From the way South Africans speak, to the classy Cape Dutch architecture evident in the southern provinces, to the food we prepare, to the Bo-Kaap communities of Cape Town and the Indonesian-Dutch presence, the influence of our first era of colonisation is visible throughout South Africa. more

Franschhoek in the Western Cape is a thriving testament to the industry, style and know-how of a group of French Huguenots who settled here in the late 1600s. They were welcomed by the Cape administration and in the succeeding decades were assimilated into the local Dutch culture. more

Scottish immigrants to South Africa have, over the centuries, added invaluable elements to the culture of this country. With their common sense and their intricate, hugely entertaining, cultural identity, South African Scots are some of the most interesting members of the Rainbow Nation. more

At first, control of the Cape see-sawed between Holland and Britain, before the British seized control of the colony in 1806 and ran it for 104 years. In that time, they abolished slavery, established a British legal system, fought many Frontier Wars and squared up against the Boers in the South African War. more

You will find German settlements all over South Africa, but predominantly in KwaZulu-Natal and in the Eastern Cape, where the names of many villages have a distinctive German ring. And the German love affair with South Africa has not stopped – hundreds of thousands of German travellers visit these shores every year. more

The Lemba people living in Venda, in the Limpopo province, are said to originate from one of the 10 Tribes of Israel, who crossed into Africa in about 650 BC. They are proud of their roots as the Black Jews of Africa, and gather at least once a year to celebrate their customs. more

Many of the traditions of the Swazi people remain unchanged. Ruled by one of the only remaining monarchs in Africa, they revere their ways which stretch back to their founding king, Ngwane II. Ceremonies are an integral part of Swazi culture, especially the reed dance and first fruit ceremony. more

South Africa's Rainbow Nation title refers to the incredible diversity of its people, from the original Bushmen inhabitants of the land to the people who migrated and settled here over the years. There is hardly a nation on Earth that is not in some way represented in this diverse country. more