South Africa Kids' Guide

KIDS’ GUIDE TO

South Africa

Welcome to South Africa

South Africa is located at the southernmost tip of the African continent. The country is surrounded by two oceans—the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean.

Let’s learn about South Africa from kids like you.

Luan lives in Kimberley, in the central part of the country. He is 12 years old.

Luan’s name is South African in origin.

Pronounced LU-han, it means “white lion” in Afrikaans.

Luan has fun playing soccer with friends at school. At home, he plays with kids from his neighborhood.

Luan usually wears his tennis shoes to play soccer, but sometimes he plays barefoot. If he doesn’t have a goal, he marks one, and he’s even made his own ball.

Kaya is Luan’s sister. Her name means “restful place.” Kaya is in elementary school. She is a good student.

Kaya wants to be a writer someday. She enjoys reading and writing short stories.

Primary schools teach reading and writing in Kaya’s country. Kids usually learn these skills at ages 6–9.

Luan and Kaya love their country and hope you will, too. Let’s learn some more about South Africa.

Where in the World?

South Africa’s varied geography includes an extensive coastline along the Atlantic and Indian oceans, with strips of coastal lowlands. These rise into the Great Escarpment, a mountainous region dividing the coast from the plateau in the country’s interior. Grasslands are found here, along with an area of high elevation called the Highveld.

A mountainous region, the Drakensberg, runs parallel to the coastline from the northeast to south-central part of the country. There are deserts in the west and northeast.

Elna lives in Mbombela, located along the Crocodile River in northeastern South Africa. The city hosted soccer’s FIFA World Cup in 2010.

SOUTH AFRICA

Sipho lives in Gqeberha. Formerly known as Port Elizabeth, it is located on Algoa Bay in Eastern Cape province. It is South Africa’s second-oldest colonial city.

South Africa’s climate is temperate with some variations. Tropical areas are found in the east, while its coastal regions have hot, humid summers and dry winters. The western coast is arid due to the Benguela ocean current. Pockets of cold and dry conditions exist in the interior’s high elevations.

Retha lives in Mossel Bay, along a stretch of coastline called the Garden Route. Located between the mountains and the ocean, it has a mild, dry climate.

South Africa boasts more wild animal species than Europe and Asia combined. Both the world’s largest and smallest mammals are found in the country, the African elephant and eastern rock elephant shrew.

The country also is home to the African ostrich, the world’s largest bird. Kruger National Park, one of Africa’s largest game reserves, features giraffes, lions, cheetahs, buffalo, elephants, rhinos, and zebras. Hundreds of bird species also call South Africa home including many migrating species, while the coastline is rich in biological variation as well.

Table Mountain

Named for the lengthy plateau at its summit, Table Mountain towers over Cape Town. The highest point is Maclear’s Beacon, at 1,086 meters (3,563 feet). Steep cliffs surround the plateau, which is often covered by low clouds.

Robben Island

Known for its maximum security prison where political prisoners were held, this small island includes a museum dedicated to Nelson Mandela. A former prisoner here, Mandela later became the first president of South Africa after the end of apartheid, the system of racial segregation. The island also is home to penguins, seals, and native birds.

Tugela Falls

One of the world’s tallest cascades, Tugela Falls is a series of five seasonal waterfalls with a total drop of 947 meters (3,107 feet). Situated in the Drakensberg mountains within Royal Natal National Park, the falls empty into Tugela River and can be reached by two trails.

Tugela Falls

Robben Island

Table Mountain

History

1647

Shipwrecked employees of the Dutch East India Company spend months on the Cape of Good Hope and befriend the Khoikhoi natives. The sailors report on the cape’s potential.

0–900 CE

Central African peoples move south to begin cultivating crops, assisted by new iron blade technology. The waves of movement amounts to one of the largest mass migrations of people in Africa.

1779–1879

A series of wars, called the Cape Frontier Wars, are fought between Dutch settlers and the Xhosa people over access to land and livestock.

1909

British Parliament creates the Union of South Africa, granting some independence. Former territories of the Cape and Natal colonies, as well as the Boer republics of Orange Free State and Transvaal, form the union’s foundation.

