Popular tourist attraction in South Africa’s Johannesburg turns 114 this month
In South Africa, the Johannesburg Zoo celebrates its 114th birthday this month. The zoo is home to several conservation and..
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Study Abroad in South Africa
A study abroad South Africa trip consists not only of a glimpse inside a spiritual and historical people, but also face-to-face encounters with some of the most beautiful wildlife and landscapes in the world.
If you travel to South Africa for a summer abroad you can have a once-in-a-lifetime experience jumping from Bloukrans Bridge, the highest bungee jump destination in the world.
If you happen to be in the South African town of Hermanus in the months of August to November for a semester abroad, you’ll be able to watch whales from some of the most amazing cliffs in Africa.
From exotic cuisine to never-before-seen animals, South Africa will be one of the memorable study abroad experiences you will ever have.
South Africa Study Abroad Programs
Any university that you choose to visit in South Africa will be full of new and exciting things to do and see.
For a diverse South African experience you can join a study abroad program at Stellenbosch University, which has one of the oldest international offices in South Africa.
You can take classes in everything from African studies and political science to art and history, and you can meet a wide variety of international students from Rwanda, Australia, India, Greece and many other countries. Stellenbosch is considered an institution of excellence and encourages diverse ideas and perspective from its staff and students.
If you’re interested in engineering, the environment, humanities, law and science, the University of Cape Town is the perfect place for you to gain undergraduate college credit. This is the oldest university in all of South Africa, and it prides itself in its top-rated teaching and research facilities.
In fact, it’s home to over a quarter of all the highest-rated researchers in the world in their field of study. Most importantly, the University of Cape Town continually supports HIV/AIDS prevention and research in a wide variety of programs administered by students and staff.
Another South African institution where you can find a good study abroad program is at North-West University.
South Africa Transportation Options
South Africa has the largest economy in all of Africa, so that means there are many modes of transportation individuals use to get from one place to the next.
The most important mode of transportation in South Africa is the railway system, which is also the most advanced system in Africa. People use the railway every day because it connects all major cities through its network.
South Africa is known for its luxury railway system called the Blue Train, which travels from the cities of Pretoria and Cape Town. The Blue Train features suites that have their own marble-tiled bathrooms and temperature controlled units, and there is a full-time staff of executive chefs, butlers and waiters to accommodate your needs.
One of the easiest ways to travel in South Africa is to grab a taxi ride or ride a bus. Both taxi cab services and bus companies will take you anywhere that you need to go, and they can be found in all major cities in South Africa. If you would like to travel by taxi you can choose the Grab a Cab service, or you can choose a bus transportation service like Translux to tour the biggest cities in South Africa.
Car rental is another option in South Africa. The Car Rental South Africa website offers services from companies such as Avis and Hertz, and allows you to compare prices to see which type of service you can afford.
Finally, if you’re interested in mountain biking or cycling around the South African landscape, you can always take a tour from a company like Downhill Adventures or just rent a bike to explore the area on your own.
Always follow health and safety guidelines no matter how you travel in South Africa, just to prepare yourself for the unexpected. In a foreign country halfway across the globe from your home, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Exchange Rates for South African Currency
South African currency is known as the rand. The rand was introduced in 1961 when the Republic of South Africa was established.
Here’s what you need to know about the rand:
* Coins = 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, R1, R2 and R5
* Bills = 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200
You can use a South African currency converter to compare other amounts of U.S. dollars against the rand.
Best Locations to Visit in South Africa
There are many must-see cities you should visit when you study in South Africa. Johannesburg, which is the largest city in South Africa, has an endless list of things to do.
Art enthusiasts can visit the Johannesburg Art Gallery, which features Dutch, British, European and South African art, and outdoor explorers can visit the caves in Sterkfontein, where fossils dating back as far as 3.5 million years ago have been found.
The second largest city in South Africa is Cape Town. This city has become a popular tourist destination because of its parks, beaches and other cultural attractions. The Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens features over 9,000 plants, and is a great place to relax and read a book.
