About SA

Established 1992

For everyone...

Looking for clubs to join?

MIDLANDS HIKING CLUB - www.gohiking.co.za

MOUNTAIN BACKPACKERS CLUB www.mountainbackpackers.co.za

For specific info on SA Mountains click the link above...

Foreign travellers will still find South Africa one of the least expensive places in the world. South Africa's currency (the Rand) has weakened to a point where the traveller in 2008 can safely exchange R10 for the US$ and R15 for the UK Pound Sterling.

South Africa extends from the tropic of Capricorn to Cape Agulhas at 35 degrees South. It lies in the Southern temperate zone, mostly on plateau's above 1200 meters above sea level. Johannesburg, on the Highveld, is at 1800 meters, allowing for cool, yet, sunny climates. The coastline covers 2954 km between the Atlantic and Indian oceans. The shore, lined by sandy beaches, is fringed by forests in the east and desert in the west.

The nine province nation has an area of 1 219 090 sq. km, larger than Germany, France and Italy combined. The land is rich in grasslands, savannah and forest, the greater portion is dry thorn veldt and semi desert. Average rainfall is 464mm - little more than half the worlds average. Most rivers are dry most of the time, for only 10% of rainfall reaches the rivers, much of it lost in evaporation. All South Africa's rivers together provide less then one eighth of the water in the Mississippi alone.

South Africa's richest heritage, lies in its variety of life. It is home to more kinds of mammals than North and South America combined; or Europe and Asia together.
Wild game varieties range from Lion and Leopard to hyrax and pangolin. There are more than 100 varieties of snake, and 5000 species of spider.

South Africa is home to:

• The largest land animal (the African Elephant)

• The smallest (a shrew the size of a human's fingertip)

• The tallest creature (the Giraffe)

• The fastest mammal (the Cheetah)

• The largest reptile (the Leatherback turtle)

• The largest antelope (the Eland)

• The largest bird (the Ostrich)

• The heaviest flying bird (the Kori Bustard)

Endangered species saved in the past few decades include the black Rhinoceros; the white Rhino and the black Wildebeest. Even the Quagga may be brought back from extinction among special families of Zebra.

Increasing numbers of visitors come to see our bird life of more than 900 species - 10% of the planets selection. Endemic species, some found in single small patches of veldt and nowhere else on Earth, range from grass birds to desert Larks; from forest dwellers to water birds. South Africa is protecting some of the last breeding grounds of species such as the Wandering Albatross, Royal Albatross and African Penguin.

The region has 23200 different plants, of which nearly 19000 are endemic, making it the richest region in the world in terms of species to area - 1.7 times richer than even Brazil.
Within the region is the Cape Floral Kingdom, the tiniest in the world, but also the richest, with 8500 species; 6000 of them found nowhere else on Earth. This area produces 300 varieties of Erica alone; two thirds of the worlds total.

The variety of races and cultures matches the richness of other forms of life in South Africa. There are 11 official languages. They are: English; Afrikaans; Zulu; Xhosa; Pedi; Tswana; Sotho; Tsonga; Swati; Venda; and Ndebele. English is the most widely understood, though not the largest home language

There are at least 20 ethnic groups, and cultures ranging from the Stone Age customs of the San hunter gatherers to the traditions of the Zulu and Scottish clans.

Local food specialities range from African Putu and Indian curries to Malaysian Blatjang (mango, guava and other exotic fruit chutney), Portuguese fish dishes to Afrikaner Potjiekos (stew cooked in a pot on the open fire).

Among the most popular dishes is Boboti, (an old Malay dish), and one of the most popular culinary activities is Braaivleis (outdoor barbecue) - at its best with venison and Boerewors in the bush.

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Last modified: 18 August 2009