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Log in Join Add My Business Inquire About This Domain City Guide Regions Things To Do What To See Culture More… City Guide Regions Eastern Cape Free State KwaZulu Natal Limpopo Mpumulanga Northern Cape Western Cape Things To Do Safaris 4×4 Driving Crocodile Cage Diving What To See Museums Heritage Sites Parks Game Reserves Culture Travel Hotels Flights Rental Car Cruises Business Blog The Rainbow Nation South Africa is named because the country is geographically comprised of the southernmost section of the African continent. Travelers to this remote corner of Africa’s southern tip marvel at its historical significance and are captivated by its geography, sheer beauty and cultural diversity. The people of South Africa are passionate about their culture , innovative spirit, hospitality and friendliness. South Africa is home to some of the planet’s most unique topography spanning from famous beaches attracting tourists and world class surfers to some of the world’s most coveted national parks and historical sites. The country also offers visitors with ecotourism excursions and safaris into nature and game reserves to see the iconic wildlife of Africa including elephants, giraffes, lions and many other endangered species. For visitors seeking to savor the culinary arts, be sure to plan a trip to South Africa’s wine country and fine dining establishments. City and Regional Guide Cape Town Garden Route Plettenberg Bay Simonstown Breede River Valley Mossel Bay Stellenbosch Worcester Eastern Cape Graaff Reinet Jeffreys Bay Port Elizabeth Uitenhage Free State Bloemfontein Fouriesburg Parys Welkom Gauteng Benoni Johannesburg Pretoria Soweto KwaZulu Natal Drakensberg Durban Pietermaritzburg Zululand Limpopo Hoedspruit Mokopane Phalaborwa Tzaneen Mpumalanga Barberton Middelburg Piet Retief Waterval Boven North West Brits Hartebeespoort Potchefstroom Sun City Northern Cape Augrabies Kathu Namaqualand Springbok Things to Do and See Attractions Art Galleries Beaches Game Reserves Heritage Sites Museums Parks Theatres Activities Camping Crocodile Cage Diving Fishing Golf Courses Hiking Safaris Surfing South Africa Country Profile South Africa is the most southern country in Africa and occupies the southern tip of the African continent. Historically, the country was formerly comprised of four British colonies that were called the Union of South Africa”. Today, its official name is the Republic of South Africa in English but there is an official name for each of the country’s 11 main languages . South Africa has the second largest economy in Africa after Nigeria. South Africa has the fifth largest population and is the 9th largest in area at 1,219,000 km2. The country shares its border with Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe. South Africa has a remarkably smooth 2,500 km (1600 miles) of coastline shared with the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Distance from the south to the northeast corner of the country is about 1800 km (1200 mi) and between 1,000 km and 1,300 km (620 mi to 810 mi) from northern to the southern border at its widest point. In South Africa, the President is the head of the government and the head of state whose tenure depends on the decision of Parliament. However, the constitution is the supreme law of the land and all three branches of government, the executive, legislative and judicial. South Africa is divided into 9 regions, with the Limpopo province being the largest. The county is further comprised of 8 metropolitan municipalities, 44 district municipalities, and 205 local municipalities. Below is our country profile containing facts and information to familiarize you with South Africa. Common English Country Name: South Africa Official Names: Republic of South Africa (10 official names each based on indigenous language) National Anthem: Lord Bless Africa (”Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika”) / Die Stem van Suid-Afrika” (1997) National Symbols: Springbok, Blue Crane, King Protea flower, Real Yellowwood (tree) Historical and Colloquial Name: Mzani” meaning south Country Motto: Unity in Diversity” Formation: Independence from United Kingdom, established as a Republic in 1961 Government: Devolved Parliamentary Legislature Location: Africa Capital: Pretoria (Executive), Bloemfontein (Judicial), and Cape Town (Legislative) Largest City (Population): Johannesburg Select Cities: Durban, Port Elizabeth, Cape Town, Glasgow (largest), Aberdeen, Dundee, Paisley, East Kilbride Nationality: South African Primary Ethnicity: Black, Colored, White, Asian Major Religions: African Independent Church, Pentecostal and Evangelical, Roman Catholic Population: 58,800,000 (2019 estimate) Life Expectancy: 60 years for males and 67 years for females (World Rank #153) Partial List of Major Languages: Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Sotho, Tsonga, Zulu, Afrikaans Area: 1,219,100 Km² (470,700 mi²) Points of Interest: Kruger National Park, Cape Town, The Drakensberg, The Garden Route Highest Point: Mafadi with an elevation of 3,450 m (11,320 ft) Lowest Point: Sea level Longest River: Orange River with alength of 2,200 km (1,400 miles) Largest Lake: Lake Chrissie 9 km (6 mi) in length and 3 km (2 mi) in width Climate: Cool and Wet. July is the hottest month (11 °C), January is the coldest (4 °C) Average Temperature: 20 °C (68°F) Coordinates: Latitude: 31°18′34″ S and Longitude: 18°21′25″ E Currency: South African Rand (ZAR) Driving Side: Left Time Zone: Greenwich Mean Time (UTC) +2 Internet TLD: .za (top-level domain) Calling code: +27 South Aferica Travel What currency is used in South Africa? South Africa’s official currency is the Rand which is common represented by the symbols (ZAR; R, or rand”) and comprised of banknotes and coins. The most famous coin from South Africa is the Krugerrand- a highly desirable gold coin that comes in 4 denominations with the one-ounce piece sought by collectors world-wide. Where should I visit when in South Africa? While in South Africa consider visiting the Western Cape with its magnificent beaches or explore such memorable destinations as Umhlanga Rocks , or one of the many game reserves such as the one at Hluhluwe Imfolozi reserves , or one of South Africa’s heritage sites such as Mapungubwe . When is the best time of year to travel to South Africa? The climate of South Africa varies more than most sub-Saharan countries in Africa due to its higher elevations. It has a high amount of sunshine. Rainfall is about half the global average. Temperatures are influenced by its significantly sized coastal regions where cold and warm currents create different climatic conditions. Freezing temperatures at high altitudes are quite common in winter. Here are some examples of temperature differences: Johannesburg 26°C (78 °F) to 4 °C (39.2 °F); Bloemfontein 31°C (87 °F) to -2 °C (28.4 °F), Richard’s Bay 29°C (84.2 °F) to 12 °C (53.6 °F). Depending on your activities, for most travelers the tourist season generally falls in four categories. Hiking and outdoor enthusiasts find April-June as the best season while beach goers and enjoy the months of December through February. Be sure to bring the appropriate clothing and plan accordingly. What are some of the activities and things to do in South Africa? Excursions abound with tour operators offering many single and multi-day packages that include scenic flights over Plettenberg Bay to the Knysna Heads; adventure tours less than one hour outside of Johannesburg at Lion Rhino Park ; historical tours of the Battlefields at KwaZuluNatal. Adventure enthusiasts can enjoy many outdoor activities such as open water and shore fishing . For the thrill seekers there are tour operators offering famous cage and scuba diving adventures where you can see great whites in their natural habitat. Surfing at many coastal cities attracts world famous events and instruction at academies located in the Western Cape at Jeffrey’s Bay and Muizenberg. What are some of the must see” South African destinations?...