Country Profile
Capital – Nairobi
Official Languages – Swahili & English
Government – Semi-Presidential Republic
President – Mwai Kibaki
Prime Minister – Raila Odinga
Independence Day – 12th December (1963)
Population – 38 million
International Calling Code – +254
Currency – Kenyan Shilling
‘’Known by many as ‘the cradle of civilisation’ and home to some of the most spectacular wildlife reserves and safari experiences on the planet’’
Where It All Began
Kenya is home to some amazing archaeological finds including human remains that have been dated back over 2 million years. Excavations across East Africa have also shown primate remains dating back to over 20 million years ago! Various tribes from across continental Africa flocked to what is now known as Kenya. Most of these were the Bantu people that originated from Nigeria and the Congo. The first trading routes were discovered by the Arabs and Persians dating back to the 8th century along the coast of Kenya. These trading routes were then taken over by the Portuguese in the 16th century. This continues until the end of the 17th century when their stronghold weakened and the area was regained by the Arabs trading from Lamu to Mombasa.
By the mid-19th century the British and the Germans had an eye on taking over the country and consequently in 1920 it became a British colony. The wide spread settlements which were built, caused an internal uprising within Kenya as many locals were losing land and pastures to the British settlers. This culminated in the Mau Mau rebellion of 1953. The aim of the rebellion was to evict all the white settlers out of Kenya, but they couldn't match British power and were defeated in 1956. The first President of Kenya was later announced as Mau Mau rebel leader Jomo Kenyatta who came to power in 1963 when Kenya gained its independence from the British. In recent years the Kenyan government has gone downhill facing corruption allegation charges and the constant pressure of finding solutions to the HIV/AIDS crisis that ravages the nation. Kenya's journey to establish itself as a socially and economically viable country has so far been challenged.
Geography
Kenya shares borders with Tanzania in the south, Uganda in the west, Ethiopia in the north, Sudan in the northwest & Somalia in the north east. The country is divided into four regions: the Savannah lands of the south, the deserts of the north, the fertile lowlands of the coastal region and the highlands to the west. Nairobi lies in the highlands, and northwest of the capital lays the rift valley with an assortment of lakes up to the town of Nakuru. Mount Kenya (5,200m) is in the centre of the country with Lake Turkana in the far northwest and in the southwest is Kenya’s region of Lake Victoria.
Climate
Kenya has a mostly tropical climate; the coastal region is hot and humid year round whereas inland it tends to be temperate with very dry areas in the north and the northeast. The heavy rainy seasons usually occur between March and May and the short rains arriving between October and November. The rain is often heavy and falls in thunderstorms in the afternoon. The hottest period is from February to March and the coldest from June to August.
Climate Chart For Nairobi, Kenya
Climate Chart For Mombasa, Kenya
Culture
Most Kenyans place great importance on the family and the traditional values associated with it. Kenyan families on the whole tend to be large, and households often include members of the extended family. Most of Kenya’s rural inhabitants live on small farms, while others live in houses made of wooden poles with thatched roofs, while most others live in houses of brick or stone with metal roofs. There are also a small number are nomadic livestock herders which consists mainly of local tribes such as the Maasai and the Turkana people. The wealthy and well off Kenyan city dwellers live in modern houses mainly seen in western society whereas the poor and deprived live in Shanty Towns and Slums such as Kibera & Muthare
Transport
There are many companies that fly to Kenya including, Kenya Airways, Emirates, British Airways & Virgin Atlantic to name a few. Jomo Kenyatta (Nairobi) & Moi International (Mombasa) are the two international airports within Kenya. There are many other smaller airports in some of Kenya's larger towns and rural land strips in many game parks including Maasai Mara, Amboseli & Samburu.
Kenya is well served by an extensive transport network, buses, minivans (matatus) and taxis. Matatus have a bad reputation for accidents however they are the most convenient for access to most areas within the cities. Long distance buses are many and they cover 90% of Kenya with international routes also available.
