South African Flag th, 1994. The flag has horizontal bands of red and blue, of equal width, separated by a central green band which splits into a horizontal ‘Y’ shape. The Y shape, and the colors are said to represent the unification of many people, and the moving forward of the county. The flag of South Africa was adopted on April 27, 1994. The flag has horizontal bands of red and blue, of equal width, separated by a central green band which splits into a horizontal ‘Y’ shape. The Y shape, and the colors are said to represent the unification of many people, and the moving forward of the county.





About South Africa Map

Geography

Polities

Travel

Education

Trivia

South Africa is the 2nd largest fruit producer in the world - due its varied landscape, the country has the capacity to grow a large range of fruit species.

The world's very first heart transplant occurred in Cape Town's Groote Schuur Hospital in 1967.

South Africa's drinking water is the 3rd best in the world in terms of safety.

The Republic of South Africa is a beautiful, green country spanning an area of over 471,443 square miles. South Africa has three capitals; Pretoria is the Executive capital, Bloemfontein is the Judicial Capital, and Cape Town is the Legislative Capital. These are marked out on our South Africa Map. Apart from these, the map also notes the largest cities, Johannesburg, Durban, and Port Elizabeth. This map is also a great guide when it comes to finding all the national parks of the country at a glance - The Karoo National Park, Hantam National Botanical Garden, Table Mountain National Park, Tsitsikamma Forest, and the Blyde River National Reserve are all clearly labeled. The map also points out Pretoria's landmarks, including the Pretoria Art Museum, the Cradle of Humankind, and the Africa Museum.200,000 to 100,000 years ago, humans began to take root in South Africa. These early people later became the San bushmen, they interbred with the south-bound Khoi people from the north, and the group became the KhoiSan, who later migrated into the West Cape around 300AD.The first European to discover the region of South Africa was Portuguese navigator, Bartholomeu Dias. However, ‘western’ settlement didn’t occurred until 1652, when Jan van Riebeeck, from the Netherlands set up a ship-refueling station at Cape Town - the only trade route from Europe and the Americas to the Far East at the time.For the next 200 years, Europeans and Indian settlers came into the region. South Africa was fought over by the Dutch, the French, and the British for centuries, but it was finally the Brits that claimed control of the region in 1806. The region was divided into several kingdoms in the 1800’s. The Zulu kingdom had a strong fighting force led by their leader Shaka Zulu, while the Boers founded Transvaal and the Orange Free State. By 1852, the British granted self-governance in Transvaal, and by the late 1850’s, the Boers declared the land a republic.In 1879, the British conquered the Zulus, followed by the Boers' rebellion against the British in 1880, leading to the two Anglo-Boer Wars.In 1910, the four British colonies in the region were united, which included the Cape, the Natal, Transvaal, and the Orange Free State. Britain then established laws separating ‘whites’ from ‘blacks’ - a segregation known as the ‘apartheid’ - which caused several decades of conflict in the region.In 1963, Nelson Mandela, the anti-apartheid leader of the African National Congress, was sentenced to life in prison due to ‘terrorist activities.’ It wasn't until 1990 that he was freed, and with great triumph, became South Africa's first black President in 1994.South Africa is located in Southern Africa, at the end of the continent. It is the 25th largest country in the world, and is wedged where Atlantic Ocean meets the Indian Ocean.It shares its borders with the nations of Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Botswana, to the north, and the nations of eSwatini (Swaziland) and Mozambique to the east.South Africa's terrain is highly varied with high plateaus in the interior, with various mountain ranges and grasslands found throughout the region.South Africa is a unitary constitutional parliamentary republic. The President is both head of state and the head of the government, he or she appoints the Deputy President, and the Cabinet Ministers.The executive, legislative, and judiciary branches of government are subject to the Constitution.The National Assembly is the lower house, with 400 members elected to five-year terms, while the National Council of Provinces is the upper house, with 90 members. Each of the nine provincial branches elect 10 members each.South Africa is a top tourist destination in Africa. Offering safaris, urban cities, and historic monuments, South Africa's tourism industry is a major contributor to its economy.For the ultimate safari experience, Kruger National Park top choice. One of the largest game reserves in Africa, and the world, it consists of two million hectares of land, with nine different trails, and plenty of accommodation options for every budget - from simple lodges to the most luxurious safari resorts.The Winelands northeast of Cape Town offer a different kind of experience for travelers. Comprising wine routes, historic towns, and green valleys, this is where South Africa's award-winning wines are made.The Cradle of Mankind is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and home to a large number of human fossils that can't be found anywhere else in the world. Located just over 30 miles (50 km) northwest of Johannesburg, this site is a sprawling expanse with limestone caves and hominin fossils that date back from 3.5 million years ago.The Palace of the Lost City is the world's largest themed resort hotel. The spectacular luxury hotel is set amidst 60 acres of man-made jungle, with two million plants, shrubs, and trees.South Africa has one of the highest rates of public investment in education in the world. About 21% of the government's annual spending is allocated to the education system.Governed by two departments, the primary and secondary schools, are handled by the Department of Basic Education, while tertiary education and vocational training are handled by the Department of Higher Education and Training.