Travel guide
South Africa

The 12 keywords South Africa

1. "Big Five"

Elephant, lion, rhino, buffalo and leopard make up the famous Big Five. Often among the most difficult animals to see on safari, they are also the most dangerous to hunt. Now protected, they live in national parks such as the Kruger and the country's private reserves, in the heart of magnificent landscapes.

2. Biltong

The South African speciality that dates back to the time of the Great Trek. At that time, the Boers, who had to conquer distant lands, set out on the great plains. Meat that was not eaten immediately was cut into thin strips and left to dry on the tarpaulins of the wagons. Today, biltong is served as a snack, as an aperitif. We love it!

3. Biodiversity

The country is surprisingly diverse in terms of plant species, thanks to a climate that varies greatly from one region to another. But the prize goes to Cape Town. Protected in the depths of an environment classified as a Unesco heritage site, the region enjoys a Mediterranean climate where an ecosystem called fynbos reigns: 9,000 plant species, half of which are endemic

4. Braai

The braai is sacred to South Africans! White, black, mixed race or Indian, everyone is completely addicted to the barbecue. Raised to the rank of religion, the braai will never be electric. It hosts various meats: boer sausages, beef and ostrich steaks or kudu, all served with plenty of beer.

5. Multiethnic

South Africa has no less than eleven spoken languages, as many different ethnic groups with very strong tribal and European traditions. Apartheid is over, but everyone lives together without mixing, because of the cultural gap. The new generation seems to be a little more mixed, on the campuses and in the new neighbourhoods.

6. Rainbow Nation

The expression "rainbow nation" was coined by Archbishop Desmond Tutu to represent the range of South African nations at the end of apartheid. A metaphorical way of thinking about the cohabitation of groups, juxtaposed in tolerance. The image of colours that do not mix and of inequalities that remain was criticised.

7. Rooibos

In Afrikaans, rooibos means red bush. It is often called red tea, but it does not contain any theine and can be consumed as an herbal tea without any problem. On the contrary, rooibos has many medicinal virtues against insomnia, but also asthma, allergies, constipation... You will find it in all its forms.

8. Wine route

The wine route was launched in Stellenbosch in the 1970s. Now adopted by other Western Cape wine regions, such as Paarl and Franschhoek, it is a mecca for tourists. Nestled between mountainsides covered with flowers on one side and vineyards on the other, the road is splendid. Along the landscape, you can taste.

9. Sangoma

Sangoma and other healers with magical powers are part of the Zulu, Xhosa and Swazi universe, and are considered to be indispensable interlocutors. The 200,000 traditional "doctors" in South Africa are consulted primarily by 80% of the black population, who are wary of modern medicine. They even have health insurance!

10. Shebeens

Shebeens are to black South Africans what pubs are to the English, taverns to the Bavarians and bars to the French. The name is said to mean "unauthorised drinking establishment". At one time, "white" liquor was forbidden to blacks. This gave rise to underground bars in the townships. Today, they are the place to be

11. Townships

Soweto in Johannesburg and Khayelitsha in Cape Town: these two names are the best known, but hundreds of townships exist on the outskirts of the cities. These neighbourhoods stretch for miles. Small coloured houses built by the government are trying to replace the endless fields of tin shacks

12. Ubuntu

In Bantu parlance,ubuntu is considered a true humanistic and fraternal philosophy, one that fundamentally integrates the "other" into one's success and fulfillment. It is a fundamental concept in the philosophy of reconciliation developed by Desmond Tutu with the abolition of apartheid