by africagirl | Dec 7, 2009 | Uncategorized
As the kick-off for the Fifa 2010 Soccer World Cup approaches, the excitement is already mounting. Fans are whipping out the face paint, buying vuvuzelas and warming up their vocal cords in preparation for the first South African Soccer World Cup. At the speed with which tickets are already being sold, it is clear that stadiums will be filled to capacity, so guests should prepare themselves for the experience of a lifetime of unforgettable soccer moments and brace themselves for fans’ ear-deafening passion.
A fluffy, young leopard with a wide smile and green dreadlocks is hardly the animal tourists will expect to encounter on the African continent when visiting South Africa during the 2010 FIFA World Cup. But that very creature, named Zakumi, will be impossible to miss. Word has it that he plans to captivate all visitors to the FIFA 2010 stadiums with his confidence, charm, enthusiasm and uniquely African spirit.
For 40 years, every FIFA World Cup tournament around the world has had its own unique mascot. The first was a lion called World Cup Willie. Willie was the mascot for the 1966 event, hosted by England.
Zakumi, the mascot for the South African 2010 FIFA World Cup, was born on 16 June 1994. This extraordinary leopard seems to already have a bit of a reputation. FIFA has described Zakumi as being “the first on the dance floor and last off it at the biggest party in the world”. But he is far more than just a party animal. With his self-confidence, pride, hospitality, social skills and warm heart, he embodies South Africa and the rest of the African continent.
So what’s the story behind his green dreads? A source has told us that Zakumi has been dyeing his dreadlocks green in order to be camouflaged against the green of the football pitch.
A witty extrovert with a hunger for adventure and football, Zakumi has already travelled the globe: riding on an open-top bus through Luxembourg, joining Spain’s national team at a training session in Brussels, and – of course – visiting every corner of South Africa to drum up excitement ahead of the first soccer World Cup to be played on the African continent.
The spirit of the World Cup is indescribable, transforming front and back yards into impromptu stadiums and streets into carnivals. The passion of South African spectators has already enveloped the country, creating hype like no other. A combination of hysteria, tears, laughter and joy are bound to ensue as the FIFA World Cup finally reaches African soil in 2010. All South Africans are sure to become mascots in their own right, and coupled with Zakumi, to delight both foreign and local visitors.
by africagirl | Dec 4, 2009 | Uncategorized
As the Fifa 2010 Soccer World Cup finally reaches the African continent, thousands of passionate fans are sure to follow, bringing with them the hopes of victory and all their misconceptions regarding the country’s offerings.
Any one asked to comment on South Africa is quick to mention rich landscapes, thick bush and awe inspiring wildlife. Although rightly so (after all, South Africa does have all these things), visitors often fail to recognise the depth of what the country has to offer.
Gold, the world’s first heart transplant, Nobel peace prize holders, wine routes, an enormous man-made hole and Retinal Cryoprobe are just a few other important elements making up this diverse, vibrant and passionate country.
As the producer of almost half the gold in the world, South Africa is a world leader in gold and diamonds, proving that it is a diamond in the rough, fraught with possibility.
Few people realise the medical expertise the country has housed. Some notable South African medical professionals include Dr. Chris Barnard, who successfully completed the world’s first heart transplant in 1967, and Dr. Percy Amolis, who invented the Retinal Cryoprobe used successfully on former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to repair a detached retina. That same type of surgery was also used to successfully remove a cataract from Nelson Mandela’s eye, enabling the former president to – for the first time – read a speech without glasses.
In addition, South Africa is the only country in the world to have two Nobel Peace prize winners from the same region. When they won their awards, both former president Mandela and Arch Bishop Desmond Tutu lived in Soweto, a township situated near Johannesburg.
South Africa also boasts the largest man-made hole and the longest wine route in the world.
So next time South Africa enters the topic board, one should dig deeper and consider the country’s other hidden talents, beyond the bush. Many would be surprised to discover South Africa’s other “wild” achievements.
by africagirl | Nov 30, 2009 | Uncategorized
As the Fifa 2010 Soccer World Cup approaches, hoards of dedicated fans from around the world are sure to descend upon the African continent’s Southern tip, South Africa. They’ll be laden with loads of luggage, sunscreen and expectations.
Despite the worldwide hype surrounding Fifa World Cup, many teenagers are still quick to turn up their noses at the prospect of having to endure an African holiday away from civilisation, with only family and wildlife as company. After all, it is considered “social suicide” to spend time with one’s own family, away from the excitement and hustle and bustle of city life.
