Fun Facts About Southern Africa
Southern Africa is home to the oldest mountains, a lake filled with colorful fish and a country that has three capital cities. Each Southern Africa country offer something unique and fascinating. Here are some fun and interesting facts about some of these countries;
Angola
- Angola is home to the stunning Kalandula Falls, one of the largest waterfalls in Africa.
- It is home to The giant black sable antelope (also known as the royal sable antelope), once feared extinct and rediscovered in 2004.
Zambia
- Zambia shares Victoria Falls with Zimbabwe. Victoria Falls is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.
- Termites hills in Zambia are big , the termite mounds are as big as a small house.
Malawi
- Malawi is often called “The Warm Heart of Africa” because of the friendliness of its people.
- Lake Malawi, located in Malawi, is home to more species of cichlid fish than anywhere else on Earth.
- The Shire River is the only river that flows out of Lake Malawi and has the highest density of hippos in Africa.
Mozambique
- Mozambique is the only country in the world to have five vowels in its name: Mozambique.
- Mozambique is one of 4 countries in the world to feature a firearm or weapon on its flag. The other countries to do this are Haiti, Bolivia and Guatemala.
- The national animal of Mozambique is the African elephant.
Zimbabwe
- It is home to The ruins of Great Zimbabwe, an old stone city from which the country gets its name.
- Zimbabwe is famous for its balancing rocks, the rocks look like they’re magically balancing on top of each other, almost like they’re floating.
Eswatini (formerly Swaziland)
- Eswatini is the only country in Africa that still has an absolute monarchy (king) who still plays a central role in governance.
- The country is famous for its traditional festivals, like Umhlanga (Reed Dance) and Incwala.
- The thomson’s gazelle is Eswatini’s national animal , however the gazelle is not native to the country.
South Africa
- South Africa is known as the “Rainbow Nation” because of its cultural diversity.
- It is the only Country in the world that has three capital cities: Pretoria, Cape Town, and Bloemfontein.
- South Africa is home to some of the oldest mountains in the world, The Makhonjwa (Barberton) Mountains and Table Mountain .
Lesotho
- Lesotho is entirely surrounded by South Africa. It’s a country within a country.
- It’s the only country on Earth entirely above 1,000 meters in elevation, earning it the nickname “Kingdom in the Sky”.
Botswana
- Botswana has the largest population of elephants on Earth, mostly in Chobe National Park.
- Botswana is one of the world’s top diamond producers.
- Botswana is home to the world’s largest inland delta ,the Okavango.
Namibia
- The Namib Desert is estimated to be around 55 million years old, making it the oldest desert in the world.
- Namibia is home to Etosha’s Salt Pan , a massive salt pan so vast and reflective that it’s clearly visible from space.
