Social and Diplomatic Events in Ankara

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South African Ambassador’s wife Moipone Seokolo hosted International Women’s Group headed by Aytul Gokce’s “Know my Country” project.

“Know my country” is a project that takes place once every month at a different embassy to raise money by ticket sales – with which the group helps needy children, this time it was for Mithat Enc Blind Children’s School- and which enables members of the group to get to know a different country each month. I have been participating to these events for the past 5 years, but I have not witnessed such a well organized and informative presentation all along.

Thanks to the embassy members such as Counsellor Sarel Van Zyl and First Secretary Rene Everson-Varney and others it turned out to be an unforgettable event.

After about 200 guests gathered President Gokce made an opening speech and left the floor to Counsellor Zyl for him to welcome the guests. Then marketing Manager of Sun International Lidia Martinuzzi (who flew in from Milan) gave the most interesting tourism presentation which made everybody start planning a trip to South Africa. After Martinuzzi, Senior Sales Executive of Etihad Airways Melda Erbatur, made a brief speech about the airlines and their flights to SA. Then a breath taking fashion show of a very young and a very talented South African designer Mosa Mokuena took place.

Well, after all the presentations what I can say is that South Africa is an incredible destination in so many ways - it is the kind of destination that will touch all of your senses in a myriad of ways, and once all is said and done you probably won't be the same again. Their incredible diversity is a key attraction - from the deserts of the Kgalagadi to the lush green forests of Tsitsikamma to the unspoilt beaches of the Wild Coast to the vibrant nightlife of Cape Town – they really do have it all.

South Africa is mercurial in nature, one moment you'll be exploring the origins of ancient man, the next you're cage-diving with Great White Sharks and the next you're drinking traditional beer in a lively township shebeen. South Africa really is a destination where you can experience it all.

As a people, they are known for their humanity - they may have come from a past filled with separation and struggle but their future seems to be one of unity and possibility. In true African spirit, they can welcome you to their Rainbow Nation - in 11 official languages.

There are nine spectacular provinces for one to explore - nine incredible diverse parts of the country that will open up your sense of possibility in ways you never thought possible. Oh, and by the way - they do have a sensational climate (with over 300 days of sunshine per year in some parts). They are also extremely proud of their superb infrastructure - excellent roads and a great variety of accommodation options.

South Africa truly is a ground-breaking destination for explorers and adventurers who want to experience life in all its fullness, with over 130 adventures and counting, there is something for everyone from mountain walks to shark cage-diving!

In a world first, the Cango ranch in Oudtshoorn is offering a new form of extreme wildlife activity: Crocodile cage-diving!

You will have heard of shark cage-diving and the idea of croc cage diving borrows much from that. With croc cage-diving you are lowered into a clear water pool into a bite-proof cage and into the company of 4-metre long Nile crocodiles each with a bite pressure of over 2 tones per square inch. That's four times the amount of pressure that a Great White shark can exert. But, the cages are specially built to withstand the incredible pressure of these ancient reptiles and visitors are exposed to an up-close-and personal view of them in their natural habitat that few people will ever have experienced before without ending their existence entirely!

While for many, elephants may seem like mythical creatures, in South Africa you have the opportunity of meeting one face-to-face and discovering more about these magnificent creatures. The options for walking with elephants are pretty big and stretch from walking safari's where you might get to see elephants on foot, but from afar, to elephant sanctuary experiences, where you can get up close and touch and elephant and even ride on one.

Then you might want to participate in stargazing safari which offers one the opportunity to wallow in the spectacular stellar sights of the African night sky – along with the possibility of spotting rare nocturnal wildlife.

Of course with the convergence of two oceans, South Africa's marine life has few equals - they go face-to-face with Great Whites, before getting up close and personal with whales, seals and penguins in the bays around Grootbos. The South African’s seem to get their adrenalin fixes with zipwire and microlight adventures over the rolling landscape of KwaZulu-Natal and "heli-golf" at the world's most extreme hole in Limpopo Province, before unwinding at luxurious spas, lodges and boutique hotels.

The Kruger National Park is a world-acclaimed safari tour destination and part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park between Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe – the world’s greatest animal kingdom. You may stay in a park-managed camp or one of the many luxury safari lodges on private game reserve concessions inside the reserve. Besides the Big 5, lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino, you may see endangered African wild dogs; go on a bush walk – if you’re lucky you’ll meet the Little 5, leopard tortoise, buffalo weaver, ant lion, elephant shrew and rhinoceros beetle - or camp out in the bush; even be a ranger for a day, and discover the secrets of bush craft, animal tracking and game capture.

So with exotic combinations of landscapes, people, history, and culture South Africa offers us a unique experience and after learning about the country I have not much left to do but plan a trip in near future…..

However, along with the beauties and so much offered by the country there are of course people of the country who make the country and one of them was the young designer Mosa Mokuena whom I got to have a brief interview.

Mose, a 25 year old, sweet, talented but one of the most talented designers of South Africa comes from a diplomatic family, she is the daughter of South African Consul General in Munich. As a child she would always design and sew outfits for her dolls so it all started as a hobby. Despite her young age she graduated from MGI (Midrand Graduate Institute) and TUT (Tshwane University of Technology) and she was in Ankara, before here she show cased in Nigeria, with 25 of her designs. She says her aim is to show her creations in Paris. She also hopes to contribute her economics’ skills to develop in art industry in South Africa.

Bigger pictures can be seen below!!!

Bigger pictures

can be seen below!!!