Interesting Facts about South Africa

1. The Population is 45million.
   
   
2. South Africa has the longest wine route in the world.
   
   
3. South Africa has the third highest level of biodiversity in the world. South African grasslands have 30 species per square kilometre, greater than the biodiversity of rainforests.
   
   
4. South Africa is the second largest exporter of fruit in the world.
   
   
5. South Africa is 5 times the size of Japan and three times the size of Texas.
   
   
6. The Lost City Resort Hotel at Sun City is the largest theme resort hotel in the world.
   
   
7. South Africa is the top ranked gold producing country and has 80% of the world's platinum reserves.
   
   
8. South Africa has 11 official languages, from A-Z: Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Pedi, Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu.
   
   
9. There are 18 000 indigenous vascular plant species in South Africa of which 80% are uniquely South African.
   
   
10. South Africa has the only street in the world to house two Nobel Peace Prize winners - Vilakazi Street in Soweto has houses owned by Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
    
    
11. Did you know that a South African physicist co-developed the CAT-scan, that South Africa makes the seats for Passenger Jets, and also designs and creates flight control technology for Britain's fighter jets.
    
    
12. South Africa's Dr Percy Amolis invented the Retinal Cryoprobe used successfully on former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to repair a detached retina. He also removed a cataract from Nelson Mandela's eye that enabled the former president to, for the first time, read a speech without glasses.
    
    
13. The highest quality cars in Europe are made in South Africa: BMW's Rosslyn plant was awarded the highly prestigious European Gold Plant Quality Award ranking it first among European plants in quality.
    
    
14. Gauteng has the most advanced infrastructure in Africa.
    
    
15. South Africa is ranked first in the world for its floral kingdom andSouth Africa is home to the world's smallest succulent plants (less than 10 mm) and the largest (the baobab).
    
    
16. South Africa is one of the most generously endowed geographic solar hotspots in the world, soaking up just over half of the world's highest category of solar wattage per square metre of land.
    
    
17. There are only 12 countries in the world that supply tap water that is fit to drink, and South Africa is one of them. Our tap water quality is third best overall in the world.
    
    
18. South Africa was the world's best performing tourist destination in 2002.
    
    
19. South Africa is the only country in the world to voluntarily abandon its nuclear weapons programme.
    
    
20. South Africa is the first country outside of Europe to gain Blue Flag status for its coastal management.
    
    
21. South Africa has deserts, mountains, escarpments, plateaus, grasslands, bush, wetlands and subtropical forests.
    
    
22. South Africa's hotels, game lodges and restaurants are frequent winners of top global awards.
    
    
23. South Africa offers approximately 1700 conference venues that range from large city conference venues catering for up to 5000 delegates, to small-meeting venues at resorts.
    
    
24. South Africa also has the world's most progressive and admired water legislation, and it is making a real difference on the ground. Since 1998 when the so-called "Blue Revolution" began, four million more poor people have access to clean water.
    
    
25. The quagga vanished in a frenzy of hunting in the 1800s, but after finding that the DNA is almost identical to the common Burchell's zebra, the species is being brought back from beyond the brink by careful breeding of stripe-challenged zebras.
    
    
26. The Transfrontier Park set in South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe is a world first. The 38 600 square kilometre park will be bigger than the Yellowstone National Park in the US, and bigger than Switzerland, Belgium or Taiwan