South Africa: Country Profile

The Big Hole, the world's largest man-made hole, can be viewed from a platform adjoining the Museum and the visit completed with a ride back to the City Hall on a restored electric tram, the last of its kind. Whilst in Kimberley also visit the Duggan-Cronin Gallery, the McGregor Museum, the Aviation Memorial and the Sister Henrietta Chapel - all historically interesting. Kimberley is well endowed with hotels, motels and guest-houses.

Shakaland: Shakaland is a cultural centre built on the site where the original Zulus settled in the 18th century and is a recreation of their life style. It was built as the film set for Shaka Zulu and later used in the production of Ipi-Tombe. Morning and afternoon tours lead visitors through activities such as beadwork, pottery, weaving, weapon making and the brewing of traditional beer.

Sangomas (herbalists) may be consulted and ritual dances watched. Overnight guests stay in thatched 'beehive' huts, which cleverly incorporate modern en-suite conveniences, and are offered traditional cuisine including maize meal and stew relish. A conventional restaurant, bar and swimming pool are, however, available.

Your Safety In South Africa

South Africa has been making international headlines for years, and it continues to do so. More latterly, unfortunately, the 'miracle' of the Rainbow Nation has been edged aside to make way for other, less positive news. The big South African story today is the crime wave.

Gory details are snapped up by both the local and the international media, with daily offerings appearing everywhere, from local 'knock-n-drop' newspapers to dedicated internet sites, aiming to feed a seemingly insatiable global appetite.To deny that South Africa has a crime problem would be self-defeating, therefore we should take an honest look at the situation, what is being done to improve it, and how it is likely to affect someone visiting this country, for business or for pleasure.

Two of the most important factors regarding crime and tourists in South Africa are:

• Tourists are not being specifically targeted and
• Things are happening on the ground to improve the situation. The tourism industry and security organisations alike are at pains to point out that the situation in South Africa regarding crime against tourists is not political and tourists are in general not being singled out as targets.

Politically-orientated crime is evident in some countries, but not here, and although a mugger is more likely to go for the tourist festooned with expensive cameras (and by implication a bulging wallet as well), there is no noticeable anti-tourist trend.