One of the things that I find rather interesting is the perception that people from around the world have about South Africa. I play a number of online games and it is because of this that I have had the opportunity of interacting with many people from different countries around the world. When they find out that I live in South Africa, they sometimes ask me some of the most fascinating questions.
Here some of the strangest questions that I have been asked about living in South Africa. I will try and answer them to best of my abilities.
Do lions roam the streets of South Africa?
This is one of those questions that many people ask me repeatedly and the answer to this is “No”, lions do not roam the streets of South Africa. They are kept in zoo’s and game reserves. However, there have been several rare occasions where lions have escaped from these game reserves and then ended up on the streets but thankfully, they were later captured and returned to the game reserves unharmed.
I am planning to visit South Africa, what should I do if I see a lion in the street?
If you are planning to visit our beautiful country and for whatever strange reason you do happen to cross paths with a lion in the street. Just do what any other sane person would do….RUN!... and whatever happens do not climb up a tree for safety. Many people don’t know this but lions are excellent tree climbers, that being said, it is highly unlikely that you would cross paths with a lion in the streets of South Africa. I have lived in South Africa my entire life and I am yet to see one freely roaming the streets.
Are you black?
It is a common misconception that everyone living in South Africa is black. South Africa is not called the rainbow nation without reason. We are a very diverse nation consisting of many different ethnic groups and a host of different cultures and traditions. There are also eleven official languages that are spoken in South Africa, which is further proof of how diverse South Africa really is.
I plan on hiking during my visit to South Africa. Can I make use of the hippo highways while hiking?
Please do not attempt this! Hippo highways are passages created by hippos in the vegetation of rivers and swamps. Hippos travel along these highways in search of better grazing grounds. If you choose to ignore my warning, please make sure you carry your running shoes and some toilet paper because you will most certainly bump into Mr Hippo. Although hippos may look friendly, they are highly aggressive and are responsible for killing more humans than any other animal in Africa, they are also able to reach speeds of up to 30 Km/h while running.
I hope this article has addressed some of your questions, if there are any other questions about South Africa that you need answered, please leave a comment and I will surely get back you. I hope that this does not discourage you from visiting South Africa as it is a beautiful country with breathtaking landscapes and wonderful wildlife.