Reflections on the Rainbow Nation

After 14 months of travelling around South Africa and facing the possibility of not being allowed back in next time depending on the whim of the border officials, it seems a good moment to make a few observations about the country we've come to love.

The scenery and the wildlife are breathtaking and hopefully some of the flavour of this has been evident in our postcards and photo albums since June 2006. We had visited South Africa twice before on 2 or 3 week holidays and knew it was nowhere near long enough to do the place justice, we have the same feeling after 14 months! One big surprise for us has been the number of incredibly beautiful beaches, both on the Indian Ocean and Atlantic coasts, mostly deserted and without the depressing tide lines of rubbish we see in Europe. Why the South African tourist industry doesn't market these beaches is a complete mystery!

On the political and social front South Africa is a land of huge contrasts, between rich and poor, between black and white and coloured, between provinces, between cultures and between the sexes. We have seen some of the most beautiful and palatial mansions on earth a kilometre away from shantytowns of tin shacks with no water, electricity or sanitation.

The constitution is very liberal and inclusive but intolerance and exclusivity thrive, as they do in Europe and North America, but it seems more obvious here. What strikes us particularly is the intolerance between tribal groupings and between the politicians that represent them; they are playing with fire given the history of tribal conflict in Africa.

At times we pick up undertones of impending doom and a Zimbabwe type meltdown, at other times the friendliness of the most disadvantaged people gives hope that Government can improve their conditions before they feel the need to return to the streets and the barricades of the apartheid era (though this is happening in some areas).

The media is, not surprisingly, immature and nowhere near as investigative and critical, as we are used to in the UK. It needs to find its feet quickly here before the politicians constrain it, as all politicians like to do.

Inevitably our time here has made us look back on the UK with a fresh pair of eyes. Britain has minor social, economic and political problems in comparison to the African continent and we have begun to appreciate how lucky we are. It is ironic then that people out here seem much friendlier, happier and helpful, regardless of race, creed and economic position (with the exception of that immigration official last week!)

We wish South Africa well for the future and hope that the forthcoming presidential election process runs smoothly. It strikes us a real pity for this country that you only got the benefit of a world statesman like Nelson Mandela in his twilight years, perhaps his equivalent is waiting in the wings?

You would not expect us to be so fair-minded regarding sport. England will have our support for the Rugby World Cup (they need all the help they can get so we will be visiting a sangoma shortly). We'd love to see a South Africa v England football world cup final in 2010 with Rooney scoring a hat trick!