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Barbara Ludman (re)learns how to live in the moment at South Africa's home of "ubuntu Buddhism", and one of the most beautiful spots on the planet: the laid back, but not disengaged, Buddhist Retreat Centre near the town of Ixopo in KwaZulu-Natal.

A cast of the world's most complete pre-human fossil, one of the most significant fossil finds ever made, can now be seen by visitors to the Maropeng visitor interpretation centre at South Africa's Cradle of Humankind world heritage site.

"Are we about to witness an ideological shift in the ANC? I don't think so." Sir Anthony O'Reilly, chief executive of Independent News & Media, explains why he regards South Africa as a modern-day miracle - and why he thinks the miracle isn't over.

The South African government has set aside R3.8-billion for public transport infrastructure for the 2010 Soccer World Cup, says Transport Minister Jeff Radebe.

Swedish entrepreneur Stephan Ekbergh has launched his latest venture, a one-stop travel portal, in SA and plans to move his headquarters to Cape Town. South Africa and his new business, he says, have a lot in common.

What's plastic, a metre long, brightly coloured and sounds like an elephant? It's the vuvuzela, the noise-making trumpet of South African football fans, and it's come to symbolise the sport in the country.

Describing South Africa as "a country enjoying the benefits of high commodity prices, solid growth and low interest rates", a special report by London's influential Financial Times has expressed qualified praise for SA's economic successes.

Region subtropicale, temperee par un ocean sur les trois cotes du pays et par l'altitude du plateau interieur, elle presente des conditions chaudes et temperees si typiques de l'Afrique du Sud et tellement appreciees des visiteurs etrangers.

The Rand Show has been hailed as the most consistently successful consumer exhibition in Africa. The organisers reckon up to half a million people will turn up for this year's event - and they've lined up a stunning range of entertainment and shopping opportunities for visitors.

Any visitor to Soweto knows that a tour of the Hector Pieterson Museum is compulsory. So are visits to the houses of Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela, and dinner at Wandie's Place. But not everyone knows that overnight stays are an option.