“Throughout the centuries there were men
who took first steps, down new roads, armed with nothing but
their own vision.”
Ayn
Rand
Welcome
to "Kwa Motlhose" ®
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“Throughout the centuries there were men
who took first steps, down new roads, armed with nothing but
their own vision.” PEOPLE South Africa is known worldwide for its ethnic cosmopolitan kaleidoscope of people. With 11 indigenous black tribes, Afrikaans and English people as well as a good sprinkling of Asians this forms a real mixture of 11 official languages and customs. 2001 Census counted nearly 48 million people. In 1947 Prof. Robert Broom un-earthed “Mrs. Ples”, 3 000BC at the Sterkfontein caves, the oldest complete, intact skull of hominoids and today there are more and more fascinating paleo-anthropological findings being made indicating that maybe modern man evolved from what is today known as South Africa. Today the international community regards South Africa’s vibrant society with its incredible political and cultural diversity as a shining example of reconciliation, transformation and a possible role model for the rest of the world’s political hotspots. Our country offer widespread cultural activities where international visitors can experience both historical and present day lifestyles of large variety, from traditional open air living museums with beating tribal drums and dancers to modern-day township visits. Places like Soweto, Khayalitsha, District Six and Robben Island where political prisoners were imprisoned during the Apartheid struggle, are visited and give insight into our recent past. WILDLIFE Southern Africa boasts an astonishing array of diversity and mind-boggling natural history. More than 920 species of birds of which about 300 are seen regularly, 338 species of mammals that of course includes the “BIG FIVE” (elephant, rhinoceros (black and white), lion, leopard and the buffalo) and over 2000 species of fish. There are hundreds of reptiles and literally thousands of insect species and some 5000 species of spiders and scorpions. Apart from this impressive record some of the wild animals in our country are world wonders in their own right such as the: elephant (biggest land mammal), giraffe (tallest mammal), cheetah (fastest land mammal), eland (biggest antelope), ostrich (biggest bird), the leatherback turtle which is the worlds largest reptiles as well as oldest species (up to 900kilograms!) and the giant kori bustard (heaviest flying bird)! Very nearly all, can be viewed and seen in our more than 5, 5 million hectares of National Parks, and 70 Provincial parks as well as areas being controlled and conserved by the government. In addition to the above number of government controlled conservation areas an additional 9 million acres is in private ownership and commercially managed as game ranches, nature reserves, conservancies etc. Plant life is so varied it actually boggles the mind. . Southern Africa probably has the richest and most diverse vegetation in the world! Up to date more than 24 000 species has been catalogued and a large part of it can be seen at National Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, Cape Town where there is something for everyone. POLITICS At present South Africa is currently governed by the African National Congress (ANC) in power since 1994 when the white minority National Party was ousted after nearly 45 years of reign. Government then was replaced by a multi party democracy and a very enlightened new constituency was passed with a progressive Bill of Rights. The country at present has extremely good political and economical stability measured against that of the rest of the African continent and even other developing countries worldwide. © All photos, graphics and images on this site remain the copyright of Kwa Motlhose and should not be downloaded without prior agreement. |
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MktgDept@kwamotlhose.co.za with
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