If you have time to spare you might want to think about taking the train to Mombasa from Nairobi or vice versa. It is very scenic and takes around 13 hours compared to the 7 hours by road. There are 3 classes of which 1st and 2nd are the only ones worth considering due to safety and security. Alternatively you can rent a car and travel around the country at your own will.
Music & Dance
Kenya has a popular music scene which is a combination of African & Western culture. Distinctive forms of music and dance are mainly associated with the different tribal groups within the country.
Sports
Kenya is active in several sports, among them football, cricket, boxing and rugby union. But the country is famous mostly for its dominance in middle-distance and long-distance athletics.
Capital - Lilongwe
Official Languages - Chichewa & English
Government - Multi-Party Democracy
President - Bingu Wamutharika
Independence Day - 6th July (1964)
Population - 14 Million
International Calling Code - +265
Currency - Malawian Kwacha
Republic of Malaŵi
Where It All Began''Chalo cha Malawi, Dziko la Malaŵi''
Malawi originally had a very small population of hunter gatherers until swarms of Bantu people began descending on them from the north in the 10th century. The Bantu people then split up into tribal areas around Malawi and based there trading with the Portuguese to the north bordering Tanzania.
David Livingstone was the first explorer to make it to Lake Malawi (Lake Nyasa) as it was formally known in 1859. In 1891 Malawi was under the colonial rule of the British and was formally known as Nyasaland. In 1944 the Nyasaland African Federation was formed which was too used to promote the locals interest to the British rule. Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda was elected to become the prime minister in 1963 and Nyasaland was later renamed Malawi. In 1970 Banda declared himself president for life. Banda ruled for 30 years until his party was abolished and further elections took place naming a better successor to head the country.
Geography
Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was previously known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Tanzania to the north and Mozambique which surrounds it on the west, east and the south. It also has a border with Zambia in the northwest. Lake Malawi divides Tanzania to the North and Mozambique to the south east. The highest points in Malawi are located in the Mt Mlanje region 7,000 feet (2,100 m) and 10,000 feet (3,000 m).
The name Malawi comes from the 'Maravi', who were one of the original Bantu tribes to inhabit the area.
Climate
Malawi is a relatively dry country within the sub-tropical region of Africa. The summer season ranges from November to April and this is the time 95% of Malawi's annual precipitation occurs. The higher mountainous areas tend to experience more rainfall in this period than the low lying areas. Winter in Malawi stretches from May to August when the mean temperatures range is between 17-27°degrees. September & October experience hot and dry conditions with temperatures ranging between 25-37°degrees, and this tends to be the best time to visit.
Climate Chart For Lilongwe, Malawi
Culture
Malawi is often called the "warm heart of Africa" because of the warmth and friendliness of the people. Even though Malawi is under the impact of modernisation, its traditional culture is seen to be characterised by continuity as well as change, and the traditional life of the village has remained largely intact.
Transport
The main hub of air traffic in Malawi is through the Kamuzu international airport in Lilongwe. Air Malawi, Kenya Airways, South African Airways & British Airways all run international routes into the country. Malawi also has airports at all of its major towns including Blantyre. Most flights from Europe connect via Nairobi (Kenya)
As with many African countries, buses are the easiest form of transport. There are long distance buses that travel between all the major towns within Malawi and also offer international routes to South Africa, Zambia and Tanzania. There are many mini vans that run within the cities and towns which are the most convenient forms of transport but unfortunately don't have a great safety record.
There are dhows, and also a steam boat service that runs on Lake Malawi travelling from Monkey Bay on the south side of the lake to Nkhata bay in the north. This service runs once a week and gives you a great experience and also great views of the Lake. There are also options to travel over to Mozambique and also into Tanzania using the boat services
Music
The music traditions of Malawi are rich with cultural influences that include those of the 'Zulu Ngoni', people from South Africa, the Islamic Yao people of Tanzania and others. Most tribes have their own individual songs and dances. Common musical instruments found include drums, the mambilira, (which is similar to the western xylophone), rattles of different types and sizes, also shakers which are tied to dancer's legs and arms and are often known as maseche.
Sports
Football is Malawi’s most popular sport. It is played by boys at all levels from makeshift village playing fields to school & college league competition. Netball & Athletics are also two very popular sports in Malawi.
