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Rainbow nation
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The Afrikaner people
The Afrikaner people speak the only language in Africa created by European settlers, which is now one of the 11 official languages of South Africa. more
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South African English culture
The first English settlers arrived in South Africa in the early 19th century. From this small start, their influence swiftly spread to alter the course of local history. more
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Unique cultures of South Africa
South Africans are proud of our cultural diversity. It comes from centuries of settlement and emigration from Africa and the rest of the world. more
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The Tsonga people
The Tsonga People of South Africa maintain a culture that includes face scarring, melodic musical instruments and beautiful homesteads. more
More about Rainbow nation
South African immigrant culture
The combined immigrant groups of South Africa bring a world of style, cuisine, heritage, colour, entrepeneurship and exciting cultures to our shores. more
The Tswana people
The Tswana people of the Sotho arrived in South Africa through several migrations and settled mostly along the border with Botswana. more
The Zulu people
The Zulu people hold their culture and traditions in high esteem. It can be seen in their bearing, their homesteads and the finery of their dress. more
Top 10
Cultural attractions
1Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape, Limpopo
Located on the South African border of Zimbabwe and Botswana, Mapungubwe is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, providing evidence of a powerful African empire, that existed in Southern Africa long before the Europeans arrived at the Cape in 1652.
2Robben Island, Cape Town, Western Cape
Robben Island is best known as the place of imprisonment of Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners during the long years of apartheid UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site, describing it as ‘as the world’s most powerful symbol of resistance to oppression’.
3Cradle of Humankind, Gauteng
The world’s most important fossil site, this UNESCO World Heritage site is considered to be the birthplace of modern humans, and includes the fossil hominid sites of Sterkfontein, Swartkrans and Kromdraai.
4Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape, Northern Cape
A mountain-desert wilderness inhabited by the Nama people, this remarkable group of nomadic pastoralists are safeguarding their culture and resources through centuries old methods of conservation
5uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, KwaZulu-Natal
Once the stomping grounds of the San hunter-gatherers; this UNESCO World Heritage Site shelters a precious heritage of well-preserved rock paintings, and is the last word in mountain grandeur.
6Pilgrims Rest Heritage Site, Mpumalanga
The historic town of Pilgrims Rest is a living museum where you’ll uncover the fascinating history and colourful characters behind South Africa’s first gold rush in the 1870s.
7Kimberley, Northern Cape
The discovery of a rich diamond deposit at Kimberley left a hand-dug crater known as the ‘Big Hole’ and sparked a rush to uncover South Africa’s mineral wealth.
8Origins Museum, Johannesburg, Gauteng
Described as ‘a museum in Africa for the people of the world’ the museum seeks to understand the evolution of South African history through the spiritual beliefs and the artistic legacy of the Khoi-Khoi and San people, through DNA sampling; rock art and anthropological artefacts.
9Sacred Sites of Venda, Limpopo
Lake Fundudzi, the reputed home of a python god, and nearby Thathe-Vondo Forest, are sacred to the Vhenda people.
10Wine Routes of the Cape, Western Cape
Our winelands, with their gabled Cape Dutch homesteads, sprawling green vineyards and historic buildings and living museums are a rich repository of agriculture, viniculture, history, food culture, and heritage dating back to the 1600’s.
