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Exploring South Africa
The southernmost country in Africa is a cultural melting pot with 11 official languages. It’s also a haven for wildlife. The nation is home to Africa’s “big five” animals: lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and African buffalo. Plus, South Africa is a habitat for a number of endemic species and a large colony of endangered African penguins that lives outside of Cape Town.
South Africa attracts travelers interested in adventure, stunning scenery and animal encounters but also those who want to understand history. The nation drew international attention and condemnation for racial segregation during the years of apartheid. With the help of former leaders like Nelson Mandela, apartheid ended in 1994, but many challenges remain.
Visitors can delve into these issues while meeting the country’s friendly people and exploring the sweeping landscapes. If you’re thinking of traveling to South Africa, here are some country details to help you get set for the journey:
Country Overview
South Africa is relatively remote from other high population centers since it’s thousands of miles from major African cities like Lagos, Nigeria and from the other continents. The country borders six other nations – Namibia to the northwest, Botswana and Zimbabwe to the north, Mozambique and Swaziland to the northeast and Lesotho which is entirely surrounded by South African land.
The country also borders two oceans – the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. The islands of Prince Edward and Marion that are hundreds of miles off the coast are also part of South Africa. Overall, the country has a population of about 59 million people and its land is about twice the size of Texas.
The country has three capital cities that focus on separate governmental functions: Pretoria for executive, Cape Town for legislative and Bloemfontein for judicial.
South Africa has high plateaus covered with grasslands and tree-dotted plains. Adjacent to the plateau is a mountainous region called the Great Escarpment. However, the country’s location on the southern tip of Africa is what made the nation valuable to Europeans.
In the 1400s European ships headed to the Far East stopped for supplies in the region while rounding the tip of Africa. In the mid-1600s the Netherlands created Cape Town and Dutch farmers called Boers settled in the area.
Eventually the British took control of the region following wars in Europe in 1806. A century later the laws that established apartheid were made. Prior to this time of colonization and division, hunter-gatherers lived in the region for hundreds of years.
Weather
South Africa has four seasons and is generally sunny and semi-arid. Most of the country only gets rain in the summer months of December – February.
Here are the average weather conditions, you’d expect to see in Cape Town from June-August.
| June | July | August | |
| High Temperature | 62.2 F | 61.1 F | 61.9 F |
| Low Temperature | 51.8 F | 50.4 F | 50.4 F |
| Average Daylight | 9 hrs. 5 min | 10 hrs. 1 min | 10 hrs. 5 min |
| Average Rainfall | 3.86 inches | 2.44 inches | 2.76 inches |
| Monthly Rainy Days | 13.8 days | 10.8 days | 13.7 days |
Language
As mentioned above, the nation has 11 official languages. Here is a breakdown of language usage in South Africa from the CIA World Factbook:
- isiZulu (official) 25.3%
- isiXhosa (official) 14.8%
- Afrikaans (official) 12.2%
- Sepedi (official) 10.1%
- Setswana (official) 9.1%
- English (official) 8.1%
- Sesotho (official) 7.9%
- Xitsonga (official) 3.6%
- siSwati (official) 2.8%,
- Tshivenda (official) 2.5%
- isiNdebele (official) 1.6%
- Other (includes Khoi, Nama, and San languages) 2%
Note – Data represent language spoken most often at home (2018 est.)
Landscapes
South Africa 4K – Scenic Relaxation Film With African Music
See the stunning landscapes in South Africa while watching and listening to this relaxing video.
History
Nelson Mandela’s Life Story
Learn more about South Africa’s first democratically elected president, who spent 27 years in jail for his fight against the racial divisions of apartheid.
Biography of Nelson Mandela
Get more details from the Nelson Mandela Foundation that was founded in 1999. It provides information on Mandela’s life and promotes dialogue on important social issues.
Why South Africa is still so segregated
Years after apartheid has ended, the country still struggles with the divisions it created.
Read
Cry, The Beloved Country
Alan Paton’s worldwide best selling novel that was published in 1948 is a moving story about racial injustice.
Wildlife
10 Unique Animals Found in South Africa
Many travelers to South Africa enjoy searching for large animals while on safari, such as African elephants and lions. But the nation also has a host of lesser known endemic species.
The South African Town Where Penguins Rule
In Simon’s Town outside of Cape Town, 1,000 breeding pairs of African penguins nest on the beaches and in the local gardens.
Watch
Penguin Town
If you have Netflix, you can watch this cute documentary about the endangered African penguins.
Try
South African Bobotie Recipe
Follow this simple recipe to make South Africa’s national dish.
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