Our Country in a Nutshell
At the southernmost tip of the African continent lies a country
just waiting to be discovered, a place that offers endless opportunities
for adventure, relaxation and cultural sharing. It is a large
and scenically diverse country, ringed by beautiful beaches and
the blue-green waters of two oceans.
 Our
people are friendly, our beaches and surf are clean and safe,
our flora and fauna unique, our cuisine exquisite and our forests
emerald green, all contained within an area of approximately 1
220 000 km 2 The whole of South Africa is larger than Germany,
France, Italy, Belgium and Holland put together and offers just
as much cultural diversity.
South Africa’s long, almost 3000 km, coastline offers views
of surpassable beauty and plenty of opportunities for swimming
and water sport. Some of our beaches host regular international
surfing competitions and our harbours are popular destinations
with yacht owners from all over the world.
Inland, South Africa provides access to the bordering countries
of Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe, Mozambique and the Kingdom
of Swaziland. The small Kingdom of Lesotho lies in the southeast
of the country and is completely enclosed by South Africa. Our
sophisticated infrastructure makes it the ideal starting point
for a tour of the African continent. The well-developed road and
transport system, as well as the excellent accommodation and telecommunications
facilities enable visitors to enjoy their stay in comfort. South
Africa offers foreign visitors all the comforts they may desire
against the backdrop of the unspoilt splendour of Africa.
South Africa is known as a country that houses an amazing diversity
of fauna and flora and geographical features within its borders.
The scenic diversity is partly caused by the effect of the cold
north-flowing Benguela current on the west coast and the warm
south-flowing  Mozambique-Agulhas
current on the east coast. The contrast in temperature is part
of the reason why the east and west coasts of South Africa have
significant differences in climate and vegetation. It also causes
big differences in the marine life of the two coasts.
South Africa’s surface is divided into two major physiographic
features - the interior plateau and the land between the plateau
and the coast. The boundary between these two areas is the Great
Escarpment, the most prominent and continuous mountainous feature
in the country. Its height above sea level varies from 1 500 m
in the south-west to 3 482 m in the
KwaZulu-Natal Drakensberg Mountain Range. Inland from the Escarpment
lies the interior plateau with its wide-open plains. Within the
contrasting zones of the country some of the world’s most
diverse animal and plant kingdoms are found. In fact, South Africa
is the only country in the world that can boast of having its
own unique floral kingdom, the Cape “Fynbos”.
Our Provinces
Our country is divided into nine provinces, each with its own
distinct character and identity.
Eastern Cape
 The
Eastern Cape is the second largest of the nine provinces. The
natural diversity of this province is remarkable, ranging from
the dry desolate Great Karoo landscape to lush forests, fertile
valleys, sandy beaches and the mountainous southern Drakensberg
region.
The main attraction of the Eastern Cape is its astonishing coastline.
With its wide sandy beaches, endless sweeps of rocky coves, secluded
lagoons and towering cliffs, the Indian Ocean coastline provides
the province with a rich natural resource, offering an attraction
for every taste.
Free State
 Embraced
by several other provinces, the Free State lies in the heart of
the country. The Kingdom of Lesotho nestles cosily in the hollow
of its bean-like shape. From the major cities to the rural village
townships, the hospitality of the people is as overwhelming as
the scenery is beautiful.
The scenic beauty of the Free State reaches a climax in the Eastern
Free State Highlands on the border of Lesotho. The amazing sight
of cherry orchards clinging to the sides of sandstone-topped mountains
that reflect the different colours of sunrise and sunset is something
not to be missed.
Gauteng
 This
province is aptly named with the Sotho word, which means “Place
of Gold”. Since 1886, when an unemployed miner bent down
to pick up a stone and noticed traces of gold, adventurers and
dreamers have travelled from all over the world to reach the province
of Gauteng.
