This part of Africa has a narrow coastal plain
running up to a ridge of hills surrounding
a huge central plateau of high land. The
eastern coast is sub-tropical, the south has
a Mediterranean-style climate, where fruit
and other crops can be grown, and the interior
is desert or dry grassland. South Africa is highly
industrialized and there are large mineral mines in
Namibia and Zambia.
HOW HAVE BORDERS
MADE LIFE DIFFICULT?
The national borders of some African
nations follow natural features, such as
rivers and lakes, but many were drawn
as straight lines on maps by the
European nations who divided Africa
up between them in the late 19th
century. As a result, many African
peoples are split between several
countries and do not feel part of any
of them. This has caused great unrest
and even civil war in some areas.WHERE ARE GOLD AND DIAMONDS FOUND?
Vast deposits of gold and diamonds were first
found in South Africa in the late 19th
century and have made the country rich.
One-third of the world’s gold is still
produced in the Witwatersrand goldfield
around Johannesburg. Its neighbouring
country Namibia is also rich in diamonds
and other minerals, such as copper and tin.
In fact, minerals make up 90 per cent of
Namibia’s total income from exports.WHAT ARE THE SPRINGBOKS?
The South African national rugby team is
named after the springbok, a fast-running
local antelope. Rugby is one of the two
national games of South Africa, with
cricket also attracting a large following.
Under apartheid the national rugby team
was all-white. Today, the team is
multiracial and has huge support from
all South Africans.CAN ANYONE LIVE IN THE KALAHARI DESERT?
Only one tribe lives in this desert, which covers much
of Botswana, Namibia, and northwest South Africa,
and is one of the most inhospitable places on Earth.
The Bushmen, or San people, have managed to live
here for thousands of years searching for their food
instead of growing it. People, plants, and wildlife
must be able to withstand drought conditions
for up to 10 months of the year.4 RING-TAILED LEMUR, MADAGASCAR
The ring-tailed lemur is one of many species that
can only be found on Madagascar. The fourth
largest island in the world, Madagascar is remote
from the mainland of Africa and, as a result,
many unique plants and animals have evolved
here. In fact, two-thirds of all the chameleons
in the world live on the island.4 BUSHMEN
The Kalahari Bushmen
live and work together in
tightly knit communities.
Traditionally, they moved from
place to place searching for insects
and edible plants and hunting small
animals with poisonous arrows. Many
now live a more settled existence.Southern Africa
RUGBY 3
Here, Bolla Conradie
plays for the
Springboks, South
Africa’s national rugby
team. The team has
enjoyed huge worldwide
success, winning the 1995
World Cup and many
international matches.