Seven fun facts about South Africa you need to know!
· The South African
South Africa is a treasure chest overflowing with gems. From its wildlife and scenery to its people and food, Mzansi can certainly count itself as one of the most unique countries in the world.
Whether you reside in the Rainbow Nation or are planning to visit it soon, SA is brimming with fascinating – and fun! – nuances waiting to be discovered and shared.
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SEVEN FUN FACTS ABOUT SA
Ready to learn some fun facts about South Africa? Let’s unpack them right here, starting with:
1. CAPITAL THREE
Cape Town is SA’s administrative capital. Image: HandmadePictures/ CanvaWhy have one capital city? Three cities in South Africa can lay claim to this appellation: Pretoria, Cape Town and Bloemfontein. Pretoria is the administrative-cum-executive capital, Cape Town is the legislative capital and Bloemfontein is the judicial capital.
2. LARGE AND IN CHARGE
Guess where the largest, record-breaking animals can be found? You guessed it – good ol’ Mzansi is home to these magnificent creatures.
Three animals – the ostrich, elephant and leatherback turtle – are recognised as the world’s largest bird, land mammal and reptile, respectively. Talk about a big win for SA’s wildlife!
3. HEART SONG
SA’s national anthem is a linguistic wonder. Image: Yan Krakau/ CanvaThe stirring, spirited notes of our national anthem are enough to make anyone cry (just ask Teboho Mokoena!).
It’s also very inclusive: the anthem consists of four stanzas that are sung in five of SA’s 12 official languages: isiXhosa, isiZulu, Sesotho, Afrikaans and English.
4. AIN’T NO MOUNTAIN OLD ENOUGH
Our planet is a little over 4.5 billion years old. For three mountain ranges in South Africa, they’re slowly but surely catching up. At 3.5 billion years old, Mpumalanga’s Barberton Mountains, AKA the Makhonjwa Mountains, are the oldest mountain range on Earth.
Limpopo’s Waterberg Mountains (2.8 billion years old) and North West’s Magaliesberg Mountains (2.3 billion years old) also rank high among the world’s oldest mountains.
5. RIDE AND WINE
SA is famed for its wines. So, it’s no wonder that it’s also home to the world’s longest wine route. Route 62 spans 850 kilometres from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth – along the way, you can stop, sip and savour plenty of vintages at our top vineyards and wine farms.
6. RING THE WEDDING BELLS LOUD AND PROUD
Same-sex marriage in South Africa was legalised in 2006. Image: RobertDodge/ CanvaThe year 2026 marks the 20th anniversary of same-sex marriage becoming legalised in South Africa. In addition to becoming the fifth country in the world to legalise this practice, the Rainbow Nation is the only African country to do so thus far.
7. BLOOMING LOVELY (AND LOCALLY)
Earth is home to six floral kingdoms. One of these is the Cape Floristic Region: it’s located on the southern tip of SA and is home to over 9 000 plant species. The Floristic Region also consists of fynbos, a highly diverse shrubland ecosystem found only in the Cape region. Think restios, ericas and, of course, proteas!
EXTRAORDINARY SOUTH AFRICA
This is just a handful of the fantabulous things that make South Africa tick. Of course, there are still plenty more gems waiting to be unearthed.
If you know of any, share them in the comments below!