South Africa is situated in the most southerly point of the African continent. It has a very varied landscape and a diverse society. While few travelers visisted the country during the apartheid regime, now people are rediscovering this country. With its beautiful coastlines, vast plains, impressive mountain ranges and abundant wildlife, nature has a lot to offer here. The many different cultures, the eleven official languages and turbulent history also add to the uniqueness of this country. Although South Africa faces many problems like poverty, crime and racism it is definitely worth visiting.

South Africa's history is very complex and - because of all the different minorities, the wars and conflict - cannot easily be told. In the last few years many things have changed in South Africa. In the beginning of the 1990s the apartheid politics were abandoned and in 1994, after free elections, Nelson Madela came to power with a multiracial government. In 1999 ANC got most of the votes again and Thabo Mbeki became president. Despite of the problems South Africa has to deal with, the country now is much more optimistic than a few years ago.

A history of South Africa can be found on the site of the embassy and at Lonely Planet.

Since the elections of 1994, legislative power is in the hands of the president and parliament; South Africa has become a democracy. There is a distinct feeling of nation building and changes and improvements slowly find their way. Major problems like crime, racism and poverty are a big challenge, but real solutions are not likely to be found within the next few years.

From an economical point of view, South Africa has a dualist character. On the one hand there is a very modern industry and on the other hand there is a large informal sector. Next to that there is a typical rural life. Diamonds and gold have created important industries. Economically, South Africa is doing much better than many other African countries. It is therefore often referred to as the engine of growth.

Some highlights:

• Cape Town - This city is often called one of the most beautiful cities in the world. This is a result of its splendid location along the beaches with the Tablemountain as its impressive decor. Citylife in Cape Town is a nice mix of European and African cultures and it is pretty safe too.
• Western and Eastern Cape - The southwest corner of the country has a lot to offer. It is particularly famous for the wild flowers and the national parks and coastlines. A nice example is Cape of Good Hope.
• Durban - Durbs is a mecca for tourists and surfers. The beaches are well-known, the climate is perfect and well, so is the nightlife.
• Johannesburg - Johannesburg is big, lively and criminal. Many people don't take the risk and do not visit the city. Still, Johannesburg is the real South Africa. It is known for its huge townships like Soweto.
• Kruger National Park - Kruge NP may well be the best-known national park in the world. Here you can see elephants, rhinos, lions, cheetas and many other animals in their natural surroundings.
• Dragon Mountain - The mountain ranges at Dragon Mountain are truly stunning. The mountains here offer great walking tracks and panoramic views.

Stellenbosch

Stellenbosch is a rural town, not far from Cape Town. It was founded in 1679 and has many historical buildings. The city is surrounded by the ranges of Jonkershoek Valley. Stellenbosch is lively and modern but has remained its relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. The university plays an important role in the town.

The surroundings of Stellenbosch are beautiful. Cape Town is located at 50 kms, beaches are some 25 kms away and around Stellenbosch there are many mountain ranges and nature reserves that offer good possibilities for outdoorsports. Stellenbosch is also the region where Africa's best wines come from.

Stellenbosch University is the second oldest university in South Africa and it has a good reputation worldwide. More than 16,000 students study here. The official language at the university is Afrikaans. The university campus is situated right in the centre of town.