found in these places.
The National Women's Memorial stands in the center of the city. The 36.5 meter high sandstone sculpture was erected in honor of the Boer women and children who died during the Boer War. The famous writer, author of the “Lord of the Rings” saga (see crossword puzzle) was also born in Bloemfontein. The house in which he was born still exists. It's called Hobbit House.
Not far from the city there is a favorite place of all travelers - Mount Kva-Kva. Frogs have nothing to do with it. Translated from the local language, the name means “whiter than white.” These mountains are really light because they are made of sandstone. From afar it looks like they are covered in snow!
At the Cape of Good Hope
Cape Town is a special capital, completely different from the other two. If you believe archaeological finds, the first people could have come here about 12 thousand years ago. But the starting point in the history of this city was the era of the Great Geographical Discoveries. At this time, the first European travelers landed here. The depths of African lands rich in gold and diamonds attracted conquerors here.
Children of the sky
The Zulus are an African people living primarily in the province of KwaZulu-Natal in the Republic of South Africa. Modern Zulus make up about 20% of the South African population. Some of them are carriers of “white culture,” but many aborigines (indigenous people) still shun civilization and do not want to give up their usual way of life.
King Chuck
For a long time, the Zulus were one of the many clans living in South Africa. Everything changed in 1816, when a new leader named Chaka came to power. He was able to create a strong army, unite many clans and significantly expand the Zulu possessions.
When Chaka became chief, all men between the ages of 20 and 40 were conscripted into the Zulu army. The exception was shamans. For any violation of discipline, a recruit or even a veteran could be killed! Zulu warriors were armed with large shields (up to 1.3 meters high), which consisted of a wooden frame on which bovine leather, processed in a special way, was stretched. Since it was difficult to introduce uniforms in the hot conditions of South Africa, units in the Zulu army were distinguished by the color of their shields. But the traditional clothing of the Zulus has not changed at all since then - these are leather loincloths and aprons.
The main offensive weapon was the spear. By the way, when Chaka’s army captured European guns, its combat power did not increase: there were few good shooters among the Zulus. But there are plenty of excellent combat dart throwers. At a distance of 25-30 m, any enemy could be hit in the blink of an eye!
Fortress village
The Zulus live in small round huts, shaped like beehives. The buildings are arranged in a circle, around which there is a wooden rampart with watchtowers, and in the center is a fire pit made from cow dung. Such a settlement is called a kraal.
By the way, the Zulus treat cows with great respect. The pen for these animals occupies a place of honor in the village. They even bury the dead here. It is believed that ancestral spirits protect livestock. The number of heads in the herd determines how high a position the Zulu occupies. It is no coincidence that milking cows among these people is an extremely important activity and only men can do it.
Zulu melodies
Like other African peoples, music occupies an important place in the life of the Zulus. With its help, they express emotions that are inaccessible to ordinary human speech. In Zulu music, not only rhythm and melody play a significant role, but also harmony - it is called isigubudu.
Zulu music is well known outside of South Africa. It was also spread by white musicians who played together with the Zulus or performed songs by Zulu composers. Among them are American Paul Simon and South African Johnny Clegg.
Caring God
The Zulus worship the god Unkulunkul - the progenitor of people and the creator of everything that is on earth. They believe that he taught people how to make fire, use tools, cultivate the land and raise livestock.
The cult of ancestors is widespread among the Zulus. It is believed that deceased relatives are full members of the community. Ancestral spirits act as intermediaries between people and supreme gods such as Unkulunkulu.
City by two oceans
Cape Town is often called the most beautiful and colorful city in the world. In any case, he could compete for this title. Ocean, mountains, inhabitants of different races and nationalities, many religions and beliefs - you won’t get bored here!
The city is located at the Cape of Good Hope - in the very south of Africa. It was here that the Portuguese Bartolomeu Dias first sailed in the 15th century, looking for a sea route from Europe to rich India. He reached, as it seemed to him, the southernmost point of the continent, but was unable to go around it and continue his journey to the east due to strong storms. The rocky coast to which he swam was called “Cape of Storms.” However, the Portuguese king renamed it, hoping that thanks to this the sea route to India would still open.
“Good hope” came true: the brave Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama, ten years after Dias’s journey, circumnavigated Africa from the south and was the first European to find himself in the waters of the Indian Ocean. And the cape was forever assigned to it unusual name. With the development of geographical science, it became clear that the Cape of Good Hope is the most southwestern point of Africa. To the south of it there is another cape, narrow and rocky. Many ships have crashed on its stones.
The Cape of Good Hope is located at an altitude of 300 m above sea level. From the steep shore you can see how two oceans merge: the Indian, greenish-turquoise, and the Atlantic, dark blue. The waves are splashing below, and beyond the horizon is only Antarctica! In this windswept place I was born famous legend O The Flying Dutchman, or a ghost ship.
