south africa fast facts

Official Name: Republic of South Africa

Population: 47,556,900

Capital City: Pretoria (1.5 million), Cape Town (3.2 million) is the legislative centre, and Bloemfontein (350,000) is the judicial centre.

Government: Republic & Independent member of the British Commonwealth

Government Leader: President Thabo Mbeki (Head of State)

Languages: Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Pedi, Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu - all (official)

Official Currency: Rand (ZAR)

National Day: 27 April; Freedom Day

Population Mix: African (77%), White (11%), Coloured (9%), Other (3%)

Time Zone: GMT/UTC +2

Daylight Saving: Not in use

Religions: Christian (68%), others

Land Area: 1,221,040 sq km (471,443 sq miles)

Latitude/Longitude: 25? 73'S, 28? 22'E

Heighest Point: Njesuthi (11,181 ft.) (3,408 m)

featured destinations

Drakensberg
drakensberg travel guide The Drakensberg Mountains or Ukhahlamba (The Barrier of Spears) is a 200 kilometer long mountainous wonderland and a UNESCO world heritage site. From the massive basalt cliffs of its northern reaches to the soaring sandstone buttresses in the south, the Drakensberg offers a m... more info on Drakensberg

Mpumalanga
mpumalanga travel guide As the safari capital of South Africa, the major draw-card to the area is the world-famour Kruger National Park and the "Big Five". However, Mpumalanga has a lot more to offer as the province is home to magnificent scenery and boasts a rich cultural heartland.... more info on Mpumalanga

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