Nobel Peace Prize winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu coined the term “Rainbow Nation” to capture the extraordinary diversity of races, tribes, creeds and landscape that characterizes the modern South Africa. Getting to know South Africa’s amazing people may be the most enduring memory of any visit.
South Africa’s astounding diversity is rooted in its ancient past. Some of the earliest evidence of the emergence of the human species has been discovered here. The country was first inhabited by the Khoisan or Bushmen, later the Bantu tribes began migrating southwards and the Dutch arrived in 1647 and slaves were eventually brought from the east and Madagascar. The largest Indian population outside of India, are in South Africa. This country has a rich multicultural heritage. There are at least six major cultural and ethnic groups, including the Xhosa, Zulu, Afrikaans, Venda, Ndebele and Sesotho – each will enrich your South Africa experience in its own way. So make sure to visit a township or a cultural village and talk to people wherever you go, you’ll find South Africa’s culture alive and vibrant everywhere you look.
South Africa is home to a resilient history – make sure your travel plans include paying tribute to the past. The museums are a good place to get a feel for the history of the country and learn about what makes the people here so special. Visits to The Apartheid Museum, Robben Island, The Nelson Mandela Museum or The District Six Museum all lend not only to an educational experience but an emotional poignancy.