South Africa is the most commercially and industrially developed country on the African continent, while still preserving the features of wild nature.
Officially the Republic of South Africa, it is a country in southern Africa and includes the Prince Edward Islands, located 1,770 km southeast of Port Elizabeth, almost halfway between South Africa and Antarctica.
Language: South Africa is a multilingual nation with 11 official languages: English, Afrikaans, isiNdebele, isiXhosa, isiZulu, Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, Siswati, Tshivenda, and Xitsonga.
Religion: About 80% of the South African population is Christian. Other major religious groups include Hindus, Muslims, Jews, and Buddhists.
Time Zone: All of South Africa is in the UTC+2 time zone, which is one hour ahead of Italy (UTC+1). However, the time difference disappears when daylight saving time is in effect in Italy, as South Africa does not observe daylight saving time.
Documents: A valid passport is required, which must remain valid for at least 30 days after the return date of travel and must have two blank pages. A visa is not required for stays of up to 90 days.
Sport: The national sport of South Africa is rugby.
Currency: South African Rand (ZAR)
Curiosity
An interesting curiosity about South Africa involves popular beliefs and myths, including the Tokoloshe. This relates to voodoo rituals—the Tokoloshe is said to be a dwarf zombie created after the death of a loved one within their first year of life.
According to popular belief, to resurrect a loved one, the following ritual must be performed:
- removal of the eyes and tongue of the deceased
- insertion of a metal rod into the skull
- placement of a secret powder in the mouth
This would bring the deceased back to life, and they would obey the person who revived them.
According to legend, the Tokoloshe is aided by witches and is invisible to ordinary humans.
Our advices
To Read: A mix between a guide and a discovery book, "South Africa", part of the Bibliothèque du Voyageur collection, Gallimard (2012), provides the key to understanding South Africa as a whole.
To Listen To: The South African music scene includes both popular sounds like jive and various forms of folk music. Pop styles are based on four main sources: Zulu isicathamiya singing and mbaqanga harmonica.
Kwaito is a music genre born in South Africa in the early 1990s and is still very popular today. It blends house music, garage, afropop, and other genres. The latest developments of the genre have incorporated hip-hop elements. The lyrics are generally in English or in indigenous South African languages.
To Watch: "South Africa – Extreme Africa", a documentary by Pierre Brouwers, explores South Africa from an aerial view. For Oscar-winning film lovers, there's "Invictus", directed by Clint Eastwood (2009), which recalls the 1995 Rugby World Cup and with it, the fate of two key figures in the national reconciliation: newly elected president Nelson Mandela and the team's captain François Pienaar.
To Eat: A trip to South Africa is also a food and wine journey. The cuisine is one of the most vibrant expressions of the country’s cultural fusion, and the wines—appreciated and internationally recognized—are of excellent quality.
Learn more
It is the only country with three capitals:
- Pretoria, the seat of the government
- Cape Town, where the Parliament is located
- Bloemfontein, home to the judiciary
However, for international purposes, Pretoria is considered the capital since it houses the Presidency.
Due to the Mediterranean climate, the flora in these regions varies widely: from lush, carpet-like vegetation to completely arid areas where plant life is scarce. Nonetheless, there are many nature reserves to visit, and thanks to guided tours, you can enjoy the thrilling adventure of encountering wild animals in person. With 4x4 jeep excursions, you can venture into the savannah and discover the lifestyle and rhythms of the unique fauna inhabiting these pristine regions.