1948

The National Party is elected to power and imposes a nationwide system of labor and residential segregation known as apartheid, formalizing practices begun under Dutch and British rule.

2018

President Jacob Zuma resigns due to corruption charges and pressure from the governing ANC party. Cyril Ramaphosa becomes president.

1931

With the passage of the Statute of Westminster, the United Kingdom grants full sovereignty to the Union of South Africa.

1994

South Africa holds its first universal elections, and Nelson Mandela is named president. The country rejoins the Commonwealth of Nations.

People

The majority of South Africa is comprised of black Africans including several distinct ethnicities, such as Zulu, Xhosa, Basotho Bapedi, and Tswana.

Sibusiso has Swazi ancestry. His lessons at school are taught in Zulu, but he speaks Swazi with his family at home.

Whites are a minority in the country, deriving from European settlers. Indians and Asians make up a small part of the population.

South Africa recognizes 11 official languages: Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, English, Sesotho sa Leboa, Setswana, Sesotho, Tsonga, Swati, Tshivenda, and Ndebele.

Most South Africans are Christian. The vast majority belong to African Independent churches, which include traditional ancestor beliefs. Other faiths practiced include Hinduism, Judaism, and Islam.

The majority of South Africans are Christian (80 percent), though many hold traditional African beliefs including animism. This is the belief that all things have a spirit. About 15 percent are atheists.

Nandipha’s family is Methodist. Her name means “God’s gift,” and she is named for King Shaku Zulu’s mother, Nandi.

Willem

Names

Willem is a name of German origin that means “resolute protector.”

Cynthia

Cynthia is a Greek name that means “moon goddess.”

Nomusa

Sibusiso

Sibusiso is a South African name that means “blessed.”

Nomusa is a name of South African origin that means “one who looks like an eagle.”

Name (Male) Origin Meaning

Bongani South African grateful

Johannes Hebrew “God is gracious”

Moses Hebrew drawn from the water

Nkosinathi South African “God is with us”

Patrick Latin noble

Simon Hebrew to listen

Sipho

South African gift

Thabo South African joy

Themba South African faith

Thulani South African quiet one

Name (Female) Origin Meaning

Anna Hebrew grace, favor

Bongiwe South African “We give thanks”

Busisiwe

South African blessed

Christine Latin follower of Christ

Joyce

Latin lord

Martha Aramaic lady of the house

Nokuthula South African mother of peace

Thandiwe

South African beloved

Thembisile South African promised

Zandile South African “They have multiplied”

Learn Zulu

About one-fourth of South Africans speak Zulu at home, making it the most common native language in the country. There are four dialects of Zulu, prevalent in different regions: KwaZulu-Natal Zulu, Transvaal Zulu, Qwabe, and Cele.

Sawubona sowBOHnah (Hello)

Ngiyajabula ukukwazi nGEEya jaBOOlah ookooKWAzee (Pleased to meet you)

Igama Iami ngu____ eeGAHma LAHmee nGOO ___ (My name is ___)

Unjani uhnJAHNee (How are you?)

Ngilambile nGEE LAMbeelay (I’m hungry)

Ngiyacela

Ngomile nGO meelay (I’m thirsty)

nGEEya tdEYla (Please)

Yebo yehbo (Yes)

Ngiyabonga

nGEEyaBONGA (Thank you)

Cha ka (No)

Hamba kahle

HAAba KAHshay (Goodbye)

Holidays and Festivals

South Africa has a rich and dynamic culture, and South Africans celebrate many holidays and festivals throughout the year. Here are a few:

Family Day

The Monday after Easter Sunday is a national holiday dedicated to all South African families, recognizing the importance of this unit of society. It gives families an opportunity to strengthen bonds through various recreational activities such as sports, picnics, or trips to the countryside.

Prince Albert Agricultural Show

This festival highlights the produce of Western Cape’s Prince Albert town, known for its fresh and dried fruits, most notably apricots and figs, as well as olives and cheese. It also features crafts, homes and gardens, art and flowers, horse shows, historic tours, competitions, culinary demonstrations, and more.

