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South Africa

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South Africa

Myth and Performance Thrive in the World's Diversity Capital

tags: history

The cities in South Africa feel like different worlds—a testament to the nation’s diversity. Seen from the Carlton Center, nicknamed “the Top of Africa” because, at a modest fifty stories, it is the continent’s tallest skyscraper, Johannesburg, with its bucolic suburbs and sprawling city landscape, looks positively American. Capetown, meanwhile, is an adventurer’s destination, with ruggedly beautiful mountains and beaches. Durban, the country’s eastern port city, boasts some of the best Indian food anywhere (including India). Eleven official languages give the country an eclectic sound, from Zulu clicks to Dutch-derived Afrikaans: It’s not unusual to see a premier Xhosa drummer and a freestyle English hip-hop act performing back-to-back. South Africa’s troubled past makes for a fascinating exploration of history on Robben Island’s former political prison or at Johannesburg’s Apartheid Museum. Perhaps best of all, visitors will find locals friendly and eager for cultural exchange, whether it’s comparing the nation's history or its rap stars.

South Africa travel guide by miles tripwolf

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