Food & Drink
Traditional Malawian food is a porridge like maize dish called 'nsima'. It is eaten by rolling the maize into a ball and dipped in stews.
Capital - Dodoma
Official Languages - Swahili & English
Government - Republic
President - Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete
Prime Minister - Mizengo Pinda
Independence Day - Merger With Zanzibar (26th April, 1964)
Population - 40 Million
International Calling Code - +255
Currency - Tanzanian Shilling
United Republic of Tanzania
''Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania''
Where It All BeganThe land of ancient Tanzania was occupied as early as the 1st century by migrating tribes from all across Africa who settled on the land and were most notably the Bantu speaking people. Arab traders occupied the trade routes along the coast and the island of Zanzibar. The 16th century saw the Portuguese colonise the country. The Portuguese then made it home until the 19th century where there was a strong interest by the Germans and the British. The European presence was stronger than ever with explorers passing thorough, most notably Stanley and Livingstone. The British Empire then took the country over just after WW1 had finished.
Nationalist's movements were gathering pace against the European rule and by the year 1961 the country had gained independence with Julius Nyerere. The Tanzania that exists today was formed in 1964 with the merger of Tanganyika and the island of Zanzibar. 1991 saw the first elections in the country for 20 years, but recently elections have been wrought with contention and have succeeded in trying to distance the mainland away from Zanzibar.
Geography
Tanzania officially called the United Republic of Tanzania is the largest country in East Africa. Tanzania is bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north and to the west is the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda & Burundi and to the south is Mozambique. To the east of the country lies the Indian Ocean. In the mountainous north of the country lies the highest peak in Africa, Mt Kilimanjaro.
Climate
Tanzania has a tropical climate; the hottest period spreads between November to February where temperatures range between (25-31°degrees). The coolest time of the year occurs between May & August (15-20°degrees). The coastal region is hot and humid throughout the year whereas the highlands temperatures can drop to around 10°degrees in the winter. The rains tend to fall between the months of December to April, usually seen as heavy downpours in the afternoon.
Climate Chart For Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Climate Chart For Morogoro, Tanzania
Culture
Tanzanian's social fabric of charm is the prime attraction for cultural and eco-tourism. It is also home to approximately 120 tribal groups, most of which comprise of small communities. Most of these however are forming into larger groups and also moving to urban areas due to the economic draws of the city. Maasai, as well as in Kenya are one of the country's most famous tribes and as they are traditionally cattle herders they are always moving and locating to different regions in the north of the country.
Transport
Both Tanzania and Zanzibar are serviced by international and domestic flights, Precision Air & Air Tanzania fly most of these routes. Most flights to Tanzania land in Dar es Salaam where connections can be made to Zanzibar and more remote airports including Mt Kilimanjaro. There are numerous private air strips within Tanzania including the Selous game reserve and along the shores of Lake Tanganyika.
Flights to Zanzibar from Dar es Salaam are available and take approximately 20 minutes. There are also numerous ferry companies offering the trip taking from 1-3 hours. The more luxury services are offered by the 'The Flying Horse' & 'Sea Express'
Bus travel is the most common form of transport within Tanzania but unfortunately tainted with road accidents especially when travelling on more rural roads outside the major cities and towns. Private companies including Akamba & Scandinavian Express offer great air conditioned services on long distance routes. Daladallas are the best form of local transport; they are 14 seater mini vans which are cheap and efficient. However they don't have the best safety record, so try and avoid them at night.
There is a train service operated by TAZARA which travels to destinations within Tanzania en route to Lusaka in Zambia. 1st & 2nd class are recommended but try to avoid 3rd class for safety and security reasons. This train runs once a week in either direction.
Music & Dance
The music of Tanzania derives from traditional African music to a distinctive hip hop known as bongo flava. Bongo flava is a nickname for Tanzanian hip hop its birthplace is in the coastal city of Dar es Salaam.
Sport
Football is definitely the most popular team sport in Tanzania. Athletes from Tanzania have also been very successful in a variety of international competitions. Every year athletes carry a freedom torch across the country from Mount Kilimanjaro to celebrate independence from the UK.
