Officially the Republic of South Africa, South Africa is the southernmost country on the African continent, bordered on the north by Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe and on the east and northeast by Mozambique and eSwatini. South Africa has three capitals: Cape Town (legislative), Pretoria (executive) and Bloemfontein (judicial). Johannesburg is South Africa’s largest city. South Africa is the 9th largest country on the continent and its 2nd biggest economy. It is extremely rich in mining and minerals and holds nearly 90% of all Platinum metals on earth and 41% of the world’s Gold.
South Africa is known for its history of apartheid, a legal system of segregation which existed from 1948 to 1994. But while apartheid created a persistent racial caste system, it also birthed a rich and diverse culture of visual arts, music, and poetry that permeates the society to this day. Music was the sound of resistance during the apartheid years, producing numerous internationally renowned musicians like Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba and Brenda Fassie. Johannesburg’s Market Theatre and the Goodman Gallery both presented works by black artists, despite apartheid laws which sought to segregate black and white people.
With its natural beauty, history, wildlife, culture, adventure, mountain vistas, and sun-soaked coasts, South Africa continues to captivate and wow visitors. Popular attractions include Table Mountain, Robben Island, the Cape Winelands, the Apartheid Museum, the Cradle of Humankind, safaris at Kruger National Park and private game reserves, Blyde River Canyon, the Panorama Route, the Garden Route, and the world’s highest bungee jump in Nature’s Valley.
