What I love about South Africa

Linda Schonknecht
By: Linda Schonknecht
26 January 2012
1,534 views
16 comments
Print This Post


It’s the start of 2012 and so many of us will be heading far and wide over the next 365 days. Some of us will be travelling for work, some for pleasure and some relocating to other areas of the world to pursue careers, loves or just for the sheer vagabondish adventure of it all.  No matter how tough we think we are, there will always be that one point on our travels when we will definitely get ‘the feeling’.

We’ve all had it at least once. You could be sitting in an airport lounge, minding your own business when someone walks past you with a small South African flag pinned to the side of their suitcase; or walking on an unfamiliar street corner and get a wiff of grilled meat on an open fire and icy cold beer. Sitting in a bar in a sea of unfamiliar faces and languages you hear a ‘howzit’ drift over the gabble of foreign tongues.

Homesickness is that longing pang in the pit of your stomach, where you get a small emotional twitch for that place you know as home. No matter how much I travel I still absolutely and completely fall head over heels in love every time an airplane or car tyre skids onto a SA tarmac or dirt road. And you know why? Because I am in a committed, lifelong relationship with this country. Sure it has its bad qualities, its few traits that make me want to go and sleep on the couch and mumble obscenities under my breath. But we have so many amazing things going for us that I am determined to be positive in 2012, and hurumpf in the general direction of all the gloomy, depressing, negative couch potatoes that have nothing good to say. When problems pop up I am planning to get off my butt and do something about it and not just wax verbal about what should be done. Every action no matter how small is important.

And for those of us who are not travelling beyond borders – here’s a whole pile of reasons to kick up those feet and smile because you’re in one hell of an amazing place.

I love the fact that we don’t have any tornados, or earthquakes. I had the misfortune of being on the 52nd story of a skyscraper in Japan when they had a massive earthquake and am now petrified of high buildings. And don’t even get me started on tsunamis and typhoons.

The landscapes in this amazing country are incredible. The Drakensberg, the Karoo, Tsitsikamma, the Indian and the Atlantic ocean and the Garden Route are just some of the spectacular vistas that make me shiver with glee every time I drive through them.

Have you noticed our amazing wildlife lately under the sea, on the land, and in the air? We have everything you can imagine, right on our doorsteps. Including one of the most intensely populated floral kingdoms in the world and over 900 species of birds.

We invented the kreepy crawly, Pratley putty, cats-eyes on the roads and Dolosse blocks (large, concrete blocks designed to break up wave action used along harbour walls).

I love the fact that we still have open roads and free parking spaces. In a world where the human population is exploding we still have a sense of space around us.

I love our unique words, words that only a South African can identify with. You know lekker, yebo, Aikona, Ayoba, Aita, Ag, Aweh, Dinges, howzit, just now, dof, larny, robot, padkos, muggie or gogga, indaba, mzansi, spaza, wena, shongololo, hhayibo!, fundi, cozzie, hundereds, soapie, the 411, babbelas, sorted, kief and koki’s,

There are incredible festivals all around the country and there are some wild, wacky people who go to them. The Grahamstown Festival, Splashy Fenn, the KNKK, Kirstenbosch summer concerts, the J&B Met, Cape Town Pride Festival, the Design Indaba, Oppikoppi, the Jazz festival and Rocking the Daises.

I love the sound of crickets and beetles in the evening, and the fact that we are still very courteous to our elders. I love hating the f-ing taxis and the way we get all patriotic over a beer commercial when we are overseas. I love the smell of Highveld thundershowers and lying in bed watching the Two Oceans and the Comrades marathons, while constantly plotting to enter the next year.

Here’s to Mandela, Dr Christian Barnard, Steve Biko, Desmond Tutu, Pierte Dyrk Uys, Nkhosi Johnson, Thandi Klaasen, Gerard Sekoto and George Pemba, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Soweto Gospel Choir, Nadine Gordimer and J.M. Coetzee. Alan Paton, Esther Mahlangu, Shaka Zulu, Nkensani Nkosi, Gavin Rajah, Dr Moloi-Motsepe, Basetsane Khumalo, Miriam Makeba, Natalie Du toit, Zackie Achmat, Sol Plaatjie, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Antjie Krog, Hugh Masikela and Nandos adverts. Good on you Zapiro, the McGreggor sisters, Peter Mangubane, Fokoffpolisiekar, David Goldblatt, Walter Sisulu, Mark Shuttleworth,Oscar Pistorius, Bruce Fordyce, Joseph Albert Mokoena, Jaques Kallis, Victor Matfield, Ernie Els, Ryk Neethling, Kingsly Holgate. Right on Sibisiso Vilane, Ruben Riffel, Margot Janse, Luke dale Roberts, Lucillia Booyzen, Carte Blanche, Elana Meyer, Jonty Rhodes, Kass Naidoo, Freshly Ground, Gerry Rantseli, David Tlale, Tiaan Nagal, Dj Ready D and Dr Christiaan Barnard. And the great thing is  I could go on and on and on.

