The size of South Africa corresponds to that of Germany, France and Italy combined. South Africa borders three countries to the north, these being Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, with Mozambique and Swaziland to the east. Lesotho is an enclave in eastern South Africa. The Indian Ocean is to the southeast and south of this country with the Atlantic Ocean to the west.
A great plateau occupies approximately two-thirds of South Africa. The plateau reaches its greatest height at the Drakensberg Mountains (3375 metres), descending towards the Indian Ocean. The Kalahari Gemsbok Park is situated in the northwestern area of the Kalahari Desert and has been the focus of many wildlife documentaries portraying wildlife in its natural eco-system. The Orange River is South Africa's major river, flowing northwest from Lesotho until it reaches the Atlantic Ocean.
Cape Town is regarded by many people to be one of the most scenic cities in the world. It faces the Atlantic Ocean, with the backdrop of Table Mountain reaching 1086 metres in height. The flora and fauna in the Cape Peninsula is of an extraordinary diversity.
South Africa has a mild, temperate climate. This region receives most of its rainfall between the months of June to September. Endeavour Safaris has the fascilities to make handicapped travel easy, and offers a unique opportunity to for the disabled to travel to Africa for a fantastic adventure safari. South Africa has some of the most dramatic and strangest landscapes in the world, and the animal and plant life is rich with unique diversity.
It has a wealth of gold, diamonds and other naturally occuring treasure, as well as myriad entrancing cultures. The glorious diversity of landscapes sculpted by wind, sun, ice and rain will enchant visitors with their unforgettable beauty. An amazing variety awaits, from deserts and snow-covered mountains, savannas, grasslands and high forests to tropical mangrove swamps. Within the various climatic zones, a vast plant population flourishes. South Africa boasts the largest variety of big game in the world, and a plethora of fascinating avian inhabitants.
South Africa is bordered by the ocean to the west, south and east and has a coastline of more than 3 000 km, which is swept by the warm south-flowing Mozambique-Agulhas ocean current and the cold Benguela. The temperature variance between the two is a contributing factor to the differences in climate and flora between the east and west coasts of South Africa, and causes big variations in marine life. The chill seas of the west coast are rich in oxygen, phosphates, nitrates and consequently plankton, whereas those of the warmer east coast are not, so the South African fishing industry is mostly on the west coast. South Africa's warm, temperate conditions make it a popular destination for tourists. It is situated within the subtropical belt of high pressure, making it dry and sunny.
The oceans on three sides have a moderating influence on South Africa's climate, and the effects of the warm Agulhas and cold Benguela currents along the east and west coasts respectively are quite apparent. Durban, which is located on the east coast, and Port Nolloth, which is located on the west coast are pretty much on the same latitude, but there is a difference of at least 6C in their mean annual temperatures. Gale force winds frequently occur along the coast, especially in the south-western and southern coastal areas. South Africa has an average annual rainfall of 464 mm, compared with a world average of 860 mm. About 20% of the country has a total annual rainfall of less than 200 mm, 48% between 200 and 600 mm, while only about 30% records more than 600 mm. In total, 65% of the country has an annual rainfall of less than 500 mm, which is regarded as the absolute minimum for successful dry-land farming.
The capital city of the Western Cape, Cape Town, has an average rainfall pattern which is highest in the winter months, while in the capital cities of the other eight provinces, the average rainfall is highest during the summer. Rainfall in South Africa is unreliable and unpredictable. Large fluctuations in the annual rainfall are the rule rather than the exception in most areas, and below-average years are more common than above-average. South Africa is also periodically afflicted by drastic and prolonged droughts, which often end in severe floods. South Africa's temperature conditions are characterised by the fact that they tend to be lower than in other regions at similar latitudes, such as Australia, which is mostly because of the subcontinent's greater elevation above sea level.
Despite a latitudinal span of 13 degrees, the average annual temperatures are remarkably uniform throughout the country, and there is hardly any increase in temperature from south to north as might be expected, which is due to the increase in the height of the plateau towards the northeast. Another feature is the striking contrast between temperatures on the east and west coasts. Temperatures in excess of 32°C are fairly common in summer, and frequently exceed 38°C in the lower Orange River valley and the Mpumalanga Lowveld. During cold, clear winter nights, frost often occurs on the interior plateau, with ice forming on still pools and in water-pipes. The longest frost season, which lasts from April to October, is over the eastern and southern plateau areas bordering on the Escarpment. Instances decrease to the north, and the coast is virtually frost-free. In general, the air is driest over the western interior and the plateau, but along the coast the humidity is much higher and at times may rise to 85%. Low stratus clouds and fog often occur along the cool west coast, particularly in summer.
The only other area that commonly experiences fog is the 'mist belt' in the eastern foothills of the Escarpment. The South African coastline has few bays or indentations suitable for harbours, and the only real natural one is Saldanha Bay on the west coast, but the area lacks fresh water and offers no natural lines of travel into the interior. The mouths of most South African rivers are unsuitable for use as harbours because of the large sand bars that block entry for most of the year. These are formed by the action of waves and currents, and by the intermittent flow, heavy sediment load and steep gradients of most South African rivers. Only the largest rivers, such as the Orange and Limpopo, maintain narrow permanent channels through the bars. For much the same reasons, the country has no navigable rivers.
South Africa is famous for its sunshine, and April and May are the best months, when rainy season over the summer-rainfall region has then ended, and has not yet really started in the winter-rainfall area. The hot summer weather has abated, and the winds are at their lightest. In the hot, humid KwaZulu-Natal coast, Mpumalanga and the Northern Province, however, June and July are the ideal holiday months. Almost 80% of South Africa's population are christians, the rest being mostly hindus, muslims and jews, while a minority regard themselves as traditionalists or of no specific religious affiliation. Freedom of worship has been guaranteed by the constitution, and there is an official policy of noninterference in religious practices.