Splashy Fen

The country’s longest-running music festival, Splashy Fen got its start in 1990 and takes place at a farm in the Southern Drakensberg area. It features local and international performers as well as vendors selling arts, crafts, and refreshments.

Human Rights Day

Celebrated on March 21, this holiday commemorates the day black South Africans were awarded basic human and political rights. It is marked with speeches from government officials, and South Africans spend the day with their families.

Freedom Day

South Africa had its first racially inclusive general elections on this day (April 27) in 1994 when Nelson Mandela was elected president. Major cities across the country host rallies featuring political speeches, music, dancing, parades, and competitions.

Food

South African cuisine is rooted in its native community and reflects influences from the Dutch, French, Indian, and Malaysians who settled there. Meat is widely consumed, and lamb is a popular choice, with the most common preparations being barbecued, stewed, or dried. The country’s mild climate produces a lot of vegetables, particularly corn, cabbage, potatoes, peppers, and green beans. Fruits including bananas, pineapples, apricots, and mangoes also thrive.

Kalahari Biltong Salad

This salad combines the South African dried meat called biltong with papaya, avocado, and feta cheese.

Butternut Soup

A favorite South African starter, this soup combines butternut squash, cream, butter, onions, and spices.

Sosaties

These South African kebabs feature meat, most often lamb, marinated in a sweet and savory sauce before being skewered and grilled.

Umngqusho

The main ingredients of this popular South African side dish are black-eyed peas and pounded and chopped dried corn, called samp.

Bredie

Of Malay origin, this dish is a thick, richly flavored meat and vegetable stew.

Melktert

Melktert (“milk tart” in Afrikaans) is a sweet pastry with a creamy filling made from milk, flour, sugar, and eggs.

Bobotie

Bobotie is a fruity and spiced minced meat dish covered with a creamy egg custard.

Frikadelle

These South African meatballs can be made with a variety of ground meat such as beef, ostrich, lamb, fish, pork, or veal.

Vetkoek

Immigrants from the Netherlands introduced vetkoek (literally “fat cake” in Afrikaans). A deep-fried doughnut-like bread, it is cut in half and filled with sweet or savory fillings.

Total Time

Ingredients

1 cup (120 g) all-purpose flour

1 tsp (5 ml) baking powder

½ tsp (2.5 ml) salt

1 egg, beaten

30 min

Directions

½ cup (120 ml) milk

1 cup (240 ml) oil for frying

Sift the flour, baking powder, and salt together into a bowl.

Add the egg and mix well.

Stir in the milk and mix until smooth.

Pour oil into a skillet set over medium heat.

Drop several large spoonfuls of batter into the hot oil, carefully. Fry for 2–3 minutes.

Flip the vetkoek and fry for an additional 2 minutes or until golden-brown.

Transfer the vetkoek from the skillet to a plate lined with paper towel to drain.

Repeat the cooking process until all the batter is used.

Slice and add filling of cheese, curry, or jam and serve warm.

National Symbols

National Bird

Blue Crane (common name)

Grus paradisea (scientific name)

National Day

Freedom Day April 27

National Flower

King Protea (common name)

Protea cynaroides (scientific name)

National Animal

Springbok (common name)

Antidorcas marsupialis (scientific name)

National Flag

First used – April 27, 1994

National Currency

South Africa’s official currency is the South African rand and cent.

1 South African rand = 100 cents

National Anthem

“Nkosi Sikelel’ i Afrika” (Lord, Bless Africa)

Lyrics by: Enoch Sontonga

Transliteration

Nkosi sikelel’ iAfrika

Maluphakanyisw’ uphondo lwayo, Yizwa imithandazo yethu, Nkosi sikelela, thina lusapho lwayo.

Morena boloka setjhaba sa heso, O fedise dintwa le matshwenyeho, O se boloke, O se boloke setjhaba sa heso, Setjhaba sa South Afrika - South Afrika. Uit die blou van onse hemel, Uit die diepte van ons see, Oor ons ewige gebergtes, Waar die kranse antwoord gee, Sounds the call to come together, And united we shall stand, Let us live and strive for freedom, In South Africa our land.

