By Ben Waterworth
South Africa is a beautiful country that should be explored as much as possible during your visit. But before you head off to the Rainbow Nation, here are some ‘did you know’ facts to help educate you a little more before you visit!
- Did you know that South Africa has the world’s oldest wine industry that isn’t in Europe? They produce a wide variety of wines from Merlot, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir and are among some of the finest in the world
- Did you know that the nickname of South Africa is ‘The Rainbow Nation’? We have already used that terminology in this article, but now you know!
- Did you know that the largest uncut diamond in the world was found in South Africa in 1974? It was found in the town of Kimberley, and South Africa remains one of the world’s largest producers of gold and diamonds, ranking in the top 25 constantly.
- Did you know South Africa has a very large population but a very small population density? This is due to the majority of populations being housed in all the major cities of South Africa.
- Did you know that Cape Town in South Africa is the countries most visited destination and it is often nicknamed ‘the Mother City’? Its famous Table Mountain overlooks the city and was lit up especially for the Queens visit in 1947.
- Did you know South Africa is home to large penguin colonies that thrive in the cold weather in certain areas of the country? With a relative closeness to Antarctica these penguins often make a home away from home in South Africa and is great for penguin enthusiasts the world over.
- Did you know the national flower of South Africa is the Protea? This flower is a spiky flower than can grow up to 30cm wide. It is also the symbol of the countries cricket team as well as their nickname.