Gauteng is geographically the smallest but economically the most
significant of South Africa’s provinces. The modern Gauteng
is a province of immense vitality, diversity and, above all, of
opportunity. The landscape is not only covered with modern buildings,
Gauteng also has wide, open ilt thornveld, rolling hills and mountains
to offer.
KwaZulu-Natal
 This
Zulu kingdom by the sea forms the east coast of South Africa and
is often called South Africa’s garden province. From the
peaks of the Drakensberg Mountain Range that hover protectively
over the San Bushmen rock art heritage to the sandy beaches and
subtropical greenery of the coast, it is an amazing sight to behold.
Sheer physical beauty combined with a diversity of natural resources
and an all-year round sunny climate make this a land well worth
visiting. The warm Indian Ocean washing along the beaches makes
it the winter-holiday province of the country.
Mpumalanga
 No
nature lover or hiker should leave South Africa without having
experienced the delights of Mpumalanga. It is an area of immense
natural beauty - a true African landscape. The combination of
majestic mountain scenery, wide horizons, luscious forests and
craggy rock formations, quickly brings the visitor under the enchantment
of the mystery of Africa. In addition to its fascinating flora
and fauna, Mpumalanga also offers the legacy of tribal legends
and the gold rush fever of the 1870s.
Northern Cape
 The
vast, sun kissed Northern Cape Province is the largest province
in South Africa but has the smallest population. Visitors quickly
come under the calming influence of the vast open landscapes,
the early-morning sunrise over rust-red dunes and the roaming
herds of antelope.
Much of this immense region is made up of rugged desert, but
the mighty Orange River forms the Province’s northern boundary
with Namibia and waters a highly fertile area where an abundance
of crops are grown. South Africa’s veldflower extravaganza
takes place here every year after the first spring rains, decorating
the arid area with abundant natural colours.
Northern Province
 The
Northern Province lies within the area formed by the great elbow
of the Limpopo River.
This province with its dramatic contrasts, true Bushveld country
and majestic mountains, indigenous forests and unspoilt wilderness
area, is bordered by Botswana, Mozambique and Zimbabwe on the
west. East and northe respectively. The subtropical climate and
high summer rainfalls have combined to create vegetation of breathtaking
lushness and beauty. Distant mountains frame the endless landscapes
of the true bushveld with its trees and thorny terrain housing
the unique wildlife of the area. The province is a well-managed
conservation area and is also host to such diverse nature
features as wetlands and the Lowveld.
North West
 North
West, the platinum province, is one of the smaller provinces.
Together with the Vaal Reef Gold Mines in Gauteng, the platinum
mines of the province account for nearly 60 per cent of South
Africa’s economic activity.
The fertile plains of the North West province are striped yellow
and green by the sunflowers and mealies (maize) that grow abundantly
in the hot sun, broken only by the Bushveld landscape covered
with thorn trees. A journey through the wild Pilanesberg Mountains
brings the visitor into the bowl of a crater where two of the
country’s most popular casinos and holiday resorts, Sun
City and The Lost City, nestle.
Western Cape
At the south-western tip of the continent of Africa, the Western
Cape is an area of such beauty and contrast that few people can
visit it without falling in love with it.
 Straddling
the peninsula is the famous Table Mountain - a spectacular backdrop
to the city of Cape Town. A landscape of majestic mountains, lush
valleys, rivers and beaches, orchards and wine farms await explorers
of this region. It is also home to “fynbos”, one of
the six floral kingdoms in the world. The abundance and quality
of the products of the wine states, the spectacular Garden Route
along the coast and the rugged landscape of the West Coast provide
a playground suited to the tastes of all visitors.
Our People
 The
South African nation is made up of people whose ancestors have
lived here for thousands of years as well as of people whose ancestors
travelled from the other side of the world to create a new future
for themselves. Our society is a dynamic blend of age-old customs
and modern ways and our identity is the result of a mix of cultures,
the cross-pollination of ideas, words, customs, art forms as well
as of culinary and religious practices.
