South Africa is located at the southern most region of Africa, with a long coastline that stretches more than 2500 kilometres (1 550 mi) and across two oceans (the Atlantic and the Indian). At 470 979 mi² (1 219 912 km²),[4] South Africa is the world's 25th-largest country (after Mali). It is comparable in size to Colombia. Njesuthi in the Drakensberg at 3 408 m (11,424 ft) is the highest peak in South Africa.
If there is any place where there is just lots and lots of things to do it has got to be in South Africa. You can do almost anything under the sun in sunny South Africa. There are numerous experiences that you may want to enjoy and there is an endless list of activities to do too. If you are an adventure sport fan there is all adventure you can think of. You can choose anything from bungee jumping to surfing from gliding to abseiling. There are general sports in every one of South Africa’s provinces. There is a cricket, rugby and soccer field everywhere you go in the country and to top it all South Africans are real adventure and sport fanatics.
You can enjoy any cuisine you like. Dotted across the country are restaurants that cater for almost every culture in the world from Asia to Europe. From Africa to America and our very own originally South African delectable dishes. South Africa has a rich culture, amazing history and a variety of religions. These are the things that form the fibre of any society and there is no better way of learning about South Africa than visiting these sites.
The country has historic buildings, museums and monuments that define its origin. Take a tour to the townships, cultural villages, mission stations and learn more about the intriguing history of this country. Memorable is the word you can use to fittingly describe any South Africa holiday experience and there are many reasons why. South Africa is well endowed with a wide variety of experiences to explore. From watching the big five in one of the world’s biggest national parks to enjoying a relaxing time at our blue flag beaches to surfing at some of the world’s best super tubes. You can choose to sift through our unmatched cultural and wine routes or you can opt to learn a lot through our world heritage sites. You can watch whales doing acrobatics at the world’s whale watching capital or come up close and personal with the great whites or simply take part in any of the endless adrenalin pumping adventure sports that we offer in the air, sea or on land. All this while staying in some of the world class hotels or simply living in our equally comfortable award winning alternative accommodation.
- South Africa has the third highest level of biodiversity in the world.
- South Africa has the oldest meteor scar in the world. The meteor plummeted to Earth nearly two billion years ago, predating the heady days of oxygen and multi-celled life. The Vredefort Dome was recently declared a World Heritage Site.
- The rocks around Barberton in Mpumalanga are some of the most ancient in the world - over three billion years old.
- 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].
- Blyde River Canyon is the third largest canyon in the world (and the largest ‘green canyon’). The Grand Canyon in the US is the biggest, and second place goes to the Fish River Canyon in Namibia.
- Most of the world's proto-mammalian fossils are found in the Karoo region - along with a 280 million year old fossilized shark.
- According to recent studies, the star-watching town of Sutherland in the Northern Cape is one of the most geologically stable places on Earth, yet it has a 66-million year old volcano, not yet officially extinct.
- Kimberley may have the biggest man-made hole in the world, but the southern Free State town of Jagersfontein has the deepest vertical man-made hole.
- South Africa is home to the world’s smallest succulent plants (less than 10 mm) and the largest (the baobab).
- Lake Fundudzi in Venda is possibly the world’s only inland freshwater lake formed by a landslide.
- The only street in the world to house two Nobel Peace prize winners is in South Africa. Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu both have houses in Vilakazi Street in Soweto.
- The world’s first heart transplant was done in South Africa in 1967 by South African Dr Chris Barnard.
- South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mozambique are tearing down fences between the countries’ game parks to create a 35 000 square kilometers game park which will become the largest conservation area in the world.
- South Africa is ranked number one in the world for its floral kingdom.
- South Africa’s Coastal Management policy is one of the best in the world with the country being the first outside Europe to gain Blue Flag status for its coastal management.
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