Republic of South Africa. Presentation on geography on the topic "South Africa" ​​Business card of South Africa on geography

• Cape Town is one of the most beautiful and colorful cities not only in South Africa, but throughout the world, as well as the most visited city in South Africa. The most significant and famous attractions that attract tourists from all over the world are: Table Mountain, which offers a breathtaking view of the city, the Cape of Good Hope - the most southwestern point of the continent, Cape Point - the southern tip of the Cape Peninsula, the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront - a huge center of the entertainment industry, the largest in the southern hemisphere, the “Aquarium of Two Oceans”, the Kirstenbosch botanical garden (one of the best in the world), etc. Cape Town is also very popular among fans of ethnic tourism, because peoples with different cultural and religious traditions. This city will amaze you at first sight, and the memories of it will remain in your heart forever!
• The Cape of Good Hope is the visiting card of South Africa and the most extreme southwestern point of Africa. In the reserve of the same name you can see rare representatives of flora and fauna, and after traveling a little over 50 km you will find yourself at the southernmost tip of the Cape Peninsula - the legendary Cape. The beauty of this magical place where the Indian and Atlantic oceans meet leaves no one indifferent. An ancient lighthouse, a fur seal rookery, penguin colonies, an endless horizon stretching into the distance - the local landscapes are simply breathtaking!
• Durban, which means "the place where land and ocean meet" in Zulu, is one of the country's most popular tourist centers and the best destination for a beach holiday in South Africa. Here guests can expect 350 sunny days a year, a golden coastline, warm waters of the Indian Ocean and luxury hotels... The famous resorts of Ballito, Umshlanga and Margate are famous for their untouched nature and long beaches, as well as ideal conditions for swimming and surfing. You can also see whales and dolphins here, and for wildlife lovers we recommend visiting the nearby reserves, where representatives of the “big five” live: rhinoceroses, leopards, lions, buffaloes and elephants.
• South Africa, one of the most developed countries on the African continent, has an excellent railway network and is an excellent choice for traveling by train, the most luxurious of which are considered Blue Train And Rovos Rail. The Blue Train has been called the most comfortable train in the world more than once. Its main routes are Cape Town - Pretoria - Cape Town and Pretoria - Hoidspruit - Pretoria. During the trip you will be able to see giraffes, antelopes and buffalos grazing in the savannah. Rovos Rail routes run from Pretoria to Cape Town, Durban and even Victoria Falls and the Namib Desert! Train carriages made in the style of the 30s. XX century, will amaze you with its luxury and sophistication! Whichever train you choose for your trip, you will be treated to an exciting excursion program, first-class service and stunning panoramic views of the most picturesque corners of South Africa!
• South Africa is a world of amazing nature and pristine beauty, as well as a habitat for endemic fauna. Here you can see the largest mammal in the world, living on land (elephant) and in water (whale), the largest bird (ostrich), the smallest (shrew) and the tallest (giraffe) animal on the planet. Only in South Africa do giraffes, elephants, cheetahs, lions and rhinoceroses coexist with polar penguins, whales and seals. On the territory of the country there is the Whitsand Nature Reserve - one of the few places on earth where you can hear the “singing sands”, and at the southernmost point of the continent you will witness a unique phenomenon - the confluence of the Indian and Atlantic oceans. A safari through the national parks and reserves of South Africa will allow you to see nature like you have never seen before!
• South Africa is a real paradise for gourmets and lovers of exotic cuisine. Here you can try exquisite local wines with delicious cheese, oysters, crocodile and ostrich meat, spiced sausages, lamb pilaf with dried apricots and raisins, Malay eel, shark fins, lobsters, sea urchin caviar and other unusual dishes. We recommend that you go on a tour of local wineries, during which you can learn a lot of new and interesting things about the wine production process and taste its different varieties.

Presentation for geography lesson “South Africa”

Completed by: geography teacher Efremova G.A.

South Africa

Business card.

S=1.2 million km 2

Population: 41.5 million people

GNP – $135 billion.

per capita – $3095

Member of the Commonwealth of Nations.

• Located in the extreme south of the continent, the Republic of South Africa until 1961. was called the Union of South Africa and was part of the British Commonwealth with dominion rights. In a country with a complex racial and ethnic composition of the population, the policy of “separate development” of various racial groups continued for many years - the policy of apartheid, which actually amounted to the oppression of people with dark skin color by the white minority. The situation changed after the adoption of the 1993 and 1996 constitutions. and the first general elections, which were won by the African National Progress (ANC), which had long fought for the rights of the majority.

