Country: South Africa

The Republic of South Africa, colloquially known as South Africa, SA or RSA, was officially brought into the world between 1994 and 1996, after the dismantlement of the Apartheid regime. More information on the Apartheid regime in South Africa can be found on Wikipedia's Apartheid page.

South Africa is made up of 9 provinces and each has its own history, landscape, population, languages, economy, and government. Each province can also said to be distinct in its geography. South Africa is the southernmost country in Africa and covers an area of 1.2 million square kilometers (471 thousand square miles). Stretching across the entire bottom of Africa, from the Atlantic Ocean on the West Coast to the Indian Ocean on the East Coast. With such a large landmass and with the differences between ocean currents, the geography of South Africa is diverse, and no two provinces have the same geographical or biological makeup.

South Africa has 11 official languages; English, isiZulu, isiXhosa, Afrikaans, Sepedi, Setswana, Sesotho, Xitsonga, siSwati, Tshivenda, and isiNdebele. Each province in South Africa has its own official languages, generally two to three of the national languages. There are a few non-national languages, as the official languages in South Africa showcase the major ethnic groups in South Africa.

The natural wildlife of South Africa is a major draw for many tourists and plays a major part in every South Africans daily life, from African elephants to Great White Sharks, South Africa has magnificently diverse wildlife - and is perfect for nature lovers.

South Africa has a rich history, but its' true worth is in its' natural beauty, tourism, and rich mix of cultures that make up the country.

South Africans are known for being warm and welcoming people, easy to make friends with, and happy to just take a 'chill and braai'. The best way to get to know South Africans is through a 'braai'. A braai is a South African slang term for a barbeque, however, it involves a lot more than just having a barbeque with friends. A braai is a social event, including sitting in front of either an open wood fire or Weber, drinking, and enjoying your friend's company. Braaing is an everyday occurrence in South Africa, and be prepared to be invited to one every weekend. Bring some drinks, meat and a side dish such as potato salad, garlic bread or salad. The key thing to remember is that everyone shares - you will all dish up once the meat has been cooked and everyone will have pieces of each other's food. Except if you bring fancy meat - in which case you will have first pick of your meat and then it's a free-for-all.

Tipping Culture

• Tips are normally 10% of the bill and have to be added to the bill. You need to write the amount down, and the total amount on the spaces provided.
• Car guards (people who look after your cars in the parking lots) should get between R2 and R10, depending on various factors including how helpful they were (they often help you take your groceries to your car or find you a parking spot) as well as how generous you feel.
• Gas/Petrol attendants also get tipped. In SA you are not allowed to put in your own gas/petrol, and you must pull into a petrol station and wait for someone to help you. Once you are done, you generally give R5 to R10 as tips - again depending on how helpful the attendant was, whether they were fast, did they clean your windows etc.

Food

South Africans are mad about their food - the food you'll find is varied and every province and sometimes even every city has their "speciality". Try them all out! Gatsbys, bunny chow, milktart, biltong and koeksisters are some of the best and most traditional South African foods you can get.

Bonding with South Africans

A rather weird way South Africans like to bond is either through complaining or poking fun at each other. Complaining is about essentially everything and not done in a way that they expect something to be done about it - more just as a conversation about how terrible everything is. Poking fun is also known as "tuning" or "to tune" someone or "dissing" or "to diss" someone. Don't take this tuning to heart - its meant in an affectionate way.

Carrying on with the strange slang you'll find in South Africa - there are strange ways that South Africans like to express themselves. Most of the words and a lot of the common phrases the South Africans use are not found anywhere else in the world - which can be rather confusing for the unaware.

The Strange Slang Words

• Now / Now now / Just now / In a bit - seems like a pretty simple thing right? Unfortunately, South Africans like to make it hard for you. These phrases mean completely different things - and can also be completely different depending on the person. Now means something will be done within the next week, whereas in a bit or just now can mean it will be done almost immediately.
• Lekker / Nice - lekker is an Afrikaans word meaning "nice" or "good". It is used in almost any setting when you want to express that something is good.
• Shame - used by South Africans almost all the time. Often used when describing something cute or pretty or simply used as a filler word.
• Holding thumbs - means the same as crossing your fingers. Essentially hoping for a good outcome.
• Kuier - another Afrikaans word that has been adopted throughout the country. It means to have a truly good time out with friends, often drinking or having a braai.
• Ag man - meaning "oh man" and can be used in any setting essentially, just dependant on the way you use it. It can be used as an exclamation of surprise or as oh thats nice or sweet.
• Ja, no / Yea, no / Ja, nee - a nonsensical filler that South Africans often use at the beginning of sentences.

Crime

Now as much as it sucks, there is a lot of crime in South Africa and as such you need to be prepared. Some basic tips are outlined below but the most important thing is to always be vigilant. Don't let your guard down, watch the people around you and don't let people see you have money.

• Keep your cellphone and wallet out of your hands except for when you are actively using them. Do NOT use them in the centre of town, at the traffic lights (affectionally called robots in South Africa) or while driving.
• When you stop at your home, make sure you get out of your car and into the house quickly. Don't let yourself be a sitting duck in the driveway or as the gate to your property opens.
• Security around your house is a must - at the very least spiked fences, electric gates and home security system that is run by a security company. You can go more advanced and add electric fences to the top of your walls, but that depends on where you live. Take a note out of your neighbours' books and look at their security measures.
• Do not walk alone at night or at dusk/dawn. Preferably don't walk anywhere except malls alone.
• Don't leave valuables where other people can see it. Keep valuables away from windows, and move everything into the boot of your car or stash it under the seat so no one can see it.