South Africa

At a Glance

South Africa is a country of exceptional geographic and cultural diversity, from the Cape Winelands and fynbos coastline to the Drakensberg mountains, the Kruger Park, and the vibrant cities of Cape Town and Johannesburg. The cultural mix of Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, Cape Malay, and other communities gives the country a richness of food, music, and social life found nowhere else in Africa. Safety awareness in urban areas is important, but those who navigate this thoughtfully will find it one of the continent's most rewarding destinations.

• Only country to voluntarily dismantle its nuclear weapons programme.
• Has 11 official languages — the most of any country in the world.
• Highest income inequality in the world by Gini coefficient, 30 years after apartheid.