South Africa Travel Guide - Alan Harris - Bog

South Africa is located at the southern tip of Africa. It is bordered by Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland and Lesotho (which is completely surrounded by South Africa). It is a large country with widely varying landscapes, 11 official languages, and an equally diverse population. South Africa is renowned for its wines, one of the world's largest producers of gold, and an influential player in African politics. In 2010, South Africa hosted the first Association Football World Cup to be held on the African continent. South Africa was also host of the 1995 Rugby Union world cup, the only edition of that tournament to be held in Africa. South Africa is a paradise for anyone interested in natural history. A wide range of species (some potentially dangerous and endangered) may be encountered in parks, farms, private reserves and even on the roads. The climate in South Africa ranges from desert and semi-desert in the north west of the country to sub-tropical on the eastern coastline. The rainy season for most of the country is in the summer, except in the Western Cape where the rains come in the winter. Rainfall in the Eastern Cape is distributed evenly throughout the year. Winter temperatures hover around zero, summers can be very hot, in excess of 35°C (95°F) in some places.