• South Africa is located in southern Africa, bordering the republics of Namibia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and the kingdom of Swaziland. In the northeast, inside the territory of South Africa, there is a kind of enclave - the kingdom of Lesotho.
• South Africa is washed by the Atlantic and Indian oceans.

• The natural features of the country are determined by several factors: the terrain, which is generally mountainous in the east and south and plateau-like in the rest of the country; climate features, which, being subtropical in the main part of the country (which is a consequence of latitude), are highly differentiated (from humid subtropics in the southeast to semi-deserts and deserts in a number of inland and western regions).

At the same time, the climate is strongly influenced by the warm Mozambique Current in the east and the cold Benguela Current in the west. The mechanism by which these currents influence climate is well known to geographers. Changes in temperature and especially humidity in different regions of South Africa lead to great contrasts in vegetation cover.

The mountainous southeast is covered with humid subtropical forests, the extreme southwest (regions of the Cape of Good Hope) is covered with Mediterranean vegetation (dry subtropics), the interior and western regions, as well as the north of the country, are subtropical and tropical (in the far north) steppes and woodlands , deserts and semi-deserts.

• National parks and reserves have been created to protect the fauna in South Africa. Currently, there are about 300 provincial reserves in the country, some of which have already celebrated their centenary. The country has 16 national parks and one protected lake.

Kruger National Park

The Kruger National Park is world famous, where tourists can meet buffalos, elephants, leopards, lions, rhinoceroses, which are called the “Big Five”.

• ¾ of the population of South Africa are the indigenous Bantu inhabitants of Africa, who speak the Xhosa, Zulu, Communication, etc. languages. About 1/5 are descendants of settlers from Europe, mainly Afrikaners and the British, who fought fiercely among themselves during the Anglo-Boer War at the turn of the 19th century. 20 centuries. The rest are mulattoes and other mestizos, which in South Africa are called “colored”, or clearings, as well as numerous immigrants from Hindustan. The remaining ethnic groups are relatively small.

• South Africa ranks first in the foreign world in reserves and production of gold (Au), magnesium (Mg), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), vanadium (Va), and platinum group metals; one of the first places in diamonds, uranium concentrates, asbestos, antimony, etc.

Mining and manufacturing industry

South Africa's mining industry contributes about 1/5 of its GNP, but 2/3 of its export value. Moreover, these mineral raw materials are exported to more than 80 countries. The most important mining area is Witwatersrant, where gold and uranium are mined; diamonds in the Kimberley areas. D Beers is the largest transnational concern that owns diamond mining in South Africa and controls the world's diamond market.

• South Africa's manufacturing industry accounts for about ¼ of gross domestic product: more than any other sector of the economy. It employs more than 1/10 of the economically active population. Light industry predominates, but the share of metallurgy, metalworking, and mechanical engineering is also large; the chemical industry and production of building materials are significant. In recent decades, the growth rates of these industries have been quite high. High technology industries also appeared - the military industry, the production of nuclear reactors - the “white elephants” of the South African industry. The share of agriculture and mining fell from 30% (1960) to 14% (1996).

• The commodity sector of South Africa's agriculture produces a large number of export products - wool, fruit, sugar; however, in general, the country’s food needs are not met by domestic production, and South Africa imports it.

• By African standards, South Africa has a developed transport network - railways, roads, and the first pipelines.

• The South African economy is a dual economy. Along with the features typical of developed countries (a large share of the hired labor force, a large working class, a relatively high role in the manufacturing economy, etc.), South Africa is characterized by many features inherent in developing countries: the economic and technical backwardness of indigenous agriculture population, low standard of living of indigenous workers, great influence of foreign capital in the economy, large dependence of the economy on the foreign market, etc.

• According to the current constitution, South Africa is divided into 9 provinces - Western Cape (Cape Town), Eastern Cape (Bisho), Northern Cape (Kimberley), Free State (Bloemfontein), KwaZulu-Natal, North Western Province (Mabata), Goteng (Johannesburg), Mpumalanga (Neletpruit), Northern Province (Petersburg).

