Hundreds of thousands of people will be exploring South Africa during the 2010 World Cup, but there’s so much more to see and do besides watch the games. No matter if your visit falls during the World Cup or if you’re planning for a future trip, you’ll discover that South Africa is a vibrant country that’s filled with a range of exciting activities for tourists from all walks of life. Whether you’re interested in cultural tours, historical sites or the best places to shop, South Africa will undoubtedly deliver. Here is a list of some activities that this energetic country has to offer.
Cultural tours are a great way to experience a country’s finest aspects and to immerse yourself in its culture. With eleven official languages, South Africa has a wealth of cultural diversity for visitors to explore. The ‘rainbow nation’ represents a plethora of art forms from theatre and jazz, to poetry, art and dance and a number of activities are an offer to explore the country’s multiculturalism.
One way to explore South African customs and traditions is through cultural villages. You will find these establishments dotted around the country. These villages are places where guests are encouraged to learn about local cultures by immersing themselves in the traditions and customs of the indigenous people. Activities include trying your hand at throwing a traditional spear, tasting home-brewed beer, or consulting with a traditional healer.
Lesedi Cultural Village is a multicultural settlement situated approximately an hour’s drive from Johannesburg. Four traditional homesteads are located here, that of the Zulus, the Xhosas, the Pedi tribe and the Basotho people. Traditional families peacefully live their lives here and guests are given the chance to spend a night with a rural family (however, home comforts such as hot showers and comfy beds have been provided). Some other cultural villages include the Botshabelo historical town near Middelburg in the Mpumalanga province, Tlholego in Magaliesburg near Johannesburg, the Basotho Cultural Village in the Free State province and Shakaland in Kwa-Zulu Natal, which consists of a reconstructed Zulu village akin to those seen in the days of Shaka Zulu.
The mountains of the Drakensberg in Kwa-Zulu Natal and the Cederberg in the Western Cape were the natural canvasses of traditional San people. Wonderful depictions of animals and people offer an intriguing insight into the lives of these traditional people. There are a number of tour operators that offer trips into these mountains.
The Western Cape Province is definitely wine country and you will find a variety of estates here boasting beautiful Cape Dutch architecture. Immersing oneself in the welcoming style of these highly rated wineries is a must-do for first-time visitors to the country. The Stellenbosch wine route is the most popular.
For connoisseurs of the arts, there are several galleries and theatres in South Africa. The African Art Centre in Durban showcases the talents of traditional African artists and aims to promote the artistic heritage of African people, and Port Elizabeth is home to four major galleries – the Epsac Art Gallery, King George VI Art Gallery, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum and the Ron Belling Art Gallery. The windy city also hosts an array of theatre productions at the local Opera House.
Johannesburg is arguably the cultural hub of South Africa. The Newtown Cultural Festival, which is one of many festivals that take place during the World Cup, showcases a range of local theatre and musical productions. Newtown is home to the well-recognized Market Theatre and Basslines, a popular venue for live music. In addition to a thriving theatre and musical scene, Joburg also has The Johannesburg Art Gallery. It is the biggest gallery in the sub-continent and contains some of the most prized works in the country. Cape Town also attracts art enthusiasts with a large collection of South African, British, French, Dutch and Flemish art being housed in the South African National Art Gallery on Government Avenue.
