*Information is not guaranteed to be current
SOUTH AFRICA*
Located on the southern tip of the African continant.
Area: approximately 1,2million km2
Coastline: approximately 3,000kms long
Biggest Cities: Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban
Population: 46,9 million
Languages: English, ,Afrikaans, Xhosa, Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Southern Sotho, Swati, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda , Zulu
Best time to visit: September/October (Spring); April/May (Autumn)
Provinces: Western Cape, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, Free State, North West, Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal
Neighbouring Countries: Swaziland, Lesotho, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique
President: Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma (born April 12, 1942 at Inkandla, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa) was inaugurated as the President of the Democratic Republic of South Africa on 9 May 2009 in Pretoria. He was Deputy President of South Africa from 1999 to 2005 and President of the African National Congress (ANC) since 2007.
Main Economic Sectors: mining, manufacturing, financial services, tourism
Climate: Summer rainfall area, except in the Western Cape which has a Mediterranean climate.
Highest point: Mont Aux Sources, Drakensberg
Currency: 100c = 1 Rand
Time: GMT +2 (Two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time. There are no time zone differences within South Africa)
International Dialing Code: +27
International Exit Dialling Code: 09
PROVINCES*
GAUTENG
Capital City: Johannesburg
Population: 9,02 million (18.9% of SA)
Surface area: 17,010 square km
GDP per capita income: R51,224.00
National Roads: N1, N3, N4, N12, N14, N17
International Airports: OR Tambo (former Johannesburg International))
Surrounding Provinces: Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Free State, North West

View of Pretoria from Groenkloof NR
Popular attractions in Gauteng
Walter Sisulu Botanic Garden; Lion and Rhino Reserve; Krugersdorp Game Reserve; Gold Reef City; Nelson Mandela Bridge; National Zoological Gardens; Museum Africa; Apartheid Museum; Vilikazi Street (only street to have housed two Nobel Peace Prize winners); Freedom Square, Kliptown; Union Buildings; Voortrekker Monument; Kruger House; Melrose House; Cradle of Humankind (World Heritage Site); Newtown
MPUMALANGA
Capital City: Nelspruit
Population: 3,22 million (7% of SA)
Surface area: 79,490 square km
Average per capita income: R29,332.00
National Roads (connects main cities): N2, N4, N11, N12, N17
International Airports: (Nelspruit)
Surrounding Provinces: Limpopo, Gauteng, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal

Waterval Boven
Popular attractions in Mpumalanga
Kruger National Park; Panorama Route; Blyde River Canyon; Bourke’s Luck Potholes; God’s Window; Dullstroom Dam Nature Reserve; Pilgrim’s Rest; Kaapschehoop wild horses; Sabi Sand Game Reserve; Sudwala Caves; Mac-Mac Falls, Berlin Falls, and Lisbon Falls;
LIMPOPO
Capital City: Polokwane
Population: 5,64 million
Surface area: 123,910 square km
Average per capita income: R16,253.00
National Roads: N1, N11
Surrounding Provinces: North West, Gauteng, Mpumalanga

Hiking in the Wolkberg
Popular attractions in Limpopo
Northern Kruger National Park; Valley of the Olifants; The Soutpansberg; The Waterberg; Modjaji Cycad Nature Reserve; Town of Haenertsburg; Makapansgat Valley; Mapungubwe (World Heritage Site); Baobab Trees; Wolkberg Wilderness Area; Lapalala Wilderness area; Duiwelskloof; Warm Baths Nature Reserve
NORTH WEST
Capital City: Mafikeng
Population: 3.82 million (8.2% of SA)
Surface area: 116,320 square km
Average per capita income: R22,808.00
National Roads: N4, N12, N14, N18
Surrounding Provinces: Northern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, Limpopo
Popular attractions in North West
Magaliesberg Mountains; De Wildt Cheetah Research Centre; Barberspan Bird Sanctuary; Elephant Sanctuary; Hartbeespoort Dam; Sun City and the Lost City; Magalies Meander; Cultural: Lesedi Cultural Village; Pilanesberg Park; Madikwe Game Reserve; Mafikeng Museum; Zeerust – Marico District
FREE STATE
Capital City: Bloemfontein
Population: 2,95 million
Surface area: 129,480 square km
Average per capita income: R25,704.00
National Roads: N1, N3, N5, N6, N8
Surrounding Provinces: North West, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Northern Cape
Popular attractions in Free State
Golden Gate Highlands National Park; Vaal River; Vredefort Dome (World Heritage Site); Gariep Dam; Basotho Cultural Village; Sterkfontein Dam Nature Reserve

Sunset at a Lodge
NORTHERN CAPE
Capital City: Kimberley
Population: 0.9 million
Surface area: 361,830 square km
Average per capita income: R33,430.00
National Roads: N1, N7, N8, N9, N10, N12, N14, N18
Surrounding Provinces: North West, Free State, Eastern Cape, Western Cape
Popular attractions in Northern Cape
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park; Namaqualand spring flowers; Wildebeest Kuil Rock Art Centre; Diamond Fields; The Big Hole; Magersfontein and Museum; Augrabies Falls; Tswalu Kalahari Reserve; Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape (World Heritage Site)
WESTERN CAPE
Capital City: Cape Town
Population: 4,65 million (9,8% of SA)
Surface area: 125,386 square km
Average per capita income: R42,884.00
National Roads: N1, N2, N7, N9, N12
International Airports: Cape Town International
Surrounding Provinces: Northern Cape, Eastern Cape
Popular attractions in Western Cape
Table Mountain; Two Oceans Aquarium; Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens; Victoria and Alfred Waterfront; Groot Constantia wine estate; Wine Route; Robben Island; The Company Gardens; The Castle of Good Hope; Hottentot Holland Nature Reserve; Garden Route; Hermanus (seasonal whale watching)
EASTERN CAPE
Capital City: Bisho
Population: 7,04 million (15,02% of SA)
Surface area: 169,580 square km
Average per capita income: R16,038.00
National Roads: N2, N6, N9, N10
Airports: Port Elizabeth, George
Surrounding Provinces: Western Cape, Northern Cape, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal

Bungee jumping
Popular attractions in Eastern Cape
Nelson Mandela Museum; Addo Elephant Park; Hole in the Wall; Tsitsikamma; Shamwari Game Reserve; Seaview Lion Park; Valley of Desolation; Baviaanskloof Wilderness Area; The Owl House; The Wild Coast; Stormsriver bungee jump
KWAZULU-NATAL
Capital City: Ulundi
Population: 9,65 million (20.7% of SA)
Surface area: 92,100 square km
Average per capita income: R24,002.00
National Roads: N2, N3, N11
International Airports: Durban International
Surrounding Provinces: Mpumalanga, Free State, Eastern Cape

Sodwana Beach
Popular attractions in KwaZulu-Natal
uShaka Marine World; Oribi Gorge; Hluhluwe Game Reserve; Umfolozi Game Reserve; Cathedral Peak; Giant’s Castle Game Reserve; Mont-aux-Sources; Sani Pass; Sodwana Bay National Park; Greater St. Lucia Wetlands (World Heritage Site); Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park (World Heritage Site)

Hartbeespoort dam