Business card Africa is the second largest continent (30, 244, 050 km²) in the world, which is home to 54 countries and 933 million people. The highest point in Africa is Mount Kilimanjaro (5895 m) in Tanzania. The second longest river in the world and the first in Africa is the Nile (6,650 km), which flows from Burundi to the Egyptian coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The largest African lake is Lake Victoria, which is located between the countries of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. The territory of Africa is limited by: the Mediterranean Sea in the north, the Atlantic Ocean in the west, the Red Sea in the northeast and the Indian Ocean in the east.

Africa is home to over 812 million people, or 13% of the world's total population. In the second half of the 20th century. The continent's population began to grow rapidly, and in the 1980s its growth rate turned out to be one of the highest in the world - 2.9 -3.0% per year. African countries differ markedly in population size: Egypt, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo each have a population of over 40 million people, and Nigeria has almost 120 million people.

Africa is characterized by a high birth rate. Thanks to improved socio-economic conditions and medical care, mortality, especially among children, has decreased. Reduced mortality and high birth rates result in high rates of population growth in most countries. The average population density on the continent is small and is close to 22 people. at 1 km 2. It is the highest on the island. Mauritius (about 500 people per 1 km 2), the lowest is in the Sahara and the countries of the Sahel zone. A significant concentration of the population remains in areas of developed agriculture (Nile River Valley, northern coast, Nigeria) or industrial activity (copper belt, industrial areas of the PAR). Despite the predominance of the rural population, Africa is characterized by high rates of urban population growth - over 5% per year. There are 22 millionaire cities on the continent. Factors associated with the uneven socio-economic development of individual countries have an important influence on population migration. Industrial areas receive emigrants from neighboring countries who are looking for work.

Military coups, constant struggle between ethnic and religious groups, military conflicts between countries lead to the appearance of a significant number of refugees in different areas of the mainland: at the end of the 20th century. there were from 7 to 9 million people. Thus, the current demographic situation in African countries is very contradictory. The dynamics of population growth on the continent are determined mainly by its natural movement. In different countries, the population increases unevenly, the characteristics of the age-sex structure from an economic point of view remain unfavorable: an insufficient number of working-age population, especially men, a high proportion of children and young people, short life expectancy (for men it is 49 years, for women - 52 years). In recent years, mortality from AIDS has reached catastrophic proportions in a number of countries.

General characteristics Typical features of the African economy are: a) versatility; b) low level of economic development; c) the agricultural nature of the economy of most countries; d) a sharp demarcation in agriculture of commodity-export production, subsistence and small-scale farming, which serves local needs; ґ) spread of monoculture in agriculture; e) predominance of the mining industry in industrial production; there is) preservation of the colonial character in foreign trade. Important features of the economic location of most African countries are the concentration of economic activity in several centers and a significant gap in the levels of settlement and economic development of individual territories and countries. Comparatively economically developed areas in Africa are areas adjacent to the capitals - the bridge, which became important economic centers back in the colonial period, as well as to the ports from which raw materials are exported and where they are partially processed (Casablanca region in Morocco, Lagos in Nigeria , Alexandria in Egypt, Mombasi in Kenya, etc.). Significant industrial and economic centers arose in the areas of mineral extraction (copper belt centers in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, industrial centers associated with oil and gas areas in Algeria and Libya, industrial areas of the PAR).

Africa is a global supplier of many types of tropical crop raw materials: cocoa, peanuts, palm oil, spices, etc. At the same time, the agriculture of developing countries does not provide the local population with food due to the lag in the production of basic food crops in most countries from the rate of population growth. More than 1/3 of the continent's area is used in African agriculture. About 7% of the continent's area is occupied by arable land and perennial plantings, and 24% by pastures. The main grain crops in Africa are millet, sorghum, corn, rice, wheat, barley; root vegetables - cassava, sweet potato, yams, tara; fruit trees - bananas (equatorial and subequatorial zones), date (desert oases) and oil palms (tropics), olive (subtropics). Plantation farming in Africa is quite developed, but less so than in Latin America and Southeast Asia. In the tropical zone, only isolated isolated areas of plantations arose. Africa is home to a significant portion of the world's livestock and pack animals. There are about 192 million heads of cattle, 210 million sheep, 176 million goats, 14 million camels on the continent. The leading place in terms of livestock numbers belongs to the countries of East Africa. However, livestock farming as an area of ​​the economy has very low yields.

