The Tribune - Spectrum
 

Sunday, February 9, 2003		 Lead Article

South Africa: land of safaris & songs

  • The population of South Africa is 45 million.

  • After their recent acquisition of Miller in the USA, South African Breweries, the local beer producer, has become the biggest brewery in the world.

  • South Africa has won the two major sporting competitions it has hosted since it was readmitted to the sporting fold in 1992 — the 1995 Rugby World Cup and 1996 African Cup of Nations football tournament

  • South Africa has the largest wildlife park in the world, Kruger National Park, which is roughly the size of the United Kingdom. The Park has now been extended with a joint venture with neighbouring Parks in Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

  • South Africa has 11 official languages, but English is the most widely used.

  • Charlize Theron is probably the most famous South African actress, although Embeth Davidz is not far off.

  • South Africa’s rand is the local currency. At the current exchange rate a case of lager can be bought for about nine Euros.

  • Cape Town, nicknamed the Mother City, was ranked by BBC at No. 5 on their listing of 50 places to see before you die.

  • The country stretches nearly 2000 km from north to south and 1500 km from east to west.

  • South Africa is nicknamed The Rainbow Nation because of its diverse cultural make-up.

  • Christianity is the major religion of South Africa although there is a significant population of Hindus, Muslims and Jews.
 

  • The low wages make a 10 to 15 per cent tip a necessary addition to any bill.

  • A few of the common local dishes are: Bobotie (a baked minced-meat recipe with hints of apricot, almond, chutney and curry); boerewors (flavoured country sausages) and bredie (a rich ragout, usually of mutton with a thick tomato sauce). Also try biltong (dried meat, similar to beef jerky, only much nicer)

  • Even though a huge section of the population that is extremely poor, in relative terms South Africa is much better off than any other African nation. Vast natural resources and cheap labour keeps the economy rolling. Mining remains central to the economy. South Africa is the world’s leading supplier of gold, chronium, manganese, vanadium and platinum.

  • South Africa is the best place in the world to watch big game. Unlike many other countries in Africa, where elephant herds are dwindling and rhinos are practically extinct, South Africa has extremely healthy populations of these and most of the other animals you would expect to see on safari in Africa.

  • South Africa has one of the most temperate climates in the world and during summer (October-March) the average temperature is around 25 degrees C, rising in the northern parts into the 30s.

  • American rocker Dave Matthews, as well as well-known composer Robert Mutt Lange, were born in South Africa.

  • Many of South Africa’s sporting teams have local nicknames. The Springboks are named Amabokoboko by the Black population, the soccer side is called Bafana Bafana (the boys) and even the paraplegic games side is Amakrokokroko. However the cricket side is simply known as the Proteas.

  • South African wine is rated among the best in the world.
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