English Translation

God Bless Africa

Raise high Her glory

Hear our Prayers

God bless us, we her children

God protect our nation

End all wars and tribulations

Protect us, protect our nation

Our nation South Africa - South Africa

From the blue of our heaven

From the depths of our sea, Over our eternal mountain ranges

Where the cliffs give answer

Sounds the call to come together, And united we shall stand, Let us live and strive for freedom, In South Africa our land.

Things to See and Do

South African National Museum of Military History

This Johannesburg museum highlights the country’s military history and military expertise. It includes South African war art, photographs, rare military aircraft, armored vehicles, uniforms, medals, and more.

Johannesburg Zoo

Johannesburg Zoo, established in 1904, houses around 2,000 animals representing about 365 species, including exotic creatures such as white lions and Siberian tigers. Other wildlife include gorillas, rhinos, bears, hippos, zebras, cheetahs, hyenas, seals, crocodiles, hornbills, and vultures.

Cango Caves

These limestone caverns are set in the Swartberg Mountains and extend over 4 kilometers (2.5 miles). They feature rock formations including majestic stalagmites and stalactites and were inhabited since the Early Stone Age, making them about 20 million years old.

uKhahlambaDrakensberg Park

This park features natural beauty in the form of high altitude grasslands, river valleys, rocky gorges, basaltic buttresses, and golden sandstone ramparts. Its caves and rock shelters display paintings made by ancient San people.

Voortrekker Monument

This honors Voortrekkers (Afrikaans for “pioneers”), the 19th-century Dutch, German, and French who undertook the Great Trek. The monument houses the domed Hall of Heroes and is famous for telling the story in marble panels.

Kruger National Park

The country’s largest game reserve, Kruger National Park encompasses six ecosystems that are home to a diverse range of plants and animals. It boasts nearly 2,000 species of plants, 517 kinds of birds, 120 reptile species, and 147 types of mammals.

Zoo Lake

An artificial lake created by Johannesburg’s government in 1906 from converted marshland, Zoo Lake is a beautiful green space where visitors can bicycle, jog, skateboard, picnic, and watch artistic and musical events.

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

On Table Mountain’s eastern slopes, this stunning garden includes 4,700 species of native flora. Its Cycad Amphitheater houses living fossils, and Protea Garden includes the endangered Silver Tree evergreen.

St. George’s Cathedral

An important religious site, this Anglican cathedral’s historical significance goes beyond its 18th-century architecture. A focal point of the resistance against apartheid, it is known as “the people’s church.”

Cape Whale Route

This is a 900-kilometer (560mile) stretch offering exciting whale-watching opportunities. Whales migrate to the area to give birth from June through November, and they can be seen just offshore.

Johannesburg Zoo

South African National Museum of Military History

Cango Caves

uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park

Voortrekker Monument

Kruger National Park

Zoo Lake

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

Cape Whale Route

St. George’s Cathedral

Fun Facts

Big Bird

South Africa is home to the largest bird in the world, the ostrich. Ostriches can grow up to 9 feet (2.7 meters) tall and weigh up to 320 pounds (145 kilograms), making them bigger than most adult humans!

Lots of Languages

South Africa has 11 official languages—the most of any country in the world. Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, English, Sesotho sa Leboa, Setswana, Sesotho, Tsonga, Swati, Tshivenda, and Ndebele are all official languages spoken in the country.

Three Capitals

South Africa is the only country in the world to have three capital cities: Pretoria (executive), Cape Town (legislative), and Bloemfontein (judicial). Each city serves a different function in the government.

Quick Critters

Four of the world’s seven fastest mammals are native to South Africa. They are the cheetah, lion, springbok, and wildebeest.

Giant Jewel

South Africa is home to the world’s largest diamond, the Cullinan Diamond, which was found in 1905. The diamond weighed 3,106 carats when it was first found and was later cut into many smaller gems. Two of the largest diamonds are part of the British Crown Jewels.

Nelson Mandela Statue in Pretoria Whalebone Pier

Muizenberg Beach

Johannesburg Sun City