Land of the Rainbow Nation

​There have been many changes in South Africa over the past 200 years, many for the better but these changes have also affected relationships, cultures, norms and values.​ South Africa is a land of many different cultures including Western Culture and Traditional African Culture of which superstition is part and parcel.
Be prepared for some surprises! Here are a few examples at random:
  • Unlike in Europe, in South Africa it is customary for your plate to be cleared from your table as soon as you've finished eating.
  • Zulus are terrified of frogs and chameleons.
  • Arranged marriages do occur. ​

South Africa is known as the Rainbow Nation because of the many different cultures within the country's borders. To name only a few: Zulu, Xhosa, Tsonga, Shangaan and Afrikaans. The Zulu culture is the most prominent englobing more than 20% of the population. Make sure to book a cultural tour to learn more about the local culture in the area you'll be travelling​! ​

A bit more insight on Zulu Culture
  • Many Zulus in Northern KwaZulu-Natal live a rural life with livestock.
  • The Zulu culture allows a man to have multiple wives but he must give his future wives' parents 11 cows. Many Zulu men, however, do not have the money and therefore cannot get married. 
  • The man is in charge and when a ceremony, such as a marriage, takes place in a Zulu hut, the men sit on chairs or stand while the women sit on the floor, in order to show the difference in status. 
  • Children are brought up differently in the Zulu culture than ours: older children must look after their younger siblings and they often walk to school by themselves from a very early age. 
  • Food usually consists of rice or maize porridge with chicken or beef stews.

Expect differences...

​In European culture it is respectful to leave other people be and to not mind others' business, at least not in public. In South Africa, it is quite the opposite, especially with white South Africans who may spontaneously strike up a conversation with you. We encourage you to embrace this experience as it may be fun and valuable experience of this culture.

Experience has taught us that many of our guests have felt embarrassed to attend a local church ceremony and then be invited to sit at the front, or to visit a Songoma (witch doctor/tribal 
medicine man) who predicts their future. There is no need to feel ​embarrassed, as South Africans really love to share their culture, faith and daily rituals with you. They are honored that you took the time to visit them and learn about their culture.​

When booking a cultural tour with Tailor Made Safaris, we aim to give you an authentic taste of everyday life in a local village. Unless especially requested, we tend to avoid museum-type villages with real life actors depicting the lives of Zulus from hundreds of years ago.