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Endemic to the riverine scrub of the central Karoo, the riverine rabbit has a number of interesting names by which it is known locally – boshaas, vleihaas, doekvoetjie and pondhaas. The first two are references to its habitat, with 'doekvootjie' (downy feet) being a reference to the furry underfoot of the rabbit's broad hind paws. 'Pondhaas' (pound rabbit) is believed to have come about during the 1940s, when the curator of the museum in King Williams Town offered a reward of a pound – the currency of the time – for each riverine rabbit delivered to him.
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Surrounding the spectacular Langebaan Lagoon on the West Coast of South Africa, the West Coast National Park is home to a multitude of seabirds, and a variety of mammals, including eland, grysbok, hartebeest, rock hyrax and caracal. Listed as a Ramsar site due to its integral role in the preservation of wetland bird species, Langebaan Lagoon with its small bird-covered islands, saltpan marshes and stunning beaches is the year-round focal point of the reserve, with masses of brightly colored wildflowers taking centre-stage in spring.
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"There is only one way in which one can endure man's inhumanity to man and that is to try, in one's own life, to exemplify man's humanity to man." These words by Alan Stewart Paton (1903-1988) reveal the compassion and sense of justice which permeated the life and career of this renowned South African author and anti-apartheid activist. Paton is likely most famously known for his book Cry, The Beloved Country, published in New York City in 1948, just months before the Nationalist Party came into power and instituted the infamous apartheid regime which Paton would outspokenly decry throughout his life.
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Dlinza Forest is a 250-hectare indigenous haven located in Eshowe, KwaZulu Natal, around an hour and a half by car from Durban. Consisting of coastal scarp forest, typically found between the coastline and mist-belt along the KwaZulu Natal coast, Dlinza is home to a multitude of birds, beautiful butterflies and a host of insects, as well as vervet monkeys, porcupines, bushbuck, caracal, frogs, chameleons, and red and blue duikers.
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Established in 1991, the Bag Factory was one of the first art studios to open up access to resources and networks for local artists to establish themselves in the South African art world. At a time when the walls of apartheid were being dismantled in South Africa, the Bag Factory focused on the principles of inclusion and diversity, and artists took advantage of the opportunity to make use of the creative space and facilities provided. This artists’ collective has moved with the rapid changes in South Africa, and particularly Johannesburg, over the past two decades. Located between the vibrant Newtown Cultural Precinct and the Oriental Plaza, the studios are easily accessed from the city, with many of its artists based in Soweto.
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The elegant style of architecture that came to be known as Cape Dutch architecture, evolved over a period of time from the 17th century through to the early 19th century. Early Cape Dutch buildings were simple thatched-roof, whitewashed farmhouses. They were generally rectangular in shape, with a wooden frame, wattle and clay walls, and shuttered windows symmetrically placed either side of the central front door. Floors were made of mud or dung inset with peach pits and polished to a shine. Most houses had only two rooms leading off either side of the front hallway, with one used as a living room and the other used for sleeping. As owners became more prosperous, this was reflected in the architecture and only a few examples of this early form Cape Dutch architecture remain, one of which is at the Kleinplasie Museum in Worcester.
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Did you know that South Africa produced the largest gem-quality rough diamond ever to be discovered? Do you know what this super-diamond is called and why? Do you know how much it weighed, what the measurement unit is for diamonds, and the origins of the term? These are just some of the fascinating facts you will discover at Cape Town's latest attraction – the Cape Town Diamond Museum.
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The vibrant city of Durban is currently hosting the much-publicized UN Convention of Climate Change – COP17 – where representatives from developing and developed countries are trying to reach consensus on how the world should tackle the thorny issue of climate change. A large media presence is ensuring that every aspect of COP17 is being reported, making the public aware of how vital it is for action to be taken now, in the interests of current and future generations. With hundreds of delegates and reporters visiting the popular coastal city, Durban has laid out a host of special activities to entertain its visitors and locals, while at the same time focusing on issues uppermost in everyone's minds – climate change, sustainable development, carbon footprints, and the environment in general.
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