Nelson Mandela...

One of the most famous and respectful people in South Africa and also all over the world! I can not last this blog without talking about Nelson Mandela.

He was born and grown up in a rural environment. Instead of bowing down to this unjust system of government, he became a lifelong warrior in the battle to free South Africa.

He fought for the equality, against the discrimination, and the segregation of people based on their skin color.

Imagine growing up in a country where drinking out of the wrong water fountain might get you thrown into jail; where a man might have the very same job as his neighbor, but because of the color of his skin, get paid less in a year than the other man made in a week.

Nelson Mandela couldn't handle it. He started out as a leader of an underground political movement called the African National Congress (ANC), Nelson Mandela played a part in many dramatic demonstrations against the white-ruled government “the Apartheid” (White supremacy).

In 1962 he was arrested and convicted of sabotage and other charges, and sentenced to life in prison.
At the end of his four hour statement to the court Nelson Mandela stated:
"During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die."

Then the liberation...

It was one of the great theatrical and emotional moments of contemporary history. At 4:14 pm, on the afternoon of February 11, 1990, Nelson Mandela walked away from the Victor Verster detention center, outside Cape Town, South Africa. The world’s best-known political prisoner was a free man at last, after 27 years in captivity... His release marked the beginning of the end for apartheid. In less than five years after his release, Mandela was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and elected president of South Africa.

Today, thanks to the self-sacrifice of Nelson Mandela, apartheid has been outlawed. Everyone in South Africa now has an equal opportunity at home and at work to live comfortable, productive lives. Nelson Mandela is one of the world's true freedom fighters, and his life and personal triumphs will be remembered long after the world has forgotten the evils of Apartheid.

This is one of my favorite history stories, I have been told...and have been part of...

Football or Soccer

The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010. A memorable event for the South African!

Football in South Africa can be traced back to the late 19th century and the first recognised club was formed as early as 1879.
It is the most widely played sport in South Africa, with its traditional support base in the black community. For many South Africans, the country's proudest sporting moment came when they won the African Nations Cup on home turf in 1996.

They introduced the vuvuzela!! Do you remember this horrible horn sound but so much fun to blow in it! The root of this word come from the Zulu language for "welcome", "unite" and "celebration.
The day it was announced that South Africa would host the 2010 World Cup, some 20,000 vuvuzelas were sold by street vendors; about 650,000 vuvuzelas have been sold in all between May 2004 and the beginning of the games in South Africa. A total of 50 million had been sold!!! Incroyable

I let you enjoy and rememnber this intense moment and the song that was made for

Soccer has been the sport in every heart of South African

Welcome to the internationally renowned Kruger National Park

The wildlife of Africa is the world’s greatest heritage, drawing millions of visitors from around the globe to the legendary game parks and the Kruger Park is easily the best place to experience it all.

Established in 1898 to protect the wildlife of the South African, this national park of nearly 7,523 sq mi, is larger than Israel.  Kruger is home to an impressive number of species: 336 trees, 49 fish, 34 amphibians, 114 reptiles, 507 birds and 147 mammals. The park has 9 main gates that allow entrance to the different champa. The park is designated by UNESCO.

Whether you are looking for a family vacation, a honeymoon or a luxury getaway, you will find a collection of safari packages that will suit you!

Here some comment about people who went to the Kruger National Park:
"A wonderful place to be", "Best place ever", "Incredible place", "What's not to love?", "Absolutely amazing!", ...

It's a beauty and diversity experience! I don't think you're going to be disappointed! ;)

Baskets craft

South African’s have a tradition of producing and utilising hand made goods.
People in villages far away to the boom of big towns make the main living from craft, by working from their homes and therefore retaining their lifestyle and rich heritage of basket weaving and bead work, which has been passed down through the generations by Zulu crafters, whose modern counterparts today produce stunning works of art, sought after the world over.

Baskets are made using the split leaves of the iLala palm. Soaking the leaves in a natural colourant made from dung or other natural pigments creates patterns.
The patterns advertise the maker of the basket and often incorporate traditional designs.

You will see here the meaning of the patterns:

Best time over the year to travel regardless nature

That depends on what you want to do. The flowers are obviously best in August and September. The best time for game viewing is late spring (September and October). The southern right whales hang around off the coasts from about mid-June to the end of October.

The diving is best in most of the country outside of summer (from April through September), and so is the surfing - but that certainly doesn't limit either activity to those times.

River rafting is better in the Cape at the end of winter, and in KwaZulu-Natal in the height of summer (late November to mid-February).

The "shoulder" seasons - spring and autumn - are best for hiking, as summer can be hot over most of the country. In the Drakensberg, summer thunderstorms are dangerous, while there is a good chance of snow in winter. In the Cape, the winters are wet, so hiking can be a bit hardcore.

Of course, if you want to lounge around on the beaches, mid-summer is the best time - though everyone else will be there too. And big bonus the beaches of northern KwaZulu-Natal are warm and sunny even in midwinter.

Aloe plants in the Great Karoo, Western Cape

CLIMATE OF SOUTH AFRICA

South Africa is located in the southern hemisphere. Its seasons are the reverse of Europe. The climate varies from region to region. 

Cape Town enjoys a Mediterranean climate style.
Summers (September to April) are hot and dry, with temperatures around 80F.
Winter (May-August) is mild 60F, but the temperature can drop to 40F at night.

Along the Atlantic, the climate became increasingly hot and dry up towards the North. 

To the Indian Ocean, it goes from temperate to subtropical (up to 83% humidity).

The High Veld (Gauteng, Free State) has a dry and sunny climate in winter (68F during the day at 40F at night).

From October to April, the hot days are punctuated with showers and impressing lightning late in the afternoon.

A lightning storm over Johannesburg

Howzit!

Howzit!! It's South African greeting which means: hello, how are you and what are you up to? Alternatively, I dont really have the energy to stop and chat with you, but take this "Howzit" as being friendly enough -thanks. Also a clear marker for when someone is a South African.

South Africa has 11 official languages, and scores of unofficial ones besides. English is the most commonly spoken language in official and commercial public life – but only the sixth most spoken home language.

Most South Africans are multilingual, able to speak more than one language.

South Africa's second-largest language: isiXhosa is spoken by 17.6% of all South Africans, or 7,907,149 people.

The languages you will hear most frequently spoken in South Africa depend on where in the country you are.

It's always nice to know some basic words and sentences in other country. Here a link with some of them for the isiXhosa:

http://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/xhosa.php