Industry of Africa Africa's share in the industrial production of countries around the world is close to 2%. In Africa, the mining and forestry industries and the areas of primary processing of raw materials (mineral and plant) have developed. Recently, enterprises of mechanical engineering, the chemical industry, ferrous metallurgy, and the building materials industry have appeared. Foreign capital occupies an important place in the economies of African countries. In most economies, the gross output of foreign and general enterprises represents close to half of the gross national product (Botswana, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Egypt, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zimbabwe, Kenya, etc.). The mining and metallurgical industries are the most developed industries in Africa. Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo occupy a significant place in copper production, where mines are concentrated in the “copper belt”. In addition to copper, ores of other metals are mined in this belt, zinc, lead, cobalt, gold, silver, and uranium are enriched. In general, the mining industry is developed in 1/4 of the countries of the continent, but the bulk of the production and extraction of the most important types of mining raw materials occurs in PAR, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Africa's energy sector is poorly developed. Africa contains 1/10 of the world's oil reserves and 1/5 of the world's hydro resources. There are large deposits of coal. The main fuel resource in African countries is oil, deposits of which are concentrated in Nigeria, Libya, Algeria, Egypt and the West African shelf. The rivers of the Congo, Zambezi, and Niger basins have significant energy potential, but it is not used enough. The largest hydroelectric power stations in operation are Aswan on the Nile, Caribou on the Zambezi, and Kuindzhi on the Niger.

The manufacturing industry in African countries has not gained much development. There are three forms of production activity: 1) first crops, processing of exported agricultural raw materials (cotton ginning, coffee processing, cocoa processing, production of oil, sugar, wine juices) typical for countries that export agricultural products; 2) production of consumer goods; for local needs (handicraft production of fabrics, subject: home use, local semi-finished food products, drinks and products of modern light and food industry enterprises. The textile industry belongs to relatively developed areas (STEAM, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia); 3) difficult industry (except for mining and metallurgy) poorly developed. The most common are oil refineries and cement plants. Large enterprises of the mining and metallurgical industry concentrated in STEAM, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Egypt. Foreign economic activity The leading role in foreign economic relations of African countries belongs to foreign trade. Exports are dominated by coal and agricultural raw materials, while imports are dominated by finished products. Oil is exported by Algeria, Nigeria, Libya, iron ores - Liberia, Mauritania, diamonds and gold - STEAM, copper - Zambia, Democratic Republic of Congo, STEAM, phosphates - Morocco, uranium - Niger, Gabon, cotton - Egypt, Sudan, Tanzania, coffee - Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Angola and others, peanuts - Senegal, Sudan, olive oil - Tunisia, Morocco.

Africa is a continent with great linguistic diversity. Linguists estimate that there are 1,500-2,000 languages ​​in Africa. Of these languages, the following four main groups can be distinguished: Afro-Asiatic (approximately 200 languages), covering almost all of North Africa (including the Horn of Africa, Central Sahara and the upper Nile). Nilo-Saharan Comprises approximately 140 languages ​​spoken by approximately eleven million people in Central and Eastern Africa. Niger-Saharan (Niger-Congo languages) covers two-thirds of the African population. The main branch is the Niger-Congo group, which includes more than 1,000 languages ​​with approximately 200 million speakers. The Bantu languages ​​of Central, Southern and Eastern Africa form a subgroup of the Niger-Congo group. Khoisan comprises about thirty languages ​​of western South Africa. All African languages ​​are considered official languages ​​of the African Union.

Traditions and customs of peoples 1. Shamans Everyone has heard about shamans. But what exactly are these “ministers of spirits”? There is no consensus on this matter. In any case, from ancient times to this day, shamans have been carriers of supernatural abilities, clairvoyants, and intercessors of people. Something similar to shamanism also exists among the tribes of Australia, South Africa and America. One of the most remarkable properties of shamanic methods is their similarity in all corners of the planet. Shamans accompany the life of their fellow tribesman from birth to death.

2. Masks The shaman is a mediator between the visible and invisible worlds, as the master of spirits, as a supernatural healer, etc. But so that the evil spirit does not recognize the shaman or other participant in the ritual by sight and possess him, there are masks. Sometimes masks cover the entire head, like a helmet. Sometimes only the face is covered. If the mask is too heavy, a rope is attached between its edges, which the dancer holds with his teeth. Stylized heads of unearthly creatures, carved from wood, painted and covered with ornaments made of colored beads and small shells. Huge ones, intended for ritual dances, and small ones - talisman masks. We are often accustomed to consider masks as an attribute of fun shows - theaters, carnivals, children's parties. But in the past, these “false faces” were taken much more seriously, playing an important, and sometimes the main role in the religious rites and rituals of many peoples of the world.

