South Africa lies at
the southernmost part of the African continent. It is bordered to the north by
Botswana and Zimbabwe, to the northeast by Mozambique and Swaziland and to the
northwest by Namibia. On the east coastline lies the Indian Ocean, the Southern
coastline the confluence of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans, and Atlantic Ocean
on the western side. South Africa completely surrounds Lesotho.
Most
of South Africa has elevations of over 914m (3,000 ft) and at least 40% of the
surface is at an elevation of over 1,220m (4,000 ft). Parts of Johannesburg are
1,829m (6,000 ft) above sea level. Resembling an inverted saucer, the land
rises steadily from west to east to the Drakensberg Mountains, the tallest of
which is Mont-aux-Sources at 3,300m (10,823 ft).
The coastal belt in
the west and south varies from 3 to 30 miles in width, is between 152m (500ft)
to 182m (600ft) above sea level, and is very fertile, producing citrus fruits
and grapes, particularly in the Western Cape. North of the coastal belt
stretch, the Little and the Great Karoo, which are bounded by mountains, lie
higher than the coastal belt, and are semi-arid to arid, merging into sandy
wastes that ultimately join the Kalahari Desert.
The high grass
prairie, or veld, of the Orange Free State and the Transvaal is famous for its
mineral deposits,. From Drakensberg, the land falls towards the Indian Ocean in
the rolling hills and valleys of Natal, which are covered with rich vegetation
and, near the coast, subtropical plants, including sugarcane.
The Africa Guide's recommended book
Lonely Planet South Africa, Lesotho &
Swaziland (amazon.com) - USA(amazon.co.uk) - Europe A multi country guide to
increasingly popular South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. With a full colour
wildlife guide and in depth coverage of the music of South Africa.
The Africa Guide's recommended
Map
Globetrotter Travel Map of South Africa (Maps
Worldwide) Published by New Holland Publishers (U Series
Globetrotter Travel Maps A revised map of South Africa which caters
specifically for the needs of tourists and visitors. Special features include:
nature reserves, parks and places of interest; highlighted scenic routes; town
maps of major tourist centres, including hotels; and legends in English, French
and German.
