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Man with the South African flag on his back. Photo by Karabo Mdluli.

Top 15 Interesting Facts About South Africa

South Africa is a diverse country with a rich cultural history, beautiful herbal landscapes, and a fascinating history.

South Africa is home to a plethora of distinct ethnic corporations, each with its own set of customs and traditions.

Apartheid was once used to rule the country, which institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination.

Since 1961, the long formal name in English has been “Republic of South Africa,” and Republiek van Suid-Afrika in Afrikaans.

1. South Africa has three capital cities

South Africa’s three capital cities are all significant in their own right. They are also strategically placed across the country.

Pretoria is South Africa’s administrative capital, and it houses the entire executive panel of the government, from the President to the Cabinet. Other important government departments, as well as foreign embassies, are also located in Pretoria. It is in the province of Gauteng, near the city of Johannesburg, in the country’s northeast.

The three capital cities of South Africa are all significant in their own right. They are also strategically located throughout the country.

Pretoria is South Africa’s administrative capital, and it houses the country’s entire executive branch, from the President to the Cabinet. Pretoria also houses important government departments as well as foreign embassies. It is located in the northeastern province of Gauteng, near the city of Johannesburg.

2. The country has 11 official languages

isiZulu (the most commonly spoken), Afrikaans, isiXhosa (2nd most common), siSwati, Sesotho, Xitsonga, Sepedi, isiNdebele, Setswana, Tshivenda­, and English, which is the language of business, politics and the media. There are also numerous other non-official languages.

The majority of Africans speak more than one language.

3. Cape Winelands is the world’s longest wine route

The Cape Winelands are located in South Africa’s Western Cape Province. The Stellenbosch Wine Route is the most well-known in the country and should be at the top of your list. The areas of Franschhoek, Paarl Vinters, Worcester Wine Route, and Wellington Wine Route are also fantastic.

The Cape Winelands is located close to Cape Town, with Stellenbosch and Paarl being less than 30 minutes drive from Cape Town International Airport and Worcester being only 60 minutes away.

The Cape Winelands is vast and full of events and happenings, so plan ahead of time to enjoy the beautiful surroundings, taste wine, pick strawberries, and participate in numerous events hosted by the various regions.

4. The world’s largest visible crater is in South Africa

A girl standing at embedded shatter cones at the Vredefort Dome. Photo by Liza Kovaleva.

Vredefort Dome, approximately 120 km south-west of Johannesburg, is a representative part of a larger meteorite impact structure, or astrobleme. It is the oldest astrobleme discovered on Earth, dating back 2,023 million years. It is also the largest and most deeply eroded, with a radius of 190 km. The Vredefort Dome witnessed the world’s largest known single energy release event, which had devastating global consequences, including, according to some scientists, major evolutionary changes. It provides critical evidence of the Earth’s geological history and is critical to understanding the planet’s evolution.

Despite the significance of impact sites in Earth’s history, geological activity on the planet’s surface has resulted in the disappearance of evidence from the majority of them, including Vredefort.

The Bloukrans Bridge Bungee Jump is located at the Bloukrans Bridge in South Africa’s Western Cape Province and is the best business bungee jump in the world. The soar website is located 216 meters (709 feet) above the Bloukrans River, and thrill-seekers can get an adrenaline rush as they soar off the bridge and free-fall toward the river below.

5. South Africa, experienced apartheid for 50 years

When the Afrikaaner Nationalist Party took power in 1948, their apartheid (separation) policy separated blacks and whites, forced hundreds of thousands of people to resettle in black ‘homelands,’ and imprisoned, killed, or exiled opponents. The African National Congress (ANC) initially fought apartheid through civil disobedience, but after the 1960 Sharpeville massacre (in which police killed 70 protesters), Nelson Mandela formed a military wing.

After decades of international sanctions and boycotts, opposition from the ANC, and public uprisings, the apartheid government of South Africa agreed to repeal apartheid laws and hold democratic elections. Nelson Mandela became South Africa’s first black president in 1994, and April 27 is now celebrated as Freedom Day.