Ritual dances Dance has always been an integral part of human life. Shamans were most often men, and their main instrument of influencing nature and events was and is to this day - dance. On all continents, in all Ancient religions, priests or their assistants used dance to praise the gods and ask for help. . . They danced on every holiday, before hunting, before sowing, before war. . . Everyone danced, both women and men, but in some cases only men took part in the dances. Dance is not only and not so much an appeal to the gods, but also an excellent training for the body and coordination of movement. If you look closely, the forms, or in other words, complexes performed by masters of martial arts, with their smooth movements and transitions resemble dance movements. I have always been attracted not so much by the beauty or smoothness of movements, but by the ability to perfectly control the body, and was impressed by the awareness of how much work and perseverance it was necessary to put in to achieve such a result. Even modern dances require some flexibility and endurance, but the movements are reminiscent of wild Africans getting ready for war. In addition, the main musical instruments are drums and other percussive metal. From the wildest times, and until now, in all countries and on all continents, people went to war to the sound of drums, beheaded, shot, driven through the ranks as in the Russian armies of the times of serfdom, and, of course, buried. . .

The woman with the longest neck was considered the most beautiful among the Amandebele. From early childhood, women of this people wore brass hoops around their necks, thanks to which the neck could lengthen by 40-50 cm. These hoops could not be removed, since the absence of neck muscles would lead to immediate death for the woman. Wedge-shaped or round discs were considered an important adornment for women in Africa. Women wore these discs while their husbands and mothers-in-law were away. Thus, African women tried to imitate birds that have cult significance for Africans. In some African tribes, this custom goes back to the desire to shock slave traders with their appearance. Today, African youth use lip pins in some cases, but generally do not use lip jewelry. The jewelry that was worn later served as protection for exposed parts of the body, through which evil spirits, harmful fumes, or any supernatural forces could easily penetrate a person. The Ethiopian people - the Surma - are the most inventive decorators of the human body, such as there are only on Earth. They select bodily ornaments for themselves as carefully and zealously as European fashionistas select their clothes. In a few strokes of simple natural dye surma - a story about yourself, about your desires and feelings, about belligerence or the desire for peace, about joy or sadness, about love. A woman from the Musgu tribe with an aluminum clothespin on her upper lip. Such decorations were typical for many tribes of the Republic of Chad. As children, girls from the Lobi and Kirdi tribes had their ears, lips and nose pierced.

South African Republic Business card. S=1. 2 million km 2 Population: 41.5 million people GNP – 135 billion dollars per capita – 3095 dollars. Part of the Commonwealth of Nations.

Historical past Located in the extreme south of the continent South. Until 1961, the African Republic was called the Union of South Africa and was part of the British Commonwealth with dominion rights. In a country with a complex racial and ethnic composition of the population, the policy of “separate development” of various racial groups continued for many years - the policy of apartheid, which actually amounted to the oppression of people with dark skin color by the white minority. The situation changed after the adoption of the 1993 and 1996 constitutions. and the first general elections, which were won by the African National Progress (ANC), which had long fought for the rights of the majority.

The geographical location of South Africa is located in southern Africa, bordering the republics of Namibia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and the kingdom of Swaziland. In the northeast, inside the territory of South Africa, there is a kind of enclave - the kingdom of Lesotho. South Africa is washed by the Atlantic and Indian oceans.

Natural features of South Africa The natural features of the country are determined by several factors: the terrain, which is generally mountainous in the east and south and plateau-like in the rest of the country; climate features, which, being subtropical in the main part of the country (which is a consequence of latitude), are highly differentiated (from humid subtropics in the southeast to semi-deserts and deserts in a number of inland and western regions).

At the same time, the climate is strongly influenced by the warm Mozambique Current in the east and the cold Benguela Current in the west. The mechanism by which these currents influence climate is well known to geographers. Changes in temperature and especially humidity in different regions of South Africa lead to great contrasts in vegetation cover. The mountainous southeast is covered with humid subtropical forests, the extreme southwest (regions of the Cape of Good Hope) is covered with Mediterranean vegetation (dry subtropics), the interior and western regions, as well as the north of the country are subtropical and tropical (in the far north) steppes and woodlands, deserts and semi-deserts.

