South Africa
facts & tidbits

South Africa pointers

 

Wildflowers

South Africa is known around the globe for its colorful, eye-catching wildflowers.

Country size

The nation is larger than England, France, and Germany combined.

Neighboring countries

South Africa borders six countries: Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, and Lesotho. It completely surrounds the last.

Languages

There are 11 official languages, including Afrikaans, English, Zwazi, and Zulu.

Population

South Africa has 44 million people. Racially, 79% are black, 10% are white, 9% are colored, and 2% either Indian or Asian.

Air travel

Many major international air carriers (including South African Airways) have direct or nonstop flights from major world cities to Johannesburg. Once there, South Africa is well-served by national and regional airlines.

Road travel

You drive on the left side of the street, British style. The major roads are laudable. Some are modern expressways where the official speed limits are usually 120 kilometers (75 miles) per hour.

Drinking water

Tap water is safe to drink in nearly all South African urban areas. In some locales, excessive sodium and other natural minerals give water an unwanted off-taste. Fortunately, bottled water is widely available.

Government branches

Strange as it may seem, the three main branches are situated in three different cities:

Executive = Pretoria
Legislative = Cape Town
Judicial = Bloemfontein

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