Food & Drink
Along the coast of Tanzania & Zanzibar there is a strong influence of Arabic food. It gets very spicy with a lot of use of coconut milk. However typical mainland Tanzanian food consists of rice, ugali (flour & water), chapatti, nyama choma (fried meat), fish & pilau. Most people in Tanzania drink Chai (tea) at least twice a day.
Local Tanzanian beers include Serengeti & Kilimanjaro as well as a lot of local brews which are often referred to as illicit brews and should be avoided.
Official Languages - Swahili & English
Government - Democratic Republic
President - Yoweri Museveni
Prime Minister - Apolo Nsibambi
Independence Day - 9th October (1962)
Population - 32 Million
International Calling Code - +256
Currency - Ugandan Shilling
Republic Of Uganda
''Jamhuri Ya Uganda''
Where It All Began
The people of Uganda were hunter gatherers until 1,700 to 2,300 years ago. Bantu-speaking populations, who were probably from central and western Africa, migrated to the southern parts of the country. These groups brought and developed ironworking skills and new ideas of social and political organization. The Empire of Kitara in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries represents the earliest forms of formal organization, followed by the kingdom of Bunyoro Kitara, and in later centuries, Buganda and Ankole.
As several other territories and chiefdoms were integrated, the final protectorate called Uganda took shape in 1914. From 1900 to 1920, a sleeping sickness epidemic killed more than 250,000 people, about two-thirds of the population in the affected lake-shore areas. Uganda gained independence from Britain in 1962, maintaining its Commonwealth membership. The first post-independence election, held in 1962, was won by an alliance between the Uganda's People Congress (UPC) and Kabaka Yekka (KY). UPC and KY formed the first post-independence government with Milton Obote as executive Prime Minister, the Buganda Kabaka (King) Edward Muteesa II holding the largely ceremonial position of President and William Wilberforce Nadiope, the Kyabazinga (paramount chief) of Busoga, as Vice President.
Obote was deposed from office in 1971 when Idi Amin seized power. Amin ruled the country with the military for the next eight years. Amin's rule cost an estimated 300,000 Ugandans' lives. He forcibly removed the entrepreneurial minority from Uganda. The Ugandan economy was devastated.
Geography
The country is located on the East African plateau, averaging about 1,100 metres (3,609 ft) above sea level, and this slopes very steadily downwards to the Sudanese Plain to the north. However, much of the south is poorly drained, while the centre is dominated by Lake Kyoga, which is also surrounded by extensive marshy areas. Uganda lies almost completely within the Nile basin. The Victoria Nile drains from the lake into Lake Kyoga and thence into Lake Albert on the Congolese border. It then runs northwards into Sudan. One small area on the eastern edge of Uganda is drained by the Turkwel River, part of the internal drainage basin of Lake Turkana.
Climate
Despite being on the equator Uganda is more temperate than the surrounding areas due to its altitude. The country is mostly plateau with a rim of mountains. This has made it more suitable to agriculture and less prone to tropical diseases than other nations in the region. The climate is tropical; generally rainy with two dry seasons (December to February, June to August). It is semiarid East Sudanian Savannah in the north near Sudan.
Climate Chart For Kampala, Uganda
Climate Chart For Masaka, Uganda
Culture
The culture of Uganda is made up of a diverse range of ethnic groups. Lake Kyoga forms the northern boundary for the Bantu-speaking peoples, who dominate much of east, central and southern Africa. In Uganda they include the Baganda and several other tribes. In the north live the Lango and the Acholi, who speak Niolitic languages. To the east are the Iteso and Karamajong, who speak a Nilotic language. A few Pygmies live isolated in the rainforests of western Uganda
Transport
Uganda is serviced by international and domestic flights; Kenya & British Airways fly from Europe where as Air Uganda handle most domestic flights. Uganda's road networks through city areas and with the border from Kenya are very good. However when you start entering the countryside dirt tracks are common. There are many local minivans which do routes within the cities and towns and also long distance, across the country. Lake Victoria are home to commercial traffic with many ferries running to Mwanza in Tanzania and Kisumu in Kenya.