Natural resources South Africa ranks first in the foreign world in reserves and production of gold, ores: magnesium, chromium, manganese, vanadium, platinum group metals; one of the first places in diamonds, uranium concentrates, asbestos, antimony, etc.

Mining and manufacturing The mining industry in South Africa contributes about 1/5 of GNP, but 2/3 of the value of exports. Moreover, these mineral raw materials are exported to more than 80 countries. The most important mining area is Witwatersrant, where gold and uranium are mined; diamonds in the Kimberley areas. D Beers is the largest transnational concern that owns diamond mining in South Africa and controls the world's diamond market.

Reserves To protect the fauna in South Africa, national parks and reserves have been created. Currently, there are about 300 provincial reserves in the country, some of which have already celebrated their centenary. The country has 16 national parks and one protected lake.

Kruger National Park The Kruger National Park is world famous, where tourists can meet buffaloes, elephants, leopards, lions, rhinoceroses, which are called the “big five”.

The population of the country, ¾ of the population of South Africa are the indigenous Bantu inhabitants of Africa, speaking the Xhosa, Zulu, Communication, etc. languages. About 1/5 are descendants of settlers from Europe, mainly Afrikaners and the British, who fought fiercely among themselves during the Anglo-Boer War at the border 19th -20th centuries. The rest are mulattoes and other mestizos, which in South Africa are called “colored”, or clearings, as well as numerous immigrants from Hindustan. The remaining ethnic groups are relatively small.

Dual nature The economy of South Africa is dual in nature. Along with the features typical of developed countries (a large share of the hired labor force, a large working class, a relatively high role in the manufacturing economy, etc.), South Africa is characterized by many features inherent in developing countries: the economic and technical backwardness of indigenous agriculture population, low standard of living of indigenous workers, great influence of foreign capital in the economy, large dependence of the economy on the foreign market, etc.

Paradoxes of Africa According to the current constitution, South Africa is divided into 9 provinces - Western Cape (Cape Town), Eastern Cape (Bisho), Northern Cape (Kimberley), Free State (Bloemfontein), KwaZulu. Natal, North Western Province (Mabata), Goteng (Johannesburg), Mpumalanga (Neletpruit), Northern Province (Petersburg).

Moreover, one of them (KwaZulu-Natal) provides for a monarchical form of government - a provincial monarchy within a republic! Another constitutional detail is also curious: Pretoria in the province of Goteng is the administrative capital of the state, Cape Town is the legislative capital, Bloom Fontaine (a free state or Free Province, where the Orange Free State was previously located - a legacy of the Boer War).

Manufacturing industry South Africa's manufacturing industry accounts for about ¼ of gross domestic product: more than any other sector of the economy. It employs more than 1/10 of the economically active population. Light industry predominates, but the share of metallurgy, metalworking, and mechanical engineering is also large; the chemical industry and production of building materials are significant. In recent decades, the growth rates of these industries have been quite high. High technology industries also appeared - the military industry, the production of nuclear reactors - the “white elephants” of the South African industry. The share of agriculture and mining fell from 30% (1960) to 14% (1996).

Agriculture The commodity sector of South Africa's agriculture produces a large number of export products - wool, fruit, sugar; however, in general, the country’s food needs are not met by domestic production, and South Africa imports it.

The country has both irrigated and mainly rain-fed agriculture. In European farms, the most important grain crop is corn, in African farms it is sorghum. In the southeast in the provinces of the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu. Natal, located in the former historical region of Natal, grows sugar cane. Wheat, potatoes, peanuts, and fruits play an important role in agricultural production. Among African countries, South Africa ranks first in the production of marine fish.

Transport By African standards, South Africa has a developed transport network - railways, roads, and the first pipelines.

The former colonial pearl of the British Empire, and today the independent state of South Africa is one of the richest countries in Africa. Here are deposits of precious stones, gold and platinum, the extraction of which provides South Africa with considerable income.

The tourism industry is quite well developed - dozens of high-class hotels welcome guests. The best beaches in East London and Port Elizabeth are well equipped. Excursions to colonial Pretoria or Cape Town are organized at a decent level.

People come to South Africa for the breathtaking views of the Drakensberg Mountains, the legendary Cape of Good Hope, for the atmosphere of numerous festivals and holidays, for the unimaginable mixture of traditional African way of life, colonial times and modernity. The country is very popular among Europeans and American tourists.

