Infrastructure
The Chris Hani – Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto is the world’s largest hospital.
South Africa is one of just 12 countries with clean drinking water. Its tap water is ranked third best in the world.
After Washington, D.C., Pretoria has the world’s second-highest number of embassies.
South Africa is the largest producer and exporter of mohair in the world.
The rand, the world’s most actively traded emerging market currency, has entered an exclusive club of 15 currencies – the Continuous Linked Settlement (CLS) – in which forex transactions are finalized instantly, reducing the risks of trading across time zones.
South Africa mines deeper than any other country in the world, with the Western Deep Levels Mine reaching depths of 4km.
The Orange Fish Rivers Tunnel is the world’s largest hydro-electric tunnel system.
Entertainment
South Africa boasts the world’s second oldest film industry.
The Cape Argus Bike Tour is the world’s largest timed cycle race.
South Africa has the world’s longest wine trail.
South Africa features the world’s highest commercial bungi jump (216m).
M-Net is Africa’s largest pay television service, providing 24-hour programming to dozens of African countries.
South Africa has the world’s most opulent train, the Rovos Rail.
The Lost City Resort is the world’s largest thermal resort as well as the largest development project in the southern hemisphere.
Nature and Travel
The Kruger National Park nature reserve is home to the most diverse range of wildlife on the African continent. It is roughly the size of Wales or the state of Massachusetts (USA), making it the world’s ninth largest reserve.
South Africa possesses one-tenth (23 200) of the world’s flowering plants, approximately 19 000 of which are indigenous, making it the richest location in the world in terms of species to area – 1.7 times richer even than Brazil. It is the only country in the world with its own floral kingdom.
It is home to more mammal species than North and South America combined, or Europe and Asia combined.
South African grasslands have roughly 30 species per square kilometer, which is larger than rainforest biodiversity.
Table Mountain in Cape Town is thought to be one of the world’s oldest mountains. It dominates the city’s skyline at a height of slightly over 1000 meters. Table Mountain may be visible from as far away as 200 kilometers away.
South Africa has the world’s third greatest amount of biodiversity.
Paarl is South Africa’s third oldest town and home to KWV Cellars, the world’s largest wine cellar (covering 22 hectares).
Kimberley’s ‘Big Hole’ is the world’s largest hand-dug hole and is deeper than Table Mountain is tall. Kimberley also has the world’s only drive-in pub.
Business
The Rand Refinery is the world’s largest gold refinery.
SASOL, a South African oil company, has built the world’s only economically proved oil from coal operations.
Anglo-American Corporation of South Africa is the world’s largest producer of non-fuel minerals.
The Institution of South Africa UNISA is a forerunner in tertiary distance education and is thought to be the world’s largest correspondence university, with 250,000 students.
The national power provider, Eskom, is the fourth largest in the world in terms of both sales volume and normal capacity.
The De Beers Group of Companies owns more than 80% of the world’s rough diamond supply.
SABMiller is the world’s largest brewing corporation by volume. It provides up to half of China’s beer.
Samancor Limited is the world’s largest manufacturer of manganese and chrome products in terms of sales.
According to the World Federation of Exchanges, the Johannesburg Stock Exchange was the seventh best performing stock market in 2005.
Stellenbosch University was the world’s first university to design and launch a microsatellite.
What is South Africa well-known for?
South Africa, the African continent’s southernmost country, is known for its varied topography, remarkable natural beauty, and cultural diversity, all of which have made the country a popular tourist destination since the formal end of apartheid (Afrikaans: “apartness,” or racial separation) in 1994.
What is the most unique aspect of South Africa?
South Africa is the only country in the world where a single street has produced two Nobel Prize winners. Route 62 in the Western Cape is the world’s longest wine route. The Garden Route is home to the world’s highest commercial bungy jump.
Why do people fall in love with South Africa?
South Africa has been described as “a world in a country.” It has urban cities, a rainbow nation with profoundly different cultures, breathtaking scenery, and, of course, the Big Five safari experience. South Africa has everything!