Music & Dance
A new style of music has developed in East Africa in recent years called utake which comes from the first letters of Tanzania. Utake includes elements of music of Tanzania|Tanzanian, music of Kenya and Ugandan music. Top artists in Uganda include Jose Chameleon (heavy weight), Bebe Cool locally called Munene Munene, Bobi Wine who is called ghetto president, Radio and Weasel (also operating as Goodlyfe), another sammie e with an exceptional talent, Ragga Dee and Madoxx Ssematimba, Babaluku and The Bataka Squad founders of Luga Flow which promotes rapping in your mother tongue. These artists are also doing well on the international scene.
Sport
Cricket has experienced rapid growth although football is the most popular sport in Uganda. Rallying is also a popular sport in Uganda with the country having successfully staged a round of the African Rally Championships (ARC), Pearl of Africa Rally since 1996 when it was a candidate event. The country has gone on to produce African rally champions such as Charles Muhangi who won the 1999 ARC crown. Ugandans have since the early twenties enjoyed the fast-paced sport of hockey. It was originally played by the Asians, but now it is widely played by people from other racial backgrounds. Hockey is the only Ugandan field sport to date to have qualified for and represented the country at the Olympics; this was at the Munich games in 1972.
Food & Drink
Ugali - usually from maize but also other starches, regional names include posho and kwon. Ugandan expatriates make ugali from cornmeal, masa harina or grits Groundnut - peanuts are a vital staple and groundnut sauce is probably the most commonly eaten one. Sim-sim - sesame - used particularly in the north, roasted sesame paste is mixed into a stew of beans or greens and served as a side dish, sesame paste may be served as a condiment; a candy is made from roasted sesame seeds with sugar or honey. Matoke - Which is made from mashed plantain as opposed to mashed potato. Usually used in a main course.
Capital - Harare
Official Languages - English
Government - Semi Presidential Parliamentary Consocialtionalist Republic
President - Robert Mugabe
Prime Minister - Morgan Tsvangirai
Independence Day - 18th April (1980)
Population - 12.5 Million
International Calling Code - +263
Currency - U.S. Dollar & South African Rand
Republic of Zimbabwe
Where It All Began ''Unity, Freedom, Work''
In the 1880s, the British arrived with Cecil Rhodes's British South Africa Company. In 1898, the name Southern Rhodesia was adopted. In 1888, British colonialist Cecil Rhodes obtained a concession for mining rights from King Lobengula of the Ndebele peoples. Cecil Rhodes presented this concession to persuade the government of the United Kingdom to grant a royal charter to his British South Africa Company (BSAC) over Matabeleland, and its subject states such as Mashonaland. Rhodes used this document in 1890 to justify sending the Pioneer Column, a group of white settlers protected by well-armed British South Africa Police (BSAP) through Matabeleland and into Shona territory to establish Fort Salisbury (now Harare).
Britain's Lord Soames was appointed governor to oversee the disarming of revolutionary guerrillas, the holding of elections and the granting of independence to an uneasy coalition government with Joshua Nkomo, head of ZAPU. In the elections of February 1980, Mugabe and his ZANU won a landslide victory.
There was however opposition to a Shona win in Matabeleland. In November 1980 Enos Nkala made remarks at a rally in Bulawayo, in which he warned ZAPU that ZANU would deliver a few blows against them. This started the first Entumbane uprising, in which ZIPRA and ZANLA fought for two days.
On 29 March 2008, Zimbabwe held a presidential election along with a parliamentary election. The three major candidates were Robert Mugabe of the Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF), Morgan Tsvangirai of the Movement for Democratic Change – Tsvangirai (MDC-T), and Simba Makoni, an independent. The results of this election were withheld for four weeks, following which it was generally acknowledged that the MDC had achieved a significant majority of seats. However, Mugabe retained control because Tsvangirai did not win by the margin required by Zimbabwean law. Hence, the election results that would otherwise put Mugabe out of power, failed the opposition.