The best hotels and inns at affordable prices.

from 500 rubles/day

What to see in South Africa?

The most interesting and beautiful places, photographs and brief descriptions.

A beautiful city located at the very edge of the continent - the Cape of Good Hope. The old quarters of the city are filled with mansions, villas, and former administrative buildings, which can be considered as monuments of Dutch architecture and construction traditions of the Victorian era. Cape Town's population consists of descendants of Afrikaans-speaking Boers, English-speaking whites, and black immigrants from the interior of South Africa.

A modern, energetic city, the financial heart of the country. All major events in the business world take place here, major contracts are concluded and negotiations are held on multi-billion dollar investments. Johannesburg arose at the dawn of the African “gold rush” and immediately began to develop as the business center of the country. There is also a dark side - for the last 20 years the city has been considered the criminal capital of South Africa.

Located in Johannesburg within the Gold Reef City Park. The museum's exhibitions are dedicated to the history of oppression and oppression of black peoples since the arrival of European colonialists (first the Dutch, then the British) to this land. The apartheid policy was carried out until 1994 and was part of the official state ideology. The museum is dedicated to the memory of the victims of unjust racial segregation.

One of Cape Town's landmarks, the Victorian Harbour, restored in the 1990s. In addition to restored historical buildings, there are trendy restaurants and bars, museums, and shopping centers. The harbor is a popular place for walks and for exciting sea voyages on yachts. From the embankment you can go on a boat excursion or simply enjoy a walk along the well-kept pavements.

An ever-growing desert in southern Africa. Its red-orange sands have already invaded the territory of its neighbors - Zambia, Angola and Zimbabwe. The Kalahari occupies almost 8% of the territory of the entire continent and its area is steadily increasing. This area is home to the indigenous Bushmen tribe, which, like thousands of years ago, lives by hunting and primitive crafts. Excursions to Bushman settlements are popular among tourists.

Located in the vicinity of Cape Town near Table Mountain. The garden covers an area of ​​more than 530 hectares and is considered one of the largest in the world. More than 7,000 species of unique plants, characteristic only of southern Africa, grow here. The territory of the park is very well-groomed, with paths laid through the thickets. The garden was created more than a hundred years ago in 1913 with the goal of saving a unique ecological system from destruction by man.

A reserve in South Africa, where representatives of typical African fauna live in their natural environment: rhinoceroses, elephants, buffalos, lions, giraffes, leopards and other species of animals. The famous Crocodile and Limpopo rivers flow through the park. The area occupied by the reserve could accommodate a small state. Since 2002, Kruger has become part of the interstate nature reserve Great Limpopo Transnational Park.

It is located a couple of hours drive from Johannesburg, thanks to which it has become very popular among tourists. This is a small park in the crater of an ancient volcano with an area of ​​about 600 km². The so-called “big five” African animals live here: rhinoceros, lion, buffalo, leopard and elephant. The term comes from hunting safari, because... These animals are regarded as the most important trophies and are extremely difficult to obtain.

It consists of several tens of kilometers of coastal territory along with a five-kilometer coastline. A third of the park is occupied by dense forests growing in river gorges. The fauna is represented by a wide variety of species: African weasel, Dominican gull, ostrich, olive woodpecker, dolphin, whale, killer whale, otter and many others. The reserve houses a laboratory for the study of endangered fish species.

A mountain range passing through the territory of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. In the language of the local tribe, the name of the chain is “Kwathlamba”, which means “rocky place”. Part of the system is part of the UNESCO-protected Drakensberg National Park. The Drakensberg Mountains contain large reserves of platinum, gold and other less valuable but useful ores. In the rocks there are caves with ancient rock paintings that are more than 8,000 years old.

Located southwest of Cape Town on the shore of the bay of the same name, it is considered the hallmark of this city (even its image is present on the city flag). Numerous archaeological artifacts have been found in the Dining area. From them, scientists concluded that people have been living in this area for tens of thousands of years. There is a cable car leading up the mountain, and there are hiking trails along the slopes.

The name of the mountain is translated from English as “lion’s head”; initially the English colonialists called the rock “sugarloaf”. This small peak rises just 670 meters above Cape Town. The observation deck offers panoramic views. Numerous tourists love to take photographs against the backdrop of Cape Town “floating” below or against the backdrop of a mesmerizing African sunset.

