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Click Here for a map of South Africa
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South Africa General
The Republic of South Africa covers approximately 475,000 square miles in area. This makes South Africa larger than Holland, Belgium, Italy, France, and Germany combined, or just slightly smaller than Texas, Arizona and California combined! It is a country of vast natural beauty and resources with widely diverging climates, and is often referred to as a WORLD IN ONE COUNTRY. |
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There are 12 national languages spoken amongst
the 41 million inhabitants of South Africa, with the most common being English, Afrikaans, Zulu and
Sotho. Since the post-apartheid elections in 1994, tourism has boomed in South Africa, and the countries peoples are merging into a healthy and optimistic nation. Political violence seems to be a thing of the past and among the vast majority of people there is a desire to get on with building a new nation. It's an exciting time to visit. |
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For the first time traveler to Africa, South Africa is not a bad place to start: the infrastructure is very good, the climate is kind and there are few better places to see Africa's wildlife. South Africa's natural beauty and nation-building enthusiasm make it a great place to visit. |
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Terrain of South Africa
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South Africa is the southernmost part of the African continent, one of the oldest and most stable of the Earth's landmasses. Apart from a narrow coastal strip, which gives way quickly to the Drakensberg escarpment -11,000 feet above sea level--most of the country is a saucer like plateau at an elevation of 3,000 to 6,500 feet above sea level. In the northeastern interior lies the semiarid Karroo, which gives way to the Kalahari and Namib deserts. |
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South Africa is surrounded on three sides by the Indian and Atlantic oceans. Along the Atlantic coast the cold Benguela Current causes fogs and lower air temperatures. Many shipwrecks have resulted from these fogs. The warm Agulhas Current sweeps southward along the east coast, bringing higher temperatures from KwaZulu/Natal to Eastern Cape and Western Cape. |
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There are no navigable rivers in South Africa. Unreliable rainfall in variable amounts makes drought a common problem. However the natal KwaZulu province area east of the Drakensberg gets regular rain and is a very lush sub tropical paradise. |
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Wildlife
of South Africa
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South Africa is rich in the wild animal life of the Old World. The large cats including lion, the leopard, and cheetah roam freely in many parts of the country and feed on many species of antelope and monkey. A wide variety of reptiles including crocodiles, iguanas, and snakes are found in the countryside. Today there are ten major Game Reserves, with many small private reserves and strenuous efforts are made to preserve endangered species such as the black rhinoceros and many other animals. These reserves, along with the spectacular beauty of
South Africa are the biggest tourist attractions. |
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