South Africa

Situated on the tip of the African Continent, South Africa is roughly the size of Spain and France combined. Exceptionally diverse for a country of its size, South Africa is like “the world in one country” and contains within its borders scenic attractions from the dramatic, arid landscapes of the northwest to the forest-fringed coastline of the Garden Route; from the flat, dry Karoo interior to the craggy Drakensberg Mountains in the east; from the manicured vineyards of the Cape, to the flower fields of Namaqualand and the bushveld of the Kruger National Park.

South Africa has been one of the fastest-growing tourist destinations in the world. The climate, the accessibility (for many visitors only an overnight flight away and no jet lag), the location between East and West, the rich cultural heritage and the favourable exchange rate all combine to make South Africa a popular destination for more and more international visitors.

Blue skies, big game safaris, wilderness areas, and the promise of a sun-drenched beach holiday are what draw most visitors to South Africa. But the cultural diversity and the warmth and spirit of the people make it an even more inspiring place to explore.

The many wildlife parks in the north are home to the Big Five: buffalo, elephant, leopard, lion and rhino, while the wetlands and marine reserves along the east coast teem with sea life and colourful birds, great and small. And then there are the beaches, the favourite holiday destination for swimming, surfing, fishing and relaxing.

And yet it’s the South African people that make it such an intriguing country. The “rainbow people of God” is how Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu described South Africans – this conglomeration of beliefs, traditions and heritages sharing a country of breathtaking natural wonders.

Neighbours and Provinces
South Africa surrounds the mountain kingdom of Lesotho and is bordered by Namibia in the northwest, Botswana and Zimbabwe to the north, and Swaziland and Mozambique in the northeast. The country is divided into nine provinces: Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North-West, Free State and KwaZulu-Natal.

Major Cities and Towns
South Africa has three capitals: Pretoria, Cape Town and Bloemfontein. Johannesburg is the largest industrial, financial and cultural centre and Cape Town and Durban are renowned holiday playgrounds. Other cities of a historical and cultural significance are Pietermaritzburg, Grahamstown, Graaff-Reinet, Port Elizabeth, East London, Kimberley and Stellenbosch.

Population and Languages
The population numbers some 48,687,000 inhabitants. There are eleven official languages in South Africa, although English is spoken throughout the country.

For more information, please visit www.southafrica.net

The True Size of Africa

With South Africa as the destination for the 6SCWC, this will be the first time that the Science Centre World Congress will be held on the African continent. But can one really grasp the true size of Africa? The image below shows that Africa is actually larger than the USA, India, Japan and the whole of Europe – combined!

The 6SCWC looks forward to welcoming you to our impressive continent!
(click to enlarge the image)

"South Africanisms" you should try to learn and use during the 6SCWC!

South African English is a colourful mixture of words from English, Afrikaans, our own African languages, Dutch, Portuguese, Malay and even Arabic! Click here for a list of our local words and expressions - "South Africanisms!"

Resources and links

- Click here to view photographs of the 2010 FIFA Football World Cup, hosted in South Africa.
- Have your own perceptions of South Africa? Click here to see if they’re accurate!
- Two useful website resources to help in preparation for your trip to South Africa:
http://www.southafrica.info/
http://www.sagoodnews.co.za/
- Please also visit our FAQ page here for questions about the 6SCWC and South Africa.