A place where excavations have uncovered important evidence of human origins. In this area there are the caves of Swartkrans, Makapan, Sterkfontein, Taung, Kromdraai (more than 200 caves in total). Excavations continue, as not all caves have been explored. Archaeologists constantly find ancient fossilized remains of humans and relict animals, as well as remains of tools and household items. The area is under UNESCO protection.

A former diamond quarry in the vicinity of Kimberley. It is interesting that people dug this huge hole without the use of technology. Diamond mining took place here from 1866 to 1914. Over several decades, miners extracted about three tons of precious stones. The famous Tiffany of 287 carats, the Porter-Rhodes of 153.5 carats and some large specimens of the diamond giant De Beers came out of the quarry.

One of the main natural attractions of South Africa. This is a green river gorge with many observation platforms for tourists, offering a very beautiful panoramic view of the surrounding landscape. Unlike other canyons with rocky and sparsely vegetated slopes, there is a rich wildlife here. Tourists can book a hang gliding flight and look at the natural beauty from an unusual angle.

The Garden Route is a famous tourist route along the Indian Ocean coast, from St. Francis Bay to Mussel Bay. The route passes through the towns of Albertina, Stilbay, Knysna, George and the coastal strip of Tsitsikamma National Park. The Garden Route has secluded beaches, wild thickets of colorful flowers, coves, and picturesque meadows. The route is one of the main destinations for travelers.

At the southern tip of Africa, warm and cold currents meet; the Atlantic Ocean mixes the waters with the Pacific. This happens in a place called the Cape of Good Hope. During the period of active development of African lands, this was a disastrous place for sailors, since the unpredictability of sea currents often led to shipwrecks. The legendary Vasco da Gama visited here; the legend of the Flying Dutchman is associated with the cape.

The formations are located in the Black Mountains of Swartberg. This is a vast underground complex with a total length of 5 km. Only the first 2 km are accessible for visiting. The entrance to the cave is located 50 meters deep from the surface of the earth. The Kango complex has several underground halls of different sizes with poetic names: Wedding Hall, Rainbow Hall, Throne Room, Devil's Workshop, Crystal Forest Hall. You can go down to the cave on an organized tour.

The island where the “father of the nation” Nelson Mandela spent 27 years of his life in captivity. The prison, which has existed on Robben Island for almost 400 years, was formerly owned by the East India Company and was used to house exiles. During the heyday of the apartheid regime, a maximum security prison was created here. The tourist route includes a bus trip around the island, a walking tour of the prison and a visit to N. Mandela's cell.

20. Franschhoek Wine Farms

Grape plantations and wineries in South Africa, where high-quality wine is produced according to ancient recipes. Many of these recipes have not changed since the 17th century. The farms were cultivated by French Huguenot settlers. South African wines are considered unique in taste; they have no analogues, since the grapes grow on sandy soil. Interesting excursions into the history of winemaking are organized for visitors.

A resort city, a major tourist center in South Africa. It is considered a world masterpiece of landscape architecture. The resort was established in 1979. Many world-famous stars have visited it, from Frank Sinatra to Boney M. Miss World beauty contests, boxing championships, and business conferences were held here. Sun City welcomes guests to upscale five-star hotels, where famous public figures often stay.

A natural attraction located in the Natal National Park. This waterfall is considered the second largest in the world after Angel. Water flows fall from almost a kilometer in height in the form of five cascades. There are several hiking routes around the waterfall; you can book a guided tour or explore the area on your own.

A “small” waterfall 146 meters high near the border with Namibia. Located 500 km. from the mouth of the Orange River. Powerful streams flow into a narrow gorge; during large river floods, thousands of cubic meters of water pass through this gorge in a few seconds. Below, the water collects in a natural floodplain, which is called the “giant cauldron.” When water jets fall, large waves are created and abundant splashes fly around.

Popular beach in Durban. In the north, the territory abuts the business district of the city, where the Sunny Beach casino is located. Swimming areas are fenced with a reliable protective net against sharks, which live in large numbers in this part of the ocean. During the high season, the Golden Mile often becomes the venue for various events, festivals and celebrations. There are numerous hotels and private apartments around.

This beach is located near Cape Town. It is famous for being home to a large population of penguins. They began arriving in 1982, and within a few years the colony had grown to an impressive size of almost 3,000 individuals. It is believed that this was facilitated by the closure of the fish factory and the penguins had enough food. People bathe against the backdrop of birds resting on the rocks, but approaching them is prohibited.