Cultural Immersion: Johannesburg (South Africa)

Flag of South Africa

▪ South Africa 

Officially Republic of South Africa, the southernmost country on the African continent, renowned for the great natural beauty and cultural diversity, all of which have made the country a favoured destination for travelers since the legal ending of apartheid. Most of South Africa’s landscape is mad up of high, flat areas colled plateaus covered with rolling grasslands, called highveld and tree-dotted plains colled bushveld. (Read more)

 

▪ City of  Johannesburg

Home of  the South Africa’s hero Nelson Mandela, Johannesburg is the most advanced commercial city and the engine room of the South Africa regional economy. It is a city with unique African character, world-class infrastructure in the fields of telecommunications, transportation, water and power with globally-competitive health care and  educational  facilities. The city was named after two  officials of the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek (ZAR) Johannes Meyer and Johannes Rissik, the city grew rapidly . However , the city has also some   contrasts : Johannesburg is home  to both wealthy and poor residents and refugees, global corporations and emerging enterprises. (Read more)

▪ Tourist Spots

▪ Soweto  and The Mandela  Museum

 Soweto ( na abbreviation for Southwestern Township) lies 20 kilometers southwest of Johannesburg  and offers visitors a jorney into the soul of the fight for freedom. The tours often include a visit to Mandela House Museum, when Mandela lived with is wife Winnie before he was imprisoned for 27 years. (Read more)

▪ Market Theatre

 The Market Theatre complex housed in a converted market building, plays a major part in Johannesburg’s cultural life. It has four live theater venues where some of the finest productions in South Africa are presented. (Read more)

▪ Johannesburg Art Gallery

 Is one of the biggest collections of art in Africa with more than 9.000 works, though only a small portion is displayed at one time. The Gallery focuses  on works by South African and European artits. (Read more)

 ▪ The Apartheid Museum

The Apartheid Museum is very popular for visitors who want to learn about the history of the city and also about the history of the country, you can also see  photographs, text panels and be able to learn throught film footage, the non-profit museum was opened in 2001 and releis on donations, contributions and sponsorship to keep growing. (Read more)

▪ Lion Park

The Lion Park is a wildlife conservation dedicated to the protection of Transvaal lions and is  spread over 500 acres  of land Gauteng province, more than 90 lions live in the park including  the rare  white Lions. The park also include cheetahs, spotted hyenas, cape wild dogs, Black-backed jackal and antelopes. (Read more)

▪ Croc City Crocodile & Reptile Park

Close to Lion Park, the Croc City Crocodile & Reptile Park is one of the wold’s favourite wildlife to see crocodiles and other reptiles, you can also learn about those incradible animals ans have a photo taken holding a baby crocodile or a snake. (Read more)

▪ Cuisine:

▪ Malva Pudding

 It’s easy to see why South Africans love malva pudding. Malva pudding is a sweet and  stickly baked sponge pudding made with apricot jam and served smothered in a hot cream sauce. 

(Read more) 

▪ Chakalaka and pap

Chakalaka and pap are mainstays on every South African dinner table. Chakalaka is a vegetable dish made of onions, tomatoes, peppers, carrots, beans and spices, and is often served cold. Pap, meaning porridge. Papa and Chakalaka are served together. 

(Read more) 

▪ Amarula Don Pedro

This cocktail-come-dissert uses South African Amarula, a cream liqueur made from indigenous marula fruit blended with ice cream. (Read more)

▪ Mealie

Frequently served on the cob or mande into a beer Mealie is a maize and quickly meal for the masses and those on a tight budget. Can also be processed in the form of Mealine Pap wich is a porridge made from  ground maize and grains. 

(Read more)

▪ Frikkadel

 Also called meatball, Frikkadel is a traditional South African food  that is mainly made of  baked or sometimes deep-fried, frikkadel are prepared with onion, bread, vinegar, eggs and spices, you can find easilly in the entire country. (Read more)

▪ Biltong

Biltong is one of the most popular food in South African, it is a kind of cured meat, an air-dried meat (usually beef) that is savoured nearly everywhere by nearly everyone. Many differents types of meat are used in its making, ranging from beef through games meats fillets of osthich from commercial farms. 

(Read more)

▪ Umqombothi

Umqombothi is a beer made from corn, has a lower alcohol percentage than most of commercial beers, high in vitamin B this beer is usually drunk in a communal setting where the drinks is shared between friends. 

(Read more)

▪ Mageu

Mageu is a non-alcoholic drink made from fermented mealie pap, looks like a thin carbohydrate-rich porridge. Its made by adding  flour or sorghum to maize porridge. People usually drink Mageu to improve digestion. (Read more)

▪ Cape Malay Curry

similar to a common curry ( a dish of meat and vegetables), but is known for combining sweet and savory flavors using sweet spices like cinnamon and ginger, dried fruit and savory seasonings like garlic and onions (Check out the recipe)

▪ Bobotie

popular with many South Africans, bobotie is a delicious mixture of curried meat and fruit topped with creamy golden layer. (Check out the recipe)

▪ Habits

 Johannesburg is referred to as the largest and most densely populated city in South Africa.  Three-quarters of its population comprises of the Africans, along with 16% whites and 6%  Coloured. Indians also make 4% of the population of Johannesburg. Christianity is widely practised,  but there are a considerable number of Jews, Hindus, Muslims  and people who still practice  African Traditional religions. (Read more) 

▪ Famous Personalities

Nelson Mandela

Civil Rights Activist, Writer, 

President (non- U.S) 

▪ Music

▪ Kwaito

Kwaito is a mixture of house music, R&B, Jamaican raggae and hip-hop. Kwaito is played  almost countinuously on radio stations, in clubs and in people’s home, the cultural influences is evident in many song and bands. (Read more)

Song: Wena | Artist: Heavy-K DRUMBOOS

▪ Heavy-K DRUMBOOS

Mkhululi Siqula best Known as Heaby-K Drumboos  is a Record producer na DJ from South Africa, the artist come a long way from making music in his roon to producing some of the biggest artits... (Read more)

▪ Climate

The city of Johannesburg  enjyable weather all year round, a good reason for the great  climate is the fact that  Johannesburg is located  at high altitude above sea  level, another good reason is that there’s often a light breeze, helping to ward the extremely hot temperatures. The seasons are not always clearly defined.  (Read more) 

▪ Cost of life

In Johannesburg the cost of living is low.  The city is ranked as one of the cheapest expant destinations in the world. (check out the cost of living in Johannesburg)

▪ Extra