Safare

Safari was originally a hunting expedition, especially the central and southern Africa. A group of hunters embark the African forests for several days. Chargers natives carrying equipment and supplies.

Currently, the term often applies to rides in open cars to observe wildlife in reserves or parks. Lions, elephants and other large animals are usually the main attractions. Many species perform migrations throughout the year and can be seen on the plains of over 14 square kilometers. You can see lions, leopards, crocodiles, cheetahs, rhinos and many other African animais.Elefantes walk on the banks of a lake in Africa. They are the largest land animals that inhabit our planet.

History

The first European explorers, mainly Portuguese, arrived in South Africa in the fifteenth century. Diogo Cao reached the South African coast in 1485 and in 1488 was the turn of Bartolomeu Dias.
The history of the country, itself, begins in the seventeenth century with the permanent occupation of the region of the Cape of Good Hope by the Dutch. In 1909, the union of British colonies of Cape, Natal, Transvaal and Orange River originates from the nation of South Africa
From 1948 to 1993/1994, the political and social structure is based on apartheid, the legalized system of racial discrimination remained the domain of the white minority in the political, economic and social development.
In 1983, it adopted a new constitution that guarantees political rights limited to Asian minorities, but continues to exclude blacks from the exercise of political rights and civil rights. The black majority, therefore, not entitled to vote or representation in parliament. The white ruling party during the apartheid era, is the National Party as the major black political organization is the African National Congress (ANC), which for almost fifty years was illegal. Later, in 1990, under the leadership of President F. W. de Klerk, the South African government begins to dismantle the Apartheid system, freeing Nelson Mandela, leader of the ANC, and accepting legalize this organization, as well as other anti-apartheid.
The next steps towards national unity are given in 1991. The opening of negotiations between representatives of all communities, in order to develop a democratic constitution, marking the end of an era in South Africa.
In 1993, the government and opposition agree on the black mechanisms to ensure the transition to a political system without discrimination. A committee executive broker with the black majority, to oversee the first multiparty and multiracial, and is created also a body in charge of drawing up a constitution that guarantees the end of apartheid.
In April 1994 they are multiracial elections for the new Parliament. The ANC won the elections and Nelson Mandela, forming a government of national unity, becomes the first President of South African black. In 2004, when Thabo Mbeki was five years ago as successor to Nelson Mandela, President of the Republic of South Africa promised to end all the violence of a political nature that may still exist in the country.

Culture

There is no single culture in South Africa, due to the country's ethnic diversity, and each racial group has its own cultural identity. This is apparent in the differences in food, music and dance among the various groups. There are, however, some unifying features.

Cooking

The South African cuisine is heavily meat-based and had a social gathering typically South African braai call. South Africa has also become a major wine producer, owning some of the world's best vineyards in the valleys around Stellenbosch, Franschoek and Paarl.

Music

There is great diversity in music from South Africa Many black musicians who sang in Afrikaans or English during apartheid began to sing in traditional African languages, and developed a unique style called kwaito. Worthy of note is Brenda Fassie, who achieved fame thanks to her song "Weekend Special", sung in English. Traditional musicians are famous Ladysmith Black Mambazo, and the String Quartet Soweto performs classical music with African flavor. Singers South African whites and mestizos tend to avoid traditional African musical themes, preferring more European styles. There is a good market for Afrikaans music, covering all genres of Western music.

The South Africa is located in southern Africa, with a coastline that stretches over 2500 km, is also fed by two oceans (Atlantic and Indian Ocean). Covering an area 1 219 912 km ². The country is the 25th largest in the world. The South Africa has a varied landscape. In the west it extends a large plateau, composed partly desert and partly by pastures and savannas, along the course of the Orange River and its main tributary, the Vaal. To the south, rise the ranges of the Karoo and in the east, the Drakensberg, the highest mountain range in southern Africa. The northern course of the Limpopo River forms the border with Botswana and Zimbabwe. The climate varies from a small area of Mediterranean climate in the far south, in the Cape region, the desert northwest. In areas with no Drakensberg mountain climate. The largest city is Johannesburg. Cape Town, Durban, Bloemfontein and Pretoria are other important cities. The administration official (government, courts, presidency and parliament) is spread by Pretoria, Cape Town, Johannesburg and Bloemfontein.

The 10 Things You "Have to Do" in South Africa

Go to the safari
Visit a township village
Down a Gold Mine
Scale tablemountain
A tour of the wine route
Visit The Palace / Sun City
Visit Robben Island
Attend a concert of African Jazz
Shopping in Sandton, Gateway, Canal Walk or Menlyn Shopping Centers
Taste the braai (barbecue) at night under the African sky