Southern Africa

The countries on the Southern African mainland share many of the demographic qualities of the rest of Africa: large family size, agrarian economies, multiple ethnic groups, rural populations, political instability, and a high rate of rural-to-urban shift. Southern Africa is set apart from other Subsaharan African regions because of its mineral resources, including copper, diamonds, gold, zinc, chromium, platinum, manganese, iron ore, and coal. Countries in Southern Africa are quite large in physical area, except three smaller landlocked states: Lesotho, Swaziland, and Malawi. The larger countries—South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia, and Angola—all have extensive mineral deposits.

The regional inter-governmental organisation is the Southern African Development Committee (SADC). Its headquarters is in Gaborone, Bostwana.

• 

• 

The longest river is the might zambezi its source is in DRC/Zambia and passes through Angola, Namibia, Bostwana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique were in outflows into the Indian Ocean. Along the Zambezi River they is Lake Kariba the largest man made lake in the world and Lake Cahora basa the largest electricity plant in the Region. In terms of size Lake Malawi is the largest. Along the might zambezi river at kazungula four countries meet i.e Bostwana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

• 

• 

The kruger National park is the largest national wildlife park in the region. Home to Africas big five land animals. The region is home to many large national parks like Hwange national park (Zimbabwe), Liwonde national Park (Malawi), luwangwa national Park (Zambia), lona national Park (Angola), Hlane national Park (Eswatini), etc

The largest desert in sub Sahara the Kalahari Desert. It is a large semi-arid sandy savannah in Southern Africa extending for 900,000 square kilometres. It covers much of Botswana, and parts of Namibia and South Africa.

Land size the largest nation is Angola. Madagascar is the world’s fourth-largest island and is similar in area to France. Surrounding Madagascar are the independent island states of the Seychelles, Comoros, and Mauritius. Madagascar does not share its cultural geography or biodiversity.

Main languages of communication are English, French, Portuguese and kiswahili. Native languages majority are the bantu i.e Nyungwe, Chichewa, tonga, shona, venda, Ndebele, Bemba, sesotho, Tswana, swazi, etc

Only four countries have direct access to the sea i.e Angola, Namibia, South Africa and Mozambique. The remaining six are Landlocked i.e Lesotho, Eswatini, Bostwana, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The eastern side is the Indian Ocean and the western side is the Atlantic ocean. The Southern most tip of Africa is Cape Town where the two Oceans meet..

The most dominate currency that is exchangeable within the region is South Africa Rand. The most valuable currency is the Bostwana Pula.

The largest city is Johannesburg and the economic hub of region. The busiest Airport is O R Tambo International Airport and the tallest building in Africa Carlton Centre both located in Johannesburg. The top floor of Carlton centre is nicknamed the top of Africa.

• 

• 

• 

• 

Natural attractions in Southren Africa there is Victoria falls (Zambia/Zimbabwe), table Mountain (South Africa), okavango delta (Bostwana) Dilolo lake (Angola), lebombo mountains (Eswatini), Semonkong Falls (Lesotho), Fish River Canyon (Namibia), Bazaruto Archipelago (Mozambique), etc

• 

• 

• 

Festivals they are countless across the region from like the Cape Town jazz Festival, Hifa, lake of stars, reeds dance, mtn bushfire, Kuru dance festival, etc

They is so much to write about southern Africa. Its Africa’s most peaceful region, well connected road networks.