South Africa is a diverse landscape with nine beautiful provinces offering a range of spectactlar natural landscapes and lively cityscapes. Discover some little known facts about our country at the most Southern tip of the African continent.
Landscapes
South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mozambique are working together on creating The Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park - at 35 000 square kilometres (3.5 million hectares or around 7 million acres) the largest conservation area in the world.
South Africa greenlands have 30 species per square kilometer, greater than the biodiversity of the rainforests.
Blyde River Canyon is the third largest canyon in the world - and the largest green one. The Grand Canyon in the US is the biggest, and the Fish River Canyon in Namibia the second, but both are dry as bones.
More about canyons and waterfalls
South Africa and its neighbours are some of the most generously endowed geographic solar hotspots in the world, soaking up just over half of the world's highest category of solar wattage per square metre of land.
Rocks & meteors
South Africa has the oldest meteor scar in the world, just over the Vaal River near Parys, called the Vredefort Dome. The meteor plummeted to Earth nearly two billion years ago (Earth is said to be 4,5 billion years old), predating the heady days of oxygen and multi celled life. More about Geotourism
The rocks around Barberton in Mpumalanga are some of the most ancient in the world - over three billion years old. Because they are also the most accessible such formations, NASA scientists come here to gain an idea of how life might form on distant planets.
Water & waterfalls
The Tugela Falls is the second highest waterfall in the world, where the water tumbles down 850 metres. First place goes to the Angel Falls in Venezuela at 979 metres. More about waterfalls
There are only 12 countries in the world that supply tap water that is fit to drink, and South Africa is one of them. Our tap water quality is about third best overall in the world.
South Africa has the world's most progressive and admired water legislation, and it is making a real difference on the ground. Since 1998 when the so-called "Blue Revolution" began, four million more poor people have access to clean water.
Find out what our nine provinces can offer you:
Eastern Cape
Free State
Gauteng
KwaZulu Natal
Limpopo
Mpumalanga
North West
Northern Cape
Western Cape
Landscapes
South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mozambique are working together on creating The Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park - at 35 000 square kilometres (3.5 million hectares or around 7 million acres) the largest conservation area in the world.
South Africa greenlands have 30 species per square kilometer, greater than the biodiversity of the rainforests.
Blyde River Canyon is the third largest canyon in the world - and the largest green one. The Grand Canyon in the US is the biggest, and the Fish River Canyon in Namibia the second, but both are dry as bones.
More about canyons and waterfalls
South Africa and its neighbours are some of the most generously endowed geographic solar hotspots in the world, soaking up just over half of the world's highest category of solar wattage per square metre of land.
Rocks & meteors
South Africa has the oldest meteor scar in the world, just over the Vaal River near Parys, called the Vredefort Dome. The meteor plummeted to Earth nearly two billion years ago (Earth is said to be 4,5 billion years old), predating the heady days of oxygen and multi celled life. More about Geotourism
The rocks around Barberton in Mpumalanga are some of the most ancient in the world - over three billion years old. Because they are also the most accessible such formations, NASA scientists come here to gain an idea of how life might form on distant planets.
Water & waterfalls
The Tugela Falls is the second highest waterfall in the world, where the water tumbles down 850 metres. First place goes to the Angel Falls in Venezuela at 979 metres. More about waterfalls
There are only 12 countries in the world that supply tap water that is fit to drink, and South Africa is one of them. Our tap water quality is about third best overall in the world.
South Africa has the world's most progressive and admired water legislation, and it is making a real difference on the ground. Since 1998 when the so-called "Blue Revolution" began, four million more poor people have access to clean water.
Find out what our nine provinces can offer you:
Eastern Cape
Free State
Gauteng
KwaZulu Natal
Limpopo
Mpumalanga
North West
Northern Cape
Western Cape
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