Adventure-seekers can go hiking or rock climbing on Table Mountain, and people looking for good food and shopping can visit the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, where you can also take boat and helicopter rides.
Finally, Durban, the third largest city in South Africa, is the perfect place to go on a self-guided tour and view beautiful beaches and ports. The Golden Mile is a long stretch of sand that you can walk along and see waterfront properties, fishing piers, restaurants, museums and skate parks.
Durban is also home to uShaka Marine World, which has the fifth largest aquarium in the world and one of the largest ocean parks in Africa.
Trish Smith is a copywriter for Green Student U, Student Finance Domain and Study Abroad Domain, websites that are devoted to providing college students with helpful environmental, financial and study abroad advice.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Trish_Smith/143050
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E01: Three Generations – A Chinese Family in South Africa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biak57TEt4g
E01: Three Generations – A Chinese Family in South Africa
Upon retirement, Ni and his wife came to visit their Johannesburg-based son, Jimmy, who moved to South Africa to sell computers….
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Chinese in Africa: Uncle Chen and Johannesburg China town
Chinese in Africa: Uncle Chen and Johannesburg China town
Coming to Africa for living at the early 1980s, Mr. George Chen is among those earliest Chinese who came to this continent after the
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Fun Facts About South Africa
DID YOU KNOW THAT…
Perhaps the most famous South African movie is “Tsotsi” by Gavin Hood.”Tsotsi” is a story about a gang leader.On March 5, 2006, “Tsotsi” won the Academy Award for Foreign Language Film in Los Angeles.
In his speech, Gavin Hood said, “God bless Africa. Wow. I have a speech, it´s in my pocket, but that thing says 38 seconds. But mine´s way too long. Go to tsotsi.com and there is a huge long list of people. Because I´m accepting this not for myself. This is for best foreign language film. It is sitting right there to start with.Please stand up Presley Chweneyagae and Terry Pheto. My two fantastic young leads. Put the cameras on them, please. Viva Africa. Viva. I´ve got ten seconds.Ten seconds I just want to thank my fellow nominees who I´ve become deep friends with. We may have foreign language films, but our stories are the same as your stories. They´re about the human heart and emotion. It says please wrap.Thank you so much. Thank you to the Academy. Thank you”.
Winner: “Tsotsi” (South Africa)
Finalists:
-“Sophie Scholl” (Germany)
-“Joyeux Noel” (France)
-“The Beast of the Heart” (Italy)
-“Paradise Now” (Palestine)DID YOU KNOW THAT…
For the first time since 1960, South Africa sent a delegation to compete in the Olympic Games. Certainly, South Africa sent 94 athletes to the 1992 Olympic Games, which were held in Barcelona, Spain.The African delegation had athletes competing in seventeen areas: archery, badminton, boxing, kayak, cycling, equestrian, fencing, modern pentathlon, rowing, sailing, shooting, swimming, table tennis, tennis, track and field, weighlifting and wrestling. They returned to South Africa with two silver medals.
DID YOU KNOW THAT…
Nelson Mandela was one of the most important leaders in the 20th century.He played a fundamental role in the recuperation of the nation´s democracy. Under his leadership, South Africa adopted one of the best constitutions in the world.Mandela once said, “And so it has come to pass that South Africa today undergoes her rebirth, cleansed of a horrible past, matured from a tentative beginning, and reaching out to the future with confidence. Our pledge is : never and never again shall the laws of our land rend our people apart or legalize their oppression and repression”.
Since 1993, in South Africa you can feel the freedom. Different from Cuba, Iran, and Zimbabwe, South Africa is a democracy where the civil society has immense influence and power.DID YOU KNOW THAT…
South Africa has loads of national parks and reserves that are the home of some amazing wildlife. The Kruger National Park is one of the most popular tourist spots in the African continent. It is one of the world´s most beautiful national parks. The Kruger National Park provides an ideal habitat for animals such as elephants, giraffes, rhinoceroses, monkeys, zebras, cheetahs, hyenas, hippopotamus, gazelles, elands, lions, and African wild dogs.
