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There is no stone, no tree and no river course
that doesn't have a story to tell. But if there are no people to interpret that
story, it will stay unknown forever. So, there are many places in South Africa
country that have seen momentous events, but only a few of them are sufficiently
documented or understood to be of interest.
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Robben Island
The department of
correctional services took over the island in 1961 and it became a
maximum-security prison for political prisoners and a medium security one for
ordinary criminals. The famous Nelson Mandela was held prisoner here for a
large part of his 27 year imprisonment. In 1991 Robben Island was included in
the SA natural heritage program and the northern part of the island was declared
a bird sanctuary.
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Castle of Good Hope
The origin of
the "Fort de Goede Hoop" dates back to Jan van Riebeeck, a Dutch merchant who
landed in Table Bay in 1652. Construction of the building in stone was only
started in 1666. It took about 30 years to complete. The stone blocks that were
used were brought in from Holland. Today the Castle of Good Hope is the oldest
building in South Africa. It has the shape of a pentagon with five corner
bulwarks and an almost 10 meter high wall from massive boulders. The castle
nowadays is a military headquarters and houses a military and marine museum.
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Rhodes Memorial
Sir Cecil Rhodes is
one of the most colorful personalities of Southern African history. His
memorial near the University of Cape Town offers a splendid view of the city. It
was built with granite from Table Mountain and reflects the megalomania of this
power-conscious politician.
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Soweto
Tour this
sprawling ‘township’ and see a different South Africa. Shacks built from any
available material, regulation two-room houses, mansions, shebeens and road side
stalls line the streets in this vibrant city, parts of which are often still
shrouded by the smoke of coal fires.
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Pretoria Union
Buildings
For many South
Africans the Union Buildings are the most beautiful seat of a government in the
world. Sir Herbert Baker was the architect of this 275-m long building and had
it built in the English monumental style from light sandstone. It does indeed
look majestic and lends a solemn environment to the official acts of the
respective President. The Union Building has a half-round shape. The two wings
at the sides represent the Boerish and the English part of the population.
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Voortrekker Monument
The
Voortrekkers played an important part in Pretoria's past. The capital of the
Boer republic in Transvaal was named after Andries Pretorius, the victorious
leader of the Boers in the war against the Zulus. The founders of the former
South African Republic were honored by a colossal monument situated on Monument
Hill, which is a reminder of the courage, determination and persistence of the
Voortrekkers.
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Big Hole and Kimberley
Mine Museum
The museum is a replica of the town during the greatest diamond
rush the world has seen. It is situated next to the Big Hole,
the largest hand-dug excavation in the world, it
houses the "Eureka", the first recorded diamond discovery; ‘616’, at 616 carats
the world's largest uncut diamond, and fronts both sides of a cobblestone street
passing a church, diggers’ tavern, Barney Barnato’s Boxing Academy, the De Beers
Directors’ private railway coach, shops, houses and many other relics of the
early mining days.
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Basotho Cultural
Village, Qwa Qwa Park
This collection
of beehive reed-and-stick structures, and mud huts decorated with combed and
painted patterns, is truly authentic in that it was built and designed by the
Sotho people who work and act here. Your visit is announced to the headmen and
you are invited inside the khotla, or courtyard, where you taste sorghum
beer, watch men weaving large grain baskets and, have your fortune predicted by
a Sotho traditional healer.
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Shakaland
A call from a
lookout hut on high poles announces your arrival at this Zulu village, where you
can watch spear making, beer brewing, beadwork, weaving an even traditional
stick fighting. Then help yourself to dinner from three-legged pots and eat it
from a wooden spoon. Thatched huts with electricity provide comfortable
accommodation.
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Battlefields
Going back to the
17th and 18th Centuries, there was so much conflict, that our country is a
veritable patchwork of battlefields, many of which have since been built over or
forgotten. But many have not been forgotten, and the best concentration of
documented battlefields is in the Zululand area of KwaZulu-Natal. Here you will
find records of both the South African (Anglo Boer) War, and the Zulu wars. Many
of the sites are enhanced by small museums, explanatory notes, tapes or best of
all, well-versed and knowledgeable guides who can talk you through the fateful
events that took place there.
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AmaZingwe
