Rainbow Nation
The rainbow nation of South Africa is home to a melting pot of unique cultures, a fascinating kaleidoscope merging ancient traditions, colonial elements and modern trends. Did you know that the country has no less than 11 official languages? There are also indigenous languages spoken by smaller populations, such as the Bushmen. Rock drawings found throughout the country show that they have lived in this area for at least 5,000 years. Their original life as hunter-gatherers is pretty much a thing of the past, but in museums you can gain insight into this particular way of life. The Zulu constitute the largest population group, the majority of them living in the KwaZulu-Natal region, the only region with a king. Ancient traditions are cherished and celebrated and are embedded in modern society. The same is true of the cultures and traditions of the Xhosa, Ndebele, Venda, Sotho and other peoples. Deep-rooted customs and beliefs managed to endure despite the long period of oppression, Apartheid. Today there is recognition and appreciation for the multicolored cultural expressions: music and dance, story-telling and theater, museum art and street art, fashion, festivals and ritual gatherings.
Cultural heritage in various guises
In the more traditional regions of KwaZulu Natal, the Wild Coast and Limpopo, and in the independent kingdoms of eSwatini and Lesotho, the original expressions of culture are most evident. Take time for spontaneous encounters in authentic settings. Cultural Villages in all corners of the country highlight diverse cultures. An artificial setting, but there are locations where the most authentic image of a people or a ritual is respectfully presented. The same goes for ethnographic museums and open-air museums. Your local guide - even outside museums or cultural villages - is a representative of his or her culture, and often guides are great storytellers. Be transported to other times, myths and folklore, another way of life. Throughout South Africa are UNESCO World Heritage sites: archaeological sites, caves with petroglyphs, as well as places that commemorate battles from the Boer Wars. There are also museums and exhibits dedicated to Apartheid. The most poignant museum can be found in Johannesburg, where Soweto is also located. Robben Island also leaves a deep impression; here you can enter the cell where Nelson Mandela spent 18 years.
