Fact 1: The Cradle of Humankind
South Africa is renowned as the Cradle of Humankind. The country houses some of the most significant and oldest archaeological and paleontological sites in the world. One of the most notable is the Sterkfontein Caves, where over 40% of human ancestor fossils have been discovered, including the famous 2.3 million-year-old fossil “Mrs. Ples”.
Fact 2: World’s Largest Diamond Producer
South Africa was once considered the largest producer of diamonds in the world. The precious stone was discovered in 1867 by 15-year-old Erasmus Jacobs, who found a transparent rock on his father’s farm that later became known as the ‘Eureka Diamond’.
Fact 3: South Africa Has Three Capital Cities
The country does not have one but three capital cities. Pretoria is the administrative capital, Cape Town is the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein is the judicial capital. This unique arrangement reflects the country's commitment to political and cultural pluralism.
Fact 4: Home of the World’s Largest Greenhouse
South Africa is home to the world's largest greenhouse – the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve. This gigantic greenhouse is about 29,000 hectares and shelters diverse flora and fauna.
Fact 5: The Highest Commercial Bungee Jump
South Africa holds the record for the highest commercial bungee jumping platform in the world. The Bloukrans Bridge Bungy lets adventure-seekers plunge 216 meters down towards the Bloukrans River.
Fact 6: The Great White Shark Capital
Gansbaai, a small fishing town in South Africa, is considered the Great White Shark Capital of the world. It offers one of the best shark cage diving experiences in the world - a must-do for thrill enthusiasts!
Fact 7: Home to the Largest Bird – The Ostrich
South Africa is home to the largest bird in the world – the ostrich. It not only has the biggest bird population in the world but also hosts the world's biggest ostrich population.
Fact 8: World’s Longest Wine Route
The country boasts the world's longest wine route, Route 62, stretching over 850 kilometers. It takes wine lovers through incredibly stunning landscapes, including vineyards, mountain ranges, and charming towns.
Fact 9: The Second Largest Fruit Exporter
South Africa is the second-largest exporter of fresh fruit worldwide. The Western Cape is especially known for its mouthwatering apples, pears, peaches, and grapes.
Fact 10: South Africa's Oldest Pub
The oldest pub in South Africa, established in 1802, is located in Bathurst. It's called 'The Pig and Whistle', and it was formerly a British Army Paymaster's house.
Fact 11: Home of the World’s Smallest Succulent Plants
South Africa houses the world's smallest succulent plants, 10.2mm in size, in the Karoo region. The desert hosts a wide variety of the smallest succulents that are not found anywhere else in the world.
Fact 12: Multilingual Nation
South Africa has 11 official languages, making it one of the most linguistically diverse countries on the planet. These languages include English, Afrikaans, Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Southern Sotho, Swati, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, and Zulu.
Fact 13: Home to the First Heart Transplant
The world's first successful heart transplant was performed in South Africa. On December 3, 1967, Dr. Christiaan Barnard carried out the operation in a hospital in Cape Town.
Fact 14: Land of Gold
South Africa was once the world’s largest gold producer and has mined nearly half of all the gold ever pulled from the Earth. The city of Johannesburg was built on a vast gold reef.
Fact 15: Floral Kingdom Flourish
South Africa is home to the world's smallest and richest floral kingdom, known as the Cape Floral Region. It includes nearly 7000 unique plant species, 70% of which are found nowhere else in the world.
Fact 16: The Biggest Mammal Migration
South Africa sees the world's largest mammal migration, as every summer between November and February, tens of thousands of fruit bats can be seen flying across the skies during dusk.
Fact 17: Energy Generation from Coal
South Africa is recognized for being a leading country in generating power from coal. Nearly 93% of electricity in the country comes from this fossil fuel.
Fact 18: A Nobel Prize Hotspot
South Africa is rich in Nobel Prize laureates. The country has boasted several winners, including former Presidents Nelson Mandela and FW de Klerk, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and writers Nadine Gordimer and JM Coetzee.
Fact 19: Home to the Largest Telescope in the Southern Hemisphere
South Africa hosts the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT), the largest single optical telescope in the southern hemisphere. It's nestled in the semi-desert region of Karoo and contributes significantly to international astronomy.
Fact 20: The World’s Largest Game Reserve
South Africa is the proud custodian of the world's largest game reserve, the Kruger National Park. The park is larger than Israel and is an unrivaled wildlife experience offering viewing of Africa’s Big 5 – the lion, the African elephant, the Cape buffalo, the leopard, and the rhinoceros.