More than anything, I love our passionate people who are deeply connected to their history. We depict togetherness unlike any other country; in a global context where war and racial hatred can sometimes seem like the easiest route. We never lose hope that one day things will get better. There is such an amazing diversity of people who still have a fire in their bellies that we can make a positive difference in about 11 different official languages.

We can also toyitoyi like it’s nobody’s business when we believe in a cause and we are probably the best people to get a party started. And our women are some of the most beautiful and powerful in the world (as far as I am concerned).

You can call it a dopey-eyed, rose-tinted, squishy-centered optimistic view of our country. But I know that for every bad, corrupt, disappointing, terrible doom and gloom you might find, there most definitely is still the complete opposite of it; alive and kicking out here.

Bring on a positive 2012.

Photo by: mister-e (Flickr)

 

Find out more about South Africa and get top local tips from Africa.com/south-africa/travel

 

What do you love about South Africa?


Previous post by Linda Schonknecht:

«

Next post by Linda Schonknecht:

No next posts by this author

Tags: , ,

Leave a Replyfacebook













CAPTCHA Image
*


16 Responses to “What I love about South Africa”facebook

  1. Jacquie Gmur says:
    January 26, 2012 at 4:06 pm

    What do I love about South Africa? Everything. I love the smell of the sun on clean washing on a boiling hot Summer`s day. The smell of the hot grass as you walk across it. The braai`s.. no were in the whole world do people have braai`s like we do. The brandy and coke, cricket and screaming for the Rugby. The biltong, chips and dips that go with the rugby. I love the neatness of the suburbs… that they are all in squares and not higgildy piggildy. The fact that we have an Industrial Areas.Franchise Restaraunts like Spur, Wimpy Dros. Wimpy Breakfasts on Saturday morning, Spur Burgers. The cashiers in all the shops, the lady who packs your groceries in Pick n Pay and Checkers.”Fill her up 93 please, and could you check my oil and water and pump my tyres 2 bars please” The V and A Waterfront in Cape Town. Going to Sea Point to buy second hand books, and then going home, collapsing on the bed and reading. The school children in the uniforms, the neat schools that they have. The music, colour and laughter of South Africans and Africa.. Their love of life and enjoyment thereof. I live in Switzerland right now. Need I say more.

    Reply
  2. Loyiso Notununu says:
    January 27, 2012 at 10:48 am

    Well what’s there not to Love about South Africa? Until you have travelled & seen this great country well…..u would hate,which is understandable. Once you have seen the lovely Limpopo with its Ocean of Mountains….in venda,the lovely fresh food the have,the great endless greens that you find in Phalaborwa side then u will actually understand what S.A. Is all about. KZN its so green its just fresh air all the way until you get to the lov ely coastline…..which is another sight all together. Durban is everybodies favourite….but the are others to explore. GP….its the business province…it also has a lot to offer interesting historical ancient buildings. If you are a hard worker you will certainlly get work there. E.C. My home province…..expect for being home to a few political icons….its a beautful province to travel. It caters for all kinds of travellers…..adventure travelers, animal lovers etc. Its got lovely scenery & endless areas where one can visit to get a break from the hectic city life. Free State well It is rich with history. Its got the best places to buy old beautful furniture. In towns like Paris, Van de By Park, Verinigeeng you will get the best deal in second hand cars. It also is home to the city of roses,Bloemfontein. It does get cold at times but it is a very safe place. Western Cape,which is famous because of the Garden Route & Cape Town. But the is more to it than just that. Its got lovely towns that are the hidden secrets of WC. Paarl-its got the best fish in S.A. Cities like Bellvile,Woester with its lovely grapes,Irene, Lauingsburg, Touws River,Mossel Bay,George, Kysna, Segfield & Wilderness to mention a few…all these Cities make W.C. What it is today. Northern Cape,with cities like Kimberly-famous home of the Big Hole, Victory West, Warden, Hope Town & the likes. Some of these towns are so historical….they make you feel when you there that you have actually in a history book. Oooohhh S.A…..is beautfull regardless our down falls!!! This is a great country! We have ubuntu in this country.