Geography
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country in southern Africa lying wholly within the tropics. It straddles an extensive high inland plateau that drops northwards to the Zambezi valley where the border with Zambia is and similarly drops southwards to the Limpopo valley and the border with South Africa. The country has borders with Botswana 813 km, Mozambique 1,231 km, South Africa 225 km, Zambia 797 km and meets Namibia at its westernmost point.
Climate
The climate is tropical, although markedly moderated by altitude. There is a dry season, including a short cold season during the period May to September when the whole country has very little rain. The rainy season is typically a time of heavy rainfall from November to March. The whole country is influenced by the Inter-tropical Convergence Zone during January. In years when it is poorly defined, then there is below average rainfall and a likelihood of serious drought in the country (as happened in 1983 and 1992). When it is well-defined then rainfall is average or well above average, as in 1981 and 1985.
Climate Chart For Harare, Zimbabwe
Culture
Zimbabwe has many different cultures which may include beliefs and ceremonies, one of them being Shona. Zimbabwe's largest ethnic group is Shona. The Shona people have many sculptures and carvings of gods (idols) which are made with the finest materials available. Traditional arts in Zimbabwe include pottery, basketry, textiles, jewellery and carving. Among the distinctive qualities are symmetrically patterned woven baskets and stools carved out of a single piece of wood. Shona sculpture has become world famous in recent years having first emerged in the 1940s. Most subjects of carved figures of stylised birds and human figures among others are made with sedimentary rocks such as soapstone, as well as harder igneous rocks such as serpentine and the rare stone verdite.
Transport
Zimbabwe has a good transport system with international flights arriving/departing from Harare International Airport. There is also a good train network connecting the countries major cities as well as other countries including South Africa, Mozambique, Botswana & Zambia. You can get long distance international buses which depart from Harare and travel to Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa & Zambia.
Music
Zimbabwean musicians like Thomas Mapfumo, Oliver Mtukudzi, the Bhundu Boys and Audius Mtawarira have achieved international recognition. Among members of the white minority community, Theatre has a large following, with numerous theatrical companies performing in Zimbabwe's urban areas.
Sports
Football is the most popular of sports in Zimbabwe, although rugby union and Cricket also have a following, traditionally among the white minority. Zimbabwe has won eight Olympic medals, one in field hockey at the (boycotted) 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, and seven in swimming, three at the 2004 Summer Olympics and four at the 2008 Summer Olympics.
Zimbabwe has also done well in the Commonwealth Games and All-Africa Games in swimming with Kirsty Coventry obtaining 11 gold medals in the different competitions. Zimbabwe has also competed at Wimbledon and the Davis Cup in tennis, most notably with the Black family, which comprises Wayne Black, Byron Black and Cara Black. Zimbabwe has also done well in golf.
Food & Drink
Like in many African countries, the majority of Zimbabweans depend on a few staple foods. Meat, beef and to a lesser extent chicken are especially popular, though consumption has declined under the Mugabe regime due to falling incomes. "Mealie meal", also known as cornmeal, is used to prepare sadza or isitshwala and bota or ilambazi. Sadza is a porridge made by mixing the cornmeal with water to produce a thick paste. After the paste has been cooking for several minutes, more cornmeal is added to thicken the paste. This is usually eaten as lunch and dinner, usually with greens (such as spinach, chomolia and collard greens), beans and meat that has been stewed, grilled, or roasted. Sadza is also commonly eaten with curdled milk, commonly known as lacto (mukaka wakakora), or dried Tanganyika sardine, known locally as kapenta or matemba.
Capital – Pretoria (Executive)
– Bloemfontein (Judicial)
– Cape Town (Legislative)
Official Languages – Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Swazi, Tswana, Tsonga, Venda, Xhosa & Zulu
Government – Constitutional Parlimentary Republic
President – Jacob Zuma
Independence Day – 31st May (1961)
Population – 50 million
International Calling Code – +27
Currency – South African Rand
‘’Diverse People Unite, Or Unity In Diversity''
Where It All Began
Modern humans have inhabited Southern Africa for more than 100,000 years. At the time of European contact, the dominant indigenous peoples were Bantu-speaking peoples who had migrated from other parts of Africa about one thousand years before. The two major historic groups were the Xhosa and Zulu peoples.
