South Africa Map
Google Maps, detailed facts of South Africa (ISO: ZA) and the capital city, Pretoria. This page enables you to explore South Africa and its land boundaries in total: 5,244 km. You may also view the border countries of South Africa (total: 6, Botswana 1,969 km, Lesotho 1,106 km, Mozambique 496 km, Namibia 1,005 km, Swaziland 438 km, Zimbabwe 230 km with its area of total: 1,219,090 sq km; land: 1,214,470 sq km, water: 4,620 sq km through detailed Satellite imagery – fast and easy as never before – with Google Maps.
Find comprehensive geographical, economic, environmental, governmental, cultural, scientific, historical, and demographical related information below on the wiki page of South Africa.
In case if you are traveling by car, there is also Street View and free Driving Directions by Google at your service.
Your virtual Sightseeing in South Africa, Africa starts here on this map & Wiki page.
South Africa Google Maps & Facts
This virtual map shows South Africa, located in Southern Africa, at the southern tip of the continent of Africa, with its cities, towns, highways, main roads, streets, Street Views, and terrain maps regularly updated by Google.
You are viewing South Africa and its location (Africa) at the geographic coordinates of 29 00 S, 24 00 E, inland counties boundaries and international borders.
Hint: Have a look at the Street view in South Africa, ZA. All you have to do is drag and pull the little yellow man (Pegman) on the Google map above the desired location in South Africa. After that, whenever it is available (currently more than 50 countries provided by Google around the world), blue stripes will appear to show the photos and details from Google’s regularly updated database.
The map of South Africa, Africa is free, but for informational use only. No representation or warranty has been made as to any map or its content by Search Driving Directions.com. User assumes all risk of use of this South Africa Google map and fast facts/wiki page.
Geographical facts about South Africa including Pretoria, the capital city of South Africa |
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| Name of the country: | South Africa | Capital city: | Pretoria |
| Geographical coordinates of South Africa: | 29 00 S, 24 00 E | Geographical coordinates of Pretoria: | 25 42 S28 13 E |
| Location of South Africa: | Southern Africa, at the southern tip of the continent of Africa | Continent / area: | Africa |
| The area of South Africa: | total: 1,219,090 sq km; land: 1,214,470 sq km, water: 4,620 sq km | Area comparative of South Africa: | slightly less than twice the size of Texas |
| The elevation data of South Africa: | mean elevation: 1,034 m, elevation extremes; lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m, highest point: Njesuthi 3,408 m | The climate of South Africa: | mostly semiarid: subtropical along east coast: sunny days, cool nights |
| Land use of South Africa: | agricultural land: 79.4%; arable land 9.9%; permanent crops 0.3%; permanent pasture 69.2%; forest: 7.6%; other: 13% (2011 estimate) | Irrigated land: | 16,700 sq km (2012) |
| Geographical notes of South Africa: | South Africa completely surrounds Lesotho and almost completely surrounds Swaziland | The terrain of South Africa: | vast interior plateau rimmed by rugged hills and narrow coastal plain |
| Land boundaries of South Africa: | total: 5,244 km | Borders countries of South Africa: | Botswana 1,969 km, Lesotho 1,106 km, Mozambique 496 km, Namibia 1,005 km, Swaziland 438 km, Zimbabwe 230 km |
| Maritime claims of South Africa: | territorial sea: 12 nautical miles, contiguous zone: 24 nautical miles, exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles, continental shelf: 200 nautical miles or to edge of the continental margin | ||
Fast Facts about South Africa
Are you traveling to South Africa? When you are on the way to explore foreign countries in Africa, it is always good to be aware of the nature of that specific nation and the surroundings, in this case: Southern Africa, at the southern tip of the continent of Africa.
Did you know that the legal system of South Africa is a mixed legal system of Roman-Dutch civil law, English common law, and customary law?
When you are traveling around or looking for accommodation in South Africa, you would better know that (the lengths of roadways total: 747,014 km, paved: 158,952 km, unpaved: 588,062 km (2014)), and the most crowded areas in this country are: Johannesburg (including Ekurhuleni) 9.399 million; Cape Town (legislative capital) 3.66 million; Durban 2.901 million; PRETORIA (capital) 2.059 million; Port Elizabeth 1.179 million; Vereeniging 1.155 million (2015). The urbanization rate in this country looks like the following: urban population: 64.8% of the total population (2015).
The total population in South Africa: 54,300,704 (July 2016 estimate) with a population growth rate of 0.99% (2016 estimate) and the most widely spoken language(s) are IsiZulu (official language) 22.7%, IsiXhosa (official language) 16%, Afrikaans (official language) 13.5%, English (official language) 9.6%, Sepedi (official language) 9.1%, Setswana (official language) 8%, Sesotho (official language) 7.6%, Xitsonga (official language) 4.5%, siSwati (official language) 2.5%, Tshivenda (official language) 2.4%, isiNdebele (official language) 2.1%, sign language 0.5%, other 1.6% (2011 estimate). These days, South Africa has to face a net migration rate of -0.9 migrant(s) / 1,000 population (2016 estimate).