    Reply
  3. Lauren says:
    January 27, 2012 at 1:06 pm

    I was going to say exactly what Jacquie Gmur & Loyiso Notununu said. The best part is that with all that’s been said in the blog and the 2 replies (so far), there is even more to love the list just goes on and on… It’s this passion and love for our country that gives us hope and it’s within this hope, stemming from our love for our country, that we’ll see a brighter future. Viva South Africa. Viva our motherland!

    Reply
  4. Colin Galloway says:
    January 27, 2012 at 5:28 pm

    Wow, Linda Schonknecht, how can anyone follow THAT? Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant, even though you never mentioned our biltong and fabulous Proteas, or world superior wines, or the warmest hospitality in the world, great beaches, far-thinking conservation plans, wonderful national roads, oh hang on, you DID say you could go on and on. You’re right, but let’s just keep the rest of paradise our little secret. Not much sense encouraging anyone else to come and enjoy it as much as we do.

    Reply
  5. Jane Wilkinson says:
    January 27, 2012 at 6:46 pm

    I heard three ladies speaking Afrikaans in Sarria, Spain when I was walking the Camino. It had been my worst day ever and I had hit rock bottom. When I heard them speaking I could have hugged them. They made me sit down and tell them my tale of woe. They plied me with enough “ag shames” to make me whole again. Bless all South Africans – they ROCK!

    Reply
  6. Anton Böhmer says:
    January 29, 2012 at 7:20 pm

    Lets just say that we (my wife and I, our two young daughters and the dog) went to Strand this morning for a “quick” play on the beach. It was an awesome morning, no breeze to mention but brilliant wall to wall sunshine. I later took the dog back home and rejoined them with some Steers burgers and local fruit juice. We stayed until after lunch and decided that we have not cooled off enough so decided to go for a quick swim. Two hours later … we considered a braai, but all were too knackered!

    Yes, a perfect day in the most beautiful country to which we returned 13 months ago following 8 years in the UK. At times we miss our UK friends, but we just have to look, listen, smell, taste and feel in order to know that there is nowhere else in the world where we want to be!!

    Reply
  7. Bob Norris says:
    January 29, 2012 at 8:25 pm

    The only problem I have with an otherwise splendid article is that the WILD COAST – our most beautiful destination of all is not documented – it makes the Garden Route look European { which I guess it is somewhat?}

    Reply
  9. Philip says:
    January 29, 2012 at 10:34 pm

    Amen.

    Reply
  10. Anne Gieg (nee Edwards) says:
    January 31, 2012 at 5:12 am

    What do I love about South Africa. First and foremost the National Anthem of South Africa. Secondly, Ice Cold Castle Lager and the smell of sizzling steak on the braai under a clear night sky and the call of the animals of the wild at night.

    Thirdly the smell of the surf and the feel of warm sands under ones feet. To hear that “rush” of surf as it crashes to shore.

    Fourthly, to see a whale free, out of water and breeaching and falling back calling bleetingly.

    Ones’ heritage and what our forefathers gave up bravely to defend our beautiful country.

    Fifthly, the annual re-enactment on the beaches of the arrival of the 1820 Settlers to our shores who came from distant lands and settled and called it “Die Kaap De Goede Hoop” – “The Cape of Good Hope”.

    I am South African born and bred. I love my country dearly and all that it stands for and always will.

    Sixthly our brave President – now in his twilight years – who fought oppression and came out a “winner” – encouraging all to “learn” and build a newer tomorrow for the next and following generations to come.

    Nkosi sikele I Afrika – God Bless Africa.

    Reply
  11. vanessa says:
    January 31, 2012 at 1:17 pm

    Didn’t we also invent Prestick?

    Reply
  12. Lorna Tomkins says:
    January 31, 2012 at 2:41 pm

    Try Kaapsehoop Horse Trails near Nelspruit, the horses are so tame, lovely natured, the trails are something to die for and the people, Leon, Christo and Mariska are friends for life.

    Reply
  13. Lyn Reynolds says:
    January 31, 2012 at 3:13 pm

    ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL of the above and the MOST BEAUTIFUL flag in the world
    It makes my heart sing!!

    Reply
  14. MAHLATSI says:
    February 29, 2012 at 4:22 pm

    I LOVE SOUTH AFRICA BECAUSE IT IS A GREAT COUNTRY FOR ALL PEOPLE

    Reply

  • Receive the latest Getaway Travel Blog posts by email