To incorporate the spirit of reconciliation and mutual respect
which characterizes the South African society, the country recognizes
eleven official languages.
They are, in alphabetical order: Afrikaans, English, Ndebele,
Northern Sotho, Southern Sotho, Swati, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda,
Xhosa and Zulu. South Africa is home to the most diverse groups
imaginable. City dwellers live their fast-paced Western lifestyle
in a world that modern technology has created, and some rural
tribe members choose to live very much as their ancestors did
hundreds of years ago. A large number of the approximately 10
million urban Africans are second and third generation town and
city dwellers and hundreds of thousands are migrant workers. As
a result, the different cultures have fused together in the cities
and a distinctive subculture has developed that includes the traditional
and the new.
Our Plant and Animal Life
South Africa is home to an astonishing variety of plants and
animals. Our indigenous plant life includes some 22 000 species
of flowering plants (including 730 species of trees) and some
900 species of bird, representing 22 of the world’s living
orders.
The country is divided into six natural vegetation regions. The
Mediterranean winter rainfall area in the south-western Cape is
characterised by Fynbos vegetation. To the east lie natural temperate
forests and subtropical coastal forests. Behind the mountainns
that divide the coast from the inner plateau lies a desert and
semi-desert landscape, characterised by shrubs and grassland.
The central highland consists of natural grassland and sparse
clumps of trees.
The coastal stretches are characterised by subtropical humid
conditions. Sparse desert flora characterises the vegetation of
the west coast.
South Africa is the natural habitat of many species of animals,
both carnivore and herbivores.
 Our
most famous four-footed inhabitants are the Elephant, Buffalo,
Lion, Leopard and Rhinoceros, better known as the Big Five. Fortunately,
we have a long history of protecting our natural heritage. Visitors
can therefore look forward to exploring our many nature reserves
and game farms, set among such different landscapes as grassy
veld, mountains, beaches, forests and deserts. The country boasts
with some 800 game reserves and 16 National Parks and hundreds
of privately owned wildlife sanctuaries. We also have large tracts
of land, wilderness areas, that have been established to protect
their original natural character. Romantic and adventurous safaris
into the bush are an experience not to be missed, an opportunity
to become one with nature and discover our land in a unique way.
Our Economy
 Since
the landing of Jan van Riebeeck at the Cape of Good Hope in 1652,
the economy in South Africa has progressed rapidly. The South
Africa of today is a powerful engine for economic growth in southern
Africa. The country’s sophisticated physical and financial
infrastructure provides the ideal investment platform for entry
into the markets of other African countries. The industrialization
of South Africa began with the discovery of gold in 1888 on the
Witwatersrand and today the country has a modern well-diversified
economy.
The main contributing sectors are agriculture, manufacturing,
mining, commerce, secondary industries and service industries.
Although our mineral wealth contributes only 9 % to the gross
domestic product (GDP), it is still the most important asset of
the South African economy. Despite earlier political and labour
problems, South Africa also has one of the most sophisticated
manufacturing industries in Africa. Manufacturing and services
together represent some 40% of the gross domestic product (GDP).
Our Agriculture
Over the years, South African farmers tamed the land and brought
green life to the mostunlikely areas.
 The
complex climate of the country has led to a diverse agricultural
sector being established in South Africa. Three quarters of the
land is used for agriculture but only 12 % of the land is suitable
for dry land crop production. Our uneven rainfall is a potential
problem and has caused farmers to become dependent on irrigation
and today more than 1,2 million ha are under irrigation. The agricultural
product that takes up the largest area of farmland is maize, followed
by wheat, and on a smaller scale, oats, sugar cane and sunflowers.
Over the last decade severe droughts have plagued the country
and agricultural production went down. However, as far as the
production of most primary foods is concerned, we are still self-sufficient.
South Africa is a well-known producer of deciduous fruit and
there are very few fruits that are not grown here. These fruits
are important export products. Another important crop is our grapes
from which our world-renowned award-winning wines are manufactured.