In 1487, the Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias became the first European known to have reached southern Africa. On 4 December, he landed at Walfisch Bay (now known as Walvis Bay in present day Namibia). This was south of the furthest point reached in 1485 by his predecessor, the Portuguese navigator Diogo Cão (Cape Cross, north of the bay). Dias continued down the western cost of southern Africa. After 8 January 1488, prevented by storms from proceeding along the coast, he sailed out of sight of land and passed the southernmost point of Africa without seeing it. After he had reached as far up the eastern coast of Africa as what he called Rio do Infante, probably the present-day Groot River, in May 1488 on his return he saw the Cape, which he first named Cabo das Tormentas (Cape of Storms). His King, John II, renamed the point Cabo da Boa Esperança or Cape of Good Hope, as it led to the riches of the East Indies.[18] Dias' feat of navigation was later memorialized in Camões' epic Portuguese poem, The Lusiads (1572).
During the Dutch and British colonial years, racial segregation was mostly informal, though some legislation were enacted to control the settlement and movement of native people, including the Native Location Act of 1879 and the system of pass laws. Power was held by the ethnic European colonists.
After four years of negotiating, the South Africa Act 1909 created the Union of South Africa from the Cape and Natal colonies, as well as the republics of Orange Free State and Transvaal, on 31 May 1910, eight years after the end of the Second Boer War. The newly created Union of South Africa was a dominion of the British Empire. The Natives' Land Act of 1913 severely restricted the ownership of land by blacks; at that stage natives controlled only 7% of the country. The amount of land reserved for indigenous peoples was later marginally increased.
In 1990 the National Party government took the first step towards dismantling discrimination when it lifted the ban on the African National Congress and other political organisations. It released Nelson Mandela from prison after twenty-seven years' serving a sentence for sabotage. A negotiation process followed. The government repealed apartheid legislation. South Africa destroyed its nuclear arsenal and acceded to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. South Africa held its first universal elections in 1994, which the ANC won by an overwhelming majority. It has been in power ever since. The country rejoined the Commonwealth of Nations.
Geography
South Africa is located at the southernmost region of Africa, with a long coastline that stretches more than 2,500 km (1,553 mi) and along two oceans (the South Atlantic and the Indian). At 1,219,912 km2 (471,011 sq mi),[50] South Africa is the 25th-largest country in the world and is comparable in size to Colombia. Njesuthi in the Drakensberg at 3,408 m (11,181 ft) is the highest peak in South Africa. Excluding the Prince Edward Islands, the country lies between latitudes 22° and 35°S, and longitudes 16° and 33°E.
The interior of South Africa is a vast, flat, and sparsely populated scrubland, the Karoo, which is drier towards the northwest along the Namib desert. In contrast, the eastern coastline is lush and well-watered, which produces a climate similar to the tropics.
To the north of Johannesburg, the altitude drops beyond the escarpment of the Highveld, and turns into the lower lying Bushveld, an area of mixed dry forest and an abundance of wildlife. East of the Highveld, beyond the eastern escarpment, the Lowveld stretches towards the Indian Ocean. It has particularly high temperatures, and is also the location of extended subtropical agriculture.
South Africa also has one possession, the small sub-Antarctic archipelago of the Prince Edward Islands, consisting of Marion Island (290 km2/110 sq mi) and Prince Edward Island (45 km2/17 sq mi)
Climate
The climatic zones vary, from the extreme desert of the southern Namib in the farthest northwest to the lush subtropical climate in the east along the Mozambique border and the Indian ocean. From the east, the land quickly rises over a mountainous escarpment towards the interior plateau known as the Highveld. Even though South Africa is classified as semi-arid, there is considerable variation in climate as well as topography.
The extreme southwest has a climate remarkably similar to that of the Mediterranean with wet winters and hot, dry summers, hosting the famous Fynbos Biome of grassland and thicket. This area also produces much of the wine in South Africa. This region is also particularly known for its wind, which blows intermittently almost all year. The severity of this wind made passing around the Cape of Good Hope particularly treacherous for sailors, causing many shipwrecks. Further east on the south coast, rainfall is distributed more evenly throughout the year, producing a green landscape. This area is popularly known as the Garden Route.
