Understand Safari Tier Ratings & Experiences In South Africa | Why Visit South Africa For Your Safari Vacation Or Holidays In Africa

SOUTH AFRICA PEOPLE & LANGUAGE

South Africa is a nation of diversity, with over 47-million people and a variety of cultures, languages and religious beliefs. According to Statistics South Africa’s mid-2006 estimates, the country’s population stands at some 47.4-million. Africans are in the majority at 37.7-million, making up 79.5% of the total population. The white population is estimated at 4.4-million (9.2%), the coloured population at 4.2-million (8.9%) and the Indian/Asian population at 1.2-million (2.5%). There are 11 officially recognized languages, most of them indigenous to South Africa. Around 40% of the population speak either isiZulu or isiXhosa. You don’t speak either? If your English is passable, don’t worry. Everywhere you go, you can expect to find people who speak or understand English. English is the language of the cities, of commerce and banking, of government, of road signs and official documents. Road signs and official forms are in English. The President makes his speeches in English. At any hotel, the receptionists, waiters and porters will speak English. Another major language is Afrikaans, a derivative of Dutch, which northern Europeans will find surprisingly easy to follow.

South Africa Travel Phrases

South Africa is a multilingual country. Besides the 11 officially recognized languages, scores of others – African, European, Asian and more – are spoken here, as the country lies at the crossroads of southern Africa.

These are:

* Afrikaans – 13.3%
* English – 8.2%
* IsiNdebele – 1.6%
* IsiXhosa – 17.6%
* IsiZulu – 23.8%
* Sepedi – 9.4%
* Sesotho – 7.9%
* Setswana – 8.2%
* SiSwati – 2.7%
* Tshivenda – 2.3%
* Xitsonga – 4.4%
* Others – 0.5%

Below are few travel phrases to get you started:

Afrikaans

Hi! Haai! / Hallo!
Good morning! Goeiemôre!
Good evening! Goeienaand!
Welcome! (to greet someone) Welkom!
How are you? Hoe gaan dit met jou? Hoe gaan dit met u? (polite
I’m fine, thanks! Goed, dankie!
And you? En jou? En u? (polite
Good/ So-So. Goed / so-so.
Thank you (very much)! Dankie!
You’re welcome! (for “thank you”) Nie te dankie!
Hey! Friend! Haai! Vriend!
I missed you so much! Ek het jou soveel verlang!
What’s new? Wat is die nuus?
Nothing much Niks besonders nie.
Good night! Goeienag!
See you later! Totsiens!
Good bye! Totsiens!

IsiXhosa

Greeting
Hello – Bhota
How are you? – Unjani?
I am fine. – Ndiyaphila.
I am fine, thank you. – Ndiyaphile, enkosi.
Goodbye – Hamba kakuhle (go well) / Sala kakuhle (stay well)
Good luck – Yanga ungaphumelela

Expressions
yes – ewe
no – hayi
please – nceda
thank you – ndiyabulela
help – nceda
danger – ingozi
emergency – ungxamiseko
Excuse me – Uxolo
I am sorry. – Ndicela uxolo.
I love you. – Ndiya kuthanda.

Questions / sentences
Do you accept (credit cards/traveler’s cheques)? – Ingaba wamkela (amakhadi okuhlawula/litsheki zebhanki)?
How much is this? – Yimalini?
I want … – Ndifuna …
What are you doing? – Wenzani?
What is the time? – Ngubani ixesha ngoku?
Where are you going? – Uyaphi?
IsiZulu

Greeting
Hello – Sawubona (First person singular) / Sanibona (First person plural)
How are you? – Unjani?
I am well. – Ngisaphila.
I am fine, thank you. – Ngisaphila ngiyabonga.
Goodbye – Hamba kahle (go well) / Sala kahle (stay well)
Good luck – Ngikufisela inhlanhla
Have a safe journey. – Ube nohambo oluhle.

Expressions
yes – yebo
no – cha
please – ngiyakucela
thank you – ngiyabonga
help – siza
danger – ingozi
emergency – kuyaphuthuma
Excuse me – Uxolo
I am sorry. – Ngiyaxolisa.
I love you. – Ngiyakuthanda.

Questions / sentences
Do you accept (credit cards/traveler’s cheques)? – Uyawamukela (amakhredithi khadi/amasheke ezivakashi)?
How much is this? – Kuyimalini lokhu?
I want … – Ngifuna …
What are you doing? – Wenzani?
What is the time? – Yisikhathisini manje?
Where are you going? – Uyaphi?

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