Few realise the huge diversity offered by this country and the excitement it presents, not only in the game reserve but also in our cities, brimming with fast paced action, entertainment and extravagance.
Johannesburg, or ‘Jozi’ as it’s more commonly known, is without a doubt the great big beating heart of South Africa. It is the biggest city in South Africa and has the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Not only does Johannesburg offer riveting night life, it also offers visitors’ trendy suburbs like Parktown and Norwood, with restaurant-lined avenues – catering to the dining and décor set – and the extensive malls of Sandton, all combining to make the city a great place to be.
Cape Town, or the Mother City, is described as the city which merges historic architecture, breathtaking natural beauty and modernity. It attracts hoards of visitors yearly, all drawn by the myriad of things to do, see and experience. Framed by the world renowned Table Mountain, Cape Town is said to possess a form of magic, compelling visitors to return time and time again.
A relaxed holiday filled with spectacular scenery, wildlife and exhilarating game drives, coupled with the fast-paced metropolitan sophistication of South Africa’s biggest cities, will create a get-away sure to satisfy even the harshest of family critics, truly offering the best of both worlds.
by africagirl | Nov 9, 2009 | Uncategorized
“Speak my language” is easier said than done in South Africa, as it becomes relatively complex to follow this notion with the vast amounts of languages and culture that exists here. Diversity at its best, boasting 11 official languages and a mass of cultures that have over time merged to create a vast array of interesting characters and features. The most widely spoken language in South Africa is English, however other official languages include Zulu, Xhosa, Venda, Tswana, Pedi, Tsonga, Swazi, Sotho, and Ndebele.
One of the most popular of the African tribal languages spoken is Zulu. The Zulu nation developed largely due to the very powerful King Shaka. Shaka was born to the deceased chieftain of the small, then unknown Zulu clan. Nandi, Shaka’s mother was unwelcome amongst the Zulu tribe, thus Shaka grew up fatherless and amongst people who disapproved of him and his mother. Shaka’s physical development however exceeded those of his peers and he developed into a young man of Zulu warrior stature. With a passion to surmount disadvantage, the teenage boy demonstrated remarkable fighting ability and courage. At the age of 19 he single-handedly killed a leopard which was attacking the livestock. Shaka became king of the Zulus in 1816 when he was about 30 and within a few years he systematically attacked every independent group in the vicinity, either driving them away or merging them within the Zulu nation. Shaka ruled over the Zulu clan over the time of their greatest glories and led their growth from a small clan into the dominant power of coast of south-east Africa.
Although some historians have described Shaka as a tyrant, his actions should be considered in relation to the circumstance in which they took place. In difficult times, difficult measures were implemented and although King Shaka ruled sternly and during times of hardship, he was a just and fair ruler who has left an imprint on today’s Zulu nation, affecting the way the Zulus live their lives today. Today’s Zulus represent their culture through their dress and the weapons they use which include long spears and body length shields often covered in a form of animal skin. Feathered head dresses adorn their heads and their unique dancing style has been enjoyed by locals and visitors alike.
South Africa loaded with various cultures and diversity, presents countless opportunities for one another to learn about the civilisations the country possesses. True communication can only be achieved through witnessing each others cultures first hand, opening up a new world of knowledge.
by africagirl | Feb 13, 2009 | Uncategorized
Last time we told you how you could experience the same amount of pampering while on an African safari as you can have in any of major first world cities or countries.
However, these days, when the word ‘luxury’ is mentioned, many people automatically tune out. Especially now, with the entire globe being plunged into an economic recession, most people are cash strapped and cutting down – especially on luxuries.
Truth is, life hasn’t stopped entirely. People still fall in love, get married and go on honeymoon.
Luckily, for most grooms saddled with the task of whisking his bride away for an unforgettable trip to signal the maiden voyage of their lives together, there are options that will prevent the couple from having to put the “for poorer†part of the vows to test just yet.
Because the good news is that Africa – especially South Africa – still offers exceptional value for money. Most other currencies are far stronger than the Rand, translating into a favourable exchange and amazing savings. For example, the February 2009 US edition of Travel + Leisure magazine notes that a martini in Cape Town could cost you $3.30 versus $32.08 in Paris.
And according to a recent article on easier.com, a weeklong safari at a luxury game lodge could amount to as little as £2705pp – and that amount includes return flights with South African Airlines!
So the key words to equate with South Africa nowadays are definitely ‘affordable luxury’.