6. The national animal of South Africa is the Springbok

Springbok. Photo by Charles J. Sharp.

Springbok symbolizes the continued existence of apartheid structures in South Africa. The springbok emblem was introduced in South Africa during white rule, and its retention remains a burden for many South Africans who followed the Rugby World Cup.

7. South Africa is the largest producer of platinum in the world

Platinum nugget. Photo by Alchemist-hp.

South Africa is the world’s leading producer of platinum. South African platinum mining accounts for approximately 80% of global platinum production and 40% of global gross palladium production.

8. The largest diamond was found in South Africa

Necklace made of rough diamonds. Photo by W.carter.

On January 25, 1905, it was discovered in the Premier Mine in Pretoria, South Africa. The 3,106-carat stone weighed 1.33 pounds and was named after the mine’s owner, Cullinan. The largest, the 530.2 carat Cullinan I or Great Star of Africa, is the world’s largest colorless cut diamond and can be seen on top of the Queen of England’s Sceptre with the Cross in the Tower of London. Cecil Rhodes founded the world’s largest diamond company, De Beers, in Kimberley, South Africa, in 1881.

Today, the company has a global presence and sells more than a third of the world’s rough diamonds. South African diamond mines account for 9.1% of global diamond production.

9. Table mountain is one of the oldest mountains in the world

Table Mountain. Photo by Daniel Case.

Table Mountain is South Africa’s most recognizable landmark.

It is also the most photographed attraction in the country, and its famous cable car has transported millions of people to its peak.

Table Mountain has become the most welcoming icon, not only to our people, but also to visitors from all over the world.

However, this mountain hides many surprises that must be discovered.

It is much more than a picturesque photograph backdrop or a location from which to take a breathtaking photo of Cape Town.

Table Mountain is home to approximately 2,200 plant species and, 1470 floral species. Many of the plants and flowers found on this mountain are endemic.

10. It is home to two Nobel Prize winners 

Vilakazi is possibly the most famous street in Soweto—or even Johannesburg. It is the only street in the world that has produced two Nobel laureates: His Excellency Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela and The Most Reverend Desmond Tutu.

11. Nelson Mandela has six different names in South Africa

Nelson Mandela statue. Photo by Warko.

He was born Rolihlahla Mandela. His teacher gave him the name Nelson on his first day of school, following the practice in the 1920s of giving all children English names because English colonials ‘couldn’t’ pronounce African names. During a traditional rite of passage ceremony when he was 16, he was given the name Dalibhunga (‘creator or founder of the council’). South Africans commonly refer to him as Madiba, the name of the Thembu clan to which he belongs, or simply Tata or Khulu, the Xhosa words for “father” and “grandfather,” respectively.

12. The Bloukrans Bridge is the highest commercial natural bungee jump in the world

Bloukrans Bridge Bungy Jump. Photo by Face Adrenalin.

Bloukrans Bridge Bungy, located 216 meters (709 feet) above the Bloukrans River, is one of the world’s highest commercial bungy jumping sites. It is located on the N2 Highway at Bloukrans Bridge, on the border between the Eastern and Western Capes, in the Tsitsikamma area of South Africa’s Garden Route.

13. South Africa has the infamous Robben Island prison

Maximum Security Prison, Robben Island. Photo by Moheen Reeyad.

Robben Island is best known for housing Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s first democratically elected president, for 18 of his 27 years in prison. Since then, the island has come to represent the triumph of democracy and freedom over oppression.

14. South Africa has the largest pineapple building

The Big Pineapple. Photo by NJR ZA.

THE “Big Pineapple,” located outside of Bathurst, South Africa, is the world’s largest pineapple structure, standing just under 56 feet tall.

The structure is three stories tall. It’s made of metal and fibreglass and has a viewing platform. Inside the pineapple is a museum dedicated to the fruit, as well as a variety of pineapple products for sale.

Though it is a replica of a similar fruity structure in Australia, the Big Pineapple is slightly taller and thus claims the title of World’s Largest Pineapple.

15. It has hosted the Soccer, Rugby, and cricket World Cup

South Africa is the world’s first country to host the rugby, soccer, and cricket World Cup.