Nightlife

All the large cities have cinemas screening international films, theatres showing plays, operas and musicals, and comedy clubs hosting cabaret nights. Some cities have arthouse cinemas which show grittier releases and foreign language films and occasionally host film and documentary festivals.

South Africa has a thriving music scene, covering everything from symphony concerts to late-night jam sessions. There is a unique South African township jazz style, exponents of which can be seen in all large cities, but particularly Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Bloemfontein. Local bands also play homegrown rock, reggae, rap and kwaito, a type of hip hop originating from Johannesburg.

There are a number of annual local music and arts festivals, of which the most famous are the Cape Town Jazz Festival (www.capetownjazzfest.com) in March, the Splashy Fen rock and pop festival in Underberg, KwaZulu Natal (www.splashyfen.co.za) in April, the 10-day National Arts Festival in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape (www.nafest.co.za) in June and Woodstock, held near Johannesburg (www.woodstock.co.za) in November. Open air concerts are held in Cape Town's Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden on summer Sundays (December to March). Sports stadiums host international pop and rock stars on a regular basis.

Most restaurants and cafes double up as bars in the evening and some have large screen TVs to watch sporting fixtures. In the towns and cities, the nightclubs stay open until late; Cape Town has a thriving gay scene. Sun City's glitzy casinos not only have gaming floors but also entertainment such as bowling alleys, restaurants, and sometimes supper theatres for comedy and cabaret.

Large hotels usually have live music, and may lay on tourist-oriented music, drumming and dance shows. In the parks and reserves, there may be some organised entertainment, but it tends to be low-key; it's more usual for safari lodge guests and staff to gather round a campfire to swap stories.