South Africa has experienced a different history from other nations in Africa as a result of early immigration from Europe and the strategic importance of the Cape Sea Route. South Africa is an ethnically diverse nation with the largest white, Indian, and racially mixed communities in Africa. Black South Africans, who speak nine officially recognized languages and many more dialects, account for slightly less than eighty percent of the population.
Racial strife between the white minority and the black majority has played a large part in the countries history and politics, culminating in apartheid, which was instituted in 1948 by the National Party. The laws that defined apartheid began to be repealed or abolished by the National Party in 1990 after a long and sometimes violent struggle by the Black majority as well as many White, Coloured, and Indian South Africans.
Regular elections have been held for almost a century however, the majority of black South Africans were not enfranchised until 1994. The economy of South Africa is the largest and best developed on the continent, with modern infrastructure common throughout the country.
South Africa is often referred to as The Rainbow Nation, a term coined by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and later adopted by then President Nelson Mandela. President Mandela used the term Rainbow Nation as a metaphor to describe the countries newly developing multicultural diversity in the wake of segregationist apartheid ideology.
The countries socially progressive policies are rare in Africa. By 2007, the country had joined Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, and Canada in legalising same-sex marriage.
The first thing a holidaymaker will do is head for the beaches. Some of them stretch forever with vistas in the distance of misty headlands. Others are tiny little crescents nestling in rocky coves or wooded bays. Most beaches on the South Coast are completely safe with lifeguards on duty and shark nets to protect bathers. It is a point of pride that, despite the many thousands of holidaymakers that descend on the beaches every year, holiday periods are almost completely incident free.
If you can tear yourself away from the beach, there is plenty to do on dry land. With shops and studios selling pottery, art, craft, wood, leather and fresh produce.
Further inland, Oribi Gorge offers action adventure with a gorge swing, abseiling, white water rafting, horse riding, hiking, mountain biking and 4x4 trails.
Several of the smaller nature reserves on the South Coast are renowned for their wild flowers and local botanists are happy to take guided flower tours. For golfers, nine eighteen whole golf courses offer picturesque golfing on challenging courses
South Africa hosted and won the 1996 African Cup of Nations. South Africa will be the host nation for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. It will be the first time the tournament is held in Africa. It will also host the first ever Twenty World Championship in September 2007.
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