South Africa, with its many diverse cultures, provides endless ways to celebrate our heritage. Whether it’s through arts and culture, food, our history or our biodiversity, here are some ways to celebrate Heritage Day on 24 September.
Explore heritage through food
Across the country, restaurants will be serving up traditional South African dishes to patrons on Heritage Day. If you’re in Johannesburg, pop in to OUIBAR for a lekker local breakfast between 06h30 and 11h00 from Friday to Sunday. If you’re not an early bird, then head up to RED Roof on Friday 24 September from 16h00 onwards for South African-inspired platters and cocktails that are proudly local. If you dress up to celebrate your cultural heritage, you get a free drink! If you’re in Cape Town, Radisson Blu Hotel Waterfront is preparing a braai buffet feast. There will be many South African dishes on offer for guests to enjoy plus unique drinks, too. The cost is R395 per person.Kids between 5- and 12-years-old pay half price, and kids under 5 eat for free. Bookings are essential for these events so be sure to secure your spot ahead of time.
Take a virtual arts and culture tour
This is a fun and exciting way to learn more about your culture and other cultures with the whole family. This Heritage Day, you can turn to Google for some fun virtual arts and culture tours. Google Arts & Culture has recently joined forces with SA Tourism to launch the online exhibition South Africa: An Explorer’s Paradise. The experience allows visitors from all over the world to explore South Africa’s heritage and “visit” its breathtaking destinations, through a collection of 500 images and videos, 55 Street Views and 20 exhibits – perfect for the whole family! To experience South Africa and explore its beauty from the comfort of your own home, visit g.co/sharesouthafrica, or download the Android or iOS Google Arts & Culture app.
Enjoy the natural beauty of South Africa
Our country is filled with natural beauty at every turn. We have beautiful mountains, oceans, savannas and more. If you’re an outdoor person, then getting out and about in nature is an excellent way to celebrate Heritage Day this year. You can explore local hiking paths, enjoy the beach if the weather allows and enjoy some of our heritage sites, too! If you’re looking for a longer trip into nature, the Kruger National Park is always a great option. The Kruger Station precinct within the park will be the perfect place to celebrate this day. With delicious local flavours in the food and some fun activities to do, it’s the perfect place to stop with the whole family.
Walk in the footsteps of history at Sanctuary Mandela
The stunning Sanctuary Mandela opened earlier this month in the home where the country’s first democratically elected president, Nelson Mandela lived after his release from Robben Island. This Heritage Month, South Africans can stay and experience Johannesburg’s newest hotel in the leafy suburbs of Houghton. The reimagined home commemorates the country’s dynamic political heritage by celebrating the life of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, best and globally known for his role in the fight against Apartheid South Africa. It harmoniously curates his life from when he was a boy to when he fought the human rights injustices of the apartheid regime, his 27-years imprisonment, his presidency, and to becoming a Nobel Peace Prize winner, father of the nation, peacemaker and Tata Madiba. As a Heritage Month special, South Africans are invited to book their stays at Sanctuary Mandela and get 45% off their stays.
Conserve our natural heritage
White rhinos are native to South Africa and, as we know, they are in a constant state of danger as a result of poaching. They are part of our natural heritage and they should be protected as much as possible. You can also make a real difference by joining MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet and selecting the MyPlanet Rhino Fund as your cause to support. Every time you use your card when you shop at participating retailers, a donation will be made on your behalf to save the rhino – at no cost to you! The MyPlanet Rhino Fund was created to boost rhino conservation across South Africa so you can trust that you’re raising funds for worthy and best-practice conservation initiatives. Over 48 000 people are already supporting, so join them now. Not a MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet supporter yet? Sign up for free at myschool.co.za or download the App. Partners include Woolworths, Loot.co.za, Builders and more.
ALSO READ: Rhino Month celebrates 11 years: What you can do to help save the rhino
