South Africa has remarkable biodiversity. South Africa may have less than 1% of the world's land surface, but it has 6% of the world's known mammal and reptile species and 10% of the world's plant, fish, and bird species. South Africa even has penguins! The African Penguin is endemic to South Africa and large colonies of them thrive just outside Cape Town. You can visit these penguins at Boulder Beach in Simonstown.
In the world there are a total of six different floral kingdoms, one of which is located wholly in South Africa. Most kingdoms encompass huge portions of the earth, such as the Paleotropical Floral Kingdom, which extends across massive areas of Asia, Africa, and the Pacific Ocean. The Cape Floral Kingdom occurs only in the southwest portion of South Africa's Western Cape, making South Africa the one country in the world that has its own floral kingdom. This region encompasses 9600 plant species, 70% of which are unique and grow nowhere else in the world. Table Mountain alone, located in the heart of this kingdom, boasts over 1500 plant species, which are more plant types than you will find in the entire area of Great Britain! One of the most famous of these unique species is the Giant Protea, also known as the King Protea, which is South Africa's national flower. Sadly, over 1000 of these exclusive species face extinction as development continues in the Western Cape.
South Africa is a subtropical location, that is moderated by ocean on three sides of the country and the altitude of the interior plateau, accounting for the warm temperate conditions so typical of South Africa and so popular with its foreign visitors. There are about seven biomes in South Africa. The seven biomes of South Africa: Savanna, Thicket, Grassland, Forest, Fynbos, Nama Karoo, Succulent Karoo and Desert.
South Africa is famous for its sunshine. It's a relatively dry country, with an average annual rainfall of about 464mm (compared to a world average of about 860mm). While the Western Cape gets most of its rainfall in winter, the rest of the country is generally a summer-rainfall region. Temperatures in South Africa tend to be lower than in other countries at similar latitudes, such as Australia, due mainly to greater elevation above sea level. South Africa's summers (November to March) are generally warm with average temperatures around 77 degrees Fahrenheit or 25 degrees Celsius. Winters (June to August) can get quite cold especially at night with temperatures averaging around 50 degrees Fahrenheit or 10 degrees Celsius.
The climate, biomes, weather and biodiversity here are amazing, and a vacation here would definitely make for an amazing trip!
In the world there are a total of six different floral kingdoms, one of which is located wholly in South Africa. Most kingdoms encompass huge portions of the earth, such as the Paleotropical Floral Kingdom, which extends across massive areas of Asia, Africa, and the Pacific Ocean. The Cape Floral Kingdom occurs only in the southwest portion of South Africa's Western Cape, making South Africa the one country in the world that has its own floral kingdom. This region encompasses 9600 plant species, 70% of which are unique and grow nowhere else in the world. Table Mountain alone, located in the heart of this kingdom, boasts over 1500 plant species, which are more plant types than you will find in the entire area of Great Britain! One of the most famous of these unique species is the Giant Protea, also known as the King Protea, which is South Africa's national flower. Sadly, over 1000 of these exclusive species face extinction as development continues in the Western Cape.
South Africa is a subtropical location, that is moderated by ocean on three sides of the country and the altitude of the interior plateau, accounting for the warm temperate conditions so typical of South Africa and so popular with its foreign visitors. There are about seven biomes in South Africa. The seven biomes of South Africa: Savanna, Thicket, Grassland, Forest, Fynbos, Nama Karoo, Succulent Karoo and Desert.
South Africa is famous for its sunshine. It's a relatively dry country, with an average annual rainfall of about 464mm (compared to a world average of about 860mm). While the Western Cape gets most of its rainfall in winter, the rest of the country is generally a summer-rainfall region. Temperatures in South Africa tend to be lower than in other countries at similar latitudes, such as Australia, due mainly to greater elevation above sea level. South Africa's summers (November to March) are generally warm with average temperatures around 77 degrees Fahrenheit or 25 degrees Celsius. Winters (June to August) can get quite cold especially at night with temperatures averaging around 50 degrees Fahrenheit or 10 degrees Celsius.
The climate, biomes, weather and biodiversity here are amazing, and a vacation here would definitely make for an amazing trip!