Search Geography Explorer

Search countries, cities, rivers, lakes, deserts, oceans, islands and more

Fun facts about South Africa

5 facts - tap any card to flip it and learn more.

Discover more facts
Front of Maropeng at the Cradle of Humankind
country

The name 'South Africa' reflects its geographic location at the southern tip of Africa.

South Africa
Tap to learn more
country

South Africa

Population
64.7M
Area
1.22M km²
Capital
Pretoria
Continent
Africa
24th most populous country in the world

South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa.

From the “Etymology” section

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photo: Olga Ernst · CC BY-SA 4.0

Fact 1 permalink
Front of Maropeng at the Cradle of Humankind
country

South Africa contains some of the oldest archaeological and human-fossil sites in the world.

South Africa
Tap to learn more
country

South Africa

Population
64.7M
Area
1.22M km²
Capital
Pretoria
Continent
Africa
24th most populous country in the world

South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa.

From the “History” section

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photo: Olga Ernst · CC BY-SA 4.0

Fact 2 permalink
Front of Maropeng at the Cradle of Humankind
country

Mafadi in the Drakensberg is the highest peak in South Africa at 3,450 m (11,320 ft) above sea level.

South Africa
Tap to learn more
country

South Africa

Population
64.7M
Area
1.22M km²
Capital
Pretoria
Continent
Africa
24th most populous country in the world

South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa.

From the “Geography” section

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photo: Olga Ernst · CC BY-SA 4.0

Fact 3 permalink
Front of Maropeng at the Cradle of Humankind
country

The coldest place on mainland South Africa is Buffelsfontein in the Eastern Cape, where a temperature of −20.1 °C (−4.2 °F) was recorded in 2013.

South Africa
Tap to learn more
country

South Africa

Population
64.7M
Area
1.22M km²
Capital
Pretoria
Continent
Africa
24th most populous country in the world

South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa.

From the “Geography” section

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photo: Olga Ernst · CC BY-SA 4.0

Fact 4 permalink
Front of Maropeng at the Cradle of Humankind
country

The coastal belt of South Africa is home to the famous fynbos biome, known for its unique shrubland and thicket.

South Africa
Tap to learn more
country

South Africa

Population
64.7M
Area
1.22M km²
Capital
Pretoria
Continent
Africa
24th most populous country in the world

South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa.

From the “Geography” section

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photo: Olga Ernst · CC BY-SA 4.0

Fact 5 permalink