Monday, 15 March 2010 00:00
by Srimal Fernando
Flying into South Africa is a fantastic experience. The country is a naturalist wonderland, where the stunning environment is a sensual escape into paradise. “Mandela”, “Cricket”, “Rugby”, “FIFA World Cup” and the “African Safari” are the first thoughts that come to once mind. South Africa is located at the southernmost region of Africa, with a 2,500 km long coastline that stretches along the South Atlantic and the Indian Oceans. The country has a temperate climate. South Africa has a land area of 1,219,912 square kilometers and borders Zimbabwe, Mozambique ,Namibia, Botswana ,Swaziland and Lesotho. Lesotho is an independent country surrounded by South Africa.
The country’s population presently stands at 49.3million scattered across nine provinces. The socio- economic background from Eastern Cape of South Africa to Western Cape is both vast and diverse. The country is divided into nine provinces. Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, Kwa Zulu-Natal, Limpopo , Mpumalanga , Northern Cape, North West and Western Cape. Cape Town is the legislative capital and Bloemfontein is the judicial and Pretoria is the administrative capital of South Africa. The country’s constitution guarantees equal status to eleven official languages to cater for the country’s diverse peoples and their cultures .79.6 percent of the population are African, 9.1 percent are whites 8.9 percent coloured and Indian and Asians are merely three percent.
Culture and art is visible all around the country. People of the country indulge themselves in ancient rock art, contemporary literature, music or theatre.The South African music scene includes Kwaito, a new music genre that had developed in the mid eighties.
Since the advent of non racial democracy in 1994 Nelson Mandela was elected as the first black President of South Africa. Mandela had endured 26 years of imprisonment in his fight to end apartheid. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 for his efforts to introduce democracy to South Africa and has become a worldwide symbol of hope and endurance. Subsequently the country was ruled by Presidents Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma.
It’s no wonder that South Africans love long distance challenges. The country’s climate and contrasting landscape is ideal for endurance sport activities . The Country hosted and won the 1995 and 2007 Rugby World Cup .
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It also hosted the 2003 Cricket World Cup and the 2007 World Twenty-20 Championship. South Africa will be the host nation for the 2010 FIFA World Cup this June.
The country is a member of The United Nations,African Union , Commonwealth .Group of 77 ,South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone, Southern African Customs Union, World Trade Organization, International Monetary Fund, G20 and G 8+5.The growth and achievements of this remarkable country since the dawn of non racial democracy are outstanding .Centauries of leverage has shown that South Africa was a strategic trading location between the Europeans and the Far East. Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Durban, Pretoria and Johannesburg are major economic centers of South Africa. The modern infrastructure projects will change the country enormously opening opportunities for many sectors.The South Africa is a middle-income country with a literacy rate of 76 percent and is the greatest asset of the country with an abundant supply of resources.The economy of the country has grown at an annual rate of 3.2% percent GDP (Gross Domestic Production). The per capita income (nominal) of the nation is US$ 5,635in2009.
The country has the basic attributes for successful agro based industries namely rich alluvial soil and adequate water supply and abundance of cheap labour. South Africa has divided the agro industry into food crops, cash crops, long term crops, vegetables and fruits. Agriculture in the country is the third largest sector accounting eight percent of South African total exports. There are almost a thousand agricultural cooperatives and agribusinesses throughout the country, and agricultural exports have constituted eight percent of South African total exports.The main exports of the country are sugar, grapes, citrus, nectarines, wine and deciduous fruit. The largest locally produced crop is maize (corn), and it has been estimated that nine million tons are produced annually. South Africa is a leading area in production of cow’s milk and meat. In the last two decades South African economy has made optimum use of the industrial sector. Diamonds, gold, metals and minerals and wool are the main exports.
The tourism sector in the South Africa which had an astounding success story is entering a new track with fresh dimensions. Tourism in the country has become a major industry generating wealth and employment opening the minds of both visitor and resident to different ways of life. The expansion of tourism in the country continues to achieve spectacular gains .More than 9.9 million tourists visited the country in the year 2009 its thriving Hotels and guest inns , elegant restaurants and captivating boutiques gives enterprising spirit to the sector .
Geographic diversity gives South Africa a rich wild life resource. Kapama Game Reserve, Pilanesberg Game reserve ,Tsitsikamma National Park ,Meiringsklo Nature Reserve are some of the well known wild life parks. Majestic elephants, lions, rhinoceros leopards, hippopotamus,deer, wild buffalos, wild boar, several species of monkeys, ,crocodiles and indigenous and migratory birds of all varieties are present in most of the wild life parks. The world-renowned two million hectares Kruger national park, has a high degree of species diversity with high rate of endemism.
One can notice a marvelous change in vegetation from low to high altitude hill slopes. The mountain terrain, hair raising curves and fearful tunnels and deep ravines full of verdant vegetation gurgling streams unfolds a breathtaking trip along the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve. For those who miss a cool breeze the Drakensberg mountains, Sutherland, Roggeveld mountain range is breathtaking. The range consists mainly of grass lands interspersed with patches of forest with high altitude vegetation’s. The mountain ranges are beautiful silent strange world with some excellent walks.
The Cape Floral Region, Knynsna National Lake area, Icidi Valley, Gaints Castle Game Reserve wins a unique place with her ravishing beauty. The interior of South Africa is a vast, flat, and sparsely populated scrubland, the Karoo, which is drier towards the northwest along the Namib Desert.
Cape Town and the Cape Peninsula up to Cape Point are famous for scenic beauty; and beaches. Table Mountain; whale-watching; world-class shopping, nightlife, food and wine are part of the activities that a visitor can experience. One can also have endless opportunities for shopping, entertainment, freedom tours at Johannesburg known as the “City of Gold”, Soweto and Pretoria. Durban city seafront known as the Golden Mile offers a full range of holiday attractions with pools, playgrounds beaches and the warm waters of the Indian Ocean .Discovering the oldest slave Cottage dating from 1712, the Springbok town of diamond and copper and the Robben Island are some of the historical places to visit in the country.
Clifton Beach ,Storm River Mouth ,False Bay , Sodwana Bay lying within the St Lucia Wet Land Park are all year round beach destinations with brilliant sunshine, dry weather and perfect sea conditions. Greeted by the warmth of the smiling people and its fascinating wildlife, remarkable history, and unrivalled settings, no wonder South Africa is the adventure capital of the wor ld.
Source http://print.dailymirror.lk/life/133-life-image/40782.html
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