DID YOU KNOW THAT…
South Africa has three capitals: Cape Town (legislative), Pretoria (administrative), and Bloemfontein (judicial).However, Johannesburg is the most important economic, industrial and cultural center in South Africa.It is one of the most industrialized cities in the Third World along with Taipei (Taiwan), Mexico City (Mexico), and Seoul (South Korea).In 2006 Johannesburg had a population of 2.6 million
DID YOU KNOW THAT…
For the first time, Africa will host 2010 FIFA World Cup.The Football World Championship to be held in South Africa.In 2000,Joseph Blatter, FIFA president, wanted the FIFA to vote for South Africa.However, New Zealand´s Charlie Dempsey ducked out of the final vote and Germany nicked it.For this reason, Germany hosted the World Cup in 2006.
In 2007,Thabo Mbeki, South African president, said: “I have no doubt that our local organising committee, government at all levels, and everybody concerned will do the necessary work to guarantee that we host a better tournament in 2010 than the excellent 2006 German World Cup”.
It also noted that millions of dollars have been spent in the past years on reforming South Africa´s sporting system.DID YOU KNOW THAT…
About half of the world´s gold is produced in South Africa.
DID YOU KNOW THAT…
South Africa has many famous people: Christian Barnard (surgeon), Miriam Makeba (singer and anti-AIDS activist), Caron Bernstein (model,actress and singer), Nelson Mandela (former president and anti-AIDS activist), Nadine Gordimer (writer), Athol Fugard (writer),Mathosa (singer), Zola Budd (sportswoman), Charlize Theron (actress), Ilene Hamann (actress and model), Harry Oppenheimer (anti-apartheid industrialist), Richard Goldstone (international judge), Musetta Vander (actress and model), Danny Koppel (singer), Zakes Mokae (actor), Juliet prowse (dancer and actress), and Joe Mafela (actor).
DID YOU KNOW THAT…
The South African Penny Heyns, won the 100-and 200-meter breaststroke events at the 1996 Summer Olympics.She is considered among South Africa´s national heroines. Like Anthony Nesty (Suriname), Felipe Muñoz (Mexico), Claudia Poll (Costa Rica), and Kirsty Coventry (Zimbabwe), Penny Heyns is a Third World swimming icon.
DID YOU KNOW THAT…
South Africa has many World Heritage Sites by UNESCO: Greater Saint Lucia Wetland Park (1999), Robben Island (1999), Drakensberg Park (2000), Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape (2003), Vredefort Dome (2005), and Cape Floral Region Protected Areas (2004).
DID YOU KNOW THAT…
On March 26, 1998, American U.S. president Bill Clinton visited South Africa.
DID YOU KNOW THAT…
South Africa has more Nobel Prizes than Mexico(3) India (2) Brazil (0)Argentina (3) Cuba (0), and the People´s Republic of China (1).
South Africa has six Nobel Prize winners:
1960: Albert J. Luthuli (Nobel Prize for Peace)
1982: Aaron Klug (Nobel Prize for Chemistry)
1984:Bishop Desmond Tutu (Nobel Prize for Peace)
1991: Nadine Gordimer (Nobel Prize for Literature)
1993: Nelson Mandela and Frederik W. de Klerk (Nobel Prize for Peace)
2003: John Maxwell Coetzee (Nobel Prize for Literature)
DID YOU KNOW THAT…
The people of South Africa are proud that their country is a society of people with many different backgrounds. Many people are mixture of several nationalities and races. About 2 million Asians live in South Africa. The ancestors of the most of them came from India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Maldives, and Sri Lanka.
DID YOU KNOW THAT…
South Africa superstar Charlize Theron is an icon in Africa. She is a woman one can not fail to admire.
Academy Award winning actress, Halle Berry worked as a fashion model in the 1980s.Berry is not the only Hollywood star who made a living from special jobs before becoming famous. For many actresses, this early experience came in useful in their acting career. The South African actress Charlize Theron -who has appeared in over twenty films in a movie career lasting over ten years- was a supermodel in the 1990s.