The Free State is particularly flat because it lies centrally on the high plateau. North of the Vaal River, the Highveld becomes better watered and does not experience subtropical extremes of heat. Johannesburg, in the centre of the Highveld, is at 1,740 m (5,709 ft) and receives an annual rainfall of 760 mm (29.9 in). Winters in this region are cold, although snow is rare.
Climate Chart For Cape Town, South Africa
Climate Chart For Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Climate Chart For Johannesburg, South Africa
Culture
South African culture is diverse; foods from many cultures are enjoyed by all and especially marketed to tourists who wish to sample the large variety of South African cuisine. In addition to food, music and dance feature prominently.
South African cuisine is heavily meat-based and has spawned the distinctively South African social gathering known as a braai, or barbecue. South Africa has also developed into a major wine producer, with some of the best vineyards lying in valleys around Stellenbosch, Franschoek, Paarl and Barrydale.
The South African black majority still has a substantial number of rural inhabitants who lead largely impoverished lives. It is among these people that cultural traditions survive most strongly; as blacks have become increasingly urbanised and Westernised, aspects of traditional culture have declined. Urban blacks usually speak English or Afrikaans in addition to their native tongue. There are smaller but still significant groups of speakers of Khoisan languages who are not included in the eleven official languages, but are one of the eight other officially recognised languages. There are small groups of speakers of endangered languages, most of which are from the Khoi-San family, that receive no official status; some groups within South Africa are attempting to promote their use and revival.
Members of middle class, who are predominantly white but whose ranks include growing numbers of black, coloured and Indian people,have lifestyles similar in many respects to that of people found in Western Europe, North America and Australasia. Members of the middle class often study and work abroad for greater exposure to the markets of the world.
South Africa has also had a large influence in the Scouting movement, with many Scouting traditions and ceremonies coming from the experiences of Robert Baden-Powell (the founder of Scouting) during his time in South Africa as a military officer in the 1890s. The South African Scout Association was one of the first youth organisations to open its doors to youth and adults of all races in South Africa. This happened on 2 July 1977 at a conference known as Quo Vadis.
Transport
There are many airlines that fly to South Africa including, South African Airways, Kenya Airways, Emirates, British Airways & Virgin Atlantic to name a few. Cape Town International Airport (Cape Town) & O.R. Tambo International Airport (Johannesburg) are the two international airports within South Africa. There are many other medium sized airports airports including Durban, Port Elizabeth, & Blomfontein.
South Africa is well served by an extensive transport network, buses, minivans and taxis. Minivans have a bad reputation for accidents however they are the most convenient for access to most areas within the cities. Long distance buses are many and they cover 90% of South Africa with international routes also available.
If you have time to spare you might want to think about taking the train from South Africa to Namibia, Lesotho, Botswana, Swaziland or Zimbabwe. Alternatively you can rent a car and travel around the country at your own will although plan your trip first as South Africa is a huge country and long distances can appear deceving.
Music & Dance
There is great diversity in music from South Africa. Many black musicians who sang in Afrikaans or English during apartheid have since begun to sing in traditional African languages, and have developed a unique style called Kwaito. Of note is Brenda Fassie, who launched to fame with her song "Weekend Special", which was sung in English
The South African music scene includes Kwaito, a new music genre that had developed in the mid 80s and has since developed to become the most popular social economical form of representation among the populous. Though some may argue that the political aspects of Kwaito has since diminished after Apartheid, and the relative interest in politics has become a minor aspect of daily life. Some argue that in a sense, Kwaito is in fact a political force that shows activism in its apolitical actions. Today, major corporations like Sony, BMG, and EMI have appeared on the South African scene to produce and distribute Kwaito music.
Sports
South Africa's most popular sports are soccer, rugby and cricket. Other sports with significant support are swimming, athletics, golf, boxing, tennis and netball. Although soccer commands the greatest following among the youth, other sports like basketball, surfing and skateboarding are increasingly popular.