You may find the following ethnic groups in South Africa nowadays; black African 80.2%, white 8.4%, colored 8.8%, Indian/Asian 2.5%note: colored is a term used in South Africa, including on the national census, for persons of mixed race ancestry (2014 estimate).
The right to vote in South Africa can be exercised by the population from the age of 18 years of age, universal and he following ways can earn the citizenship; citizenship by birth: no. Citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of South Africa. Dual citizenship recognized: yes, but requires prior permission of the governmentresidency requirement for naturalization: 1 year.
In case if you plan to visit South Africa for shopping, or for business porpuses, it is good to know that the national holiday(s) in South Africa are: Freedom Day, 27 April (1994).
Whether you are traveling for business or not, never forget that sometimes there are several risks/hazards on your way; In the case of South Africa, these are the most likely dangers you might face: prolonged droughtsvolcanism: the volcano forming Marion Island in the Prince Edward Islands, which last erupted in 2004, is South Africa’s only active volcano. What do you think? Are you prepared enough to visit Pretoria and/or South Africa?
Living with the given conditions, affected by all the civilization and natural harms in South Africa, the population has to face a death rate of 9.6 deaths / 1,000 population (2016 estimate).
Travel references about South Africa
To make your travel experience better, you may do it better to understand at least one of the most widely spoken languages in South Africa. Here they are: IsiZulu (official language) 22.7%, IsiXhosa (official language) 16%, Afrikaans (official language) 13.5%, English (official language) 9.6%, Sepedi (official language) 9.1%, Setswana (official language) 8%, Sesotho (official language) 7.6%, Xitsonga (official language) 4.5%, siSwati (official language) 2.5%, Tshivenda (official language) 2.4%, isiNdebele (official language) 2.1%, sign language 0.5%, other 1.6% (2011 estimate).
For your local internet searches, use the following TLD: .za
Do not be surprised, when visiting this country, its climate typically is like this; mostly semiarid: subtropical along east coast: sunny days, cool nights.
Its capital city is Pretoria, where the local time zone is UTC+2, which is 7 hours ahead of Washington DC during Standard Time. Note to the timezone in Pretoria: N/A.
For nature lovers, we do note the following elevation data regarding South Africa; mean elevation: 1,034 m, elevation extremes; lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m, highest point: Njesuthi 3,408 m. The length of its total coastline are: 2,798 km and the length of the land boundaries is total: 5,244 km.
Current environmental issues in South Africa; lack of important arterial rivers or lakes requires extensive water conservation and control measures; growth in water usage outpacing supply; pollution of rivers from agricultural runoff and urban discharge; air pollution resulting in acid rain; soil erosion; desertification.
And again – in case if you missed it-, those natural hazards, that are threatening your journey: prolonged droughtsvolcanism: the volcano forming Marion Island in the Prince Edward Islands, which last erupted in 2004, is South Africa’s only active volcano.
For your traveling options, there are 566 (2013) airports and 1 (2013) heliports in South Africa all together with N/A waterways, and roadways in total: total: 747,014 km, paved: 158,952 km, unpaved: 588,062 km (2014).
Background of South Africa
Like every nation, South Africa also has its historical background, and it has shaped its social, cultural, political and geographical characteristics; Dutch traders landed at the southern tip of modern day South Africa in 1652 and established a stopover point on the spice route between the Netherlands and the Far East, founding the city of Cape Town. After the British seized the Cape of Good Hope area in 1806, many of the Dutch settlers (Afrikaners, called “Boers” (farmers) by the British) trekked north to found their own republics in lands taken from the indigenous black inhabitants. The discovery of diamonds (1867) and gold (1886) spurred wealth and immigration and intensified the subjugation of the native inhabitants. The Afrikaners resisted British encroachments but were defeated in the Second South African War (1899-1902); however, the British and the Afrikaners, ruled together beginning in 1910 under the Union of South Africa, which became a republic in 1961 after a whites-only referendum. In 1948, the Afrikaner-dominated National Party was voted into power and instituted a policy of apartheid – the separate development of the races – which favored the white minority at the expense of the black majority. The African National Congress (ANC) led the opposition to apartheid and many top ANC leaders, such as Nelson MANDELA, spent decades in South Africa’s prisons. Internal protests and insurgency, as well as boycotts by some Western nations and institutions, led to the regime’s eventual willingness to negotiate a peaceful transition to majority rule. The first multi-racial elections in 1994 following the end of apartheid ushered in majority rule under an ANC-led government. South Africa has since struggled to address apartheid-era imbalances in decent housing, education, and health care. ANC infighting came to a head in 2008 when President Thabo MBEKI was recalled by Parliament, and Deputy President Kgalema MOTLANTHE, succeeded him as interim president. Jacob ZUMA became president after the ANC won general elections in 2009; he was reelected in 2014. Source: CIA, The World Factbook.