The main breeds of sheep raised in South Africa are Merino, Dohne
Merino, Dormer, Dorper and Karakul. Dairy and beef cattle breeding
with breeds such as Afrikaner, Nguni, Drakensberger and Bonsmara
is another successful South Africa industry.
Our Mineral Wealth
 The
unique and extensive geological formations in South Africa are
the origins of our mineral wealth. The Witwatersrand Basin holds
a considerable share of the world’s gold reserves, as well
as some uranium, silver, pyrite and osmiridium. This basin yields
some 98 per cent of South Africa’s gold.
The Bushveld Complex in Mpumalanga and the Northern Province
produces more than half of the world’s chrome ore. Ores
of vanadium, iron,
titanium, copper, nickel and fluorspar are also found here.
South Africa also possesses some other important mineral reserves:
- The Transvaal system contains more than 80 per cent of the
world’s manganese reserves, as well as significant amounts
of iron ore.
- Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal have significant coal and anthracite
reserves.
- The Phalaborwa Igneous Complex contains extensive deposits
of copper, titanium, phosphate, iron, vermiculite and zirconium.
- The Northern Cape has significant deposits of zinc ores, as
well as copper and lead.
- Diamonds (kimberlites, alluvial and marine), as well as titanium,
iron and zircon are found all over the country.
As a result of these mineral riches, South Africa is one of the
world’s largest mineral producers. Most of these minerals
are mined for the international market.
Our Climate
South Africa lies in the southern hemisphere, which means that
we experience the exact reverse of the seasons in the northern
hemisphere. South African temperatures are governed by three main
features. Firstly, because of South Africa’s greater height
above sea level, temperatures tend to be lower here than in other
regions in the world in similar latitudes, for example Australia.
 Secondly,
despite a latitudinal span of 13 degrees, average annual temperatures
are remarkably uniform throughout the country, mainly due to the
increase in the height of the plateau towards the north-east.
The third feature is the striking contrast between temperatures
on the east and west coasts, as caused by the difference between
the temperatures of the Mozambique-Agulhas and Benguela currents.
Over 40 % of the country area lies above 1 210 m above sea level,
a factor which influences the temperatures and rainfall in the
interior significantly. South Africa’s climate is generally
sunny and temperate, creating ideal conditions for outdoor adventures.
Our average number of sunshine hours per day is among the highest
in the world. Temperatures above 32º C are fairly common
in summer in South Africa and in some areas frequently exceed
38º C. Although these temperatures are normally comfortable
and are particularly enjoyed by visitors from colder regions,
visitors are warned to have respect for our sun and apply sunscreen
products when outside for a number of hours.
The dry conditions and abundant sunshine are caused by South
Africa’s location in the subtropical belt of high pressure.
Fortunately, the wide expanses of ocean on three sides of South
Africa have a moderating influence on the climate. Where the land
meets the sea, gale-force winds frequently blow, especially in
the south-western and southern coastal areas. The rest of the
country, however, does not suffer from these winds. Winter temperatures
are generally mild and clear and periodic snowfalls only occur
in the higher mountain ranges of the Eastern and Western Cape
and KwaZulu-Natal.
South Africa has an average annual rainfall of only 464 mm, against
the world average of 857 mm. In total, 65 per cent of the country
has an annual rainfall of less than 500 mm which is usually regarded
as the absolute minimum for successful dry-land farming. This
potential problem has largely been countered by the construction
of excellent irrigation systems. Frost often occurs on the interior
plateau during cold, clear winter nights, with ice forming on
still pools and in water pipes. The incidence of frost decreases
to the north of the country, while the coast is virtually frost-free.
Snow is a rare occurrence except on some mountaintops, for example
in the Drakensberg mountain range.
Another example of our astonishing diversity is the Western Cape
province that experiences a Mediterranean climate (dry summers
and winter rainfall) while the rest of the country gets its rain
in summer.
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