Hollywood actress Charlize Theron was born on August7, 1975, in Benoni, Gauteng, South Africa.She has German and French ancestry. Charlize grew up to be a beautiful young woman and attracted the attentions of many people.She speaks English, Afrikaans and Xhosa.
Charlize had been an international model since the age of 16. She began her career in Milan, Italy. In late 1996 she became an actress.On February 29, 2004, Charlize won an Academy Award for Best actress for her role as Aileen Wuournos in the film “Monster”. She became the first African actress to win an Oscar for Best Actress in the history.
Charlize Theron is one of the most beautiful women in the world.The elegant clothes she wears complement her perfect body.
Filmography:”Celebrity” (1998), “Reindeer Games” (2000), “The Yards” ( 2000), “Men of Honor” (2000), “The Italian Job” (2003),
“Monster” (2003), “The Life and Death of Peters Sellers” (2004),”North Country” (2005), and “The Brazilian Job (2006).DID YOU KNOW THAT…
The Nobel Prize Nadine Gordimer is a human rights activist. Her proudest moment was when she testified at a 1986 treason trial on behalf of 22 South African anti-apartheid activists.
DID YOU KNOW THAT…
South Africa has had famous athletes in the past century: Reggie Walker (olympic 100m gold medallist in 1908), Esther Brand (olympic high jump gold medallist in 1952), Joan Harrison (swimmer,won 1 olympic gold medal in 1952), and Sam Atkinson (olympic 110m hurdles gold medallist in 1928).
DID YOU KNOW THAT…
Mathosa was one of the best singers in South Africa. She was called “South Africa´s Madonna of the townships”. In the 1990s, Mathosa was considered among the most talented artists in Africa.
DID YOU KNOW THAT…
The 2003 Nobel Prize for Literature was awarded to South African author John Maxwell Coetzee. He was the fourth African Nobel laurate for literature after Wolle Soyinka of Nigeria (1986), Naguib Mahfouz of Egypt (1988), and Coetzee´s countrywoman Nadine Gordimer (1991). J.M Coetzee was born on February 9, 1940, in Cape Town, South Africa. He was cited by the Swedish Academy as an author “who in innumerables guises portrays the surprising involvement of the outsider”.Certainly, Coetzee is one of the most famous South African authors in the 21st century.
DID YOU KNOW THAT…
South Africa hosted the 1999 Pan African Games.
DID YOU KNOW THAT…
The golf is a popular sport in South Africa. South Africa has had famous golfers throughout its sports history.In the 1960s and 1970s, Gary Player was one of the best golfers in the world. He won many tournaments such as the Masters Golf Tournament ( 1961,1974, and 1978), the United States Open (1965), the PGA Championship (1962 and 1972), and the British Open ( 1959, 1968, and 1974).His countryman Bobby Locke won the British Open (1949, 1950, 1952, and 1957). Furthermore, South Africa won two times the World Cup Golf: 1965 (Gary Player and Harold Henning) and 1974 (Bobby Cole and Dale Hayes).
Alejandro Guevara Onofre: He is a freelance writer.Alejandro is of Italian, African and Peruvian ancestry.He´ve studied political science and journalism.He has published more than seventy-five research paper in English, and more than twenty in Spanish, concerning the world issues, olympic sports, countries, and tourism. His next essay is called “The Dictator and Alicia Alonso”.He is an expert on foreign affairs. Futhermore, Alejandro is the first author who has published a world-book encyclopedia in Latina America.
He admires Frida Kahlo (Mexican painter), Hillary Clinton (ex-First Lady of the USA), and Jimmy Carter (former President of the USA). His favorite film is “Gorillas in the Mist”.Some of his favorite books are The Return of Eva Peron and the Killings in Trinidad (by V.S.Naipaul), “Las Mujeres de los Dictadores” (by Juan Gasparini) and Murder of a Gentle Land (by John Barron and Anthony Paul).His personal motto is “The future is for those people who believe in the beauty o f their dreams” by Eleanor Roosevelt.
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