Cape Town began to be built only one and a half hundred years after the voyage of Portuguese sailors. One Dutch sailor founded his settlement here, which became a transit point between the west and the east, and called it Cape Town - “a city on a cape”. A fort, vegetable gardens and a few settlers - that's all that was here at that time. In the vicinity of the village, lions and bushmen roamed - dark-skinned people of small stature with heads that Europeans thought looked like dried apricots. On the site of this settlement a city grew - the second largest in population in South Africa.
The symbol of Cape Town is Table Mountain. However, it doesn’t quite look like a mountain - it’s as if someone cut off the top of it with a huge cleaver, and the mountain rather resembles a dining table. Hence the name. Table Mountain protects Cape Town from the wind. At the foot is the largest Kirstenbosch garden on the planet with emerald lawns where bright peacocks walk, huts where you can get acquainted with the life of African tribes, quaint bridges, rainbow waterfalls and a whole ocean of flowers. Kirstenbosch is the world's first listed botanical garden. World Heritage UNESCO.
Nature in Cape Town has not suffered much from civilization. Animals calmly walk along the roads, and in some places special road signs, which read: “Eating ice cream is prohibited.” The fact is that monkeys running past can easily start a fight with a gaping passerby over a treat. The most dangerous of all are baboons. They are engaged in real robbery - they take backpacks from tourists, shake out the contents and take away everything they like. But Cape Townians won’t even think of offending the furry pranksters. And if someone decides to throw a stone at a monkey or kill a snake, then big trouble awaits the offender.
The opinion that penguins live only where it is cold is wrong. They are also found in South Africa, on the territory of the Table Mountain National Park. Penguins live in natural conditions, but they are not at all afraid of people - you can even swim with seabirds!
Another attraction of Cape Town is the multi-level oceanarium “Aquarium of Two Oceans”, with aquariums as tall as a 4-5-story building. Thousands of inhabitants of the Indian and Atlantic oceans live here.
The city's architecture is very similar to European architecture, but is closely connected to Cape Town's colonial past. In the center, for example, is the famous colorful district of Bo Cap. The houses, built by people from former Dutch colonies, are painted in bright colors. Now Muslims live here. The city itself is still divided into “special” neighborhoods: poor and rich, black and white.
Cape Town is a large port, so its center is the sea harbour. The unusual Victoria and Alfred Embankment is also considered the world's largest shopping street.
Based on materials from the magazine "Backpack. WORLD OF TRAVEL"
In the center of South Africa lies a flat, high plateau. These are plains and bush - savanna pastures. Some of them have been turned into nature reserves to preserve wildlife. This is a tropical region, but the highlands give it a mild climate.
In the west, across much of Angola and Namibia, lie sandy deserts. The Namib Desert is one of the driest places in the world. The Kalahari Desert covers eastern Botswana. In the south of the continent lies the Republic of South Africa with its amazingly beautiful nature and the majestic Drakensberg Mountains. The east of the region is hot and humid, with tropical rainforests covering the coastal lowlands. Dams have been built on South Africa's major rivers, including the Orange and Zambezi, to generate electricity and supply water to fields
South Africa, list of countries and capitals according to the all-Russian classifier of countries of the world.
List of largest cities in South Africa:
- Pretoria,
- Johannesburg,
- Durban,
- Cape Town.
The total area of South Africa is 2692 thousand square kilometers. The western and southern parts of Africa are washed by the Atlantic Ocean, the eastern part by the Indian Ocean.
In the 19th century, diamonds and gold were discovered in the area, and treasure hunters from all over Europe flocked to South Africa. Countries in this region were conquered by Portugal, Germany, Great Britain, the Netherlands and France. Europeans thirsty for wealth conquered African peoples or deceived them into buying their mineral rights. And thus the enormous value of this land brought wealth only to the white minority. In 1950, the white government of the Union of South Africa (since 1964 - the Republic of South Africa (RSA), the richest state on the continent, introduced the policy of apartheid. The black population was denied equal rights with whites. The brutal regime doomed millions of people to a miserable existence In 1994, the first democratic elections resulted in the country's first predominantly black government being led by Nelson Mandela.
Economy of South Africa
In the volcanic mountains Republic of South Africa diamonds are found, this country in the world exports the largest quantity of these precious stones in the world. South Africa also has the world's largest gold mines and significant coal reserves.
Zambia's main export is copper, found near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Namib Desert produces uranium, a highly radioactive metal used in nuclear power plants. On the grassy plains of South Africa, large cattle, and grapes and grains are also grown in large quantities.
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