Situated at the tip of an ancient and intriguing continent, South Africa is a diverse land with unrivalled natural beauty. The majority of the South African landscape consists of plateaus (high, flat areas), covered with rolling grasslands (highveld) and plains dotted with trees (bushveld). To the east, west and south of the plateau is the Great Escarpment, a mountainous region. The eastern range of the Great Escarpment is called the Drakensberg (Dragon’s Mountain) and consists of many jagged peaks, some greater than 11,400 feet (3475 meters) high. In total, there are 19 national parks spread throughout South Africa, which serve to protect the infinite beauty of its lands. You can read our travel guide blog post on traveling in South Africa safely here.
Capital city: Cape Town
Highest Point: Njesuthi (11,181ft / 3408m)
Lowest Point: Atlantic Ocean (0ft / 0m)
Land Area: 468,909 sq. mi (1,214,470 sq. km)
Water Area: 1784 sq. mi (4,620 sq. km)
Total Area: 470,693 sq. mi (1,219,090 sq. km)
Coastline: 1739 miles (2798 km)
Bordering countries (6) Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Zimbabwe
Are you planning a trip to a new tourist destination in 2022? Your best bet is South Africa. South Africa is home to a wealth of attractions and fun experiences. For the first-time visitor, the experience of adventure touring around the country’s popular wildlife conserves is a must as well as visiting its many landmark…
The Three Rondavels are an ancient geological wonder located in South Africa’s Blyde River Canyon region. The trio of portly peaks are shaped like traditional beehive huts, with gently sloping walls and domed summits. Also known as the Three Sisters, they serve as reminders of the native hut housing structures called rondavels. Situated along the…
For most people, the word desert conjures up images of huge expanses of dry sand with little or no vegetation and a very limited animal population often only able to venture out during the hours of darkness to avoid the blistering daytime temperatures. The Kalahari Desert however has none of these features and it is…
Covering an area of 31,274 sq. mi (81,000 sq. km), the Namib is a coastal desert, situated along the south-western coast of the African continent. Stretching over 1200mi (2000km), the Namib crosses Angola, Namibia and South Africa. Characterised by red sand dunes that can reach impressive heights, the Namib is considered to be particularly old,…
South Africa’s Kruger National Park is one of the world’s largest “big five” game reserves. This frequently used description has its origins back in the days of the big game hunters when those engaged in the so-called “sport” of killing large animals came to regard certain animals as being particularly difficult to hunt on foot…