By mixing the rhythms and vocal harmonies of traditional South African music with the sounds of gospel, pop and soul, Ladysmith Black Mambazo have created a distinctive sound that has kept them in business for 40 years and won them fans from across the globe. more

South African writer Athol Fugard has left his mark in the land of his birth, mainly in the Eastern Cape and Karoo. The Karoo village of Nieu Bethesda and the coastal city of Port Elizabeth are settings for two of his best known plays and reveal his close ties with South Africa. more

Innovative and independent, Johannesburg's The Bioscope not only screens some of South Africa’s best local films and documentaries; it also hosts concerts, workshops, festivals and innovative dining experiences that pair cinema and food. more

The range of productions hosted by Johannesburg's Montecasino Teatro since it opened in 2007 includes Broadway musicals, ballet productions, ice shows, international jazz concerts, comedy events, opera performances, gospel shows, rock concerts and much more. more

Leliekloof Valley of Art, although known to locals and rock art experts for many years, has only recently become a drawcard for local and international visitors. In a steep winding gorge carved out by an ancient river in the Eastern Cape, discover over 20 amazing San rock art sites. more

Durban's theatres and playhouses are vibrant platforms for the spicy cultural mix that is Durban. From the traditional Playhouse to the arty BAT Centre and popular barnyard theatres, there's a wide range of flavour and talent to entertain theatre lovers across the art spectrum. more

Sol Plaatje is a leading figure in South Africa's liberation history. An extraordinary thinker, he spent much of his life mobilising for the liberation of African people. Two national monuments in Kimberley are testament to his legacy and, a museum in Mafikeng is named after him. more

If you’ve ever stood in the middle of a dusty arena, surrounded by jiving, jinking and gyrating Nama Riel dancers in the throes of an ancient courtship ritual, you have been privileged to be part of a special cultural event that has been revived throughout the Kalahari and the Karoo. more

South African music culture is made up of diverse genres, from hip hop, kwaito and gospel to pop and alternative rock. Jazz has a special place in South African music culture and South African artists are well-known for pushing musical boundaries and doing things in new and exciting ways. more

Dance festivals in South Africa express with wonderful exuberance the varying dance traditions in South Africa. These wide-ranging styles are often grouped together at one of the many dance festivals regularly held across the country, where visiting audiences can expect a post-modernistic stomp second to none. more

South African comedy took on a new life after the heavy cloak of apartheid oppression lifted in 1994, creating a multitude of diverse comedic personalities, styles and lingoes. Comedy in South Africa is now in hot demand, filling out venues and putting the country’s comedy acts on an international level. more

The Kaapse Klopse, or Cape Carnival, dates back to the 19th century. It has its origins in Cape Town’s slave community, when, on a rare holiday on New Year’s Day, the city’s slaves arranged a day of festivities. While slavery is a distant memory, this New Year’s tradition lives on. more

The new buzzword among South African city travellers is ‘book safari’. It’s not just about hunting down the book you’re looking for, it’s also about the ambience of the ‘hunting grounds’ – like vibey Long Street in Cape Town, where discovering good books is only part of the experience. more

Exquisitely moulded clay pots, fantastic wooden carvings, prints, etchings and paintings that explore and breathe new life into ancient traditions; Venda art is as rich and colourful as the land and culture that inspires it. more